I looked at their website and did not see a diving housing. No scuba shots in the video - just shallow snorkeling. Doesn't seem like they care about diving anymore?
It uses the same housing.
You think that the new lenses won't be usable for UW use?
It won't unless they decide to make a new housing that fits the lenses.
About the only new feature for existing GP12 users is the HLG HDR mode. Which may or may not have any output changes.
Right now they are outputting 10bit color but in a Rec 709 profile, so only 8 bit are displayed. You can switch to a rec 2020 HLG profile and get the expanded 10bit color range. Which is what I do for my videos.
But as far as I can tell the pseudo HDR mode on the GP12 only outputs in 8bit for the overall dynamic range. I didn't see any real differences when I changed the color profile.
There isn't a new sensor and the HDR mode is still limited to half the frame rate of non-HDR videos. So they are still likely using the pseudo HDR mode that the GP12 supported, but are they outputting an increased overall dynamic range from the GP12?
Personally I need to see side by side video, but I'm not sure there is anything new for people that were already changing their color space. They are just finally making it easier for everyone else to get access to the 10bit color.
That being said if you desire longer battery life and recording time before overheating the GP13 is supposed to be signifigantly better. Also the timecode syncing now a standard feature in Quik instead of a labs feature is nice. They also completely changed their code base for the 12 and claim that they've seen a signifigant reduction in support tickets for crashing (which older GoPros were notorious for). So for users of earlier cameras that is an imporvement.
So IMHO my early feelings that may change once side by side footage is released
GP11 or 12: Probably little reason to upgrade
GP10 or earlier: Pretty solid upgrade
