Categories: Techno

I tested the GoPro Hero 13 Black at Disneyland Shanghai

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Rare are the Westerners who have the chance to go to Shanghai Disneyland , the newest park of all, which opened just 8 years ago. Taking advantage of a day in this exceptional place, I had the idea to take out the new GoPro action cam, after security asked me to leave my Shorty handle at the entrance. The lens here, see how the camera does in the many environments that the Chinese park offers here.

First observation when discovering the Hero 13: it looks exactly like its predecessor. But upon closer inspection, subtle changes appear.

The new heat sink under the lens catches the eye. A godsend for a day that promises to be hot despite rather gray weather. The 1900mAh Enduro battery provides increased range, perfect for going the distance in this huge park.

The new magnetic attachment system is a real revelation. In a matter of seconds, I can easily switch from one holding accessory to another, without having to constantly unscrew and screw the hardware back in here.

Magnetism is the great motto of this Hero 13, since a new side door system allowing the GoPro to be charged magnetically is now available. Knowing that this famous door is a real horror to open, it 8217;is excellent news here.

Still the same original door, difficult to open © Robin Sabbadini for Presse-citron

Only, this good news is accompanied by bad news since this door is not included as standard. You'll have to pay no less than 89 euros to get it here, which is still expensive for the side door and the magnetic charging cable…

The Hero 13 can now film in 5.3K at 120 fps, enough to get spectacular slow motion in very high definition

Direction the Enchanted Storybook Castle, the largest castle in the Disney parks in the world at 60 meters high, to start the day. The opportunity to test the HyperSmooth mode while walking. There's no denying it, GoPro's stabilization always works wonders. Erasing the tremors in my gait, it proves to be very effective when carrying this new Hero at arm's length.

The world's unique version of Pirates of the Caribbean in Shanghai is the opportunity to test the GoPro Hero 13 in low light conditions. And there, it's a cold shower. Despite the addition of HDR video capture, the camera really struggles in the dark.

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Digital noise is omnipresent and the colors lack punch. The images are barely usable, and clearly the big weak point here. I would have liked to see GoPro make an effort on this front.

Fortunately, the experience in normal light conditions is excellent. Despite the jolts and other falls in the Roaring Rapids water attraction, the video remains perfectly readable. The hydrophobic lens effectively repels droplets. The sound captured is surprisingly clear, faithfully transcribing the excited cries of my neighbors.

I also liked the new magnetic attachment system which is particularly practical for alternating between walking in the caverns of Camp Discovery and the immersive shots in the attraction dedicated to Zootopia.

The big new feature of this GoPro Hero 13 is to offer a whole set of new interchangeable lenses and filters. The big plus? The electronic communication between the lenses and the camera.

The ultra wide angle lens © Robin Sabbadini for Presse-citron

No more manual adjustments, the Hero 13 adapts instantly by directly recognizing which lens is linked to it. I mainly used the ultra wide angle, which allows you to film everything that happens in front of the camera, and which turned out to be the essential part of this test.

As I leave the park exhausted after 19 kilometers of walking, I take stock of this day of testing. The Hero 13 proved itself to be up to the task in classic lighting situations in day.

Its versatility is undeniable, easily switching from action scenes to more contemplative moments. On the other hand, it is a poor partner in low light conditions, the sensor surely starting to show its limits in this lack of renewal.

We remain hungry for purely technical improvements. GoPro plays it safe, refining a proven formula without taking any risks.

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Teilor Stone

Teilor Stone has been a reporter on the news desk since 2013. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk. Before joining Thesaxon , Teilor Stone worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella. To get in touch, contact me through my teilor@nizhtimes.com 1-800-268-7116