GoPro's new cinema camera

The Mission 1 Pro ILS swaps the fixed ultrawide lens of GoPro's action cameras for a Micro Four Thirds mount, letting filmmakers use interchangeable lenses on a compact body.

Not your typical action cam

The ILS is really a cinema camera in a GoPro form factor. It's not waterproof, uses fragile interchangeable lenses, and is designed for professional filmmakers and creators, not everyday action camera users.

“Don't let the GoPro in the name fool you, but its new Mission 1 Pro ILS isn't really an action camera.”

Same body, different mount

The ILS shares the same 207-gram body, screen, buttons, and controls as the standard Mission 1 Pro. The key difference is the Micro Four Thirds lens mount instead of a fixed lens.

Eight-K video specs

The ILS records up to 8K at 60 frames per second, with slow-motion options including 4K at 240 fps and 1080p at 960 fps, matching the standard Mission 1 Pro's video capabilities.

Why swap lenses on a tiny camera

Filmmakers use smaller cameras as crash cams in big productions, B-cameras for wildlife shoots, or low-cost options for solo crews. The ILS's compact size with interchangeable lenses opens creative possibilities.

Micro Four Thirds advantages

MFT lenses are small, compact, and inexpensive compared to cinema glass. They were designed for mirrorless cameras, making them a natural fit for the ILS's compact body.

Crop factor changes focal length

The ILS's 1-inch sensor creates a 2.7X crop factor with stabilization off, 3X with it on. A 7.5-mm lens becomes equivalent to a 20-23mm full-frame lens, so very wide lenses are needed for ultra-wide shots.

No electronic lens controls

The ILS lacks electrical contacts, so lenses requiring electronic focus or aperture control won't work. You need fully manual lenses with mechanical aperture rings, which limits your lens options.

Manual focusing on tiny screen

The ILS requires manual focus on a small screen that's hard to see in daylight. Focus peaking helps but isn't reliable, and zooming in to focus precisely is awkward. External monitors solve this but add bulk.

Sold body only

The ILS costs $700 and comes without a lens. GoPro hasn't released bundles that include compatible lenses, so buyers must source their own MFT glass.

Outstanding image quality

The ILS produces the best footage ever shot on an action camera. The larger sensor combined with quality interchangeable lenses delivers cinema-grade video that rivals early Blackmagic cinema cameras.

“The footage from the ILS is easily the best I've shot with an action camera.”

Excellent for stills too

The ILS captures 50-megapixel RAW images that match any Type 1-inch sensor camera. With quality MFT lenses, the results jump from 'pretty good for an action camera' to genuinely high-quality photography.

Comfortable to shoot with

When mounted in a grip, even larger lenses like the Laowa 7.5-mm feel balanced and comfortable. The camera has a 250-gram weight limit for lenses; heavier glass needs additional cage support.

Price is fair for filmmakers

At $700 without a lens, the ILS isn't for typical action camera users. But for professional filmmakers who already own compatible lenses, the price is reasonable for the capabilities offered.

A camera for experimentation

The ILS's real appeal is letting filmmakers experiment with different lenses and creative possibilities. It's not perfect, but it delivers the highest-quality footage and images possible from a compact action camera.

“This camera is for experimentation and exploration.”