GoPro - HERO5 Session (CHDHS-502)

I think the way to look at it, is that GoPro was so far ahead for so long, there was no real competition for them for over a decade. Even DJI had GoPro mounts built in when the Phantom 1 came along. Historically, GoPro perfected their 1080P then moved to 2.7k on the Hero 3 Black. They had the best 4k on the Hero 4 Black. Then they made the whole camera waterproof and added the built in touchscreen on the Hero 5 Black, then they went 4k 60 with moderate stabilization on the Hero 6 black, built a tiny camera on the Session 4 and 5. With the Hero 7 black, they finally got stabilization in camera that started to compete with 3 axis gimbals. On the 8 they had the mount built in so you didn't have to have a frame and changed to a larger form factor with the Hero 9 black and got resolution to 5.3k. They perfected features like Timewarp and Hyperlapse where all the work was done in camera instead of post. They made GoPro labs available for most of their cameras and gave amazing levels of customization that no other cameras have even to this day. Then they really started to stagnate and features were more incremental and evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Sure they had the 8:7 sensor and got video resolution up to 24.7 megapixels, but they still use a tiny sensor and low light performance is still very bad. They also had to deal with the rise of DJI and Insta360 who started to release competing products. Dji matched 10 bit the same year as GoPro, The Action 5 and Ace Pro 2 use much larger sensors and do much better in low light. GoPro was late to the party with magnetic mounting systems and Insta360 even put 8k into their Ace Pro versions. Insta360 has the Ace Pro Line, their Go series mini camera and even had the modular R series which could be an action cam or a 360 camera. In the time since GoPro released the Max, Insta360 has released 5 consumer grade 360 cameras that get better each year and now do 8k. We have no idea when the Max 2 will be released. GoPro stock is hovering around 50 cents a share and the market cap of the entire company is only 75 million dollars. It used to be almost 11 billion dollars, so it is 145 times smaller than it was shortly after the company went public. They have had to lay off staff and that has a huge impact on R&D. They are clearly falling behind competitors with no real path forward. Depending on which site you listen to, they rate the probability of bankruptcy at 33 to 62% in the next 24 months. That is not the sign of a healthy company. They botched the launch of their Karma drone and ceded that potential marketplace to DJI in the process. The reality is that the DJI and Insta360 cameras do a lot of things better and much easier. Low light is a real thing for a lot of people and the Action 5 and Ace Pro do a very good job in the space and GoPro isn't on the same playing field. I love the new GoPro lens system, but I am an advanced user and have been using ND filters, Anamorphic lenses, and macro lenses for years with the GoPro. The new anamorphic lens is great because it does the desqueeze of your footage automatically in camera. What is annoying is that they announced the lens in September of 2024 and I was finally able to get it 7 months later. GoPro is a great camera, but for many people who never touch labs, don't care about 10 bit or color grading, never do reframing 8:7, like to shoot in lower light conditions, or won't spend the $129 on an anamorphic lens, the GoPro is not really the camera for them. Insta360 are releasing much better cameras each year and GoPro is falling further behind. I really want GoPro to come back strong, but I fear they don't have the finances to compete unless they have an absolutely amazing technical breakthrough in the action camera space.

I have my GoPro 5 Session… no needs nothing more than stabilizer… with low light works like every newer models, When they launch a gopro that really works at night I will update!! : ) nobody have 8k TVs or can look vids in 8k in social networks…

Session 5 my beloved

Hero 5 Session is my favourite action camera of all time - lightweight, (some) image stabilisation, sturdy as hell and decent 2.7K image. Also, it's basically invisible to others when you're using it to film yourself, due to the size and shape, so it doesn't attract attention. It's such a shame that there was never a new generation after that H5S, or that anyone else made one in that form factor. I remember there was a rumour, something to do with a legal injunction as someone else had a patent for a similar device, which now blocks everyone, including GoPro, from using that shape. If there was a new generation of Session I wouldn't hesitate to snap it up. I've had three before but the battery always dies out and replacing it is a massive pain that involves tearing the camera apart and then soldering a new battery into it. I don't trust myself to do that competently.

They're just slow in terms of progression on the market. Don't get me wrong I love em I've had a session 5 for 4 years and it's done me wonders for whitewater kayaking, it's light small, alright quality and does what an action cam should do. I recently bought the hero 13 from costco (2 days ago) for £300 2 batteries and other bits of stuff, and am thrilled with it. But then again, the argument could be made what really changed from the 13, it has a new magnetic door thingy, and slightly better battery life, with the enduro batteries. Compared that to the improvements dji or insta make, that's where the hate comes from imo. The reality is, everyone has a brand they like they're all really good, and it depends on what you need/ want, for me a gopro is best, but for someone who is hiking and wants cool footage an insta360 x4 or 5 may be a better option. It does just boil down to each and every person's option tbh. And the hate isn't on the camera but the lack of improvement between generations imo, especially considering what each new gopro is like £150 more on release.

Kung second hand, don't go lower than a Hero 7 Black for GoPro. Huwag yung Silver versions, stick to Black. Exception sa rule neto ay yung Hero 5 Session dahil sa form factor. Osmo Action 1 is good contender din. Not as wide as the GoPro pero goods yung stabilization. Brand new, stick to GoPro, DJI, and Intsa360. Serviceable naman yung quality ng mga SJCam at Akaso pero hahanapin mo pa din yung linaw at wide fov.

I lost my hero 5 session in a lake 3 years ago. I wasn't upset about the $1k quad I was upset about losing a session. Speaks for itself.

What's the budget? The new dji osmo nano looks like a really good lightweight action cam, a proper successor to the old gopro session 5. Might be hard to get one if you are in the US though with the ban coming soon. Gopro is always a solid option and available at many price points. The premier cinewhoop action cam is a naked gopro but that is expensive and can be complicated. Super budget option is runcam thumb but don't expect amazing footage.

Probably unhelpful info, but my Gopro Session 5 has been rock solid for the past 5 years of regular use. Only ever had one hiccup where it needed a hard reset after refusing to turn on. Somehow the internal battery is still holding up too. If you want the best low light performance in this form factor, though, you’re better off looking at the DJI Action 4/5.

Ah ok. It was friend's and though rated 1080p it was more like upscaled 480p! I guess if you get the 4k version then 1080 is better!  I use a now really old gopro hero 5 session. In 2.7k it's really good but over heats after 45mns(?) In 1080p it lasts 1h15 or so. One can turn it off and during change overs and breaks.  Used that thing hundreds of times on the water. Amazing it's still going but GoPro isn't what it used to be!