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I’ve been using a GoPro Task 1 Pro The camera has been working for a few weeks now. I’m not quite ready to pass a final judgment on it, but I definitely learned a few things that are worth knowing if you’re thinking about buying one. I tested a range of features, from the new slow-motion mode to shooting 50-megapixel stills, and they impressed me in some ways – and left me wanting more in others.
But I’m not ready to give it a review score yet. The reason is that I got a very early sample of an incomplete program that is not representative of how it would work if I went and bought one. My first model also had a pre-production lens, which was changed on the second unit I received. So, although there are some things I was able to test, it’s not fair to the camera to base my review on what I’ve seen so far.
But that’s what I am He can I tell you.
How much does Mission 1 Pro cost?
The Mission 1 Pro is on sale now for $700. Then there’s the basic Mission 1, which has the same large sensor and new processor as the Pro model but lacks the slow-motion skills. It costs $500. At the top of the range is the Mission 1 Pro ILS, which has the same specifications as the model I was testing but uses a small, four-thirds interchangeable lens mount – a first for any GoPro.
The ILS form — which will be released later in the year — will also cost you $700. It’s the model I’m most excited about, but I’ll talk about that later.
Captured in raw DNG and edited in Lightroom, the camera’s wide-angle lens allowed me to capture a lot in one shot.
Why is the Mission 1 Pro exciting?
The Mission 1 Pro has a new GP3 image processor and a larger 1-inch sensor. GoPro says it offers better dynamic range and low-light performance. More importantly, it offers an impressive frame rate of 960fps for slow-motion video and 8K open-gate recording, meaning it captures footage using the entire sensor.
These are solid specs from a device that still fits in the palm of your hand and is completely waterproof, even without a dive bag.
Is Mission 1 Pro slow motion good?
On paper, too. It can shoot at an impressive 960 frames per second, the kind of speed you usually only get from dedicated slow-motion cameras. But there are caveats. First, you’ll only be capturing this footage in Full HD, so if you’re working on a 4K or 8K project, you’ll need to upscale that footage and potentially lose quality as a result.
The camera cage, handle, and shutter button add a significant amount of bulk to the camera, but also make it more comfortable when you’re out and about shooting away.
It also only shoots in short bursts of 10 seconds at a time, so you’ll need to get the timing right if you want an epic shot; You can’t simply leave it on for minutes and hope you get the shot. But I don’t think this is a problem. It’s important to keep in mind that slowing down 10 seconds of 960 fps footage to a 30 fps timeline results in approximately five minutes of slow motion video.
My favorite slow motion is shooting at 240fps, which the camera can achieve in 4K and in its color profile for better color grading in post-production. The 240fps frame rate still delivers an impressive 8x slow-motion effect when played at 30fps and far exceeds what the professional Canon R5 or Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Pro can achieve.
What is the Mission 1 Pro’s overall video quality?
Here I cannot answer with any certainty. The footage I’ve shot so far has been hit. I found the auto white balance to be somewhat unreliable, often producing slightly unnatural colors and forcing me instead to shoot with manual white balance – which, frankly, I’d probably want to do anyway to ensure consistent colors in the shot.
I also found at times that the image processing went too far in increasing the brightness of shadows and color saturation, resulting in a more HDR look than I wanted. This is why I prefer to shoot my footage mostly using the 10-bit log profile, which gives me more flexibility to fine-tune my footage in post-production.
I’ve heavily edited this still image, which was captured in raw DNG format. Aside from adjusting the white balance, where the automatic settings looked quite nice and purple, I also brought out the highlights with a single touch. Shots look good, although the fixed focus of the wide lens means I’m not quite as sharp, as the focal plane is enhanced towards infinity.
Overall, image quality looks solid, although not noticeably better than the already excellent Hero 13 Pro it replaces. The biggest upgrades in this model seem to be aimed at those who want more advanced slow-motion capabilities.
However, it’s important to remember that I installed at least four firmware updates during testing and only received the final production device a few days ago. I have not yet had the opportunity to retest it in a wide range of scenarios. It’s certainly a good start, but whether it does enough to justify an upgrade from the previous model remains to be seen once we spend more time shooting in daylight and low-light conditions.
What about still images?
They’re fine, at least based on my tests so far. The ultra-wide-angle lens means fine detail isn’t great, but if you want to capture those huge, sweeping views during your travels, it’ll be great. It shoots in raw DNG format and my advice is to use it: Manual color control was crucial to me, as was the ability to pull out shadow and highlight detail in Adobe Lightroom.
This straight-to-camera image, captured in JPEG format with manual white balance, isn’t bad but I thought it looked over-processed, with shadows that were artificially lightened too much, resulting in an HDR-style image.
By editing my raw DNG file, I was able to keep the shadows at a more realistic level, thus maintaining the dark look I was going for. I love how the wide angle lens allowed me to use these leaves as a natural frame for the waterfall.
What about battery life?
Again, it’s impossible to say for sure at this point because software updates will certainly play a big role in how power efficient the camera is. However, the battery life from the new Enduro 2 battery looks really strong. Even after a long day shooting footage while walking Levada on the stunning island of Madeira, I still return to my lodge with plenty of spare batteries.
What new accessories are available for Mission 1 Pro?
There’s a new camera cage with a detachable handle and some sort of shutter button that fits into the cold shoe slot. Although it makes a normally very small camera much larger, it also makes it easier to hold and operate like a regular compact digital camera.
The new Enduro 2 battery should provide enough power for a day of mixed shooting.
GoPro also announced a set of wireless microphones that will work natively with cameras without the need for external receivers — much like DJI does with its microphones and Osmo cameras. I haven’t tried it yet, but for content creators and vloggers, these are probably a must-buy.
What about the Mission 1 Pro ILS interchangeable lens?
This is the model I’m most excited about. While the on-paper specs for the Mission 1 Pro are great – especially when it comes to slow motion – I’m generally not a fan of the ultra-wide angle and fixed-focus look that ‘traditional’ action cameras like this achieve. Sure, they’re great if you want a wide field of view when strapping one to your head and hurling yourself down a mountain on a bike, but GoPro cameras have never really challenged traditional filmmaking.
But pack a quality four-thirds micro lens from the likes of Panasonic, Olympus or Voigtlander, and now you have a proper setup capable of high-speed shooting at a range of focal lengths, adjustable focus and shallow depth of field for cinematic bokeh – all from a camera body small enough to fit in your jacket pocket.
I’m really excited to spend some real time with the Mission 1 Pro ILS and see if GoPro can really play in a more professional cinematography arena.
There’s still a screen on the front to help you take selfies.
Should you buy the GoPro Mission 1 Pro?
It’s still early days of testing but I can say a few things for sure. The 960fps slow-motion mode is a great title, but its implementation is arguably just underrated. I struggled to even find things to photograph and was only really happy with a short clip of a dove flapping its wings. Think carefully about whether this kind of slow motion is really important to you, especially given its limitations.
Slow-motion skills aside, the overall quality I’ve seen so far doesn’t far exceed what the company offers from the Hero 13. So, if you already have a modern GoPro and use it mostly for 4K shooting at 24, 30 or 60fps, I don’t think you’ll see much benefit. But for those of you who are upgrading from a much older model – like the Hero 7 – you will definitely see an increase in quality.
The real excitement will come when the ILS model arrives and we’ll be able to pair its larger image sensor and slow-motion skills with a professional-standard lens. Stay tuned.
