GoPro Hero 7 vs Hero 8 : What’s the Difference?
The GoPro Hero 8 is here and everyone wants to know how good it is vs. the Hero 7. While it may just look like every other GoPro model there are a few key changes this time around. Yes the Hero 7 is a very accomplished model in itself but for those of you who really want the bang for your buck you might want to look into the details to decide whether the Hero 8 is worth the extra money against the older Hero 7. One thing is for sure though, you can’t go wrong buying either of the models. Here we discuss some of the key differences between the Hero 8 and the Hero 7.
Built in Mounting rings:
The biggest change the Hero 8 brings vs the Hero 7 is the built-in mounting rings. This has been the biggest physical change in a GoPro since a while. Many of the previous models including the Hero 7 need to attach a frame if you want to mount your GoPro to anything. The Hero 8 changes that, as it has prongs on the bottom that slip out and can attach to any standard GoPro mount. While this may not sound so groundbreaking you can now swap out a battery or replace the MicroSD card while the Hero 8 Black remains mounted.
HyperSmooth 2.0 and Boost Mode:
The Hero 7 brought in the HyperSmooth stabilization feature, which is the best thing about the Hero 7. The thing about HyperSmooth on the Hero 7 is that you cannot use it on formats with higher frame rates. The Hero 7 had no stabilization on 240fps and standard stabilization on 120 fps. The Hero 8 brings HyperSmooth 2.0 eliminating this issue. You get stabilization in all shooting modes and frame rates. Another addition is Boost, which lets you keep your camera gimbal-like level while filming during running or cycling for example.
The Mods:
The new unique feature of the Hero 8 is the mods that come with it. These are accessories separately sold that you can buy to give you an edge in filming. While the mods arrive in 2020 they will only be available for the Hero 8. The Media mod gives you a shotgun mic for superior audio along with a 3.5mm mic input, a micro HDMI out, a USB-C port and two cold shoes to attach other accessories. The display mod gives you a 2-inch front facing screen so you know what’s in your frame when shooting. The Light mod attaches a small 200 lumens light for filming in darker situations.
Better Audio:
Even though the Media mod will give this a further boost the GoPro Hero 8 comes with built-in improved mic that is wind optimized. According to GoPro this will give you ‘higher fidelity audio’. This means the Hero 8 is much better built for handing audio at higher speeds, and better capable of cutting out noise from wind. While this is not something too huge, it may make a difference to you if you plan on shooting fast moving videos such as while riding a bike.
Other Upgrades:
There are some other differences between the Hero 7 and Hero 8 but nothing too revolutionary. The Hero 8 brings in SuperPhoto 2.0 and LiveBurst Shooting. SuperPhoto is simply an upgrade to GoPro’s HDR image processing. LiveBurst, however, maybe something promising. With it, you can capture 1.5 seconds of 12MP images before and after pressing the shutter (or a 3-second 4K footage). Then you can select the best image you like.
