Fans of camera technology are eagerly awaiting the release of the GoPro Hero 5. Yet GoPro itself has yet to confirm whether it will actually release the hotly anticipated device. A new report from the Gospel Herald suggests that the action camera will finally be released at some point in 2016. The delay in the emergence of the GoPro Hero 5 can be attributed to the fact that the manufacturer is determined to ensure that the successor is significantly superior to its predecessor.
Rumors about the next generation action camera have been rife in both the media and the Internet, yet little concrete information has seeped out, as GoPro continues to keep the device under wraps. But the media has reported on some of the expected features that GoPro is expected to include.
GoPro Hero 5 to feature underwater shooting
Firstly, one of the highlights of the GoPro Hero 5 is anticipated to be the inclusion of high quality underwater video shooting. The waterproofing capabilities of the Hero series are expected to receive a major update over the GoPro Hero 4, enabling the camera to shoot as deep as 60 meters underwater. This has been reported by numerous sources including the Ecumenical News.
In order to support this new underwater shooting feature, it is expected that the GoPro Hero 5 will include special camera housing. Advertising for the GoPro Hero series has emphasized the fact that the camera is particularly robust, but providing this extreme underwater functionality would be an extra string to the bow of the series. By comparison, the Hero 4 came with a waterproofing capability for up to a depth of 20 meters underwater.
8K video
The GoPro Hero 5 will also probably be able to shoot 8K videos. This is a pretty staggering resolution, and in the short-term at least, playing back such videos on a larger device than the screen of the camera will prove almost impossible. But in the longer term, it is expected that 8K will become a mainstream resolution, and that media will ultimately be split up into variants of 4K and 8K resolution. Already the move to 4K has begun, with Netflix offering numerous 4K videos, and broadcasters beginning to experiment with the screen resolution.
One problem that GoPro will have to solve with regard to the 8K resolution capability is related to YouTube streaming. According to early reports on the subject, it is suggested that it will be difficult for the popular video site to stream such content. Additionally, the 8K videos that the camera will produce will require computers with extremely high-end processors in order to play them, and this may make the device out of the range of average users for the time being.
Size
In its attempts to ensure that the GoPro Hero 5 is significantly more flexible than its predecessor, the action camera will also probably benefit from new dimensions and weight. In accordance with this, LatinosPost recently reported that the upgraded GoPro Hero 5 will be significantly smaller and lighter than the GoPro Hero 4. With GoPro having promoted the possibility of filming ski runs with the technology in television advertising, it is obvious that a lighter and more flexible action camera would be beneficial to the series.
The figures linked with the action camera are that it will be 50 percent smaller in size and 40 percent lighter in weight than the previous iteration of the GoPro camera.
Another fascinating development from GoPro that could go hand-in-hand with the GoPro Hero 5 is the suggestion that the company is developing a new quadcopter. This device is being commonly referred to as a drone, and it is also expected to be released sometime next year. GoPro has hinted at the release of this device for sometime, but has now allocated it an official name; Karma.
Hero 4 price cut
Although GoPro has yet to indicate the release date of the camera, The behavior of the company towards the GoPro Hero 4 suggests that an announcement may be imminent. GoPro has recently halved the retail price of its existing action camera from $400 to $200, making it an excellent buy over the holiday season. But this slashing of the price of the GoPro Hero 4 does suggest that the release of the GoPro Hero 5 could be just around the corner.
On the other hand, there have been financial issues for the company as well, with GoPro having recorded a financial loss recently. This price could could be intended to increase cash flow for the company, rather than indicating the imminent release of the next generation action camera. There has been a considerable dip in the share price of the company, with analysts deeming this to be a worrying matter.
Other specs
Back on the subject of features, it is also expected that the GoPro Hero 5 will embrace a dual-lens setup that will enable the action camera to capture 3D images and motion. The notion of 3D video has certainly declined in popularity over the last couple of years, with manufacturers struggling to encourage the general public to embrace this technology.
It is also suggested that the GoPro Hero 5 will sport a significantly better battery than its predecessor. Once this unit is fully charged, it is expected to offer 24 hours of video recording, although the duration of the battery may depend on the video resolution being utilized.
Bluetooth features are already expected to be improved as compared to the GoPro Hero 4, with the new camera able to upload and share videos and images with greater rapidity. The powerful A10 chip that the GoPro Hero 5 will feature will also ensure that the action camera functions seamlessly in any conditions.
In summary, this should be a significant improvement on the existing GoPro Hero 4. All that is required now is for GoPro to confirm the camera and release it to the stores.
