GoPro is taking the fight to Insta360 with the announcement of its new flagship 360° action camera, the MAX2. They have also added the new LIT HERO to their lineup.
MAX2
The MAX2 builds on its predecessor with the addition of 8K 360° video recording (up from 4992 x 2496 on the original MAX) and a new Max HyperView Digital Lens.
You can also capture 4K100 spherical video (3X slo-mo). Or go with a higher-resolution 5.6K60 for up to 2X slow motion.
Video Resolutions & Frame Rates
360:
- 8K: (7680×3840) @ 30/25/24 fps
- 5.6K: (5376×2688) @ 60/50/30/25 fps
- 4K: (3328×1664) @ 100/90/60/50 fps
Single-Lens:
- 4K: (16:9) (3840×2160) @ 60/50/30/25/24 fps
- 4K: (9:16) (2160×3840) @ 60/50/30/25/24 fps
- 4K: (4:3) (4000×3000) @ 60/50/30/25/24 fps
- 1080p: (16:9) (1920×1080) @ 60/50 fps
- 1080p: (9:16) (1080×1920) @ 60/50 fps
POV & Selfie Modes 360:
- 8K: @ 30/25/24 fps
- 5.6K: @ 60/50/30/25 fps
- 4K: @ 100/90/60/50 fps
Users can capture over 1 billion colors in 8K, and up to a 300Mbps bitrate with GoPro Labs, the highest on any consumer 360 camera. Pro-users can also use GP-Log Encoding with a LUT.
MAX2 Key features
- Supports up to 8K 360° Video
- 29MP 360° Photos
- HyperSmooth Stabilization, Horizon Lock
- 360° Audio Capture
- MotionFrame, Max HyperView Digital Lens
- Timecode Sync, App and Voice Control
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 Connectivity
- Rugged Body, Waterproof to 16′
- Replaceable Glass Lenses
- Includes MAX2 1960mAh Enduro Battery
The MAX2 replaceable lenses are made from super-strong optical glass, making them tough and difficult to break. And if they ever do get damaged, you won’t have to replace the entire camera; you just have to swap lenses.
MAX2 replaceable lenses will save the camera from permanent lens damage, whether it’s mounted on a selfie stick, attached to a helmet, or extended off the back of a motorcycle. The MAX2 lenses are easy to remove and replace by hand, out in-the-field. No special lens calibrations needed. Just swap them out in a couple of minutes by hand, and keep on shooting! The lenses are made from hardened, high-clarity glass that delivers exceptional optical performance, optimal light transmission, and remarkable durability. MAX2 lenses undergo advanced chemical strengthening to protect against everyday wear, and have specialized coatings that repel dust and water droplets.
There are four lens sizes to choose from: Narrow, Linear, Wide, and Max SuperView. HyperSmooth provides smooth stabilization for your action shots, featuring horizon lock leveling within the camera for super-steady footage in both HERO or 360 modes.
Editing 360 footage is called Reframing. You can pick the shots you want, then track objects, add dynamic movements and transitions, even use multiple Reframe modes in the same clip.
CameraFX lets users add motion with effects like Spin, Flip, Roll, Wobble, and Tiny Planet.
To complement the camera’s spherical video, spherical audio is also recorded. Using six microphones, you can record sounds from all directions, creating a totally immersive 360° surround-sound video playback experience. When shooting 360, the 6-microphone array captures clean stereo audio from all around you + reduces wind noise for the best sound quality ever in a GoPro. In Single Lens Mode, you can automatically match stereo audio width to your video field of view, or manually select Front, Back, or Match Lens options for precise control over where your audio is captured.
The MAX2 is waterproof to 16′ to protect it during light water shoots and from splashes and rain. The camera’s touchscreen provides quick and easy management.
The MAX2 also understands 14 voice commands in over ten languages and accents. It also features a USB-C output to offload your video to your computer.
The MAX2 comes with an Enduro 1960mAh (up from 1600mAh on the MAX) rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a curved adhesive mount, two protective lens caps, a mounting buckle, and a USB-C cable for charging. Recording on the MAX2 requires a minimum class 10 or UHS-1 microSD card up to 256GB in size. The MAX2 supports the HEVC video format, which records very small files while preserving image quality, saving you precious space on your SD card.
You can wirelessly synchronize multiple MAX2s via timecode in the Quik app. It’s perfect for when you want to capture an activity from multiple angles and then make precise, match-frame edits in post-production. Use matching timecode clips in Adobe Premiere Pro and other applications that support multi-camera editing for your next project.
The GoPro MAX2 is $499 USD.
Specifications
LIT HERO
The LIT HERO can capture UHD 4K60 and 12MP stills. It has a 16.4′ waterproof depth rating without the housing, and a 100 minutes of battery life.
Above, you can see the video specifications.
LIT HERO Key features
- UHD 4K30 Video, 12MP Photos
- UHD 4K60 2x Slow-Motion Video
- Built-In Light, 3 Brightness Settings
- HyperSmooth Video Stabilization
- Rear LCD Touchscreen
- Voice Control, Wi-Fi Connectivity
- 16.4′ Waterproof without Housing
- 100-Minute Battery Runtime, USB-C Port
- GoPro Quik App
There is a built-in LED light with 3 levels of brightness, and built-in mounting fingers work with any GoPro accessory, and 1/4-20 threads are compatible with industry-standard tripods.
The interface has easy capture modes where you can quickly move between Video, 4:3 Video, Slo-Mo, and Photo (a TimeLapse video mode is also coming soon).
Using all of the 165° lens, LIT HERO can shoot in a 4:3 aspect ratio that delivers a 25% taller field-of-view. You can also enable the ultra-wide SuperView digital lens in the Quik app for 16:9 video (perfect for YouTube), or crop vertically for social media (like TikTok).
While your GoPro is charging, shots auto-upload to the cloud, and a highlight video is sent to you. You can also edit your videos with our Quik app.
There is a replaceable lens cover, so you can swap it out if it’s ever damaged. Plus, the hydrophobic cover sheds water to keep shots crystal clear when things get wet.
The GoPro LIT HERO starts at $269.99 USD
Specifications
