I saw the GoPro Mission 1 and this new action camera could make all point and shoots obsolete — here’s why

I own all sorts of cameras for different circumstances, but over the last year, I’ve been trying to follow a "less is more" philosophy. That’s why I’ve stopped carrying a full-frame mirrorless camera to work, opting instead for my compact Panasonic Lumix GX850 micro four thirds camera — though I still keep my phone and GoPro Hero Lit on me.

This is exactly why I’m so stoked for GoPro's new Mission1 lineup. It represents a dramatic shift, catering to serious enthusiasts who crave better performance and utility than what’s offered by the current action cam market.

After seeing the GoPro Mission1 Pro ILS in particular, I’m convinced I could ditch my micro four thirds camera altogether. In fact, the Mission1 makes a compelling argument that the traditional point-and-shoot is finally obsolete. Here’s why.

A 1-inch sensor is a big deal than you think

If you look at the current market for point-and-shoot cameras, many effectively use smartphone-sized sensors — and the Panasonic Lumix ZS99 is a perfect example. It actually has a smaller sensor than what’s found in the best camera phone around, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which utilizes a 1/1.3-inch main sensor.

That’s why the GoPro Mission 1 lineup's move to a 50MP 1-inch sensor is such a significant shift. By using a larger sensor, the camera is able to accumulate more light, resulting in sharper images and vastly improved low-light performance. Most flagship phones now excel at shooting in the dark, but they still require long exposure times. Since the Mission 1 models all feature 1-inch sensors, they can gather the same amount of light in a fraction of the time required by standard phones or point-and-shoots.

However, the GoPro Mission1 is clearly positioned as a video camera first — which makes that 1-inch sensor even more valuable. If you’ve ever shot video with a point-and-shoot or a phone in dim lighting, you know how noisy and muddy the footage can look. With the Mission 1, that should no longer be the case.

Size does matter

Micro four thirds systems are some of the lightest mirrorless cameras around, but even my Panasonic Lumix GX850 looks bulky next to the GoPro Mission 1. In a side-by-side comparison, it's unbelieveable to see the size difference between them. The beauty here is that GoPro has taken the iconic design of its Hero 13 Black and made it ever so slightly larger to house everything necessary to make the Mission 1 the ultimate all-purpose camera.

Thanks to its rugged construction and small footprint, it’s far easier to position in tight areas where traditional cameras simply won’t fit — like on my car's dashboard. Crucially, it offers significantly better protection than any point-and-shoot camera, complete with every mounting option imaginable: the standard 1/4-20 tripod mount, classic folding fingers, and my personal favorite, the Magnetic Latch Mount.

Even with its diminutive size, GoPro claims the Mission 1 offers impressive endurance thanks to the new Enduro 2 battery, which is rated for three hours of 4K 30fps recording.

A truly pocketable cinema cam

I never imagined that a GoPro-sized camera could deliver the same level of cinematic quality as full-frame cameras like my Lumix S5. GoPro’s answer to that skepticism is the Mission 1 Pro ILS, which features a Micro Four Thirds mount that allows you to attach professional cinema glass directly to the body. While it shares the same 50MP 1-inch sensor as the other two models, the video specs are in a league of their own — we're talking 8K 60fps, 4K 120fps, and beyond.

While there's roughly a 3x crop factor with this system that narrows the field of view, the fact that it’s an interchangeable lens system still means I have total control over the compression and aesthetic of my shots. I’m especially excited about its 960 fps slow motion mode at 1080p, which rivals dedicated high-speed cameras costing tens of thousands of dollars. Imagine the cinematic possibilities when pairing a lens with a shallow depth of field with that level of frame rate.

Time wouldn't just slow down, it would practically stand still.

Forget point-and-shoots

All of this has me incredibly excited for the GoPro Mission 1 lineup. You’ll have to consider what matters most to your workflow because there are three options: the entry-level Mission 1, the flagship Mission 1 Pro, and the interchangeable Mission 1 Pro ILS.

GoPro hasn’t announced official pricing yet, but pre-orders begin on May 21, 2026. I’ve been considering an aftermarket compact micro four thirds camera similar to my Lumix GX850, or even a bridge point-and-shoot, but the insane prices I’m seeing on the used market make it impossible to pull the trigger.

That’s why GoPro can’t afford to overprice this lineup. If I had to guess, a competitive price point for the Standard Mission 1 would be around $500 — especially since the GoPro Hero13 Black currently retails for $429. As for the Mission 1 Pro and Mission 1 Pro ILS, I’m hoping the latter stays under $899 to keep it a more attractive option than a traditional mirrorless setup.

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