GoPro has been the standard in action cams for years and it provides a tremendous slate of models that span the spectrum from basic vlogging to extreme sporting. The Hero13 Black Ultra Wide Edition is the flagship of that lineup and pairs pro-level video capabilities with a larger angle of view that captures a greater portion of the scene than any typical action cam. It films 5.3K video at 60 frames per second, has 27-megapixel photo capabilities, and has the Ultra Wide Lens Mod included for a gargantuan 177-degree angle of view. Currently, Amazon has the price slashed to a new all-time-low of $329 from $479. That’s the lowest this model has ever gone, and it’s a hefty saving for a top-tier action cam.
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GoPro’s Most Immersive Camera
The Ultra Wide Lens Mod is the unique feature that sets this edition apart: Most action cameras offer a pretty good look around you, but the 177-degree viewing angle on this model is 36% wider and 48% higher than a typical Hero13 Black’s standard-issue viewing angle. That’s a lot more sky, a lot more horizon and a lot more of the scene in each and every frame.
If you’re mountain biking, skiing, or surfing (any sport where you want the audience to experience this visually as if they’re standing right next to you), this additional coverage is a game-changer. The wider angle also provides a better awareness of the speed and motion of the action directly around the camera so that it’s less likely to convey descents or high-adrenaline moments that are slower and less exciting than they are in real life.
The flagship spec is 5.3K at 60 frames per second and delivers beautifully clear footage that plays smoothly. You’ll also be able to shoot 4K at 120 frames per second for your slo-mo shots, or 2.7K at 240 frames per second for very slow-mo effects. The Hero13 Black also comes equipped with Burst Slo-Mo for when you want to push things to the absolute extreme by cranking things to a very impressive 400 frames per second at 720p for 15 real-time seconds. That’s slo-mo enough to achieve clarity on details such as water droplets suspended in the air, or sparks flying around or debris hurtling through the air in extreme detail. For static photography the camera captures 27-megapixel images and you’ll also be able to pluck 24.7-megapixel static images directly from your movie sequences if you happen to miss a moment that you hadn’t anticipated.
One of the Ultra Wide Edition’s biggest advantages is the 1:1 aspect ratio recording function. Most cameras will compel you to choose horizontal or vertical framing before you even get started but the 1:1 format records a square frame that’s high enough and wide enough to crop for both directions in post-production. This gives you the ability to shoot once and thereafter have the option of deciding whether or not you want to export it as a 16:9 landscape format YouTube video or a 9:16 vertical video for the Instagram Reels or TikTok app.
HyperSmooth video stabilizing has been a hallmark of Gopro cameras for years, and the Hero13 Black ramps it up a notch with HyperSmooth 6.0. Advanced algorithms in the camera smooth out shakes, bumps and vibration in real time so your footage appears steady even when you’re flying down a bumpy trail or navigating rocky water. The stabilizing is called unbreakable because it operates in all resolutions from 4K at 60 frames per second.
The camera is also rugged and waterproof to 5 meters when you have the Ultra Wide Lens Mod attached, and it drops to 10 meters when you replace it with the included standard lens. The Ultra Wide Lens is not designed for submersion because it’s not suitable for underwater work so if you’re going to snorkel or submerse yourself, you’ll want to change to the standard lens.
At $329, this is the all-time lowest for the Hero13 Black Ultra Wide Edition and a very sizable reduction from the typical $479.
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