GoPro HERO13 Camera & Underwater Housing Review

GoPro HERO13 CameraRegular Price: $399.99 Sale Price:$339.99Save: $60.00GoPro HERO12 CameraRegular Price: $349.99 Sale Price:$299.99Save: $50.00SEE ALL OUR DEALS The new GoPro HERO13 action camera has new features for both underwater and topside shooters. We put the GoPro HERO 13 to the test in our home kelp forests of Monterey, California and Goliath Grouper aggregations of Florida. In this article and the video below, we'll break down our results and thoughts on the new features and help determine if it's worth the upgrade for you. Watch our review for the GoPro HERO13. COOL UNDERWATER FEATURES The GoPro HERO13 includes a number of changes relevant to underwater video shooters, making it an appealing upgrade for users with older GoPro models. Here is our breakdown of our favorite features. Compatibility The GoPro HERO13 has the same body as the HERO9-12 and shares the same housing. This means if you have the GoPro HERO9 Protective Housing, Isotta, Anglerfish, or AOI UH-GPX housing for HERO9-12, you will not need to upgrade to a new housing. Further good news is that the housing accessories are the same as well. FLIP12 Filters, Backscatter Sharp Wide Lens Pro, and +15 MACROMATE MINI will all carry over. Color Correction and Lenses The current FLIP12 Filters play very well with GoPro HERO13, and so far color has been looking better than the GoPro HERO12. We also found we could use a combination of lights and filters with the GoPro HERO13, unlike our tests with previous models. We found the combination of video lights and filters together resulted in punchier, more saturated colors, while shooting just lights alone had a more natural look. It is up to you to decide what style works best for you. Watch the above video for examples. To get good color with a GoPro deeper than 20 feet (6 meters) you will need FLIP Filters to add red tones back in your image. The Backscatter Sharp Wide Lens Pro increases the field of view, sharpens the image, and allows you to focus closer. This can also be used with filters. We shot the GoPro HERO13 using the Backscatter Sharp Wide Lens Pro, which widens the field of view back to 140°, increases sharpness, and allows you to focus closer. This lens makes a huge impact on image quality, and we can’t imagine shooting wide angle without it. The only times we find ourselves removing the Backscatter Sharp Wide Lens Pro is for tighter shots, or to capture a skittish subject you can’t get too close to. See examples in the above video. FLIP Filters bring back color that would otherwise be missing at depth such as these sponges shot at 45 ft (15m). We also used the +15 MACROMATE MINI for close up macro work. The +15 MACROMATE MINI will fill the frame with something roughly the size of a golf ball. The +15 MACROMATE MINI paired with a tripod and a light makes for a great GoPro macro video setup. When shooting macro, be sure to set the lens to maximum zoom for the tightest shots and to minimize blurry corners. Make a custom setting named Macro as described below that includes maximum zoom for easy changes from macro to wide when underwater. Use FLIP Macro Lenses for Stunning Macro Photography.Shoot Longer with New Bigger, Better Batteries In our experience, the new Enduro battery for the GoPro HERO13 lived up to the hype. We had dives lasting up to 80 minutes with the GoPro HERO13 only dropping below 50% battery life within that time frame. Based on our hundreds of dives with GoPros, these batteries felt like twice the runtime of previous models and didn’t require constantly turning the camera off between clips. The new, larger, high capacity, 1900 mAh Enduro batteries provides more than 2.5 hours of continuous shooting at 1080 30p or over 1.5 hours at 4K 30, which GoPro claims is a 13.5% improvement over the previous battery type. The new Enduro battery is rated for use in low temperatures down to 14 °F (-10 °C), allowing cold water divers to take advantage of the updated battery life in all but the most extreme environments. Please note that the GoPro GoPro HERO13 is not compatible with the older Enduro-type batteries of previous GoPro models, though the extra battery life is well worth the upgrade. Brand-new high-capacity Enduro batteries delivered significantly longer run times. We had over 40% power remaining after 80 minute long cold water dives. Previous battery versions are not compatible with the Hero13.Improved Thermal Management & Bug Fixes GoPro claims to have improved thermal management with the GoPro HERO13 and our experience confirmed this. The new GoPro HERO13 has a built-in external heat sink that allows the camera to record longer without running into overheating limits. This is great news for underwater shooters since the confined space of the housing can result in heat build-up. The additional improvements in heat management will allow you to shoot without interruption for longer and we ran into no overheating limits during our dives. In addition to managing overheating, GoPro stated they updated the software to make the camera more stable, and we confirmed this with our tests dives and encountered no overheating, bugs, or crashes. Name Custom Settings to Find your Presets Easily GoPro has added the ability to name custom settings in camera rather than just with the phone app, making labeling your custom settings much easier than before. We were able to give recognizable names to each setting and could change throughout our dive using what we call the Secret Menu. You can access the Secret Menu by holding down the Mode Button and quickly pressing the Record Button. From there, you can cycle through each of your individually named custom presets such as Macro, Wide, and Super Slow Mo. The GoPro HERO13 allows you to name your custom presets in camera. Use the Secret Menu described above to switch modes when the camera is installed in a underwater housing. Focus Peaking - But Not Great Underwater We were excited to see focus peaking as an additional feature of the GoPro HERO13 specifically for macro shooting; however, this doesn’t work great underwater. You can force focus peaking on, but when doing so you cannot zoom the lens. Macro shooting requires maximum zoom, thus focus peaking is unfortunately relegated to land use with the new Macro Lens Mod. Despite not having focus peaking available, we got the same great results with the +15 MACROMATE MINI we are used to. Focus peaking works great with the Macro Lens Mod, but is not helpful for underwater macro shooting because you cannot use zoom. Denoise The GoPro HERO13 Black also features a Denoise setting in the Protune menu. Denoise is a feature that helps to manage the amount of noise that might appear in the image when shooting in low light. We experimented using each of the levels of Denoise: Low, Medium, and High, and found that Medium produced the best image quality while still managing noise in our video. High setting caused the image to become too soft and overall image quality suffered, while Low did not offer enough noise management for our liking in overcast conditions. Class Leading Stabilization for the Smoothest Clips The GoPro HERO13 sports GoPro’s Hypersmooth 6.0 image stabilization, which firmly holds the GoPro HERO13 as the most stable action camera on the market. We had surgey dives in both Monterey and Florida and found stabilization to be fantastic. Stability is one of our top concerns for any video system, and GoPro has continued to improve and lead the market with image stability features. Slow-Mo Burst Video Captures Critical Moments New to the GoPro HERO13 Black are video burst slo-mo modes, which we are looking forward to testing on future dives. These allow for full-resolution video in three different resolutions: 5.3K at 120 FPS for 5 seconds, 900p at 360 FPS for 10 seconds, or 720p at 400 FPS for 15 seconds. Burst mode can also be used with a timer if you are anticipating action or looking to nail a particular clip. It will be particularly helpful for fast-action clips, such as bait balls, or capturing movement sequences. NEW TOPSIDE FEATURES Not only does the GoPro HERO13 provide a number of improvements for underwater shooting, it also has many new features for shooting on land. Here are some of the most notable and exciting new features we look forward to using. Capture Every Scene with New Specialty Lenses The new Hero Black lens series can be used to tap into your creative potential for your next shoot. GoPro has introduced a Macro Lens Mod, Ultra Wide Lens Mod, ND Filters, and an Anamorphic Lens Mod. The camera can automatically detect the lens being used, allowing you to use additional features and modes suited to the lens in use. The new Macro Lens Mod allows you to shoot 4X closer with an adjustable focus. This is perfect for small-scale, tighter shots and allows you to take advantage of focus peaking. The Ultrawide Lens mod provides a wider field of view to capture the widest video possible. GoPro has also introduced four ND filters for motion blur. The GoPro HERO13 camera can detect the type of ND filter being used and will provide you with the best settings to achieve motion blur. For a cinematic look, GoPro also offers an Anamorphic Lens Mod with a 21:9 aspect ratio and lens flares for the most epic footage possible. The Anamorphic Lens Mod will be available in 2025. These new lenses are great accessories on land, but keep in mind they are not compatible inside the housing and cannot be used underwater. The GoPro HERO13 Black is compatible with a suite of new lenses. These will not fit in the housing and will only work when shooting the camera out of the water. Shoot Long Time Lapses with the Magnetic Door & Charging Cable The GoPro HERO13 also has new charging accessories, such as the Contacto magnetic door and cable kit. This provides power to the GoPro HERO13 without opening the battery door, making it perfect for all-weather time lapses or extended shoots. The Contacto Magnetic Door and Cable Kit allows for weather resistant external charging of the GoPro’s battery. This is perfect for long time lapses such as capturing star trails. Ease Using Magnetic Mounts and ¼-20 Threads GoPro has also introduced a magnetic mount, making it easy to snap your GoPro to a mount adapter without the use of thumbscrews. This makes quickly swapping the camera between different types of mounts and positions much more rapid and simple. The GoPro HERO13 Black now includes ¼-20" threads to allow it to easily adapt to most tripods without any additional mounting accessories. This means you need fewer GoPro specific items and can use many pre-existing tripods and accessories to mount your camera. CONCLUSIONShould You Upgrade? The GoPro HERO13 has many improvements, but should you upgrade from your older GoPro? If you are mostly shooting underwater, and have a GoPro HERO11 or older, it's definitely time to upgrade, as you will gain greatly improved image quality, lower noise, and significantly better color with underwater filters. If you are currently using a GoPro for topside shoots, the GoPro HERO13 is also a great choice, thanks to the new suite of lenses, mounting accessories, power and thermal management, and external charging kit. If you are shooting a GoPro HERO12, you might not see a major improvement in image quality, but if the new topside lenses and increased battery life is attractive, the GoPro HERO13 is well worth the upgrade. Overall, the GoPro HERO13 has a number of features attractive to underwater shooters, and topside shooters, making it a welcome addition to the GoPro family of cameras. With a now crowded field of action cameras GoPro still provides the best color, image stabilization, and all-weather battery life, making it our number one pick for an action camera. GoPro vs. DJI vs. Insta360 The action camera segment has become more crowded with the DJI Osmo 5 and Insta 360 Ace Pro becoming serious contenders for GoPro’s crown. The DJI Osmo 5 specifically has attractive features such as long battery life, and great low-light image quality. Unfortunately, these new cameras are currently not compatible with high quality underwater filters combined with underwater lenses. We're actively diving these cameras and working on filter and optical solutions, but don't expect availability anytime soon. GoPro currently has the most available accessories that make underwater video capture as painless as possible, such as great color with available filters, great stability, and high quality wide angle and macro lenses. In our opinion, this easily makes the GoPro HERO13 the clear choice for underwater action cam video for the near future. ProsSignificant Battery Life UpgradeImproved Underwater Color Over Hero12 with FiltersWorks Well with Filters and Lights at the Same TimeExcellent Stability Great Wide Angle and Macro Lens Options ConsNo Focus Peaking Underwater MacroCan’t Sync with a Strobe in Photo ModeNeeds Filters or Lights after 20 feet (6 meters)More Content to Come Stay tuned for our GoPro HERO13 Best Settings Guide coming soon. WHY BUY FROM BACKSCATTER?Free lifetime tech support with every purchase. We will beat any advertised price. 30+ years of in-house warranty service and repair. Free shipping to USA and Canada and low-cost international shipping.Learn more.GOPRO HERO13The GoPro HERO13 CameraGoPro HERO13 Black Camera Regular Price: $399.99 Sale Price: $339.99You Save: $60.00ORDER NOWThe GoPro HERO 13 Underwater HousingsGoPro HERO9 Protective, HERO10, HERO11, HERO12, & HERO13 Dive Housing $49.99ORDER NOWIsotta GoPro HERO9, HERO10, HERO11, HERO12, & HERO13 Dive Housing $540.00ORDER NOWRecsea SVH-HERO9-M HERO9, HERO10, HERO11, HERO12, & HERO13 Dive Housing $570.00ORDER NOWAnglerfish AFCL-GP9 HERO9, HERO10, HERO11, HERO12, & HERO13 Dive Housing $850.00ORDER NOWAnglerfish AFCL-GP9-F570 HERO9, HERO10, HERO11, HERO12, & HERO13 Dive Housing $1,399.00ORDER NOWAOI UH-GPX HERO9, HERO10, HERO11, HERO12, & HERO13 Dive Housing $1,499.00ORDER NOWOutfit Your GoPro With Our Popular PackagesBackscatter Sharp Wide Lens Pro $199.00ORDER NOWBackscatter Sharp Wide Lens Pro Kit $258.00ORDER NOWBackscatter Sharp Wide Lens Pro Package Regular Price: $296.00 Sale Price: $246.00You Save: $50.00ORDER NOWFLIP12 One Filter Kit Color Correction System with DIVE Filter Regular Price: $59.00 Sale Price: $39.00You Save: $20.00ORDER NOWFLIP12 Two Filter Kit with DIVE & DEEP Color Correction Filters Regular Price: $99.00 Sale Price: $79.00You Save: $20.00ORDER NOWFLIP12 Pro Package with DIVE & DEEP Filters and +15 MACROMATE Mini Regular Price: $218.00 Sale Price: $159.00You Save: $59.00ORDER NOWFLIP Wide Angle Blue Water PackageORDER NOWFLIP Wide and Macro PackageORDER NOWFLIP Macro and Green Water Wide PackageORDER NOWFLIP Macro Addict PackageORDER NOWFLIP Color Corrections Filters FLIP DIVE filter Bluewater Color Correction Red Filter $19.95ORDER NOW FLIP DEEP filter Bluewater Color Correction Red Filter $19.95ORDER NOW FLIP GREENWATER Color Correction Magenta Filter $19.95ORDER NOW FLIP FLUORESCENCE Filter $19.95ORDER NOWFLIP5 55MM Threaded DIVE Color Correction Filter $24.95ORDER NOWFLIP5 55MM Threaded DEEP Color Correction Filter $24.95ORDER NOWFLIP5 55MM Threaded GREENWATER Color Correction Filter $24.95ORDER NOWClose Focus and Macro Correction Lenses FLIP 55MM +10 Close-Up Lens $19.95ORDER NOW +15 MACROMATE MINI Macro Lens & FLIP 55mm Adaptor $119.00ORDER NOWFLIP Adapters & Accessories FLIP 55MM Filter Holder $19.95ORDER NOWFLIP FILTERS Neoprene Protective Pouch $5.99ORDER NOWFLIP FILTERS Neoprene Protective Wallet for Filters $9.95ORDER NOW

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