I feel as if I’ve just shaken hands with Sasquatch. A mirrorless GoPro has been rumored so long it feels like a mythical creature – but now I’ve held the mirrorless GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS in my hands.
I’m a professional photographer and camera reviewer, but the GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS is unlike any other camera that I’ve used before – and that’s both good and bad.
While the ILS was initially revealed at the Mission 1 series launch, back in April, pre-orders for GoPro's first mirrorless camera opened today, August 26, with shipping and retail availability beginning on September 02.
The Mission 1 Pro ILS shares much of the same specs as the fixed-lens Mission 1 Pro, looking very much like the Mission 1 Pro had its fixed lens surgically replaced with a Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Besides the identical 8K60 sensor and GP3 processor, the ILS also looks and operates like a GoPro.
Holding the Mission 1 Pro ILS in my hands still felt very much like shooting with a GoPro – which is great news for GoPro fans. But the Mission 1 Pro ILS is a camera of compromises in order to pack swappable lenses into a camera that’s just 197g.
The Mission 1 Pro ILS packs high-end features into an affordable – and tiny – body
The legendary GoPro features that have migrated into mirrorless are headlined by HyperSmooth. I hate hauling around tripods, and I spent much of my time with the ILS capturing handheld video. Handheld shots are impressively steady, with just enough movement to have that POV-feel without being jittery or distracting.
The stabilization impressively even helped when getting in close to the subject. Using stabilization on different lenses is more challenge, however, and I did spot on occasional wobble – and HyperSmooth is definitely not smooth enough to actually run with the camera.
While that stabilization is possible with the fixed lens Mission cameras, the ILS mixes that with a handful of things that aren’t typically found on a GoPro, like longer focal lengths and yes, even bokeh and lens flare.
The other unusual feature of the ILS is how small it is – which is perfect for getting unusual angles. I even tucked the GoPro mirrorless inside a large jar. The body of the ILS is essentially the same as the Mission 1 Pro, but the mirrorless mount does jut out farther and taller from the body.
GoPros have long been the filmmakers' tool for shooting spots that a typical camera won’t fit – the ILS still offers that compact size, though naturally that will also depend on what lens is mounted to the front.
The ILS also has an impressive list of specifications for the $699 / £599 / AU$1099 / CA$949 price point. While there are a handful of mirrorless cameras that can be picked up at that price point, none of them are 8K-capable cameras. Yet, on the GoPro ILS, resolution reaches up to 8K60, with open gate available up to 8K30 and slow motion up to 1080p at 960fps (in 10 second bursts).
But, the GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS has some significant compromises
The Mission 1 Pro ILS’s lens mount, however, doesn’t have any electronic communication between the lens and the camera. That means that the ILS is a manual-focus-only camera.
But, many Micro Four Thirds lenses are what’s called focus-by-wire, which means that the lens needs the electronics inside the camera in order to physically move the glass pieces to adjust focus. Without any electronic contacts, the GoPro ILS isn’t compatible with these lenses at all, even in manual focus mode, which eliminates a number of fantastic lenses from OM System and Panasonic.
One of the reasons the lack of support for lenses from brands like OM System is so disappointing is that the ILS body is splash-resistant when paired with a weather-sealed lens. The manual focus lenses that the ILS is compatible with are rarely weather-sealed.
Without any communication with the lens, users also need to go into the camera’s menu each time a lens is swapped and choose the right lens profile – forget this step and HyperSmooth will look terrible, as the camera needs that data for the stabilization algorithms to work properly.
The ILS’ small design also comes with a compromise – GoPro says that lenses that weigh more than 250g should be paired with an external lens support. Pairing the ILS with a heavier lens will require an additional investment in a base plate, lens support, and rod – accessories that add on to the cost, no to mention negating the small size.
GoPro users should also be very careful with mounted setups. GoPro doesn’t list a maximum recommended weight for their existing accessories – after all, all GoPros were small before the ILS, so a maximum weight wasn’t really needed. GoPro doesn't list a specific weight lens-ILS combo that should be avoided for traditional GoPro mounting accessories.
But, a GoPro representative told me, “If you plan to subject the camera to higher shock and vibe levels, then we recommend using heavier-duty third-party solutions and the 1/-4-20 threaded insert to mount the camera.”
The combination of a one-inch sensor with a Micro Four Thirds mount also creates a 3x crop factor. This can be great if you want to get in close for telephoto or macro, but less so if you need an ultra-wide view. The widest lens on GoPro’s list of supported lenses is the Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye, which will act like a 12mm wide-angle lens.
While many of the GoPro mirrorless compromises are related to the lens, the ILS is also geared towards cinema, not stills. Still shots have a built-in delay, and processing leaves the camera temporarily unable to shoot a second shot. GoPro’s mirrorless camera can take stills, but it’s secondary to video.
The non-electronic lens mount and the camera’s small size introduce several compromises. But the Mission 1 Pro ILS is built for filmmakers who likely already use manual focus or follow focus accessories.
Ahead of the GoPro mirrorless launch, a GoPro executive told me that the ILS isn’t going up against the likes of Canon, Sony and Nikon – GoPro sees the ILS as more of a tool in a multi-camera kit where the ILS isn’t the main camera.
The GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS is meant for mounting scenarios with more flexibility – and bokeh – than a classic GoPro, as well as for run-and-gun filmmakers who need something small and affordable. And for that, I’m glad the GoPro mirrorless is no longer the stuff of myths.
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