GoPro 11 Black -
As a perfect storm of professional writer and photographer, I’ve spent the vast bulk of my life as the man firmly behind the camera, dodging out of photographs with all the skill of an Mi6 agent and avoiding being captured on video in a manner, only so far bettered by Bigfoot.
However, the world of ‘media’ that has moved in for decades has changed and while I still believe in the power of the written word, the power of video and photography has taken over our devices. Today, with the likes of Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram dictating how people both live, record and share their lives; the power to engage is now utterly within the image, be that stills or 4K video streaming.
For those who do utilize a professional YouTube channel to make sacks of cash, social influencers looking to bring in bigger brands to them, TikTokers desperate for ever more attention, or just extreme life enthusiasts who simply enjoy making quality recordings of their each and every near-death adventures, it does the lot.
Okay, getting a tad more techie. Capable of snapping stills and capturing the highest quality video in either landscape or portrait mode, the GoPro HERO11 Black shoots a massive 27-megapixels in 8:7 aspect ratio and video in a delicious choice of 5.3K @60fps, 4K @120fps or 2.7K @240fps resolutions, an epically wide FOV (Field of View) thanks to a spankingly new image sensor and a threesome of 16:9, 4:3 or 8:7 aspect ratios.
What all that adds up to is a camera capable of rendering every recording, whether an extreme close-up make-up tutorial or breath-takingly cinematic first-person panoramic footage of you winding your, wingsuited way out of a light aircraft, into an absolute work of immersive pixel-perfect art. What’s more, if the latter example of typical HERO11 usage is more you, then you’ll absolutely fall for the 11’s Emmy Award-winning HyperSmooth 5.0 video stabilization with Horizon Lock.
On the sound side – equally important if the content you create sees you lip-synching to songs, giving crystal clear instructions, or is a simple but vital to the video soundtrack of you and your pals whooping like loons, as you scream your way around the mountain bike trails in Crosby, MN. – the HERO11 Black won’t disappoint you or the ears of your online fan base either. Naturally, there’s a nicely attentive built-in mic positioned just beneath the camera, but you can also upgrade your audio (and indeed lens and lighting) options thanks to GoPro’s wide, wide range of available HERO11-improving mods and accessories.
Just to keep you constantly in the picture, there are two LCD displays on the HERO11, a non-touch front-facer, that’s there mostly to help you keep yourself in frame when shooting selfie stuff, and a pleasingly (but not too) sizable screen round the back, that gives you 2.27 inches of very responsive touchscreen control that’s also bright enough to be usable even on savagely sunny days.
The rear display gives access to all camera functions depending on how proficient you are. Indeed, you can even choose to work with the ‘Easy’ or ‘Pro’ controls set-up via the GoPro Quik app (iOS and Android), from where you can also remotely alter all functions to best suit yourself and operate the camera itself from. So, if you’ve used the 11’s built-in mounting fingers and any of the available mounting options, to set the HERO itself up somewhere out of reach, you can simply use your phone to select the function you want and start recording, and even zoom in and out should the shot require it.
While the HERO11 is perfectly adept at recording high-res stuff for your TikTok account and snapping those 27MP shots for Instagram, there’s little doubt, given how hard-as-nails and highly advanced it is, that this little Black beauty was built for those who like to grind-up the Great Outdoors, at speed on the ground, from great heights and even down to 33ft of deep depths – it’s existence is really for adventurers, extreme sports indulgers, and those who like to live life on the edge, and for them it excels.
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