Action cameras have changed the way we
chronicle our activities. Whether that's high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled
skydiving, musical performances or just more mundane tasks; action
cameras can simply go where traditional camcorders (and smartphones)
can't with their ruggedised builds and waterproof cases. With their
often ultra wide angle view of the world, you also get to see things
differently.
Undoubtedly leading the pack where it comes to action cameras
is GoPro. Often the choice of professional athletes and videographers,
they've been used to capture some truly impressive feats as well as
being used in film and television (see:
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies).
GoPro was one of the early pioneers where it came to action cameras and
has built up a reputation for cameras that can go the distance. Its
current flagship range, the Hero4, is now in its 4th iteration but there
are now plenty of other options to fill different target markets
meaning it can be difficult to know where to start. We've gone through
them to help you pick the right GoPro for your needs.
Its current flagship range, the Hero4, is now in its 4th iteration
but there are now plenty of other options to fill different target
markets meaning it can be difficult to know where to start. GoPro
recently officially discontinued its entry-level 'Hero' range, instead
focusing on its Hero4 Black, Hero4 Silver and Hero Session cameras but
that doesn't mean the entry-level cameras aren't still readily
available. We've gone through them to help you pick the right GoPro for
your needs.
We've gone through all of the models to help you pick the right GoPro for your needs.
GoPro Hero - the entry-level range
At the bottom end of GoPro's action camera range is the Hero range, which consists of three models: the
Hero (around £94);
Hero+ (around £170) and
Hero+ LCD (around £199). It's worth noting that all of the Hero cameras
do not have swappable batteries,
so there's no option to carry a spare (which is possible with the Hero4
Black and Hero4 Silver - more on these later). All three models are
also fixed inside their waterproof cases, which can go to
depths of 40m.
The Hero+ and Hero+ LCD are similar, so I'll cover the Hero first.
GoPro Hero
The
Hero is the basic model in the GoPro range as
its price would lead you to believe. In terms of its video recording
resolution, it tops out at
1080p, 30fps. The higher the frame rate, the smoother your video will look. If you drop down to
720p resolution you can get
60fps,
however. As its maximum framerate is 60fps, regardless of resolution,
the GoPro Hero won't be a good choice if you want to shoot slow-motion
video as this requires much higher frame rates in order to slow the
video down, while retaining a smooth look. In terms of field of view,
you only have one option, which is
Ultra Wide. If you
want more options for FOV you'll need to look at the Hero4 range. The
Hero shoots the lowest bitrate of all of GoPro's cameras at
15Mb/s. Simply put, a higher bitrate will capture more detail, especially in hectic scenes.
For still images, you can capture
5-megapixel photos, which is the lowest of all of GoPro's current cameras. For shooting
time lapse photos, you're limited to only
0.5-second intervals. The
big omission from the Hero is there are no wireless connections. This
means you can't pair it with the smartphone app to control and access
your video and images for easy sharing. You'll have to use a computer to
access your footage. There's also no LCD display.
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GoPro Hero+ / GoPro Hero+ LCD
First thing's first, the most obvious difference between these two models (aside from price) is that the Hero+ LCD includes a
touchscreen LCD screen.
Aside from this, both models are identical. At the time of writing, the
Hero+ LCD model is widely available for similar prices as the Hero+ so
there's little reason not to go for the LCD model.
The touchscreen not only helps with framing your shots but changing
settings is more intuitive than using the buttons on the camera. You
also have some basic video editing abilities to trim your video for easy
sharing on social media. There are 15s and 30s trim settings, which are
perfect for quickly getting something up on Instagram or Facebook.
Sharing and accessing your footage on the move is possible through the
built-in
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to pair with your smartphone.
The Hero+ has superior video quality to the Hero as well, thanks to being able to shoot
1080p, 60fps as
its top resolution and framerate. There still aren't any options for
high framerate video, however. Like the Hero, you can only shoot in an
Ultra Wide field of view. The Hero+ and Hero+ LCD capture video at up to
25Mb/s bitrate, higher than the Hero. The Hero+/Hero+ LCD is able to shoot
8-megapixel stills, another
upgrade over the Hero. It also has far more options for shooting in
time lapse model, ranging from 0.5s to 60s intervals.
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Hero Session - a great secondary camera
The
Hero Session (originally
launched as the 'Hero4 Session') seems to be the slightly strange uncle
in the GoPro family. It was a radical departure from previous designs.
It originally launched at £330, putting it at the same price as the
better-equipped Hero4 Silver but that soon dropped officially to £250.
Now, it's available for a bargain RRP of
£160, which
makes things slightly more confusing as it's positioned as a
'Performance' camera rather than 'Entry-level' as the Hero range is, yet
it now costs less than all but the cheapest Hero model. As the Hero
range has been discontinued, the Session fills the now absent
entry-level range, hence the slight change in name.
It's undoubtedly unique with its cubed shape and cyclops-like lens,
It's the smallest and lightest camera GoPro has made but it's better
suited as a supplementary camera rather than your primary shooter. The
Hero4 Session also
doesn't require a separate waterproof case, keeping its weight and size down considerably. It can only go to
depths of 10m, however.
So if you're looking to go scuba diving, you might need to look at a
different GoPro. Like the Hero/Hero+, the Hero4 Session has a
non-swappable battery.
The Hero4 Session comes with some useful mounts that don't come with
other cameras, too. These include a low-profile mount and a ball-head
mount for easily adjusting its angle.
You have a choice of either
Ultra Wide or Medium FOVs, allowing a slightly narrower view than the Hero range. You also have more video resolution options with
1080p, 60fps or
1080p Superview, 48fps. The Superview mode gives you more vertical perspective in your video. Similarly, you're also able to shoot at
1,440p, 30fps, which isn't available on Hero models. You also get
100fps
video at 720p if you want to shoot slow-motion. As it's got a cubed
shape, the Hero4 Session is perfect to mount sideways and upside down.
Therefore, its
auto image rotation is a handy feature. Like the Hero+, the Hero4 Session captures video at up to
25Mb/s bitrate. The Hero4 Session captures
8-megapixel
still images and has the full array of timelapse intervals. The Hero4
Session has dual-microphones, which is useful in windy environments as
it will dynamically switch between microphones for the best audio
quality.
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Hero4 Silver
The GoPro Hero4 Silver (around £250) sits one below the top of the range Hero4 Black. It's characterised by including the
GoPro LCD Touch BacPac
as standard (this is an optional add-on for the Hero4 Black). Like the
Hero+ LCD, this adds a display for framing shots and controlling
settings. You get three different FOVs with Ultra Wide, Medium and
Narrow options, which is one more than the lower-tier models. You also
get improved optics and what GoPro calls professional grade low-light
performance. You also get
4K, 15fps as the top resolution option, which isn't quite as high as the Hero4 Black. If you want smoother framerates, there's also
2.7K, 30fps and 1080p, 60fps. If you want to shoot slow motion, there's
720p, 100fps and
240fps if you drop to
WVGA resolution (848x480).
This leaves you with considerably more options for dramatic slow-motion
footage. Still images also get an increased resolution at
12-megapixels.
The Hero4 Silver gets some advanced features, too, including night
photo and night timelapse modes. It's in low-light that the lower-tier
cameras struggle. You can also use simultaneous video and photo modes
where the camera can capture a still image at set intervals while
shooting video. Video is captured at
45Mb/s bitrate,
which is another increase. The Hero4 Silver will also let you connect an
external microphone through an optional Mini USB adaptor for improved
audio capture over the built-in microphones. The
battery is also user-replaceable, meaning you can carry a spare with you.
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For those looking for the absolute top of the range, there's the
Hero4 Black (around £300 now). While it lacks the included LCD Touch
BacPac of the Silver model, it makes up for it with the best image
quality with
60Mb/s bitrate. Other headline features are its
4K, 30fps video.
While the Silver tops out at 15fps at this resolution, 30fps is far
smoother and arguably 15fps isn't ideal due to its jerkiness. You can
still get a cinema-like
24fps in 4K Superview mode. Even dropping down to
2.7K you get a staggering
60fps. With
its range of video modes, the Hero4 Black is the camera of choice for
professionals and might be overkill for many. Keep in mind that you'll
need a reasonably powerful PC to edit 4K footage and a 4K television or
monitor to view it in all its glory. The other advantage it has over the Silver is support for studio quality external microphones for another professional touch.
Hero4 Black and Silver shared features
Both the Silver and Black support
Timelapse Video, which
creates as the name suggests creates a timelapse video in-camera. Other
GoPro models will capture timelapse still images, but you'll need to
edit them together into a video yourself on a computer. Both cameras
also have removable waterproof cases so you can slim them down and
remove some of the weight if you're not taking part in aquatic
activities. With the case on, they're both
waterproof to 40m.
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So which GoPro is for me?
Unfortunately, that's going to be a tricky one to answer. It all
really depends on what features you need. The Hero is arguably a little
under-specified for most, so I would say it's worth stretching to the
Hero+ LCD as the entry-level option. On the other end, unless you're
looking for professional features (perhaps you run a YouTube channel or
partake in extreme sports) the Hero4 Black might be overkill, especially
keeping in mind not everyone will need 4K. The Silver model, which has
fallen in price, will be able to serve the requirements of most people.
The outlying Hero4 Session might not be ideal as your only camera, but
for anyone looking for a second camera to supplement a Silver or Black
will be well served. Especially as it's dropped in price so
significantly since its initial release.
GoPro Accessories
It's all well and good having a capable GoPro to capture your
exploits but it will all be for naught if you don't have a suitable way
of mounting your GoPro for the activity you're looking to capture. As
standard, all GoPros come with an adhesive mount, which is useful for
attaching to all manner of surfaces. However, there are plenty of
optional mounts available that can open up your creative avenues
considerably.
GoPro sells its own official mounts and accessories covering the
obvious uses, such as head and chest mounts, but there are also plenty
of others and those from third-party accessory makers that are
compatible with GoPro cameras. I've gone through some of the best
accessories you might not have considered below.
GoPro 3-Way
The 3-way is a versatile accessory allowing you to use it in three
different ways as its name implies. You can use it as a bending
extension arm for capturing selfies from distinct angles while allowing
you to get the arm out of view. You can also detach the arm completely
and mount your GoPro to the main handle as a camera grip. Cleverly,
inside the main grip is a mini tripod that unscrews from the base and
re-attaches. You can then either use the tripod with the grip and arm
for a taller tripod, or just the grip, which is more stable. The tripod
makes a great choice for timed selfies or timelapse videos.
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GoPro The Strap
GoPro's official 'The Strap' is a rather pricey hand, wrist, arm and
leg mount, especially compared to some third-party alternatives that
offer the same functionality. But in terms of quality and design, it
can't be beaten. Compared to others I've tried, it's the most
comfortable and the rotating mount is the easiest to use for when you
want to swap from selfie to POV modes on the fly. GoPro had it product
tested by its athletes and implemented their feedback into the design,
meaning grit and sand won't obstruct the rotating mechanism. When worn
as a hand strap it also loops around the base of your palm and thumb, as
well as your wrist, meaning it's more stable. The option to mount to
your legs and arms also makes it a great choice for climbers who want
innovative angles, perhaps for a secondary camera.
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GoPro Fetch Dog Harness
GoPro cameras aren't just for us humans. The GoPro Fetch lets you
mount a camera to your four-legged friend. You have a choice of two
different positions, either on their back or the front of their chest in
an inverted orientation. The harness is nicely padded meaning it
shouldn't become uncomfortable for your pet and is worn much like any
harness-style collar. The size is adjustable and you can remove the
chest mount to accommodate smaller dogs, too. It's fully washable, so
you don't have to worry about it getting mucky.
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PolarPro GoPro Hero Session Polarizer Filter
A polarising filter helps to boost the contrast and saturation of
your footage, which arguably you can achieve in post-production. But a
polariser will also help cut down on glare and reflections, something
you can't easily achieve in software. You won't want to leave the filter
on permanently, however, as polarising filters usually lose you a stop
or two of light, meaning low-light performance will be worse due to
slower shutter speeds. Fortunately, this filter simply clips on and off
the front of your GoPro Hero Session quickly and will work with the
Session both when in its frame or by itself. Polar Pro also makes filter
packs for the Hero4 range including macro, neutral density and
polarising filters.
Buy the Polar Pro GoPro Hero Session Polarizer Filter now from Mobile Fun
SP Gadgets GoPro Bottle Mount
This Bottle Mount is a fun little adaptor you can use to turn any
bottle into a hand grip that also happens to float. If you fill the
bottle you can also use it as a makeshift tripod for capturing timelapse
photos. There's a key ring attachment meaning you can always have it
with you and the high visibility orange finish makes it easier to spot
if you find your GoPro floating away from you.
Buy the SP Gadgets GoPro Bottle Mount now from Mobile Fun
Jivo Go Gear Perch 360 Degree GoPro Shoulder Mount
Sometimes a head or chest mount doesn't offer the best perspective
for your activities, especially an activity like surfing. This shoulder
mount attaches around your chest for stability but the mounting point is
over your shoulder, which gets the camera out of your way. It's nicely
padded meaning it shouldn't be uncomfortable to wear for prolonged
periods and can be worn over wetsuits and jackets. The mount rotates so
you can change viewing perspective on the fly. You can even pretend
you're a pirate and that your GoPro is, in fact, a parrot.
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