GoPro Hero 7 topic

EspenB

After the discovery that the Hero(2018) is hardware identical to the Hero5 it might not come as a suprise to learn that the Hero7 seems to feature the same hardware as the Hero6. Only packaging and firmware might differ this year!

The model number SPCH1 is exactly the same as the GoPro Hero6.

The new GoPro action camera does not get a new name. The recent inspections of the device show that GoPro sticks to the usual designation and chooses Hero7 Black. For example, the action camera was approved last month by the Canadian ISED under this name with the model number SPCH1. Presumably this was not desirable as this inspection was quickly removed from the database. The screenshot below, however, shows that the Hero7 Black is indeed inspected including the product name and the model number.

https://www.mobielkopen.net/gopro-hero7-black

EspenB

Looks like one of the upcomming GoPro cameras is designated SPTM1.

https://fccid.io/CNFSPTM1/Label/Label-and-label-location-3905305

EspenB

https://www.goprawn.com/forum/others/10941-new-gopro-sptm1-cams

According to this FCC report GoPro is getting ready to release 2 cams.

The 1st one is dark grey colored SPTM1(Version S) capable of shooting in 4K30, 1440p60 and 960p90 video modes. This camera has GPS feature.

The other one is light grey SPTM1(Version W), it seems to be something like a 'lite' version with video recording up to 1440p60/p30, no GPS.

EspenB

Updated info on the new 2018 range which will probably be released in late september. GoPro Inc has a presence at the upcomming Photokina show so we are likely to see new cameras here. It would be a waste of time to show Hero6 at Photokina and then launch the Hero7 series the next week in october IMO.

Bluetooth certifications confirm the continuing existence of the Hero6 (product code "SPCH1") as well as "S" and "W" versions. Presumably the WHITE, SILVER and BLACK range is back. The silver is probably hardware identical to the Hero6. The white might be a Hero6 with crippled firmware as indicated in the previous posting. I think the Hero5/Hero2018 which still uses an Ambarella processor is likely to get retired.

Also Woodman have confirmed the release of three new models priced at 200, 300 and 400 USD respectively in the investor presentation earings call earlier in august.

Hero7 Black will have updated GP1 processor according to statements at Reddit.

But it seem pretty obvious that each of the three new cameras must performe slightly better than the previous three models at the same 200, 300, 400 USD price points... Woodman stated that the new range would be cheaper to manufacture and thus provide for higher profit margins for the company and still have more features for the consumer.

EspenB

The Hero7 range based on current rumours and FCC leaks:

Hero7 WHITE - 200 USD

Based on Hero6 Black hardware. Software limited to HD res only. No GPS.

Hero7 SILVER - 300 USD

Based on Hero6 Black hardware. More or less the same camera as todays Hero6. Maybe software limited to 4K/30.

Hero7 BLACK - 400 USD

Based on updated GP1 (GP2?) chip with improved processing power. 4K/60. Maybe image stabilization and linear view also for 4K.

A tweaked user interface across the range.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@EspenB

I wonder about only one thing - how this guys still afloat?

EspenB

LOL. They stil have cash for another 12 - 24 months. I guess we will know in january 2019 @Vitaliy_Kiselev .

The Q4 is GoPros golden sales period.

Or maybe allready in december if there is a substantial price reduction again this year as it happened last year with the Hero6 (and the older models). But at least they are not targeting a 500 USD level for the high end BLACK this year!

EspenB

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4195315-gopro-fundamentals-continue-deteriorate

Summary GoPro's Q2 results were nothing to write home about.

Company fundamentals continue to deteriorate.

Short covering was likely the reason shares rallied.

GoPro's (NASDAQ:GPRO) Q2'18 results beat both on the top and the bottom line. The company on an adjusted basis lost $0.15 per share, and revenue was $283M, beating by about $13M.

However, revenue was down 4.6% Y/Y, and EPS deteriorated Y/Y, as the company last year lost only $0.09 per share vs. $0.15 for the current quarter.

The company also pointed out that revenue Q/Q was up 40% sequentially. Please note that last year's Q2 revenue was also about 40% higher than Q1. So on average, I do not see anything improving much with the business.

Yes, GoPro cameras held 97% of the action camera category in dollar volume, and the company has the top 5 best-selling cameras as was mentioned in the conference call.

Yes, Fusion captured 48% of the corresponding market in the U.S., and GoPro's market share in Japan increased 58%; however, all these fine statistics are not doing much for revenue growth and profitability.

As for guidance, it was heartbreaking at best. The company forecasted Q3 revenue to be in the range between $260M and $280M, when last year for the same quarter revenue came in at $330. In other words, the company is telling us revenue will be about 20% less Y/Y for Q3.

For Q4, the company is projecting revenue in the range between $380M and $400M vs. $334M last year, or about a 20% increase. However, please note GoPro will be introducing three new cameras for the second half of 2018, so it is only natural that these sell higher during the holiday season.

Turning to the balance sheet, I see a continued deterioration. Cash and equivalents as of June 30 were 140M vs. 245M Y/Y. This despite inventories falling by almost 50% to $86M vs. $150M last year.

Total liabilities were $438M vs. $551M last year; however, please note that total assets were reduced by about $225M Y/Y. In other words, the reduction in total assets was twice that of total liabilities. I consider this a deterioration of the balance sheet. While the company is not in financial strain yet, if this deterioration continues, it will eventually find itself in a difficult position.

Perhaps the only positive was that non-GAAP gross margins edged up a bit to 31% from 24% in Q1. But when one looks on a comparative Y/Y basis, last year this time around gross margins were 36%. So even on a gross margin basis, things are deteriorating.

The company forecasted it will be profitable for the second half of 2018; however, for the full year, it still expects to lose $25-35 million.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Small leaks

EspenB

Nice one printing the model number in VISIBLE markings this time. :-p

EspenB

Features:

Hypersmooth stabilization
Timewarp video (slow motion with frame interpolating)
Live streaming
Auto download to phone

EspenB · Screen-Shot-2018-09-01-at-4.55.01-PM.png

The lens look different and larger on the black than the white and silver. Also different from the Hero6.

EspenB

Launch date is September 20.

Full leak: https://medium.com/@konrad_it/its-that-time-of-the-year-again-7d3642cf313

GoPro Hero 7 Black:

4K60, 2.7K 120, 1440p120, 1080p 240 (same as Hero6)

Based on Hero6 GP1 processor, but with an internal optimization

Same shape, same battery, same frame as Hero5/6

[NEW] Live streaming function (not clear if using 4g/phone/wifi)

[NEW] Hypersmooth stabilization provides gimbal-like stabilization, probably better than the Hero6

[NEW] HDR (I’m guessing proper 3bracket HDR)

[NEW] Portrait orientation

[NEW] Scene / smile recognition

[NEW] New feature which makes short looping videos of 15 /30 seconds (boomerang style I'm guessing)

[NEW] Photo timer (remember Hero2?)

Price: 399 USD

Sensor size: same as Hero6 (12MP 4000x3000)

Other features (from Hero6): GPS, voice control, touchscreen, Auto backup to phone and to GoPro Plus

EspenB

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4204755-gopro-gpro-ceo-nick-woodman-presents-citi-2018-global-technology-conference-transcript?part=single

Joshua Kehoe

Can you give us any insight into what features or design changes we can expect from the refresh lineup?

Nick Woodman

No, I can't share any details other than this year's lineup is really quite heavily influenced by customer request. And years previous, we were more building towards our own internal vision of what would make a great GoPro, but with the 2018 lineup we went and asked our customer what they would like to see from us and that's what we built into the new product line.

Joshua Kehoe

You kind of touched on this already, but what are the other key differences between this holiday season and maybe fourth quarters and years past?

Nick Woodman

I think the biggest difference this fourth quarter is that we are launching a complete refresh of our HERO camera lineup at the $199, $299, $399 price points. We haven't had a complete refresh of that line up since 2012. And this is in response to the clear market data that consumers want to see new products from us every year, much more so than just discounts on older product. And also we recognize we can't leave older product out at its original pricing and that's what really hurt us last year was we left our $299 and $399 products out for a second year in a row at those prices and we saw sell-through drop significantly.

We are not doing that again this year. So that's good. And we also have a entry-level product this holiday, whereas last year we did not. And that's just -- that’s a -- that was a significant hit in terms of sell-through. It's a very important price point, obviously for attracting new customers as well as selling to gift givers. So we’ve got entry-level product this holiday and we have all three new HERO cameras at traditionally attractive prices of $199, $299, $399, which model out to what looks like a healthy Q4 and as well this year's product line up is heavily influenced by our customers interest more so than any other year. We designed this year's products based on input from our customers, what asking them what do they really want to see from us. As we’ve shared half of our customer -- active customer base is using HERO4 and older generation GoPros.

While that’s great to see that they're still getting value out of their older GoPros and we build durable product that last for years. It raises the question of why haven't people upgraded?. And so to address that question, we went and asked them what they would like to see from us. We built that request list into our new products. And on top of that, we're taking a more feature centric approach to our marketing. This holidays you'll see where it's not just about beautiful bold aspirational images captured with the GoPro, our marketing will do a much better job of actually explaining the new features and why consumers should care about them. So across the board we’re feeling much better about our approach this fourth quarter than last year.

Brian McGee

As we’ve looked at the year and are discussing on earnings call, our expectation is we sell-through 5 million units

EspenB

https://medium.com/@konrad_it/its-that-time-of-the-year-again-again-2b71b7fbd5f5

EspenB

New user interface

EspenB

Portrait orientation

EspenB

https://twitter.com/kelseychilds_/status/1039967198868111362

EspenB

The release of the Hero7 is imminent. My bet is on September 20, but some leaks suggest September 18. Product should be immediately available after the launch event since product has been distributed for several weeks allready.

EspenB

Vitaliy_Kiselev

B&H is happy to announce one of the biggest pieces of news in action camera history. GoPro has revealed its new HERO7 lineup, featuring three cameras—the HERO7 Black, HERO7 Silver, and HERO7 White. They’re different not only in color, but also function, for users from the most professional to the everyday adventurer.

GoPro HERO7 Black

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1430472-REG/gopro_chdhx_701_hero7_black.html

Product Highlights

Record 4K60, 2.7K120, and 1080p240 Video

Capture 12MP Photos at up to 30 fps

HyperSmooth Video Stabilization

Vertical Portrait Mode for Social Media

SuperPhoto Auto HDR Photo Enhancement

33' Waterproof without a Housing

Touch Zoom Framing via Intuitive 2" LCD

Face, Smile, and Scene Detection

Live Streaming, TimeWarp Video

Voice Control, Raw Photos, and Much More

More than once, GoPro has, in past times, released two versions of a HERO model, such as the HERO4 Black and HERO4 Silver. This time, for release number 7, GoPro has announced three versions: the HERO7 Black, HERO7 Silver, and White. As in previous times, they’re not only different in color but also in feature sets. Just the idea of a HERO7 is exciting already, but to see three versions is much more so. The HERO7 Black is GoPro’s cream of the crop and, perhaps, the most advanced action camera ever created. The HERO7 Silver and White are not too far behind.

GoPro HERO7 Silver

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1430473-REG/gopro_chdhc_601_hero7_silver.html

Product Highlights

Record 4K30, 1440p60, and 1080p60 Video

Capture 10MP Photos at up to 15 fps

Built-In Video Stabilization

Vertical Portrait Mode for Social Media

33' Waterproof without a Housing

Touch Zoom Framing via Intuitive 2" LCD

Voice Control, Time-Lapse Capture

Photo Timer for Individual/Group Selfies

GPS Performance Stickers & More

The HERO7 Black is sure to be the action camera of choice for professionals for a long while, at least until the next version comes out. Any Hollywood film or any TV show or commercial that uses action cameras to capture some of those hard-to-reach shots, as has been done on films such as Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks (withdozens of GoPros at the same time), will almost unquestionably use HERO7 Black models. The same goes for sports enthusiasts or anyone else looking for top image quality in an action camera.

The HERO7 Black records up to UHD 4K resolution video at 60 fps with sophisticated HyperSmooth digital image stabilization, which is a gimbal-like stabilization that feels out your movements and compensates for camera shake accordingly. The maximum bitrate at 4K is 78 Mb/s. The camera also records 2.7K resolution at the high frame rate of 120 fps and Full HD 1080p at an even higher 240 fps for super-slow-motion playback. As far as audio, the HERO7 Black captures stereo and raw audio and supports an external microphone via an optional adapter for cleaner audio. The HERO7 Black offers an HDMI video output connector, allowing for a more complete professional workflow.

The HERO7 Silver records 4K video but at up to 30 fps, and with standard image stabilization and a maximum 4K bitrate of 30 Mb/s; the HERO7 White shoots up to 1080p60 video with standard stabilization. The HERO7 Silver and White aren't designed for slow-motion capture and top out at 60 fps (in 1080p) as the highest frame rate. Basically, the HERO7 Black has 8x slow motion and the Silver and White 2x.

GoPro HERO7 White

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1430474-REG/gopro_chdhb_601_hero7_white.html

Product Highlights

Full HD 1080p60 Video

10MP Photos at up to 15 fps

Built-In Video Stabilization

Vertical Portrait Mode for Social Media

33' Waterproof without a Housing

Touch Zoom Framing via Intuitive 2" LCD

Voice Control, Time-Lapse Capture

Photo Timer for Individual/Group Selfies

Although the HERO7 Black and Silver have 4K capability, the HERO7 Black has a 12MP image sensor, while the HERO7 Silver contains a 10MP sensor. This means the HERO7 Black produces a sharper 4K image and shoots 12MP photos, in comparison to the latter's 10MP photos. The HERO7 Black also supports raw photo capture. The battery on the HERO7 Black is removable, while in the other two models it's built in. For professional applications, being able to switch in a new battery is a plus, eliminating recharging times.

The above are the main differences in terms of image and audio quality. But there are also many other features that these three advanced actions cameras share and many that only the HERO7 Black has. All three cameras are waterproof down to 33 feet as they come, without a housing (a dive housing is available for the HERO7 Black). All three have a 2" touchscreen with an intelligent feature called Touch Zoom that helps you frame your shots by touch. All three have the famed GoPro Voice Control, which allows you to talk to the camera with commands like, "GoPro, start recording." All three shoot time-lapse video. All three have the QuikStories feature, which automatically transforms your footage into a fun video with music and effects, ready for sharing. Other than these, the HERO7 Black is loaded with many features that one would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. A big one is live streaming. Another big one is Protune, which lets you access and manually adjust various professional settings, such as white balance and ISO limit, to give you optimal control over your image and achieve highly enhanced results. Others include TimeWarp video, advanced metadata, and SuperPhoto, which optimizes your photos with HDR, local tone mapping, and noise reduction.

The entire HERO7 lineup also has a vertical capture feature that allows for easier integration with social media. With all three models, you can turn the camera to the side and shoot photos in portrait orientation, and the photos can then be uploaded seamlessly to Snapchat, Instagram, and other destinations.

EspenB

SuperSmooth stabilization is only for 4K/30 and 1080/60 (and FPS below).

Regular stabilization is used for 4K/60 and 1080/120. No stab at 240 FPS.

Unfortunately there is no LINEAR VIEW for software dewarping of the fisheye lens in either 4K mode. Even if you turn off EIS there is no Linear in 4K. Bummer.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Vitaliy_Kiselev

markr041

The Black magical spec is: "2.7K120" Has a narrower (crop) mode, to reduce fisheye, too. But same as the 6.

markr041

Trade-in offer from GoPro: $100 off for any old digital camera worth originally more than $99. So, get a Hero 7 Black for $299. Free shipping of old camera - label supplied. https://shop.gopro.com/cameras

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