What is GoPro's "10-bit Color"? Pros, Cons, and Compatible Models

What is GoPro's "10-bit Color"?

In the digital data world, a bit is a unit of data expressed in binary. 10-bit corresponds to 2^10, which is 1,024.

In the field of images and videos, "bit color" is used to represent the "gradation of color." Thus, 10-bit color means 1,024 gradations. Since videos are represented by three colors, "Red, Green, Blue," the total number of gradations is the product of these three numbers.

For 8-bit color, it is "2^8 = 256 gradations" for each color, so "256 x 256 x 256" results in approximately 16.77 million gradations. In the case of 10-bit, "1,024 x 1,024 x 1,024" results in approximately 1 billion gradations.

Although the difference between 8-bit and 10-bit is just 2 bits, the number of usable colors is vastly different.

Pros of 10-bit Color

What are the benefits of using 10-bit color in digital cameras and camcorders like GoPro?

The biggest benefit is the "improved color reproduction."

In traditional 8-bit, colors were saved as "approximately close colors." In 10-bit color, colors are saved in more detail, enhancing color accuracy. This leads to an expanded dynamic range and smoother gradations.

Below is an official GoPro video. Around 0:31, there is a comparison between 10-bit and 8-bit color. The difference is evident to anyone watching.

Shooting in 10-bit color allows for better color correction in post-production. Colors that would have been lost in 8-bit can be reproduced, increasing the freedom and quality of editing.

Cons of 10-bit Color

The drawbacks of 10-bit color are "increased file size" and "the need for better hardware performance for editing and playback."

Since 10-bit color handles nearly ten times more color information than 8-bit, the data storage capacity per second increases. Additionally, expressing more detailed colors means that the hardware burden for editing and playback increases.

Moreover, most common LCD displays today are 8-bit, meaning that even if you shoot in 10-bit color, you cannot see the difference on an 8-bit display. A display that supports 10-bit color or higher is required.

For instance, within the same generation of Mac computers, a MacBook Pro may only support up to 8-bit color, while an iMac might support 10-bit color. This is something to be mindful of.

GoPro Models Supporting 10-bit Color

As of July 2024, the GoPro models that support 10-bit color are the "GoPro HERO12 Black" and the "GoPro HERO11 Black."