Hot on the heels of the announcement of the DJI Nano is the email I received today re: the GoPro MAX 2 and GoPro LIT Hero. Apparently these are now available for pre-order, but there is a bit of a snag.
In Australia at least, GoPro saw fit to give its PR company the flick a few months back, so info is very sparse, and I am not betting on review versions any time soon.
What Do We Know?
Not a lot I am afraid. The MAX 2 is an updated MAX (obviously) making it a 360° camera (similar to ther new DJI 360) It supposedly has 8K resolution claiming to be “21% more than the oposition”. The lenses are replaceable if you break one, it has object tracking, 6 built in mics and is waterproof to 5m. And similar to the DJI model, when using the optional 1.2 metre extension pole, the pole is automatically removed from the shot.
Oh and it is AUD$850. And that’s about it. There is a more verbose version of this at https://gopro.com/en/au/shop/cameras/learn/max2/CHDHZ-311-master.html
As for the LIT HERO, it’s small (they show it on a keyring), supports 4K, has a built in LED light (nice idea), and it uses magnetic mountings – just like the DJI Nano in fact. It will sell in Australia for around $420.
More here – https://gopro.com/en/au/shop/cameras/learn/lit-hero/CHDHF-132-master.html
I have tried every which way to get in touch with GoPro over the last few weeks – left phone messages, emailed through various departments and so on, but so far not a peep in return. There is apparently an Australian office in Melbourne, but there is no phone number listed. As for the Gold Coast based Aussie distribs, I have spoken to them directly, but they claim they have no direct contact with the company which seems mighty odd to me.
Frankly, if right now I was looking for a 360° camera or a small portable action cam, just for the sake of warranty and service if nothing else, I’d be edging rather rapidly toward to the DJI offerings. On a further positive in that area, DJI models don’t have a record of overheating either, which GoPro’s are notorious for.
Update: I have had an email from the Australian distributors. Apparently their allocation of then new models has been delayed, but I am promised at least a review unit of the MAX 2 in the near future.