Let's REALLY TEST the HERO 9 BLACK 

Is it me or both in flat and graded profiles GoPro8 look way better. Even the colour of your bike is different

I honestly prefer the hero 8, the colours look less washed out and sharper - even with colour grading. Plus, unpopular opinion - the increased stabilisation is just too much and makes rock gardens look like flow. But Idk...

Colour grading it makes such a difference!

Thanks for the comparison! A suggestion for any future comparisons, change text color between the two "Hero 9 black" and "Hero 8 black" texts in the lower left. Then the viewers eyes would pick up when you switch camera instead of having to shift focus to the bottom left to check what camera is being used. My two cents...

Is it me or does the hero 8 quality look loads better???

So what do you think? Also, be sure to watch the vid in the highest resolution possible!

Here's the honest to god truth: You can buy whatever camera you want, but once you uploead to RU-vid, MTB POV footage always looks like crap. These compression artifacts just ruin it.

Worlds fastest Gopro Hero 9 review!

I JUST released the LONG-TERM review video on the Hero 9 Black. Things changed... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2HAnfyuIBjw.html Also, here's my full GoPro set up video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3DoKXA8tCq0.html

Honestly, the Hero 8 looks better

Personally I liked the stabilization on the 8. It’s mountain biking from a POV view, not looking over the handlebars to a green screen. In simpler terms the stabilization on the 8 is a realistic smooth compared to what you showed with the 9. In the end though it’s all subjective to the viewers taste regarding how we all perceive this test.

Finally, a great "real life" review of the 9. Love the horizon leveling feature

Just want to mention that I love video, and i love bike too. So when you’re making videos about video and bike you just give me thrills. You’re one of the best. Love from south of france

Hey! Great tests and review. Couple things for your next test - Did you try wind noise reduction? I used to hate it but it got really good on the hero8. I keep it on for all my mtb stuff and it usually does the trick. Next - when filming in boost, it’s doing quite a bit of cropping. Boost + superview kinda cancels the whole point of superview, no? You’d be better off filming in 4K wide with hypersmooth on high I would think. Lastly, you might have mistakenly read about horizon leveling and 2.7K. Max lens mod with horizon lock is up to 2.7K but you’ll need the mod for that. As for horizon leveling you were testing it actually crops in more in 5K-24/30 than 4K-24/30. Horizon leveling crops in on 5K, 4K-60, and 2.7K-120 - the rest are the same FOV as linear. I tried it on 4K-4:3 on an mtb and it wasn’t bad. Hope this helps !

Congrats for making such an effort and putting out another great technical video! You deserve so much respect for doing that and sharing a content rich video in such a short period of time! Cheers from Brazil!

man id rather see 1080p at 60fps. the 24 frames cant keep up with the speed most of the time

I love well put together instructional vids that don’t waste my time- a big thank you😃

The first review I see that tries to get professional results by using the flat picture profile, very good. Just don't understand why you did not upload in 4K? Also about the crackling in the audio: Can it be an interference with your smartphone, did you have your smartphone near the GoPro? Of course it would suck if you always would have to turn the smartphone off or in flight mode with the new GoPro if this is the case...

I personally don’t know if more stabilization is a better thing, I mean GoPro already flattens out everything so the rough stuff looks flat. And if the stabilization is so good so you don’t get any movement at all the feeling of the trail is gone. I have a 8 myself and think it’s great, but every time I look at the footage afterwards it looks much easier than it actually was so I don’t think that a little bit of shaking is bad. Keep up the good work! 🤙

Thanks for the review, really useful! I saw your review on the 7 to 8, but I knew the 9 was imminent so held off, but this now makes me want the 9 for sure. Looking forward to the next GoPro 9 vid on the settings as I'm new to filming rides...

Great job - watched your settings guide when I got my 8 last year and it made a massive difference. Even taught myself to use Resolve based on your vids. Really interested to see your thoughts once the max view lens comes out!

Great review! I ran out and bought 2 of these at the local Best Buy on launch day. Prior to this I used Hero 7s and installed m12 mount lenses into them from the PeauPro website, for the 19mm and 47mm look. I plan for my future videos to be output at 2.5K (even though I always record at much higher resolutions of course), so with the 5.2K on the new Hero 9, I can crop in post a modest 2.5 times or so for a roughly 16-40mm look that is perfectly stabilized and still reasonably sharp at 2.5K final output, and use motion estimated motion blur (Resolve calls it OpticalFlow) rather than ND filters which EIS doesn't like as electronic stabilization depends on a high shutter speed, otherwise the EIS movements are baked into the motion blur. Most people use GoPros with the default color profile but I'm glad they still haven't dumbed the camera down. I can confirm the video sharpness in 5.2K (14.7 megapixel video) is a significant difference compared to the 4K (8.3 megapixel video) despite the nitrate still being 100mbps in HEVC. GoPro is extremely good with their video encoding schemes in terms of getting clean looking video at lower than desired bitrates. As always, I use native white balance, flat color, and -0.5 EV, then use my XRite Color Checker Passport Video to get the colors neutralized and make my own corrective LUTS to a Rec709 look while still maintaining dynamic range of the flat profile in Davinci Resolve to match with other cameras. When it comes to action cameras, I can't take anything serious from a color grading perspective except GoPro. To see an example, in this video I made ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QG0qEpe_r68.html skip to 2:28 and watch to 2:42. Notice how the color and exposure between the GoPro Max footage and the cut to Mavic 2 Zoom footage match extremely well :)

Thanks 🙏🏻 that was a fantastic test and review, I using the GoPro 5 so I’m in need of an upgrade. I will also be checking out your set up vlogs. Stay safe buddy. 👍🏻😀

This is definitely the best test and review so far! Well done mate

My last camera is a GoPro 6, Been looking at 8's for the last month or so, then when I heard the 9 was coming I just waited and ordered it. Pumped about how good Hypersmooth 3.0 looks in your vids. Never messed with camera settings so Ill be watching your vids on that till my 9 comes in on the 21st.

Hey, the maximum quality is 1080p and it looks very pixelized, is only me who noticed it?

Just the reviewer I was waiting for. Good job Ryan!

Your GoPro mtb reviews have always been the best. Thanks man!

6:30 here and other parts of the shots, it looks that H9 is kind of "hendering" the surround image while H8 is "shaky" but sharp all across the screen.

Excellent video! Although the sound is a worry, I think I am sold! Time to upgrade my camera and discard my gimbal!! Woo hoo!

A comparison of low light performance of the 7/8 vs 9 would be really interesting.

I like how straight to the point your videos are

would love to see some ND filters slapped on there to get the proper motion blur. i know it's tough with such variable lighting conditions but to have highlights exposed bang on without cranked shutter speed would be interesting to see how the camera handles the shadows with an ND. great review!

So not impressed at this moment versus what the 8 can do... Looking forward to test with my home setting see what i can come up with. Thanks for the comparaison vid Ryan!

The nine has like a green tint to it

Interesting. I'm still using the Hero 4 (and pretty much following your guide on flat settings on the Gopro and doing the work in post). The 9 really looks like a great update. What I want to see is a comparison with the Insta 36 R (And maybe the DJI OSmo Action)

I’ve been waiting for this moment all day

I use the Karma Grip and 4 Black. I put a strip of Velcro across the 4’s housing cage over the mic. No wind noise. Just cheaper hack.

Good comparison. This is the biggest jump in a while from GoPro. The horizontal thing isn't for biking, it's for selfie influencer mode, so you aren't going to get 360 cam results off of it like you think. Good riding

Dude @The Loam Ranger I was calling you. And don't say you didn't hear my call, you can clearly hear me ring at 7:28. hehe, nice review, thanks. Ordered mine with the Max Lens Mod today. Can't wait! And whaaaaaaaaaaat a ride.

Why 24fps for high speed action? This isn't a "cinematic" scene.

Yeah, but too much stabilization is not necessarily a good thing. Action looks better with a bit of shake IMHO.

Image seems significantly better/crisper on the 8, better colors too. The looks more stable but also appears out of focus a lot. I'm not sure if its settings or what, but the 8 looks better.

Thanks for the video. Looks like the 8 will do me just fine, hopefully they get a little price drop before snowboard season!

Just purchased my hero 9 black today gonna changed my settings to your recommended

Great review and a great video in general! Loving your content. Did you know that you can update the GoPro hero 8 to use boost in superview? I made a wee video on it and it looks very similar to true footage you showed of the 9 with boost superview. Such an amazing update, it’s so impressive how good the electronic stabilisation is now. Keep up the awesome videos.

Excellent video as always! I enjoy the bike footage but I subbed for action cam stuff. I must also say Davinci Resolve has been game changing. The color grade transitions you did were really nice. Looks like I'll be picking up a Hero 9 Black sooner rather than later! I thought the stabilization might detract from the experience but I find it enhances it - the camera view stays smooth (easier on the eyes) but you can see the bike visibly shaking which - to me - translates more of the impact than actual camera shake.

The linear view does show the terrain and steepness better. Wide flattens out the terrain due to the non-linear mapping on the sensor. It is hard to compensate for such a small lens and sensor. There is always a trade-off.

Wow! great video! I just ordered my 9 with extras for $349! Why didn't they have these things out when I was in my 20s??? I'm 62 now but still can have some fun. :) Great video and amazing skills on that mountain bike!! I love it!

I'm using studio-graded speakers right now to watch this and the Hero 9's audio is definitely better!

The Hero 9 was not a let down whatsoever. I think GoPro caught the hint that the community was disappointed of the Hero 8 so they just went full send with the 9. They couldn't get 5K with superview, which sucks, but oh well. So what does GoPro do? They release a lens for superview. Like wow dude. GoPro did such an awesome job this year, and the community sure as hell notices. The audio issue is kinda dumb, but I trust that GoPro can fix it right away. Too bad I can't afford this camera, because if I could, I'd buy one in a heartbeat!

I personally like the 8 one more because the bumpiness makes it more realistic, but the 9 is just more pleasing.

Well now with the Hero9, All double black diamond trails are flow!! well done GoPro!!

Its been a long time since I have been really excited about a new GoPro camera.

I will be getting one of these for my photography Audits in the UK 👍👍👍

There is a new update for the 8 where you can now run Boost hipersmooth on super view. dose crop a little more of the frame though.

Even with the wind noise, I could easily tell that the audio on the 9 is much better

Hero 8 Black user here and WAS thinking of upgrading... but honestly, the only "upgrade" you'll have is that front-facing screen and the mics...

I'm still rocking the 7 but the 9 has some things I would like, that front screen would be super useful when video ones self while riding, something I do all on road rides

if you put the screen on pauze when the 8 and 9 are side by side on screen (at any time). the 8 seems to give you more sharper images if you look to branches, leafs, grass or whatever thing on de side or on the trail. it could be me. the 9 seems to stabelize better though

You've got your hands on it already. Priceless. Still stuck on my HERO7 Black.

The question is will it randomly delete my footage. Love the idea of go pros just never had a good experience with them :/

Great info ! Thx for sharing all your knowledge

Got it ready to watch tomorrow morning! 4K is still processing hehe

10:20 "Oh, I hate this jump!" [sends it anyway] Well, that Hero 9 really is impressive! I list my Hero 4, so it's time for a major upgrade.

Great review, I'm shooting with a Hero7 and think the stabilization in the 9 is a huge improvement. Thanks!

Just started MTB, currently using Hero 6 Black, also using the settings you recommended! Thinking of getting the 9 even tho the 6 is more than enough for me, doing my research of youtube and what to see, your video comes on first when type GoPro Hero 9 Black

Thank you can't wait to see more on the 9

The audio is definitely better, but surprisingly, I thought the 8 had the better color. The 9 seems to have a yellow-ish tint to it even after color grading and the blue on your bike didn't seem as vibrant either 🤷‍♂️

I do not like buying open Box, but I seen a GoPro Hero9 Black for 313 dollars. As of now I have a VIVITAR 4K Dual Screen camera with zero stabilization. It was 68 dollars at Walmart which is why I have no videos on my channel. It was more for learning about mini-cam videography and intro to video editing.

Too smooth kind of takes away some of the pov thrill.

I seldom commend on the minor improvement for gopros in each series (6,7,8), but this horizontal leveling stabilization is a whole new level. Wow. Honest opinion i think gopro hero 9 is an acceptable buy if you already own a hero 8, good buy if you own a hero 7, and a no brainer if you own any series 6 and below.

I´m sorry mate, but 1080p only and the bad youtube compression makes me see so many artefacts, that i cannot really get an impression of the material. could you maybe offer at least 2k? However, great content again! Love the Channel!!!

Hero 8 looking better somehow. Really hope it is due to the fact that is new and a future update will sort it 🤛

How well does the hypersmooth 3.0 in low-light situations, and even more importantly, those "Golden hour" times of the day where the colors are so vivid and awesome? I'd like to see that comparison!

You should check out a place called mout abriel, it’s a smaller mountain bike park/recreation site in Nakusp British Columbia

The stabilization on 9 is much better. But I'm not sure if I even want it to be that stable. If the camera bounce a little, I feel more engaged. On the 7-8: Ooo the stabilization couldn't keep up, it had be really chunky. At the same time it is stable enough I don't feel sick like watching hero4 without gimbal. The 9 seems to smooth it too much for me and even enhance the GoPro effect.

They should come out with 2 versions of the GoPro. One waterproof and one not for sound quality reasons because the Hero 4 still beats both of the new GoPros.

Great review! Watching this on a Note 8 the colors look much better on the 8, but I prefer the flatter image of the 9.

Honestly still think the hero 4 not just sounds but looks better after RU-vid compression.

Nice video brah! Can you do a video on what you do in post? Or is it a secret of the craft?

Sweet! I will checkout your other videos for more info. Thx.

I got the go pro hero 8 black the day before this came out. Not bummed because the go pro hero 8 is still a really good camera. not too much difference but I am happy with my go pro.

The difference in performance between the two cameras seems very marginal to me. I think I'm going to buy an 8B once the price drops. Seems like the primary advantages to the 9 are the higher resolution settings and the front-facing camera but I don't ever use anything over 1080p anyway so it's not a big deal :D

I got seasick watching this!! Unreal!! Great review !!

I'm curious about horizon levelling. If you are making a banked turn, and you're staying perpendicular to the sloped ground, the g-forces still point straight down. I would assume if it works according to g-force based levelling, that it would not keep a true horizon, but rather angle the view according to what feels like the direction that is pulling you down. That might be better for POV anyway, but it won't be the same horizon level as for a person standing still on the side of the trail. Where it might be weird is for someone that has the camera on their car, if they take a fast turn on flat ground, it would tilt the view when it shouldn't.

GoPro 4 or GoPro 9? Is the 9 better than the 4? Finally something worth the upgrade?????? love your video's and can wait to see how to get the most out of the GoPro 9.

Would you be able to do a couple of tests in different lighting situations and how the Hypersmooth 3.0 handles the transition from Over/Under-exposed? Also maybe include how it handles blown out images or under exposed in the grading process. I know GoPro isn't known for its latitude, but I'm curious if this increased bitrate is of any help. Thanks!

I own 2 HERO8s and love them, but the HERO9 is a better camera if you know how to use it. That's not to say it doesn't need some fixes like all of them.

I think they finally have gotten away from that “GoPro quality” footage and into a better camera. The blacks no longer look so crunched down so you can finally see clearly in shadows and have a truer sense of what you would actually see if you were there. I think it’s great and finally delivers good detail to the image that has always been lacking.

love your review's, i like what they did with the GP9 . The audio issue seems a bit of a concern. Ill wait a few months till i see if it has many problems like the 7 had ( overheating etc. ) but the Hindsight feature im pumped for, too many times it happened to me that i didnt record and something cool happened, being able to take 30 seconds of footage before you press record is really great. Def upgrade from GP7, maybe not GP8 if you just bought it imo.

I bought some cheap sticky mustaches from the dollar store and cut them small to stick on my gopro camera mic. Works quite well and is really cheap.

yes please do cover the different gopros please. Im struggling to get the wind noise in check with the fur on my 7 Black. im wondering if im doing it wrong but theres no real footage to check. and it certainly doesn't help having a case and theres no real footage explaining how the 3 mics work in what setting and where the wind noise can come in.

What did you set the exposure compensation to on the 9? I find it hard to believe that the graded footage would look so washed out and the colors so off on the 9 without a valid reason. Image stabilization has improved a bit, but still doesn't come close to rock steady. Gopro should have developed the 9 with a larger sensor. interested to see what DJI's response will be considering this and the insta360 One R

Love the channel. I work as a sound designer in film. Have you tried gutter guard to manage wind? Off the shelf product at hardware stores (keeps leaves out of gutters) I often use it on car exhaust mics to deal with both wind and exhaust boom. Works great both with and without fur. Also, I think it's just a settings thing but are the blacks deeper on the 8 than they are on the 9? Whatever it is, translates (in my eyes) to a richer, more vibrant image on the 8. Motion on the 9 feels more stable though.

Does the dynamic range seem a little better on the 9? Like those shots where there's a tree canopy with contrasting shadows that obscures the texture of the trail?

Great video, love to see your thoughts. Did you ever try the media mod for the 8? There's a microphone you can get, I'm wondering if that would work better than the onboard microphone.

Looks super fun & nerve racking at the same time.

The hero 8 has better video colors in my opinion. Only good thing between these on the 8. And on the 9 there’s going to be a mic coming out soon so.

looking forward to your settings video for the 9