On the heels of the latest Hero 8 Black action cam with more vlogger capabilities, GoPro has upped the game on their immersive Overcapture 360° VR camera, too. The new GoPro Max is a total reboot for the virtual reality action cam, getting a more compact camera body that’s easier to take with you everywhere, plus boosted internals for more immersive, higher resolution footage, improved slo-mo capabilities, and the same video smoothing tech that makes the Hero footage great. Oh, and you can use it like a single lens Hero too!
GoPro Max more powerful, compact 360° VR action camera
Like the latest Hero 8 action cam, the new GoPro Max get upgrades both inside & out. Shifting from the Fusion name to the Max, the new immersive virtual reality camera shrinks down to about the same width as the Hero, even with its dual spherical lens layout. The new smaller 360° VR also gets the same integrated mounting tabs as the new Hero, making it easier than ever to mount the Max directly to a helmet or handlebar mount. And now with a touch screen display and the ability to shoot simple single lens Hero-style video, this may be the only GoPro you need!
UPDATE: Final GoPro MAX tech specs and HERO 8 comparison posted here.
GoPro MAX tech details
Inside, even with a smaller casing, the Max upgrades it video capabilities, now touting the same 4K 60fps recording of the Hero, or even 2.7K at 120fps for 4x slo-mo playback out of its slightly offset spherical lenses.
The higher res 30fps recording ups its output a bit to 5.6K over 5.2 of the original Fusion, but the new 2.7K120 sounds much more appealing than the Fusion’s original 3K60.
Also we now see 360° Max versions of HyperSmooth for image stabilization, TimeWarp for killer time lapse photo sequences & videos, and SuperView for beautiful high dynamic range images.
Plus, now with a single-lens mode, the Max can do the job of a Hero with a built in front-facing display and 1440p or 1080p video at 60fps. Or go for the dual-lens mode for the full 360 video camera experience!
Snap 16.6MP 360° photos or 5.5MP Hero mode stills. There is also a new 1-click 270° 6.2MP panoramic photo mode too.
This new GoPro Max gets the same fold-away Floating Fingers mounting tabs as the latest Hero 8 Black so that you don’t need the additional bulk or complexity of an extra case to mount the camera to your helmet, bar, or selfie stick. Also combine with the smaller overall format, that means that even if you do need a more protective case, it will be significantly less bulky than before with the Fusion.
It also now gets 6 on-board microphones for unparalleled 360° audio. That makes it the best choice for stereo recording or even vlogging, at the same time boosting wind cancellation performance.
Looking at the software than makes it all work, the new GoPro Max uses the same Overcapture tech that records every angle of the action, and lets you go back in post-production to create footage that can pan & scan around as you are moving. Or of course you can output the full 360° footage that the software automatically stitches together, so you can share a VR video where the viewer can control the perspective as they watch. The new camera also packs the same software stabilization that GoPro claims is on par with mechanical gimbal setups.
Of course still a GoPro, the Max is built for recording in harsh environments, and like the Hero is waterproof and mountable just like a regular action cam – although the Max is rated dow to just 5m/16′ of water. Now with its own touchscreen, it also features voice control and works seamlessly with the GoPro mobile app.
GoPro Max pricing & availability
The new Max is available now for preorder for $500 / 530€ making it a much better deal than the older Fusion it replaces. For that price you will get the Max camera, a protective travel case, two stick-on mounts and the mini GoPro selfie grip/tripod, plus a 64GB card if you buy direct from GoPro. The GoPro Max is expected to ship to most global markets before the end of this month – with a current estimate of Oct 25, 2019.
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