Earlier this week, GoPro announced their latest camera, the Hero 10 Bones. A lighter version of the Hero 10 Black is designed specifically for FPV Drones. At first glance, we thought it was great - and ordered two with overnight shipping to get them in the studio as soon as possible. But upon closer inspection, the Hero 10 Bones just might not be worth the cost.
Considering that this is the exact same camera as the Hero 10 Black, there is going to be no difference in video quality captured from either GoPro. Putting that fact aside, let's compare the main selling point: weight.
The weight of the Hero 10 Bones is 60grams with a lense cover or ND filter on, making it more than half the weight of a normal Hero 10 Black. But this comes at the same or HIGHER cost than a normal Hero 10 black.
GoPro removed the battery, GPS, front and back screen, heat sink, and other components to get the weight down, but they are charging the same $499.99 price (or $399 with a GoPro subscription)!
That means that they are charging the same exact price for something that was clearly cheaper for them to manufacture than the normal GoPro 10.
Additionally, the GoPro Bones is not waterproof, requires technical skills to install and maintain, is less durable, and requires the phone app or GoPro remote sold separately to control.
Cost aside, consider that the FPV community is very technically savvy, and many people are already decasing and reducing weight from Hero 8/9/10's down to 20-30g in some cases. So a custom modification to a normal Hero camera can get you down to half the weight of what the GoPro Hero 10 Bones is!
In our opinion, if you are an advanced FPV pilot - you'll get better results with a deceased drone. If you are a beginning FPV pilot - stick with a normal GoPro, you can use it easily on any drone and can also use it for other things outside of FPV. When you crash in water or fly in wet conditions, you'll only have to replace or repair the drone (if it gets damaged), not the camera as well.
Let us know, will you be buying the Hero10 Bones?
