This was a killer year for GoPro as the HERO10 was a notable bump up from the HERO9. Lots of awesome features came out focusing on improving image quality across the board. However, image stabilization is one of the areas that saw some huge benefits with HyperSmooth 4.0.
Coming from the Air Photography channel is a direct comparison between the current HERO10 and its predecessor. Mounted up in the same rig and brought through a few different shots you can see for yourself where the biggest changes were made. Plus, it might just convince you that the HERO10 is worth the upgrade.
This is really a comparison between the generations of HyperSmooth—going from 3.0 to 4.0. Both cameras used the top resolution options, so 5.3K for the HERO10 and 5K for the HERO9 with Boost on and recording at 30p. Both cameras are mounted to a single hand grip so any movements will be exactly the same.
First is using horizon leveling in the linear shooting mode. This uses digital stabilization to correct for any tilting in real-time. It’s seriously impressive with some moderate movement. The HERO10 does have a slightly more pleasing final result that is a little less jumpy.
Doing the test again with much more aggressive movement makes the differences even more noticeable as the HERO9 seemed to have some other movements as part of the correction which the HERO10 didn’t have.
Image Credit: GoPro
Without horizon leveling and using the wide field of view is not even a contest. The HERO10 wins easily here with a relatively stable image.
Now with the cameras mounted to an RC car you can test some more jittery movements to see how the cameras handle. Both actually do a very good job on this test without too much difference between them. One fun side effect of this test is actually that water droplets being kicked up were handled better by the HERO10 thanks to a new coating.
Doing a short walk on the beach the stabilization seems to handle it fairly evenly once again.
Overall, it looks like there are some solid improvements to things like horizon leveling, and minor improvements to nearly everything else. If you want the best stabilization then get the HERO10.
[source: Air Photography]
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