GoPro has launched the third camera in its Mission 1 series. The new Mission Pro 1 ILS features a micro four thirds lens mount. This makes it GoPro’s first interchangeable-lens cinema camera.
Micro four thirds
The headline feature of the GoPro Mission Pro 1 ILS is its micro four thirds lens mount. This opens up a wide range of compatible lenses that you can use with the camera. However, it’s important to note that the lens mount on the Mission Pro 1 ILS does not have electronic contacts. As a result, you can only use manual lenses with the camera. It’s not compatible with any lenses that require electronics to control focus, aperture and other camera features. This means you will need to set focus before you shoot or manually pull focus while filming.
50MP Open Gate sensor
The GoPro Mission Pro 1 ILS features a new 50MP 1-inch sensor (1.0-type). This offers a Quad Bayer 12MP mode in 4K Open Gate for even better dynamic range and low-light performance. In the Open Gate mode, you can record at up to 30fps in 8K and 120fps in 4K. Open Gate uses the full image sensor for the most post-production flexibility if you want to shoot vertical and horizontal video. In addition, you can capture video up to 60fps in 8K60, 240fps in 4K and 480fps in 1080p and 1440p. There’s also a Burst Slo-Mo mode that records 1080p clips at 960fps for up to 10 seconds.
Professional features and controls
With the Mission Pro 1 ILS, you can record video in GoPro’s 10-bit Log GP-Log2 format. You can also shoot in 8-bit, 10-bit color and HLG HDR modes. The camera offers bit rates up to 240Mbps, and Timecode Sync for multi-camera shoots. In addition, the Mission Pro 1 ILS supports focus peaking, and a focus assist feature that magnifies the image on the rear screen up to 8x. This is very useful when you are working with manual lenses.
HyperSmooth video stabilization
The Mission Pro 1 ILS features GoPro’s Emmy Award-winning in-camera HyperSmooth video image stabilization. This delivers smooth footage without the need for a gimbal, or post-production processing. GoPro says that HyperSmooth video stabilization is supported by five specifically profiled fisheye lenses. These lenses are the Laowa 4mm f/2.8, 7Artisans 6mm f/2, 7Artisans 7.5mm f/2.8, Brightin Star 7.5mm f/2.8 and Meike 7.5mm f/2.8. In addition, it works with rectilinear micro four thirds lenses from 6mm to 500mm. GoPro has tested rectilinear lenses up to 50mm for guaranteed performance. However, the company says that lenses longer than 50mm may deliver “varied performance.”
Audio
The GoPro Mission Pro 1 ILS has a built-in 4-microphone array, which delivers improved stereo recording and wind noise reduction. You can also record separate 32-bit float audio to a .wav file. In addition, the camera offers native multi-track recording, automatic gain control, manual gain and limiting, Bluetooth 5.3 audio and USB-C microphone compatibility.
Other features
The GoPro Mission Pro 1 ILS features an all-new 2150mAh Enduro 2 battery. This will power the camera for over 3 hours recording at 30fps in 4K, or for over 5 hours in 1080p. The Mission Pro 1 ILS also offers rapid charging, so you won’t be out of action for long. In addition, the camera body delivers some of the weatherproofing and durability you expect from a GoPro. However, due to the interchangeable lens mount, it’s not waterproof.
Mission monitor app
GoPro has released a new Mission monitor app to complement the Mission 1 series cameras. The app runs on iPhone and iPad so you can monitor your video on a larger screen. It also gives you focus peaking, focus assist and zebra patterns for correct exposure. In addition, you can apply LUTs in real-time to see how your GP-Log2 shots will look after grading. You can apply overlays and grids to help with shot composition and start the camera recording remotely as well.
What we think
The GoPro Mission Pro 1 ILS is an interesting proposition. Most action camera users want a camera that takes care of focus and exposure automatically. Therefore, they would not appear to be the target market for the Mission Pro 1 ILS. However, it could be great for indie filmmakers to capture shots you couldn’t achieve with a regular-sized camera. The Mission Pro 1 ILS could also be attached to actors or vehicles for dramatic angles. In addition, the slow-motion options will be attractive to some filmmakers, but you do need to rig the camera out for best control over exposure and focus. Combining an action camera with a micro four thirds mount is a brave experiment. Hopefully, the GoPro Mission Pro 1 ILS can find its market and be a success.
Availability
The GoPro Mission Pro 1 ILS is available to pre-order today for $699.99, or $599.99 for existing GoPro subscribers. GoPro says that pre-order shipping will start next week and the camera will be released globally in September.
