GoPro has recently launched the Hero10 Bones, so what is it? It’s a camera for your drones, mostly for DIY drones. So, now you’re getting all the benefits of Hero10, including the stabilization. So, let’s take a look at what the GoPro Hero10 Bones is all about.
Impression
This isn’t GoPro’s first dive into the world of drones; remember GoPro Karma? It was dubbed one of the worst drones out there due to all the glitches, technical errors, and the above 1000 Dollars price tag. So, this time, they have learned their lessons and understood what they had to do.
Instead of making a drone, they did what they do best, develop the camera. GoPro took the Hero10 Black and essentially just cut it in half. Now, you’re left with the brains and lens. So, who’s it for? It’s for the DIY drone community. This community has been at work making freestyle and racing drones, with parts sourced from different places. The funny thing is, the concept of Bones isn’t exactly new. People did the same thing to their Hero6 and used those. But, with Bones, things have become more streamlined, and that’s great. With more and more of the parts becoming easy to find and assemble, it’s great news for those already building DIY drones and those who want to get into this hobby.
Now let’s talk about the camera. You’re getting the same powerful camera module, and that’s it. Besides that module, there are, what seem to be, vents. On the back, it’s the same situation – two buttons, a powering port, and a mount. A Hero10 Black weighs about 153 grams, and the Hero10 Bones weigh a measly 54 grams. They have dropped the weight by almost 100 grams; that’s amazing! Weight is the last thing people want on their drones because it affects the flight and the battery life.
Back to the camera, you’re getting 5.3K at 60fps and 4K at 120fps. That’s more than enough for most people. However, this also means that Bones is not meant for racing or freestyling; instead more for cinematic works. That’s where the 120fps comes in; you can really get those mind-blowing slo-mo shots.
That’s not all; the HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilization tech is there too. This stabilization tech is a work of art; regardless of how fast-paced the movements are, it seems to smooth out all of those. So, having that feature on a drone camera is that much more amazing. Because you’re going to be cutting through the air, taking sudden turns, and making swift movements – the last thing you want is shaky footage. That is exactly where the HyperSmooth tech comes in – it drastically smooths out almost every shake. This feature will be a lifesaver. You’re also getting the Player+ReelSteady desktop app. It’s a fancy way to edit those drone footage; then again, anything is better than editing videos on small screens.
Now, for mounting Bones to your FPV drones, you will need some tools, mostly a soldering iron. In addition, the included power connector needs to be soldered onto the drone. If you’re into the DIY drone scene, you already have all the necessary tools for the job. But, if you’re getting into it, having a soldering iron helps. Since you need to solder for power, the Hero10 Bones doesn’t have any battery but relies on an external power source. For the most part, it won’t affect how you fly this, but it certainly limits the use cases by a little.
Final Verdict
In summary, you’re getting everything great about the Hero10 Black in half the body and a fraction of the weight. That’s very impressive. Maybe GoPro is on the right track this time; instead of drones, it’s cameras for drones. So far, so good; how will it stack against the competition? We think the GoPro Hero10 Bones has opened doors for more products like this; it’s only a matter of time before competitors flood the market.
