GoPro’s new Mission cameras are priced beyond most weekend athletes

GoPro is pricing its new Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro cameras at $599.99 and $699.99, respectively, each discounted by $100 if you subscribe to its ecosystem — fine for professional filmmakers, but a tough sell for weekend warriors.

The Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro can both be reserved now, and you’ll get the $100 Point-and-Shoot Grip accessory for free (while supplies last) ahead of their May 28th release. The Mission 1 Pro ILS, the cam with the interchangeable mount for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lenses and adapters, will be available later in Q3 for $699.99, or $599.99 for GoPro subscribers.

GoPro accessories, like its new Wireless Mic System, list for $159.99, and the Media Mod, which features a built-in multi-pattern mic and expanded I/O capabilities, list for $149.99. The new 2150mAh Enduro 2 battery costs $34.99.

GoPro is positioning its Mission cams, built around a 50MP 1-inch sensor and GoPro’s new GP3 processor, as the “world’s smallest, lightest and most durable high resolution, high frame rate cinematic camera system.” That makes these high-specced action cameras expensive and well beyond what you’d need to film a gnarly mountain bike run or weekend snowboarding trip.

Most amateur creators will be better off grabbing an older, deeply discounted GoPro Hero 13 or Hero 12 for a fraction of the price. Or, grab a DJI Osmo Action 6, which currently retails for under $400, while Insta360’s premium X5 sits around $550.