After several years of fast growth and high expectations, GoPro is current struggling to maintain its standing at the top of the mobile digital camera market.
The active/sport market that GoPro once dominated has been infiltrated by powerful new devices like Google Clips, designed to be direct GoPro competitors.
Even drone cameras have started to edge into GoPro’s real estate. So it’s no surprise the cam company is now stepping up with details on the long-awaited Fusion, a multipurpose 360-degree cam ($700) that’s also an opportunity for rebirth.
First, the camera specs are at the top of the market: It uses a dual-lens setup to shoot 30fps video at 5.2k resolution, and take up to 18-megapixel photos – with an option for unique sphere-like photos that can be used for panoramas (sound is also 360 degrees).
It’s also shock resistant, waterproof up to 16 feet, and generally ruggedized for the mountain or the ocean as needed.
All the combined smart features of GoPro’s cams also found their way into the Fusion. It comes with an accelerometer, gyroscope and even a compass to help stabilize imagery. It can connect with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and use GPS for geo-tagging when necessary.
The Fusion is compact, ruggedized, and ready to work.
One of GoPro’s remaining strengths is its mounting equipment, which it is has been refining for years: No one else has mounting options so closely tied to today’s sports equipment and rugged outdoorwear.
People who like to cam their adventures probably already have GoPro mounting gear, which means they are looking for GoPro-compatible cams. This is an edge that GoPro is wisely exploiting by making the Fusion compatible with nearly all mounting gear.
But at the heart of the Fusion is the appeal of 360-degree footage: does it have any? Do people really want to head out and make these ultra high def spherical videos, or are they still too weird?
GoPro is hoping that those wanting to record their outdoor exploits will be excited to try a new format – plus, the Fusion does include an OverCapture mode that renders the 360-degree video into a single “flat” image that’s more viewer friendly.
Those experienced with editing footage can probably find all sorts of panoramic tricks to play here…if they want to. We will find out just how appealing the idea is when the Fusion starts selling in early December—who is willing to wait past the Black Friday deals?
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