So we've seen the results of people putting the GoPro 5 & 6 on the 3DR solo. Frankly in a straight line the results are great, anything other than that though... not so great. So finally the GP7 get's released that claims to offer "Gimbal Like Stabilization". I think it's a bold claim and the results I've seen... still makes me want to buy a gimbal. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a vast improvement over the GP6... but only because GP hobbled the stabilization on the 6 with their last update (anyone else suspect this was done on purpose?) However it may do quite well on a solo, the only problem being that you still wouldn't have any Pan or Tilt controls using a stock mount. Still if you can't get your hands on a gimbal, it may be worth it (then again, I'm sure you can buy a good drone for the price of the GP7).
So question is, as a Camera is the GP7 worth the asking price?
IMHO if you only own a GP3 or GP4, sure, I do think it's worth it. The addition of stabilization, GPS, higher frame rates, improved interface are all good things.
If you own a GP5.... maybe it's worth it, as the new image processing chip is a good upgrade especially for low light situations and the GP5 stabilization wasn't all that great..
If you own a GP6..... That's a harder one to justify. The same image chip is used in the GP6 as is used in the GP7. The stabilization used in the 6 was pretty good until it was hobbled by GoPro with an update. Probably to make the GP7 seem more attractive a purchase. So the GP7 seems more of a token upgrade than anything.
There are very ....varied.. feelings about GoPro here and I get that. From my own experience, the GP2 was my first camera and I still even have that today (don't use it as much but it's got sentimental value at least). The GP4... I like it, especially because I could use it to do some okay night lapses and hey, it works with a Solo! However I didn't think the build quality was that good (I've gone through 3 of them at this stage, 2 have had issues, one fatally so... and yet my GP2 is still going strong). The GP6 I find has excellent image quality and is great it low light. I have found it's a great camera for taking still shots. I also have 2 GP Fusions that I could write pages on. The main pro is the ability to be able to reframe your shots in post. I now freaking love shooting in 360 degree's... but this leads to the biggest weakness of GoPro, the GP6, GP7 and the Fusion!
THE SOFTWARE SUCKS!
It doesn't matter if you're using the desktop or mobile apps. The software is buggy, poorly conceived, and for the most part, doesn't support the features of your camera.
Sure the GP5, 6, 7 and Fusion have GPS built in. GREAT! But does the GP software enable you to actually pull the GPS data or put it into your footage? Only with the latest IOS version of the software. For those with android or windows, the answer is a big fat "No". And this is what, 2 years after the release of a GPS enabled camera? If you're using the fusion.... oh dear god... yes you can create a 360 video or an overcapture video with the GP Fusion studio software... but it's static. To get full use out of it, you're going to have to pay money to get an Adobe License so you can actually create worthwhile video's with pans, zooms tilts etc... The mobile software only seems to allow you to make 33 second video's at most, will not download them to the devices SD card (so you'll run out of room fast!) and of course no stabilization....
Frankly I think this is GoPro's biggest failing. In a market being flooded with cheap Chinese knock off camera's that are priced far lower than what GoPro can offer, GoPro should at least be trying to beat the pants off the competition by offering superior software and a much better user experience. Instead they seem to want to pump out mediocre upgrades, not support what they put out on the market and then wonder why their profits keep falling. We've seen them try to pump out 4 - 5 models a year only to see that strategy fail, now they are pumping out 3 models this year (and the lower end models just don't seem that attractive feature's wise).
If someone out there wants to give me a GP7 for free, I honestly won't say no. However, if someone out there offered me a choice between a GP7 and $350 cash? I'd take the cash without hesitation (and you know, buy more drone parts of course).
So without taking up more time here, please, share your feelings on this one, I'd love to know how other people feel about Go Pro (extra points if you use facts to back up your feelings!)(points deducted for troll like behavior)(points added for gargoyle like behavior because ya know... oddness should be rewarded).
So question is, as a Camera is the GP7 worth the asking price?
IMHO if you only own a GP3 or GP4, sure, I do think it's worth it. The addition of stabilization, GPS, higher frame rates, improved interface are all good things.
If you own a GP5.... maybe it's worth it, as the new image processing chip is a good upgrade especially for low light situations and the GP5 stabilization wasn't all that great..
If you own a GP6..... That's a harder one to justify. The same image chip is used in the GP6 as is used in the GP7. The stabilization used in the 6 was pretty good until it was hobbled by GoPro with an update. Probably to make the GP7 seem more attractive a purchase. So the GP7 seems more of a token upgrade than anything.
There are very ....varied.. feelings about GoPro here and I get that. From my own experience, the GP2 was my first camera and I still even have that today (don't use it as much but it's got sentimental value at least). The GP4... I like it, especially because I could use it to do some okay night lapses and hey, it works with a Solo! However I didn't think the build quality was that good (I've gone through 3 of them at this stage, 2 have had issues, one fatally so... and yet my GP2 is still going strong). The GP6 I find has excellent image quality and is great it low light. I have found it's a great camera for taking still shots. I also have 2 GP Fusions that I could write pages on. The main pro is the ability to be able to reframe your shots in post. I now freaking love shooting in 360 degree's... but this leads to the biggest weakness of GoPro, the GP6, GP7 and the Fusion!
THE SOFTWARE SUCKS!
It doesn't matter if you're using the desktop or mobile apps. The software is buggy, poorly conceived, and for the most part, doesn't support the features of your camera.
Sure the GP5, 6, 7 and Fusion have GPS built in. GREAT! But does the GP software enable you to actually pull the GPS data or put it into your footage? Only with the latest IOS version of the software. For those with android or windows, the answer is a big fat "No". And this is what, 2 years after the release of a GPS enabled camera? If you're using the fusion.... oh dear god... yes you can create a 360 video or an overcapture video with the GP Fusion studio software... but it's static. To get full use out of it, you're going to have to pay money to get an Adobe License so you can actually create worthwhile video's with pans, zooms tilts etc... The mobile software only seems to allow you to make 33 second video's at most, will not download them to the devices SD card (so you'll run out of room fast!) and of course no stabilization....
Frankly I think this is GoPro's biggest failing. In a market being flooded with cheap Chinese knock off camera's that are priced far lower than what GoPro can offer, GoPro should at least be trying to beat the pants off the competition by offering superior software and a much better user experience. Instead they seem to want to pump out mediocre upgrades, not support what they put out on the market and then wonder why their profits keep falling. We've seen them try to pump out 4 - 5 models a year only to see that strategy fail, now they are pumping out 3 models this year (and the lower end models just don't seem that attractive feature's wise).
If someone out there wants to give me a GP7 for free, I honestly won't say no. However, if someone out there offered me a choice between a GP7 and $350 cash? I'd take the cash without hesitation (and you know, buy more drone parts of course).
So without taking up more time here, please, share your feelings on this one, I'd love to know how other people feel about Go Pro (extra points if you use facts to back up your feelings!)(points deducted for troll like behavior)(points added for gargoyle like behavior because ya know... oddness should be rewarded).