Comparison of GoPro Action Camera Models

GoPro HERO+ LCD

The representative of the entry-level GoPro action cameras has one important highlight — it is equipped with a touch screen with a diagonal of 1.8", which is convenient to sight and view the footage. In addition, the display greatly simplifies the process of setting the recording parameters, and also provides the possibility of in-camera video processing.

The screen is located on the back of the case, built-in from the box into a non-removable protective box. This decision made it possible to ensure dust and water protection of the camera, but significantly increased its weight, which is 127 g. It has become more difficult to place an action camera in a pocket of ski clothing or pants. But you can safely take it with you underwater to a depth of 40 m, without worrying about equipment failure.

Since the camera is included in the low-cost line, you should not expect superpowers from it. She writes videos at a maximum resolution of 1920x1080 pixels at up to 60 fps and takes 8-megapixel still images with interval and burst shooting capabilities. In HD resolution, the recording speed is also limited to 60 fps, so you won’t be able to get spectacular Slow Motion.

The performance level of the camera is not very high: it confidently handles with recording in daylight, but in low light conditions the quality deteriorates. If high detail video and the ability to shoot in the dark are extremely important to you, you should take a closer look at the older generation, the closest similar representative of which is GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition .

Wi-Fi and GPS wireless modules provide remote control of the action camera. But a non-removable 1160 mAh battery limits video recording to 1-2 hours. Battery life varies greatly depending on how often you use the screen and wireless connections.

The difference in cost between GoPro HERO+ LCD and GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition is not that great. Therefore, the positioning of the younger model raises some questions. Nevertheless, it can become a loyal companion for active shooters who are going to record videos without frills, navigating the shooting process using the built-in screen.

Reference. Slow Motion (translated from English. "slow motion") — an effect that allows you to see the scene in slow motion. The intensity of video slowdown directly depends on the initial frame rate — the higher it is, the more motion in the frame is frozen. For example, a video shot at a frequency of 120 fps, when lowered to 30 fps, which is more familiar to the human eye, will be slowed down by 4 times, and if you shoot at a frequency of 240 fps, by as much as 8 times.

GoPro HERO4 Session

The GoPro HERO4 Session is GoPro's smallest camera, about half the size and lighter of its older models.

The action camera is made in an atypical cubic form factor with a symmetrical arrangement of all elements. Despite its small size, it has a good set of features that allow you to shoot in extreme conditions in any conditions. For example, the camera body is able to dive under water to a depth of 10 m without the use of a special box. Two mounts are supplied with the cube: a helmet mount and a swivel mount for quick rotation of the entire structure within 360°.

Regarding the quality of video recording, it is worth saying that the model only slightly loses to its older colleague in the face of the GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition . The maximum video resolution is 1920x1440 pixels at a recording speed of up to 30 fps. In normal FullHD (1920x1080 pixels), the speed increases to 60 fps, and the bitrate reaches 25 Mbps. If you look closely, you can find minor artifacts and loss of detail in the video, but in general the picture looks clear and sharp.

On the body of the action camera, there was a place for a small backlit screen and two control keys, which makes it difficult to adjust the recording parameters. There is no need to despair, since there is always the possibility of connecting to a smartphone, for which the camera provides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules. Through a wireless connection, you can change the main shooting parameters, as well as share the footage.

Perhaps the main drawback of the model is a non-removable battery. Its charge is enough for about 1.5-2 hours of continuous shooting (depending on the selected resolution and wireless connection mode), after which the action camera must be chained to the outlet. You can, of course, connect the power with an external battery, but then all the compactness of the model will come to naught. Some owners also complain about the long turn-on time of the camera — video recording starts only after 4 seconds after pressing the start key.

The action camera is focused on those types of activity in which compactness and lightness are extremely important. And first of all, it will be appreciated by climbers and lovers of extreme water sports.

GoPro HERO3+ Silver Edition

The GoPro HERO 3+ Silver Edition was released in the fall of 2013. Since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, but the model has not lost its relevance at all and is being sold with might and main in various stores.

The characteristics of the action camera indicate that it belongs to the middle class. It can be safely called a kind of workhorse that provides high-quality results under difficult shooting conditions. The camera shoots videos in FullHD at up to 60 fps, and in HD resolution, the frame rate is doubled, which allows you to slow down the picture without losing details.

Visually, the camcorder for active filming practically does not differ from the previous and subsequent lines. This is still the same rectangular brick made of strong soft-touch plastic that does not slip out of your hands. The camera is traditionally supplied with an underwater box for filming at a depth of up to 40 m.

In terms of video quality, the action camera only raises complaints when shooting in low light conditions — there are a lot of various artifacts and noise in the image. In daylight, the picture is moderately saturated and sharp, although somewhat worse than that of its own heir (GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition). Photos are also given to the camera without problems — its sensor is capable of producing 10-megapixel images with a burst speed of up to 10 fps. The minimum focus distance for both stills and video is 18 cm.

Since the GoPro engineers did not bother to endow their creation with a screen, you will have to endorse during the shooting process and set the necessary recording parameters using a smartphone connected via Wi-Fi. It is worth considering the fact that the video can be broadcast on the screen of a mobile gadget with a slight delay. Clips are recorded on a microSD memory card up to 64 GB.

GoPro HERO3+ Silver Edition is the choice of those who are not ready to overpay for top models of the 4th generation. The action camera loses to them in the maximum video recording resolution, but it is practically not inferior in performance and battery life.

GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition

GoPro separates its flagship models by colour: camera GoPro HERO4 Black Edition is the top one, and the Silver version is slightly simplified in functionality, but endowed with a touch screen.

The rear side of the camera is reserved for the 1.75 ″ display, which is why the battery slot had to be placed at the bottom. This played into the hands, since the battery cover became much more reliable. The battery itself has changed a bit. However, because of this, backward compatibility was lost with previous generations of action cameras.The battery life of the camera varies between 1.5-2.5 hours.

The touch screen greatly simplifies sighting in the process of photo and video shooting, as well as changing the basic settings. Most likely, it is precisely due to its presence that the package does not include a remote control, because in addition to the display, the camera carries Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules for connection and remote control from a smartphone or tablet.

The design and equipment of the camera are very similar to the previous models in the line. The differences lie only in the presence of an additional protective plug for the ability to control the touch screen. The camera lens still protrudes a little from the body and has standard values for aperture (f / 2.8) and viewing angle (170 °).

The 12-megapixel matrix does a good job with photos and shoots high-quality videos. Video can be recorded up to 4K format (3840x2160 pixels), but with a frivolous frequency of 15 fps. In 2.7K (2704x1524 pixels) the frame rate rises to an acceptable level of 30 fps, and in FullHD (1920x1080 pixels) — up to 60 fps.

The action camera acts as a great alternative to the flagship GoPro HERO4 Black Edition. It is slightly inferior to the older model in terms of functionality, but has a significant advantage in the form of a built-in touch screen.

GoPro HERO4 Black Edition

The black version of the 4th generation of GoPro action cameras takes its rightful place at the top of the pedestal of the American manufacturer of action cameras.

A distinctive feature of the model is the ability to record video in ultra-high resolutions: 4K (3840x2160 pixels, 30 fps) and 2.7K (2704x1524 pixels, 50 fps). Videos are sharp, clear and rich. And in comparison with the previous generation (GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition ) they are also much better in low light conditions. In the most common FullHD format (1920x1080 pixels), the video recording speed can reach 120 fps, which allows you to get the SlowMotion effect (slow motion).

The 12-megapixel sensor of the action camera is no stranger to still photos. In addition to ordinary photos, it is able to take a series of frames at an impressive speed of 30 fps and shoot time-lapses in steps from 0.5 s to 1 min. A separate "bun" is intended for professional videographers — the ProTune advanced functionality mode allows you to fine-tune the recording parameters and get output files that are easier to work with in the video post-processing process.

The body of the camera has not undergone significant changes, which is done in order to maintain backward compatibility with a wide range of GoPro accessories. But what it lacks is a touch screen, especially in light of the presence of the latter on board the younger brother of the model — GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition. For comfortable control of the recording process, you need to connect the camera to a smartphone or purchase a remote control. The range of the Wi-Fi connection reaches 180 m. The included module slightly drains the battery, which is capable of providing continuous shooting for 1-2 hours.

Almost perfect for cameras in its class, the picture quality and the ability to record clips in full 4K resolution make the GoPro HERO4 Black Edition a very attractive option for filming extreme sports and recreation.