GoPro Hero 7 vs GoPro Hero 9 Comparison

Last Updated on July 23, 2022 by Sharon Advik

GoPro Hero 7 vs GoPro Hero 9 Comparison:

Overview (hero 7 v/s 9)

In September 2020, GoPro Hero9 Black was released, and in September 2018, GoPro Hero7 Black.

Hero7 Black is, as you can see, two years older than Hero9 Black.

The biggest and most significant model in the lineup is the Hero7 Black.

It implies that the Hero7 Black can perform all the tasks that the other two variants can, in addition to many more.

The Hero9 Black has a new 23.6-megapixel image sensor that can record 5K films and 20MP still photos as an update.

It is an improvement over the Hero7’s 12MP and 4K video recording capabilities.

The culmination of years of developing stabilizing algorithms is the GoPro Hero 9 Black.

By automatically stabilizing vibrations and judders from your footage and making it unbelievably smooth, HyperSmooth 3.0 expands on the powers of the previous.

The HERO 7 is still a powerful action camera and will be more than adequate for many people’s needs, despite not being the greatest GoPro currently available.

Specifications:

Dual screen v/s Single Screen:

The presence of a secondary display, which is thoughtfully positioned at the front side of the camera beside the lens, is one of GoPro’s key selling points for the Hero9 Black.

In addition to using it for vlogging, you can use the front display to frame your photographs effectively.

The Akaso Brave 7LE and Campark V40 have already used this configuration, but what You will enjoy about the Hero9 Black is that you can use both displays simultaneously.

On the GoPro Hero9 Black, you may turn off the front display, among other things.

Rear screen:

Both cameras have a touch-sensitive LCD on the back that you can use to operate the camera with a finger.

A larger touch screen is beneficial, especially for persons with large fingers who need a wider interaction area for touch screen control and those who struggle to see small prints; comparing the Hero9 Black to the Hero7 Black; the Hero9 Black has a significantly larger rear display.

Lens:

The lenses on both cameras are interchangeable, which is an excellent feature for any action camera.

The Hero7 White and Silver, however, cannot swap the lenses.

Owners of the Hero8 Black will attest to how awful it was not to be able to swap out the lens cover whenever necessary.

GoPro has released a Max Lens Mod for the Hero9 Black that will improve the HyperSmooth 3.0 and boost the FOV to 155°. The 15mm F2.8 Prime lenses used in the GoPro Hero9 Black and GoPro Hero7 Black have the same focal length and light-gathering capacity.

Both cameras have a maximum aperture of f2.80 at this focal length and a comprehensive angle coverage of 15mm.

Both cameras have a telephoto lens with a 15mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f2.80.

The Field of View or Digital Lenses:

GoPro refers to Field of View as “Digital Lenses.”

The Hero9 Black has five digital lenses, compared to the Hero7 Black’s three.

Horizon Leveling + Linear is a new FOV available in Hero9 Black.

It will automatically align when the camera is turned or set to a slanting level.

Only the smartphone app you can use performs Horizon Leveling on the Hero7 Black.

Weight and Dimensions:

The body size and weight of these two cameras will be noticeably different.

The camera will be heavier because the Hero9 Black’s battery is more significant than the Hero7 Black’s.

The Hero7 Black is 62.3 W x 44.9 H x 33 D, while the Hero9 Black measures 66.3 W x 48.6 H x 28.4 D (mm) (mm).

Audio Quality:

Although the audio quality of both cameras is identical, some of you may be able to tell that the Hero9 Black created significantly louder sounds.

If you require high-quality audio, I advise using an external microphone.

Both of these cameras lack specific connectors for connecting an external microphone.

Both cameras use the Media Mod for Hero9 Black, which has a dedicated connector for connecting an external microphone or purchase the USB type C to 3.5mm converter.

Video Quality:

Thanks to the upgraded 23.6-megapixel image sensor,

The GoPro Hero9 Black has a maximum video resolution of 5K and a 30-fps frame rate.

On the other hand, the Hero7 Black’s maximum 4K video resolution is still commendable by today’s standards.

The lowest resolution available on a GoPro camera is 720P on the Hero7 Black, which has a higher resolution than the Hero9 Black.

The Hero9 Black is a fantastic option if you require a camera that can capture highly sharp details due to its 5K capabilities.

Additionally, you’ll see that the Hero9 Black outperformed the Hero7 Black somewhat in terms of balancing brightness and contrast.

Besides that, the Hero7 Black continues to deliver excellent video quality, particularly now that it has a lower price.

Photo Quality:

Compared to the Hero7 Black, the Hero9 Black generates brighter and crisper photos.

The photographs on the Hero7 Black are bright and clear enough to make an excellent impression, yet they perform well in terms of photo quality.

Only a slight variation can be seen between the two cameras’ photo capabilities.

If the image resolution is important to you, the Hero9 Black is the right choice.

However, if you only need a camera that produces pleasing, clear pictures, the Hero7 Black will work just as well.

Time-Lapse:

A fast-moving movie is produced by combining frames captured in the Time Lapse mode at predetermined intervals.

The Time Lapse Mode on the GoPro Hero9 Black features three presets: TimeWarp Video (the default), Time Lapse, and Night Lapse.

In contrast, the Time Lapse Video, Time Lapse Photo, Night Lapse Photo, and TimeWarp Video features of the Hero7 Black are available.

The “time-lapse video” option is present in both cameras, but the “time-lapse photo” option is absent in Hero9 Black, but the Hero7 Black has it.

In this case, the camera will take picture frames at the predetermined interval and save each separately on the memory card.

Later, you can choose to keep the photographs you like and remove the ones you don’t need.

Slow motion:

You might choose slow motion to standard video shooting in various situations, such as skating.

Due to the 240 frames per second offered by both cameras, you can capture videos up to 8 times in slow motion.

You can only manage 2x slow-motion videos when using 4K video resolution because it only supports a maximum of 60 frames per second.

And both these cameras, when compared, gave the same result for slow motions.

Camera Sensor:

The GoPro Hero9 Black contains a GP1 processor and a 23.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS sensor.

However, the 12.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sized CMOS sensor in the GoPro Hero7 Black is larger.

A substantial advantage in real life is provided by the GoPro Hero9 Black’s sensor, which offers 11MP greater than the GoPro Hero7 Black’s sensor. Your photographs can be printed larger or cropped more easily.

However, please remember that resolving power is not only determined by the maximum sensor resolution.

The optical components, low pass filter, pixel size, and sensor technology all impact the final resolution of the collected image.

Battery:

The digital camera battery life is one of the critical aspects that will determine how much you like taking pictures.

Removable, rechargeable batteries of various capacities are used to power both cameras.

A 1720mAh battery powers the Hero9 Black, compared to a 1220mAh battery powering the Hero7 Black.

The Hero9 Black’s battery is a tiny bit larger than prior GoPro cameras’ batteries because of the increased battery capacity.

Connectivity:

There is no such comparison between the connectivity of these two cameras.

The built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity (Wi-Fi + Bluetooth) of the GoPro Hero7 Black and Hero9 allows you to transmit your photographs to compatible devices without needing a physical connection.

GPS:

The GPS feature is absent from the HERO7 White.

You should get the HERO7 Silver or the HERO7 Black if you want that functionality.

You may utilize the GPS data to build gauges as overlays on your films once GPS is activated and the signal has been locked.

Also, this feature is present in hero 9.

Slide down to [Preferences] from the main screen (HERO9, swipe left after sliding down).

Toggle GPS [On] by tapping [GPS] and scrolling to [Regional].

LCD and Viewfinder:

The Fixed Type 2.00-inch LCD screen on the GoPro Hero7 Black features a 0k-dot resolution, while the 2.27-inch Fixed Type LCD screen on the GoPro Hero9 Black features a 0k dot resolution.

The screen is smaller than most modern models in this class, measuring only 2.27″, and its 0kdot resolution is lower.

Hero7 and Hero9 lack viewfinders and the ability to use an external viewfinder.

The scarcity of a viewfinder can be a trouble, particularly in bright conditions when LCD panels lose a lot of visibility.

Frame per rate:

A measure of display device performance used in video capture, playback, and video gaming is frames per second (FPS).

FPS is a unit of measurement for frame rate or the number of images displayed sequentially every second.

The HERO9 offers 240 frames per second as the fastest video frame rate, similar to various earlier models.

For filming slow-motion, that is helpful. The slowest is 24 fps, which is sometimes utilized for a vintage film appearance.

And for hero 7, videos can be captured at 240 frames per second in Full HD, just like hero 9.

You may intensify the slow-motion effects by slowing down these videos by up to 8 times.

Sockets and Ports:

The Hero7 Black is more intriguing in this situation because the Hero9 Black lacks an HDMI out connection.

It would be best if you bought the Media Mod for Hero9 Black to use an HDMI with the device.

The cameras share comparable connectors and slots for connecting to external media devices aside from that distinction.

Both cameras contain a USB Type C connector that you can utilize for media transfers and battery charging.

Both cameras contain a memory card slot that can accommodate microSD cards with storage capacities of up to 256GB for the Hero9 Black and 128GB for the Hero7 Black.

If you frequently use action cameras, I advise selecting the

Bitrates:

This phrase refers to the amount of data required to record one second of video.

Megabytes per second is the unit of measurement (Mbps).

The better the bitrate, the faster the writing and the better the video.

The Hero9 Black’s maximum bitrate is 100Mbps, which you can use with 5K, 4K, and 2.7K resolutions.

The Hero7 Black can handle a bitrate of up to 78Mbps.

The Hero7 Black’s lowest bitrate, 24Mbps, may be used with 720p and 1080p resolutions.

The benefit of adopting a lower bitrate is that it will produce videos with smaller file sizes, which will save up space on memory cards.

Waterproof:

Hero9 Black and Hero7 Black both have weather sealings built into their bodies that keep out dust and moisture.

Although neither of these cameras requires waterproof housing to be used underwater, “GoPro Hero9” Black features a novel design element called the microphone drain, designed to drain the water whenever you return from an underwater trip.

It is an essential function for all of you because it will speed up the drying time for the microphone on your Hero 9 camera, allowing you to restart audio recording right away.

Photo Genre:

Since that’s the reason they were created in the first place, they work best for action shots, but they can also be a lot of fun to use for regular trip photography or unique family portraits.

On the other hand, The Hero 9 can take raw photographs and now has better HDR capability, bringing it closer to the standard of a high-end smartphone in terms of image quality.

Depending on your settings, you can shoot bursts at up to 30 fps while holding down the photo button.

Color saturation and Details:

If you employ color saturation effectively, it can improve your photos and give them a more or less saturated appearance.

You can alter color saturation through your camera’s settings, filters, or image editing software.

The depth or intensity of the colors contained in an image can be referred to as saturation.

Increase your saturation levels if you want your image to have more vivid colors.

Colors become muted and faded when saturation is decreased.

It is not to say that you should overdo saturation while editing images. Less can sometimes be more.

Photos taken with hero 7 are less color-saturated, while the photos taken with hero 9 are more saturated. also, hero 9 shows more details in a picture than the picture taken with hero 7

Low light Images:

Low-light performance is the lowest light level at which a camera can take a picture while maintaining acceptable image quality.

Therefore, photographers need an effective and crisp camera to catch every detail.

Hero 9 and Hero 7 perform almost the same in low light, but to conclude, I will say; However, hero 9 provides a little too dark images in low light conditions; it retains the overall quality of images more than the picture taken with hero 7.

Wedding photography:

Wedding photography demands talent and patience; thus, a photographer must be skilled.

However, a wedding photographer needs to have the most incredible camera as his backup to capture all joyful, spontaneous, and beautiful wedding images of the bride and groom on their special day.

Considering all the features, I believe that the people who work in professional wedding photography will like to go with hero 9 as it has better color contrast and video resolution than hero 7.

It offers excellent value for the money, is easy to use and transport, adaptable, and effectively speeds up the photographer’s workflow.

Travel Photography:

Heavy equipment is typically the last thing you want to bring on vacation, especially considering airline baggage limits and the cost of additional luggage.

Remember, your camera and any accompanying lenses must be relatively light.

Many small mirrorless systems won’t take up much space in your luggage.

Still, they will generate considerably higher-quality content than your phone, whether you shoot images, video, or a combination of the two.

The most crucial consideration is weight, particularly when choosing a camera, you’ll carry around all day. “GoPro Hero7” Black is 42g lighter than GoPro Hero9 Black, which could be very helpful, especially on extended walking expeditions.

So for me, votes go for hero 7 for travel photography.

For Filmmaking:

The GoPro HERO9 is the first GoPro to be able to record video at a resolution of up to 5K, other than the hero 7, which records at 4k.

Older models only support 1080p, while the prior model supports 4K video like hero 7.

For filmmaking, a higher resolution offers more flexibility.

For filmmaking, a higher resolution offers more flexibility, which is why hero 9 is best for people willing to film.

When zooming in, larger photos can be shrunk while retaining more detail.

Additionally, the GoPro HERO9 makes advantage of the most recent HyperSmooth technology to enhance image stabilization.

3.0 vs. HyperSmooth:

You may recall that the Hero7 Black was the device that initially made HyperSmooth stabilization available.

While the Hero9 Black features the third generation, HyperSmooth 3.0, the Hero8 Back has the second generation, HyperSmooth 2.0.

According to its marketing, HyperSmooth is a sophisticated EIS that would offer a smoother experience and perform as promised. In the Hero7 Black, HyperSmooth 3.0 operates noticeably better than the original HyperSmooth.

When taking a sharp bend, there are now hardly any wobbles detected. It is not to say that the Hero7 Black’s video stabilization is poor; instead, HyperSmooth 3.0 from GoPro does a superior job overall.

Budget-Friendly:

There are many potential causes for your search for the most fantastic affordable camera in this era.

You might want a cheap starting camera if you’re getting into photography.

Or, if you’re feeling the pinch during these difficult economic times, you could be looking for a budget camera that yet provides excellent value for money.

Depending on stock levels, the Hero 7 Black, which anyone can purchase for approximately $130 or £130 less than the Hero 9, makes this hero 7 perfect for people looking for a budget-friendly gadget.

Benefits of hero 9 over hero 7:

The camera comes with a complimentary carrying case you can use afterward.

A front-facing secondary display is ideal for vlogging and framing pictures.

Compared to the Hero7 Black, the rear touch-sensitive display is slightly larger.

A remarkable improvement, HyperSmooth 3.0, smooths down very rough video recordings.

For those who require explicit videos that you can download later, 5K video recording is beneficial.

Drawbacks of hero 9 over hero 7:

Too Big than it was before, rendering some accessories unnecessary.

Unresponsive touchscreen.

No 4K/120p mode yet.

HDR processing is slow.

Larger and heavier than Max

Why is GoPro Hero 9 the best?

GoPro Hero 9 is the best because it all depends on your need. In the world of technology, two years is unquestionably a long time, and GoPro has undoubtedly made good use of that time.

The Hero9 Black features powerful software and design upgrades.

It can meet the needs of the majority of users.

If you currently own a Hero9 Black, the improved image sensor and compatibility for larger memory cards might persuade you to upgrade.

The Hero9 Black is now available for a lower price, which is terrific news.

If you already possess a previous GoPro camera, upgrading directly to the Hero9 Black is worthwhile, but you can also go for the Hero7 Black and save a tonne of money.

If you plan to use the secondary monitor and 5K video recording, I highly suggest the Hero9 Black.

GoPro Hero 9 pros & cons:

GoPro Hero 7 pros & cons:

Conclusion:

The brand’s flagship cameras are GoPro Hero 7 and GoPro Hero 9.

The newest Hero 9, which undoubtedly has the most cutting-edge features, is more expensive.

The GoPro Hero 7 is an option if you want to make some financial savings and don’t mind giving up some of the newest capabilities of more recent models.

The GoPro HERO 9 is a better option if you require an action camera with capabilities like 5k footage and a front-facing live view screen.

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