Gopro Hero 8 v Hero 9 review: why the 8 will probably be better︱Cross Training Enduro

www.crosstrainingenduro.com tractionerag.com Thinking of getting a Gopro Hero9 Black action cam? For many, you should probably buy the Gopro 8 while it's still available at the discounted price. Here is the Gopro9 Black review from a motocycling perspective, but my comments may be relevant if you are trying to decide between the two. We did an earlier Gopro Hero8 Black review, see the relevant video. So which is the best action cam? A common criticism of Gopro is they don't iron out all the bugs before release, and we consumers become the guinea pigs. The Gopro Hero 9 Black was no exception. Problems with overheating, voice commands not working, unable to connect, screen lag and freezing, the list goes on and on. Firmware updates appear to have solved most issues. It makes a lot of sense not to buy a new Gopro until at least the first firmware update is released. So quickly, in what ways is the Gopro Hero9 Black better than the Gopro Hero8 Black?The resolution is higher, 5k instead of 4k. Although 4k is more than enough for most users. If you are vlogging the front screen is bigger and can be used for viewing yourself.
The rear screen is slightly bigger too on the Gopro Hero 9 Black. Gopro claim battery life is 30% longer, tests show that is a fairly accurate claim.
The lens cap is removable on the 9, it was fixed on the 8 so couldn't be replaced if damaged. However, most of us buy the very cheap but effective tempered glass for the lens and screens which protect the Gopro Hero8 Black model well. Gopro claim their image stabilisation has improved, personally I can't see the difference, at least not for motorbike riding. Finally, Gopro has introduced the Max lens mod for the 9 model. Once you look into this, most will find it's not a worthwhile addition especially at the cost. Research this and see what you think. In what ways can the Gopro Hero 9 Black be worse? It's bigger and heavier. For many, this won't be an issue. But for motorbike riding, the camera is usually mounted to the helmet and it's surprising how you do notice the extra size and weight. Not a deal breaker, but noticeable. Unfortunately theGopro Hero9 Black still freezes regularly and you need to pop the battery out and back in to reset it. Firmware updates and fast SD cards reduce the problem, but it seems to happen with every single model, the Gopro Hero8 Black included. To make this worse, the new battery door is harder to open on the Gopro 9 model. In fact mine was so hard, I was breaking finger nails trying to open it so used a screwdriver. Gopro sent me a new door which is a bit better, but not by much. I don't know how widespread this is, but I have seen others complain. The files formats appear to be the same, but I find the files from the Gopro 9 are harder for my computer to handle. They take longer to import, they don't play smoothly in preview, they take longer to render. I have a very high spec gaming laptop so this is quite annoying when I make videos for a living. I'm keen to see if others experience this too. The on off button is not as reliable as the Gopro Hero8 Black model. Sometimes I have to press up to three times before I can get it to work. Admittedly this is wearing motorbike gloves, but there were never problems with the Gopro 8. Ditto with the touch screen, it doesn't respond as well as the Gopro Hero8 Black model did. And a very strange glitch, often my very first recording for the day defaults to time warp, but is fine after that. Very annoying if you really wanted that first file to record properly. Hopefully the next firmware update will get that sorted. So my conclusion? I suspect that the average user may benefit with buying the Gopro Hero 8 Black. It's heavily discounted, bug-free, smaller, lighter, and already has more features than most of us will fully use. But are you vlogger? Do you regularly film in 4k so the bigger 5K resolution will be handy for zooming in? Is the Max lens mod useful? Is longer battery life critical? These would all be good reasons to shell out the extra cash for the Gopro Hero 9 Black. Keen to hear about your experiences about the Gopro 8 v Gopro 9 debate, let us know in the comments.
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[@crosstrainingenduro]

WHERE IS IT MADE? Viewers are increasingly asking about the country of manufacture. Gopro is still a USA company and models sold in the USA are made in Mexico. The rest of the world? Made in China or Thailand.

[@twowheelpilot]

Like alot of the KTM bikes and/or parts now then! That or Indian. KTM what is going on? Austrian or it's not a KTM. Sick of seeing made in China on many things KTM!

[@2WheelDerness]

How is the sound quality for both? 9 is better? I was looking for enduro rides to see the engine vs wind noise comparison on both...I think for hypersmooth I dont see a noticably difference and I dont use 5k...

[@mxgryan]

Absolutely disagree. For a motorcycle rider the battery capacity alone is enough justification for get the Hero 9.

[@claudioteixeira5917]

The size and wheith to!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

But I said at the end of the vid that's why the 9 might suit some riders... so you are diagreeing my agreement? 😂 "...Is longer battery life critical? These would all be good reasons to shell out the extra cash for the Gopro Hero 9 Black."

[@mxgryan]

@@crosstrainingenduro haha. Yes it's critical, at least for me. On my 8 I have to go to the track or hit the trails with a handful of batteries and swap them every 30 minutes. With the Hero 9 on the right settings I can get almost 2 hours sometimes. So much nicer!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I wonder if there was bad batch of batteries? A few others have said they only got 30 mins on Gopro 8 batteries... my experience has always been about an hour, what Gopro says and most other users seem to report.

[@mxgryan]

@@crosstrainingenduro in all honesty I get about 45 minutes...but because of my anxiety I change them at 30! Haha

[@MidCoastAdventures]

Good review 😎👍 I had the option of an 8 or 9 a few weeks back, I opted for the 8. My videos are recorded in 1080-60, and come out super sharp. So don't forget the importance of good editing software, and choosing high rendering settings. More important than sheer file size due to "higher" 4 k settings etc.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

If you are using the default settings then Gopro adds constrast, sharpness and saturation. For best results, it's usually best to film without these using Protune, then add in post-production. I"m sure you know this, but just in case anyone else is reading...

[@ethansmallsandthescaldeddo7645]

Thanks for the solid advice, as an aspiring channel operator this is gold material

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Happy to help, Ethan! Of course it always pays to check a pile of reviews as everyone has a different angle. I always find the biggest problem is finding actual reviews... too many fake ones just rave about the camera because they are given free cameras in exchange for rave 'reviews'.

[@Alan-bj9nb]

The only reason I purchased the 9 is for the Hindsight feature. You can record 15 or 30 seconds in the past from when you hit record. The downside is that the battery is used faster. However, I just connected 10,000 mAh external battery for longer recording...used 3M locking tape to connect to the helmet. It works well so far.

[@dirtbikesicehockey4788]

I'm still using a movie projector so I would be happy with either

[@braapyolefart4865]

Where can I get replacement cassettes for my super8 cam?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Super8 is the fancy stuff. We are still on standard 8.

[@tysleight]

So your the one that needs 4k with your big projector screen I watch on little phone screen and .75k is all I need😄

[@JDRELGOR]

I've got the 8 black, TBH I use it in 1080 ( can't tell the difference between 4k and 1080 ) 60fps with stabiliser on but not boost. I use it when green laning and riding my horse over cross country fences, great quality film and sound it picks up all the swearing on the lanes from near misses🤣 the only thing I would recommend is get the best card possible to record on👍

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Yes, I find the Sandisk Ultra cards are great if not filming in 4k or 1080 at 120 frames per second. Otherwise go the Sandisk Extreme. Also I find doing a full reformat for each ride reduces the camera freezing issue a bit. But it still happens way too often.

[@MidCoastAdventures]

"I use it in 1080 ( can't tell the difference between 4k and 1080 ) 60fps with stabilizer on but not boost" I agree, and do the same. Also remember most comp, phones and TV's are only 1080 resolution. For me editing software and rendering in high settings seems the key to super clear videos. Cheers.

[@dmddksi]

Using gopro 9 with max lense mode And pretty satisfied👍 I carry external battery and just plug it in to gopro so I don't have to worry about batteries.

[@RideTheTrack]

Battery life improvement is fantastic 5K is good to have but realistically I record mostly in 4k I love the front screen, it helps a lot with framing the when you cannot see the rear screen Very glitchy when new, but the firmware updates have helped The touchscreen is very unresponsive. Surprised you missed this one because literally everyone I know is having issues with this one I love the max lens mod because it keeps the horizon level (showing instead the bike leaning side to side when mounted on the fuel tank during cornering - this is a wonderful mounting position for sportbikes on race tracks but maybe not so for offroad bikes) The max lens mod also allows a wider field of view with less distortion when compared to regular superview with horizon levelling switched off With removable front lens caps, mounting stuff like ND filters is also so much easier Overall I love the 9, never regretted selling the 8 to get it

[@crosstrainingenduro]

"The touchscreen is very unresponsive. Surprised you missed this one..." I didn't, this got a mention in the vid. Good to hear you are enjoying the 9. Unfortunately for my purposes I would have been better off staying with my 8. But I can see why the 9 will work well for some.

[@muppets_inc]

I've been using the GoPro 9 for the last year or so. Overall it's a great camera, HOWEVER, from day one I have experienced random camera freezing which can only be fixed by pulling the battery - as you have noted Barry. I've tried all of the official "fixes" and none have made any difference. I've learned to live with it, making sure I regularly check to make sure the camera is actually working when riding.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

This really gives me the shits, Coxy. It's happened on every model, whereas the Sony FDX X3000 never froze... not once in years of use. Gopro should have addressed this years ago. Doing a full reformat of the SD card for each ride helped a bit. But Gopro really needs to fix this basic blunder in their system.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Does your computer find it takes longer to process Gopro 9 vids?

[@muppets_inc]

@@crosstrainingenduro I can't really comment on that as I've also changed from recording in 4K back to 1080. For the rendering that I did do, I didn't notice any huge change. I should note, I remove the card from the camera and plug it straight into my laptop for file transfers too.

[@laosgpsmapmidnitemapper9411]

Fantastic B Roll ~ Wet trails are so colorfull and fun to ride

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I love those days where the video footage looks good! The Australian sun is well known for being too harsh to make decent videos. I rarely film on sunny days now and wait for the overcast days....

[@mdavidlem]

I have both the 8 and 9 and I never use the 8 anymore. There's one very nice feature you may have overlooked and that's in-camera horizon leveling. That's where the 5K comes in. You don't need 5k for filming but to give more pixel real estate to compensate for the horizon leveling. Also, the Max lens is extremely welcome for many types of filming. However, for your type of riding it may be too easily damaged. I use it all the time for making e-bike video's where I have to film myself riding. Reminds me of your earlier filming days where you would use that rotating thing on your helmet :-) Also, you mention the file format being hard to digest by your fast computer. Look in the GoPro settings. There's an option to change to the 'old' or 'new' format. Hope you are well and your back is hurting less. Cheers!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Good points, David... and that's where the motorcycling angle comes in. Horizon levelling doesn't work well as you get that 'magic carpet ride' effect and it doesn't feel like true motorbike footage. And as you say, the Max lens would be damaged too easily. Without the motorbike perspective, I think the 9 would be the best choice for most users. Re: the file formats, I did try both and they are equally slow and 'clunky' to edit and render. Did you find any difference?

[@mdavidlem]

@@crosstrainingenduro I kind of like the magic carpet ride, also on the motorbike but I guess that's more a matter of taste. I work on a Mac and haven't noticed clunkiness but that could be a combination of editing software and PC

[@huskypoop4917]

im looking into this barry thanks for the review ;]

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Hope it's useful!

[@JakeHollibone]

Had a hero 2 that died after not much use over 2 or so years. Since that i have steered away from go pro and got a xiaomi 4k still going strong 4 years later with similar amount of use and never in an actual hard case. Does pretty much everything i could want definitely worth a look for the average punter

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I would definitely suggest going the cheaper brands if not chasing the best footage possible, Jake. From what I see, there are plenty of cheaper cameras doing a good job.

[@kingkottah]

I bought one back in February and have only had the chance to use it twice but the biggest thing I've noticed is the weight. I admit I never used a helmet cam before this but I do find that is feels like it somewhat pulling my helmet down. That's mounted below the visor haven't tried a chin mount yet.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

It is a bit of a shame it got heavier, at least for us motorbike riders who are more likely to notice it. Having said that though, right through other sports it's often attached to helmets so there could be complaints about the weight in other sports too...

[@CommieHunter7]

I have the 9, just got it recently. I have not experienced the downsides you've mentioned, at least not yet. No freezing/hanging. The battery door is tight, but I think it contributes to it's waterproofness. Of course, I haven't broken a nail on it. I wonder if the render times are just due to the difference between 5k and 4k?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

As mentioned, the replacement battery door is better but it's still an effort to open... a bit annoying out on the tracks when it does freeze. Gloves off, door open, battery out. And of course all the guys race off on the track I wanted to film. Grrrrrr! I'm only filming in 1080p/30fps and I use a high spec gaming laptop for editing. It ripped through Gopro 8 files but struggles with the 9 files, using either file format on offer. You haven't found this with your 9, Adam?

[@CommieHunter7]

@@crosstrainingenduro agree with the batt door with gloves, when you're missing footage. I haven't yet edited footage on my laptop, only been sharing clips via the Quick app on my phone so far, so can't comment on the laptop editing time until later this week.

[@fynn8252]

I got the Hero 9 as a gift. BIG upgrade over my old Hero 3+! My complaints: The door is weird to open. Menu navigation isn't super responsive but it works decently. Battery life is OK but I always end up using my 2nd battery. Can't connect the camera to my computer, instead I need to remove the SD card and use an adapter. Playback stuttering is sometimes an issue. (Less problematic on my less powerful laptop but it has an SD reader) (Opinion) - Front screen is unnecessary for me and it just adds more complexity and another thing that can break. The GoPro app is super slow and takes FOREVER to transfer files. (Same problem with my old Hero 3+) Never had a problem with the screen freezing or the buttons. Overall, SO much better video quality and many more features compared to my old camera. 9/10, would recommend!

[@HippoDrones]

There is a setting you need to change which will allow you to connect it to your PC and get the files off it. I had the same issue with my 9 and my 8 until I realised. Once changed it will be recognised by your PC! :-)

[@fynn8252]

@@HippoDrones Ill give that a shot! It would for sure reduce the hassle.

[@HippoDrones]

@@fynn8252 I think it is in the connections menu / USB Connection change it from "GoPro Connect" to "MTP"

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Ditto. I was getting so annoyed until I realised you had to change it to 'MTP'.

[@SANDS78]

What about other brands? I've been using the sjcam sj7 star for a few years and it's been very reliable. Just bought a cheap vupoint from ScAmazon Slime for a backup while in Colorado. We'll see how it does.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

For all their quirks and problems, Gopro are pretty much top of the heap if you are spending big. But there are definitely plenty of budget options that do a reasonable job.

[@EddyOtway]

I haven’t had mine freeze, but the last time I imported to my iPhone all the files were in slo-mo. Had a lot of issues with the quality of my videos, getting a bit of blur and noise at times thought it was my editing software so tried something else and it’s still there, finally found a video that shows how to fix it in pro tune even though I had tried different settings in pro tune, so will try that the next time. Was very frustrating I tried 4k but it just looked crap then 2.7k same thing so I’m back to 1080🙄🤷🏼‍♂️

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I don't like Gopro's default settings, I always aim for a very 'flat' natural file then add the contrast, colour and sharpness while editing. It's weird that it looks bad in 4k. Could your device not have codecs or the oomph to handle the resolution?

[@EddyOtway]

@@crosstrainingenduro yeah need to upgrade the computer badly

[@SSYoung125]

GoPro hero6 still going strong but it's nice to know that the overheating issue is common on all GoPros I was worried that mine was dying

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Is that filming in 4k, Spencer? I have only ever used 1080p so never had a Gopro overheat yet.

[@SSYoung125]

@@crosstrainingenduro No, 1080p wide 60fps it's pretty old, seen a couple wrecks. just got back from gold creek, idaho and it just stopped recording on a 83°day about... 3 hours in of non continuous recording but it has had its fair share if freezing up and its first time overheating on monday the battery was uncomfortable to hold in my hand... made me nervous

[@PNWEnduro]

I went from a 7 to the 9. The stabilization is much better as is the battery life and the audio is very good when you add media mod. The size is virtually the same when you consider the 7 has a case and the 9 does not. I did not buy an 8 because of the poor battery life and lens.

[@tazyt3388]

Still taping slides together n flapping them through me 8mm hehe good tips baz cheers

[@crosstrainingenduro]

No school like the old school!

[@davidl7517]

Looking to buy one the 8 or the 9, has a new firmware come out yet? If so has it changed the freezing problem?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Check the Gopro website for the latest. I doubt the freezing problem will ever go away completely.

[@JagLite]

I was using an SJ4000 and it was just okay, terrible sound, no stabilization, short battery life, etc. I decided I wanted to replace my SJ and when my P&S Nikon died I thought it was a good time to spend the money on the latest GoPro 9 Black and use it as my only camera for everything. I bought the camera, two additional batteries, SD cards, and various mounts and covers designed for the 9. When it arrived I discovered it is not plug in compatible with Windows 10 on my laptop so I have to pull the SD card and connect it using a card reader. Of course since it won't connect by cable I couldn't download the latest update. And, the screen often did not register any commands. After searching online I found several very helpful pages and YT videos. One showed me how to download the updates onto the SD card by creating the file folder it needs for the camera to locate it and auto update. That solved some of the issues. Another web page mentioned that the touch screen will NOT recognize any input unless you are touching or holding the camera body when using the screen. That was a HUGE help and solved most of my issues with the camera. I thought the camera was frozen and had to pull the battery for a reset, and/or format the SD card, when the problem was I was holding the camera by one of my mounts and wasn't touching the camera body. Now I know to touch the body and everything works and I can do it one handed. Still the touch screen often takes several tries to respond so it is not great in my opinion. But one of the advantages of the GP 9 is the presets you can set up using the ProTune that is in the camera. I have several video presets as well as multiple presets for pictures. I can quickly go from one video preset to another or to a pictures preset in a few seconds and that works great. The image stabilization is amazing. I watch my camera shaking all over the place while riding a dirt road or trail with it mounted on a 12" long Flexi Clamp or other mount and when I download and watch the video it looks like I was on a smooth paved street. I am getting better at using the 9 every day and understanding its quirks helps. Would I buy it again knowing all the common problems? I don't know. When I researched the many action cameras online it seemed that they all have issues. Different issues certainly but non are perfect. The battery in my GP 9 lasts amazingly long, and that is very important to me for my use, the side cover door was quite a challenge the first few times I opened it but since then it hasn't been difficult. A very tight seal to waterproof the camera needs to loosen up I think. The replaceable lens protector is great and it allows the installation of filters (ND, etc.)

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I had the same issue with my computer not connecting with the new Gopro 9 camera. Eventually I found out you have to choose a setting buried somewhere in the sub-menus to allow this. If you are unhappy with the door, I'd ask them for a new one as it might be better than the new one. They will send it out free of charge. Glad you are enjoying the camera!

[@JagLite]

@@crosstrainingenduro Thanks mate! I have no trouble with the door after the first few openings and I usually have an aftermarket aluminum door on it because it has a cable hole, not waterproof but the original door is easy to switch back on. I'm glad you were able to find the setting to get the camera and computer talking. I will start searching online for a how-to on that.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

It's some stupid setting called 'MTP' that is new to the 9. It's annoying the shit out of many 9 users lol. community.gopro.com/t5/Cameras/Hero-9-Black-Not-recognized-by-Windows-10-pro/td-p/759602

[@JagLite]

@@crosstrainingenduro Thanks for the link! Unfortunately my computer isn't showing the settings option for the USB so I am still working on getting it figured out but now there is hope! I did discover there was a new update released yesterday (6-22-2021) for the Hero 9 and I was able to install it using the manual method and downloading the update onto the SD card. Thanks again for your help it is very much appreciated!

[@HippoDrones]

I have both the 8 and 9. I still use the 8 as helmet cam as it is far more reliable. I currently use the 9 on a chesty with the Max lens mod fitted, and really like how that footage feels. When the Hero 10 comes out, the 9 will just about be useable fully as they will have ironed out the bugs by then. So in short, I agree, get the 8 now if you want a reliable camera from the off, or grab the 9 if you can cope with it having some issues for a bit. I do love the Max lens in my current use, but will switch back to the standard lens if I ever use it as a helmet cam. I also very much love the extended battery life. I only record in 2.7k as it looks great, but annoyingly I don't think the Hero 9 can record 2.7k at 30fps unless using the Max lens mod, which is just stupid. They may have added that in a firmware update, not sure.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Gopro reminds me of KTM sometimes... they are keen to innovate but the consumer gets all these bugs in the first year. I'm glad I didn't buy this 9 until they had a few firmware updates come out.

[@HippoDrones]

@@crosstrainingenduro 100% I think their cameras should have a "this product is in development" sticker on the packaging for the first year.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

🤣 Great idea!

[@HippoDrones]

@@crosstrainingenduro 😁

[@mikez104]

I've had many different gopro's and they are all buggy at best. The most reliable thing about any gopro is that you can rely on it to freeze up right when you have something interesting happen on your ride. Has happened way too often.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Tell me about it! So many times I go to record something then it freezes. So it's gloves off, pull the camera out, gloves back on. And then I have to catch up with the guys again and I missed filming the best bit. It's happened on every single Gopro model for years.... GET IT FIXED, GOPRO!

[@Superdisco199]

Can I ask if this is filmed with the 8 or the 9 ? I was finding that your video would get a little blurry in your Hero 8 Review as soon as you started moving whereas it looks a bit better here. I've been looking at Hypersmooth 4.0 on the 10 and the image looks a bit tooo smooth to me. Almost not real.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I think this was mostly the 9, Andrew. But KZbin can really mess with the vids too so I suspect you can't really tell from that sort of comparison. See if they have a mid setting on the 10. It would probably be fine on that?

[@Superdisco199]

Thanks, you're spot on - there are different modes but both look a bit surreal to me! lol Appreciate the tip!

[@twowheelpilot]

Happy with my Hero 7 Black edition. Still has removable lens cover too. Had all the freezing issues when I first got it. Battery life worse than crap. I still have a TomTom Bandit camera and in alot of ways that is better than the go pro. Hypersmooth won me over on the go pro however.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Quite a few brands seem to be getting close to the Gopro in many respects except for their stabilisation, it's been amazing from the 8 model and on.

[@twowheelpilot]

@@crosstrainingenduro Hypersmooth started on the Hero 7 Black edition. Seems excellent to me, are you saying the 8 is better with the hypersmooth?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Well the digital stabilization started back on the 5 model... hyersmooth is just a marketing term Gopro came up with for the 7 model. In my experience, it was very clunky on the 5. It improved on the 6 but it still was jerky in some situations such as panning shots. It improved on the 7 definitely, and on the 8 they've pretty much nailed it. That's just me being picky as I film so much. In reality, the 7 is probably fine for the vast majority of users.

[@twowheelpilot]

@@crosstrainingenduro Ace, thanks for the information. Yeah good enough for me on the 7 for sure. As you say however, if filming all the timr then that might change things. Love some of your single track footage. Makes me want to come for a jam in OZ. If I wasn't still in hospital with a smashed leg that is. That and the pandemic!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Ouch. Are they inserting the titanium rod? Been there, done that lol.

[@improvsax]

I had an 8, have a 9 now. The 8 was pretty flakey on voice commands. 9 is a little better. Battery life is certainly better. Worth it just for that for me. I don’t use the 5k that much, but if I think I’ll want to crop, that would be nice. I almost never have any ‘freezing’ maybe two-three times since I’ve owned in with a fair amount of use.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Great to hear yours doesn't freeze too much. I've done all the usual tips which keeps it fairly low. But of course every time it does freeze I miss filming the guys... they are long gone by the time I've reset the little bugger lol.

[@geneharrogate6911]

After gorpo disabled the protune functions, without notice (this can be sorted if you buy a third party app apparently) I decided the could stick their cameras in their bottoms.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

When did that happen? I've used Protune on the 6, 8 and 9 models without problems. Did they just disable certain aspects? 🤔

[@geneharrogate6911]

@@crosstrainingenduro Some time in 2020 if I recall. Could be specific to the hero 5 session. I did a firmware update and all of a sudden the only thing I could adjust was the frame rate and field of view. Gopro never to gave a specific answer (that I know of) as to why, but the scuttlebutt was US courts found gopro had infringed on some Contour camera patients. I assumed thats why 'pro tune' vanished and was replaced with - nothing. A bit on the nose if you ask me. I can get by (not much choice) but folks who purchased the camera specifically for those features as part of the package must have been using heaps of swear words.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Bummer. I updated my firmware when I bought the new Gopro 9 (a few months back) and Protune was still there afterwards....

[@MrSaver23]

Hello, Which gopro can you recommend me better the 8 or the 10 version? I have never used before and this would be my first buying. I would use only on holiday / trips but not constantly. I would like to use only in 4 K.. I read so many positive and negative comments so I am uncertain about decision.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Better in what way exactly? There are small improvements with each model, I currently have the 11 which is working well. What are the 'negatives' you are worried about? Overall the Gopro is seen as the best but it does depend on what your priorities are.

[@MrSaver23]

I would like to make videos about vacations, trips, and family memories as a hobby. I don't do extreme sports. Important aspect would be sharp and colorful video, good stabilization, underwater photo. Prefer 1080-60 fps / 4k-60 fps. I think above 4 k I would not use it. I heard that the gopro 10 heats up quickly, but the lens of the 8 cannot be change.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I'd say anything from the 8 on in that case. The lens is only a problem if you crack the glass doing action sports. And you can buy screen protectors for about $10 anyway. Overheating is usually only a potential issue if you leave the camera recording for long periods, at a high resolution and/or frame rate, and it's very hot weather and/or no air movement. Sometimes a new model has overheating issues with less demanding use but it's usually fixed with the first firmware update.

[@MrSaver23]

@@crosstrainingenduro Thank you very much and have a nice day.

[@RodNeufeld]

I would be interested in your review of the Insta360 One X2 and the Insta360 One R Twin edition. I have heard great things about these cameras and they have reports of much better software for editing and the cameras from what I have heard do not have the glitches of the gopro9. I love the idea that I can video my riding 360 and choose the shots and angles that are interesting to me. It just seems like I would have so much more content to work with and fewer cameras to fuss with. I mean more cameras are always better but I am not in a position to buy multiple cameras. At present, I have a cheap knock-off camera that I definitely want to replace with a GoPro or the Insta360.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

There were links to those precise topics at the end of this vid, Rod.

[@RodNeufeld]

@@crosstrainingenduro Well holy crap! This probably explains why my riding and videos are sh*t because I'm fricken blind! Thanks for pointing that out to me.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

No worries Rod, I can actually see in video stats about 90% of viewers cut the vid just before all the links are shown at the end so it happens a lot. 😁

[@Lifeisawheelie]

I want a hero7. Sick of the poor lowlight performance of the hero5. The upgrade from 7-9 is more problems than improvements for my usage

[@crosstrainingenduro]

If you ever do upgrade, I'd suggest going for the 8 as they really nailed the image stabilisation in that model. The main drawback was the lens cover can't be replaced easily if it's smashed.

[@Lifeisawheelie]

The thing is, i have a cutout in the chinbar of my everyday helmet that fits a hero7 snuggly. Could be enlarged, but the stabilization on the 5 is almost good enough in my opinion. Maybe for extreme enduro the better stabilization is propably desirable. Regardless of all this, i may be forced to get a hero8 since i can hardly find a used hero7, they tend to be more expensive than the 8s, and i can't find new 7s cheaper than the 8. Maybe if hero8 uses the same batteries as my hero5, and it's cheaper than a 7 and most importantly, available, i'll go with that and enlarge the helmet cutout. Or get a new helmet now that i think about it. With the cash i've saved not buying a hero7. Weird world sometimes. And klim made in china, who'd have predicted that

[@Danger_mouse]

Thanks Barry. I'd been considering the 9 solely for the extra battery life, however I think based on your info I should just resort to a 4th battery to get through a ride 😔 2:38 The battery door is a stupid design! I don't know how many times I've had to get off the bike to pick up the door doing a battery change..... GoPro - Why is it removable 🤷‍♂️ It should just be on a hinge. Not a patch on the old Sony X3000 for battery life, usability and quality, but unfortunately Sony stopped the Action Cam line there. 👎

[@crosstrainingenduro]

You really think they'd have stuff like this nailed by now lol. The 9 door is still removable but takes some force to do so... but the redesign has made it bloody hard to open. Even the replacement door they sent out is tough and occasionally I still resort to a screwdriver to open it.

[@Danger_mouse]

@@crosstrainingenduro Yes indeed. I also 100% agree on your thoughts about the GoPro 'test on the customer' approach to new models.... My 8 was an early version and I was unable to pull files, via a cable, to my laptop. So in the year 2020, I was having to remove the SD card and place it in a holder to plug into the computer 😳 When the 8 first showed up, I was away from home and still had my Sony, so I was filming with the GoPro and then putting the SD card into the Sony to transfer files by cable - Tried contacting GoPro, got an answer about a month later that said just buy a card reader. Finally a software update came and it started working.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Ridiculous. I'm sure they must test this stuff before release and see all the issues... but then think 'Bugger it, the customer can deal with it and we'll just update the firmware when we get around to it'. Sigh.

[@braapyolefart4865]

I have the 8, I’m somewhat happy with it besides the battery life sucking, I find upload to the GoPro cloud is excruciatingly slow as well.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

How long does the Gopro 8 battery last? I usually only do a maximum of 40 mins filming each ride so I've never run the battery flat.

[@braapyolefart4865]

@@crosstrainingenduro I normally have to carry 2 extras batteries, I normally record clips max 10-15 minutes at 1080 standard 30fps, so broken down to roughly 30min life on batt. Perhaps I have a crappy batch of batts.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

That doesn't sound right... at a guess I'd get an hour at 1080/30. Both my batteries are genuine Gopro and drain at a similar rate.

[@4x4junkie86]

so the gopro engineers said "how can we make the worst gopro ever and pretend its better" is what it sounds like.. i still have an old gopro2 and never had an issue with it. image quality isnt as good but at least it works properly.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I reckon Gopro is a bit like KTM, they are so keen to innovate they tend to release models before the the kinks are ironed out.

[@leadfootnick4x4]

Good video

[@tassieadventurerider4815]

I use 3 GoPro’s when filming ( 7’s) I tried filming in 4k60fps and instead of the normal 4k 30fps and now the file type was converted to a GX instead of the normal GH. I can view it on the laptop but it is useless when trying to edit. All I get is sound and no visual. I had some epic riding shots with heaps of crashes but can’t edit anything. It seems 2.7 and 60fps is the highest GH file you can get before it converts. Is there anyway I can save / convert the GX file so it can be edited. Thanks 👍

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Don't get the Gopro 9 then. No matter what options you choose, you will only get GX files and they are a pain the arse to edit, preview and render compared to the previous files.

[@tassieadventurerider4815]

@@crosstrainingenduro thank you. I’ve never had an issue with the GoPro 7’s and will stick with them until I kill all 3. Apparently filming in1080 60fps and rendering in 4k still gives a good picture. Maybe I’ll try that instead of 4k 30fps..... Your videos are great to watch and good quality.....What set up do you have ? Cheers. 👍

[@crosstrainingenduro]

All my dodgy advice and settings are here.... advrider.com/f/threads/any-tips-for-better-motorbike-videos.702090/

[@Eric_412]

gee, when i started riding dirt bikes the only skills required was the ability to just twist the throttle and hang on tight plus the ability to rebuild the top end with a shifter and screwdriver.. these days we need to be an aeronautics engineer just to pump up the tyres, a cinematographer to document where we ride, a producer to edit the videos of where we rode, a computer scientist to upload our videos to social media , a cartographer to analyse the GPS maps and a law degree to make sense of the regulations governing where we can ride..🤔🙀🙀🤦‍♂️ gee the old days were fun,, even though the bikes were crappy it was far less complicated 🤔😀😄

[@crosstrainingenduro]

So true lol. I can still remember as kids we just rode minibikes in the same gear as our bicycles... essentially nothing. And if it was hard core, we might wear a helmet, gardening gloves, and rubber garden boots.

[@codyc3774]

How about the 7? Is it still worth buying in 2021?

[@Th3Ran]

yep, i have 7 and its really good. cant tell the video difference with 8, 9 . I also got an extra battery and its perfect

[@crosstrainingenduro]

It depends on what you are looking for. My personal take? I think image stabilisation is very important. It was very clunky on the Gopro 6. It improved on the 7 but it could still be a bit jerky at times. They really nailed it on the 8. I would suggest looking at footage shot with a Gopro 7. If you find the image stabilisation looks good to you, then buy that and save a pile of money. 😊

[@painsrides3616]

I'll stick with my GP7 ... but if I was smart 🤔 I would have stuck with my GP4. I'm not making the "GoPro upgrade mistake" again.

[@mxgryan]

You're missing out.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I'd stick with the 7 unless you want slightly better image stabilisation... it was a bit jerky on the 7 but they really nailed it on the 8.

[@painsrides3616]

@@crosstrainingenduro ... None of my 377 adoring subs every complain about my image stabilization.... GP7 it is, for a long time to come.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Can I buy some adoring subs to replace some complaining whinging subs I have? 😂

[@painsrides3616]

@@crosstrainingenduro .... Oh. if only I had some I could spare. 🤔

[@tgenduro2151]

Wow the Sony FDR-x3000 is STILL holding its own then.. never have a problem with it and on par with the hero 8.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Sony really nailed that design in its day... for my purposes the Gopro 8 was finally the better camera. But the Sony still has better audio than the Gopro 9. It's a pity they haven't updated the Sony. It was better than the Gopro for years in significant ways, I wonder if they could pull that off again with a new design?

[@tgenduro2151]

@@crosstrainingenduro i would think so but there just must not be enough sales in it for them. I have the door taken off mine in the case with charging cable and mic plugged in through the case. I can record for 5hrs and 20mins without changing anything. I’ll stick with the Sony for now until it gives me problems or they come out with a new version…

[@LCARSADV]

I have the 9 coming from the 7. All Gopros have the freeze issue even with firmware updates. It's so random too! I wish DJI would release an OSMO 2 so I could dump gopro, as they just arent reliable and plus the dumb mic adapter crap they make you buy

[@crosstrainingenduro]

The freezing issue is ridiculous. I"ve used the Sony X3000 for years and not a single freeze. Whoever designed the original operating system for Gopro messed up, and nobody has bothered fixing it over the next eight models. 😒🤦‍♂️🤢🤔

[@elmateo487]

Not all. I use my 9 every ride and it has never frozen ever

[@LCARSADV]

@@elmateo487 count yourself lucky then, a lot of people have this issue. I’ve had it happen on my 7 all the time.

[@elmateo487]

@@LCARSADV i know it’s an issue, as lots of people say so. I wonder if there is a combination of settings that cause it.

[@LCARSADV]

@@elmateo487 not sure, but it really sucks especially when you’re on a really special ride and you think your recording and it’s not. It’s so random and frustrating.

[@HighTideFPV]

I film in 2.7k and up-convert to 4k in post. But I'm no pro so... I still see other ppls videos that look better then mine, but they are probably better with color correcting then me lol

[@gregfeneis609]

Oh, man, I'm weigh behind. I thought you exclusively used the Sony video camera with the built in mechanical gimbal mechanism for video stabilization. Are you not still using that? I thought that was the shizknit back when shizknit was the shizknit

[@crosstrainingenduro]

If you see our cameras and filming playlist you'll see our comments on the old Sony compared to the various Gopro models, Greg.

[@gregfeneis609]

@@crosstrainingenduro Excellent 👌 thank you. I'm back following this channel after being away for a while. Catching up

[@videosbruno]

At this price point isn't it better to get the insta360?

[@HippoDrones]

The Insta360 One X2 and One R are great cameras, I have them both, but the quality of the GoPro Hero 8 & 9 at 1080p is far far better than the windowed quality of the One X2 or One R (and GoPro Max). So only go for a 360 camera over these if you want a 360 camera, if you mainly want a camera to strap to your helmet, then the GoPro Hero 8 or 9 are far better (again, I have both the GoPros too. As a side note, I sold my GoPro Max as the Insta360 cameras are easier to use, and the form factor of the One X2 is far better, as is the stitching! :-)

[@videosbruno]

@@HippoDrones I agree with everything you said! I think the insta brings some versatility to the table since it can be used as a regular 4k action cam too.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

What is the price point in your country though? In Australia the Gopro 9 is currently $100 to $200 cheaper than the Insta360 One R. Just a personal preference, but I steered clear of Insta360 as my experience of Chinese brands has been dismal to date. I know Gopro cameras are made in China, but it's a USA based company and it might take a while for Insta360 to prove it can match Gopro in the long run when it comes to quality, aftersales support, ironing out bugs quickly etc.

[@HippoDrones]

@@videosbruno the One R has the 4K mod, which is OK, but it doesn't have as wide a lens as the GoPro.

[@videosbruno]

@@crosstrainingenduro in Europe they're closer in price since both are imports.

[@benchan8tv]

Wish i could have action camera please huhuhu

[@theravedaddy]

As a poor person i still have a gopro2 and hero3. But i dont buy that overpriced crap because its overpriced. All my poor quality videos are shot on a G-eyes900 because its got a pause function. I shred, i pause, i pee, i shred the next section, i pause. I get 11 minutes per segment and 2 hours in which to do my best crashing. As susan has me on a shadow ban i never get more than 20 views anyway so no need to waste my beer money on gopros and editing crap.

[@1991enduro]

Subscribed bro

[@theravedaddy]

@@1991enduro cheers! You will find some funny stuff somewhere in there..

[@Chillwaving]

new firmware came out literally the day after you made this video. 😂. 9 is the way to go.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

What does this one fix? This might actually be the third firmware release now... I just checked and it looks as the last one was June 2021. Latest release: HERO9 Black update v1.6 | June 22, 2021 HERO9 Black update v1.6 PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS Improves touch-screen performance in menus and settings Enhances connectivity with the Quik app Boosts reliability when using The Remote to control the camera Improves QuikCapture reliability Improves power-on reliability Adds camera support for Open GoPro USABILITY IMPROVEMENTS General bug fixes and other user interface improvements

[@pegmonkey]

My 8 starts in time warp mode about 30% of the time for no apparent reason. I use the top button to stop and start recording. Soo annoying. If the 9 does the same thing, no thanks. My 8 will also randomly create 4k files with frozen video, but perfectly fine audio about 5% of the time. Firmware up to date. Fast gopro approved memory card. I've got a cheap apeman camera that is more reliable then my 8. But, the video quality of the 8 keeps me using the 8. I'll pass on the 9.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

That's interesting, David! I can't remember my 8 ever starting in Time Warp mode but the 9 does regularly... just for the very first shot of the day. So all I do is film something for a few seconds before jumping the bike. Small issue, but annoying. Did your camera come with that Gopro subscription? I broke my rear screen, they replaced it with a new camera, no questions asked. Even if you are out of warranty it might be worth just trying their support line, at times they can be very generous in my experience.

[@pegmonkey]

@@crosstrainingenduro I don't know if mine came with a subscription.. I'll have to contact them. I keep procrastinating. :)

[@crosstrainingenduro]

If you bought it direct from Gopro they've had a special deal for close to a year now that includes the Gopro Plus thing.... at least in Australia.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I should say that if you ring their customer service mob, sometimes they'll really bend over backwards trying to help. Just be nice to them, they hear non-stop complaints all day lol. They always seem to be Filipinos so I try and say a few words in their language, they always laugh. 😁

[@toadamine]

I'll take a 4 over a newer one... save your money

[@TonyRidesDirtbikes]

Yeah my hero 8 isnt as reliable as my hero 4 silver. But the 8 is leaps and bounds better than the 4 in image quality and stabalization, it makes it worth it.

[@glennaltschwager5234]

Voice activation.....I really should read the manual for my hero 9. Hold my beer..... it didn't come with a manual ffs. 😬

[@crosstrainingenduro]

No one prints a manual anymore apparently, Glenn. It's all downloads from the website! Less trees chopped down I guess...

[@kBIT01]

gopro went to shit after the hero4 my hero 7 is garbage

[@crosstrainingenduro]

What sort of issues did you have?

[@kBIT01]

@@crosstrainingenduro The battery lasts about 30 minutes with the camera on and a day with it off, It overheated when recording missing anything i wanted to catch, and you couldn't guarantee it would operateeye-free by listening to the beeps because it loved to just stop recording instantly unless in an air-conditioned house.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Definitely sounds like a lemon. The new models always seem to have glitches that mostly get fixed with firmware updates. Was that filming in 4k? I do hear about overheating issues but I've only ever used 1080p so never had it happen, even on our hottest days.

[@kBIT01]

@@crosstrainingenduro I can't remember. I took it on the trail once then threw it on the shelf.

[@TimPaddy]

So, a decade later, GoPro still has their head up their ass on products. Fool me once, fool me 9+ times...

[@crosstrainingenduro]

While I do get frustrated with aspects of Gopro cameras, I would still side with the experts who say overall they are still making the best action cams available. However, it would be great if they ironed out issues before releasing it, instead of customers having to wait for updated firmware. The freezing and needing to pop the battery out to reset the camera should have been fixed years ago, but obviously they aren't prepared to overhaul their operating systems. For years, I believed the Sony FDR-X3000 was a better camera but they never updated it. 😢 I wish they would to keep Gopro on their toes!

[@TimPaddy]

@@crosstrainingenduro I switched to Sony last year, even used one of your videos to help me make the decision. GoPro got me with earlier models, firmware updates never fixed all the bugs. I think I'd buy a Chinese knockoff before I gave GoPro more money.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Yep. If you go budget I reckon there's a huge range available nowadays.