GoPro Hero 5 Stabilization Quality Test vs Hero 4 on bumpy track - Worth the Upgrade?

Is GoPro's new electronic image stabilization (EIS) feature in the HERO5 Black any good at high speeds on the racetrack? How does it perform over cracks and bumps in the pavement, berms, and rumble strips? Is there a notable difference in vibration reduction, movement smoothing, and sharpness? Watch to find out! I tested the new HERO5 at Sonoma Raceway along with the previous model HERO4 Black, which only records non-stabilized video.

All footage recorded at 2.7K resolution and 30fps. Best viewed on a large screen to really observe the differences!

Protune was enabled in each camera for highest image quality. The videos for this comparison are unprocessed without any color correction or grading - except near the end. Before recording, all settings were adjusted to match on both cameras. Each camera was mounted in the same location. The HERO5 recorded around 9:30am and the HERO4 recorded later in the day around 1pm so the colors, midtones, shadows, etc. will still differ.

Although sharpness was set to "low" on both cameras, the HERO5's image quality appears superior and seems to capture more details at the same resolution, thanks to its EIS and better image processing. A split screen view is displayed vertically and horizontally side-by-side, and then later the images are enlarged to better observe the differences.

Sound on the HERO5 was recorded with its built-in microphone. The HERO5 now offers audio processing to minimize wind noise and enhance stereo during recording, but this new feature was set to OFF. Audio on the HERO4 was recorded with an external mic.

Enjoy the comparison - Hope you find it helpful!

Camera car: BMW 135i

Cars appearing in video: McLaren 675LT, Lamborghini Huracan, Porsche variants including GT3's, and Mazdaspeed MX-5 racecar.

Timestamps:
00:09 Quality Comparison at 2.7K (Unprocessed Protune)
01:09 Image Stabilization Enabled (HERO 5 with EIS)
01:22 EIS vs no EIS (HERO 5 vs HERO4)
02:04 Image Stabilization Enabled (HERO 5 with EIS), McLaren 675LT
02:10 Image Magnification of EIS vs no EIS, Porsche GT3
02:44 Side by Side View of EIS on/off
03:00 Image Magnification
03:13 Cayman GT4 :)
03:50 Full Screen HERO 4, Rear Getting Loose in T11
03:56 Full Screen, HERO 5 with EIS
04:20 Quality Comparison with Image Post Processing
04:50 Lamborghini Huracan (bottom view)
Music: "The Driving Force" by Jingle Punks