Anyone familiar with the previous models will immediately notice some striking differences: a second colour display on the front makes it easier to set the right camera position with a mounting system. The Hero 9 is also slightly larger, partly to accommodate the larger battery. This has massively improved the battery life and rectified one of the biggest criticisms of the previous Hero 8 model. In our test, after an hour of video and photo action in cold air and water temperatures of around 6 degrees, there was still around 20 per cent battery left in the tank. The image and photo quality of the cam is beyond reproach. Single images with 20 megapixels are output, video recordings can be filmed in 8x slow motion in full HD, and still images with up to 15 megapixels can be extracted from the videos.
The image stabiliser is also great, even in very choppy conditions and when fixed to the mast, crystal-clear and wobble-free shots are possible. The new "Hindsight" function should also be of interest to windsurfers. The camera records continuously, but only saves the last 30 seconds. This means that if you press the shutter button again after a successful jump or manoeuvre, the action is in the can. If there is no presentable action, you simply let it continue and the cam overwrites the rejects immediately - this saves storage space and a lot of time when viewing the video sequences. surf conclusion: The price of the GoPro Hero 9 Black is quite high at 480 euros, but in return you get unbeatable photo and video quality including some interesting features for windsurfers. The Hero 9 is available at Amazon or Voelkner available.
Further information: www.gopro.com
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
