![]() ![]() Shooting 4K at 60fps is doubling the number of 4K frames of an already large image, so files get huge, fast. The upside is that HEVC helps keep file sizes down. Until your operating system catches up, you'll need to string together a few workarounds, but with Apple also adopting HEVC in iOS 11, be sure that compatibility will improve swiftly. That's a huge inconvenience if you're a casual user and want to edit these clips (and you probably do). Elmedia player works, but it's frankly not much use. VLC opens the files but barely plays them (for me). I tried the latest DivX player, which claims to do it, and ended up going in circles trying to get it to work. ![]() ![]() Mac users, for example, can't open these files on anything other than High Sierra without downloading dedicated (and often not very good) media players. This file format isn't universally supported yet. While GoPro's new camera can pump out high-framerate video, it's using HEVC compression for most of the new speeds. There's something important to note at this point. Sadly, Google is a little behind here - the Pixel 2 shoots only 4K//120. Note that the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus also shoot in 4K//240, so if you use your phone for a second angle, you can match the slow-mo shots at the same framerates - handy. That's an eight-fold slowdown over regular 30fps - perfect for catching exciting moments in high definition. That last combination - 1080p/240 - is going to be your go-to slow-mo setting for anything action-related. Now you have options for 2.7K at 120 and FHD/1080p at 240fps. What's really useful is that every other resolution has pretty much had its framerate doubled compared to the Hero 5. Yi's 4K+ action camera has offered this combination for a while, but it's still not that common, even in phones. Hero 6 can shoot 4K at 60fps, giving you a modest UHD slow-mo option for the first time on GoPro. Your perfectly landed lazerflip would either look choppy, slowed down to 15fps or, you would have to choose a lower resolution to get smooth slow-mo. That 30-fps limit meant no chance for slow-mo, though. Shooting in 4K still isn't all that practical for most people even pros don't use it all that much yet, but people like to have the option. The Hero 4 did 4K at 30fps, though, making it the go-to setting for maximum impact (and large file size). Older cameras (the Hero 3 and 3+) could shoot in UHD, but only at low framerates (15fps), which wasn't entirely useful. When the Hero 4 arrived, it ushered in the era of usable 4K for GoPro. We'd all love OIS to come to future GoPros, of course, and maybe it's on the roadmap, but for now, the Hero 6 is close to what most people need. Professional "pixel pushers" will still lament that the stabilization is being handled by software (rather than the superior optical "OIS" method), but for most users, it's a solid tool. But for most hand-held recording or mounting on shaky surfaces, it's a godsend. If you're mounting the camera in a place that's already fairly stable (your head, in a gimbal, or on a car, for example), it's better not to use EIS and keep the stabilization out of the mix. The Hero 6 consistently comes out looking not just smoother, but more natural, with almost no visual distortion. I took both cameras out, mounted side-by-side under different conditions (walking, skateboarding and so on), and every time the difference between the two was stark. This one feature is my favorite upgrade between the Hero 5 and the 6. The company has since advised that this was not accurate, and the crop still remains 10 percent. (An earlier version of this story stated the Hero 6 now only crops by 5 percent, a detail provided directly by GoPro. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy.
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