Action camera hero 2 features. Review of extreme GoPro HD Hero2 camera. Video battery installation in GoPro HD Hero2

  • 10.05.2020

    2 years ago 0

    Shooting quality. It's gorgeous. -Excellent holds strong blows (with the exception of the lens). Hit a couple of times, and quite seriously, not even scratches. - Cheap accessories. If something is still broken/fell off/lost, you can easily buy the missing/broken parts. For quite a divine price by the way. - Convenient fastenings. -Excellent keeps moisture even not in a waterproof case. Got caught in heavy rain, continued to work. -Wide-angle shooting. Real fisheye practically. -Pretty cheap memory cards for this camera. -The size. Fits in the palm of your hand, the size of a matchbox, as thick as two.

    2 years ago 0

    small

    2 years ago 0

    Dimensions, video quality, ease of use, a huge number of mounts

    2 years ago 0

    Small. Although larger than the GoPro 3, the significant increase in size and weight is only felt when using the camera with BacPac accessories. Further, for such sizes, the quality of the video is just wonderful. Quite an adequate price if taken from the USA. Possibility to connect a display/second battery/WiFi unit. A huge variety of mounts and accessories, incl. from third party manufacturers. Glass lens of the box, resistant to scratches during transportation. A sufficient number of modes, although all work only on cars. Ability to connect an external microphone 3.5 mm.

    2 years ago 0

    The camera is great! Super quality!

    2 years ago 0

    Compact, with a variety of mounting options...

    2 years ago 0

    Polycarbonate body (shooting in all conditions + underwater shooting) -Wide angle with the ability to zoom out -Very good shooting in low light conditions. Highly! -Simplified management. "Start shooting at power on" function a large number additional accessories.

    2 years ago 0

    Poor sound quality.
    -Working hours. Filmed in quality 720 60 fps, sat down after 2.5 hours. Well, okay, you can buy an extra battery.
    -Be vigilant, very often (at least for me) the battery was discharged when the camera was turned off. I do not know what it is connected with.
    -no screen. Although, again, you can buy in addition for five pieces. Maybe this is for the better, because with the screen the strength would have decreased.
    - Lots of noise in low light.
    - Pretty fragile lens on the box. Scratched a little, as a result, when shooting, there is some kind of "blurring" in the place of the scratch. Will have to change.
    - Sometimes it gets hot. But even with strong overheating, it cannot break, because when a certain temperature is reached, it turns off.
    -Another weak point more in boxing than in

    2 years ago 0

    a lot of noise on video. The photos are disgusting. Even in very bright sunlight, it shoots with noise. Programs did not help to cope with it!! Tried all modes. On the Internet, promotional videos do not match in quality

    2 years ago 0

    a disgusting sound, on the street you can’t hear voices already beyond 5 meters .. You can only hear yourself.
    In poor lighting, it's better not to even get it - just noise.
    Like a camera - the phone clicks better.
    There is some sphericity of the image, which was not on the previous model

    2 years ago 0

    Not the best material for a clip (fastening-latch). The tendril of the clip can easily break without any load, which, however, happened to me. Spherical lens, underwater image out of focus. Corrected with flat lens box, sold separately. Also, the moment of fogging of the camera during the transition from cold to warm is not taken into account. Corrected by Antifog inserts, sold separately. There are no caps for the lens, but you can buy from third-party manufacturers. Well, the main drawback of ALL GoPros, not only the second one, is the software. It is very raw at GoPro. Repeatedly read messages about camera failures during flashing. Well, without any reason to do this and not worth it.

About GoPro. Piggy bank of impressions.

Buy, enjoy and share your experience! - so briefly you can characterize this camera.

Be tolerant of her shortcomings;
- what she can give you for this money, no one else can give, at least not yet;
- so be happy with what she can do.

I came, I saw, I conquered...
Originally launched in 2006, the GoPro Hero version of the GoPro Hero was designed to be easy to use during any kind of activity by a team of inventors and extreme sports enthusiasts from northern California. And very soon this camera captured the attention of extreme people of all without exception degrees of recklessness.

Years passed, the development team did not stop there and 2 new brothers GoPro HD Hero and GoPro HD Hero2 were born. The first model is so outdated both morally and technologically that it has already been discontinued and therefore we will not waste time on it. With the last two, we will have something to talk about.

What is it anyway?
In short, these are compact camcorders with a bunch of accessories and mounting options for various extreme shooting conditions, designed to shoot awesome video in HD format (maximum 1920x1080). Yes, yes, it’s flying, because for all other cases even a phone is enough now.


Complete set
To begin with, we must give credit to GoPro for the fact that they managed to improve the camera without changing its shape and size. What does it mean? And the fact that all accessories (and there are many) are compatible with any model.

The following configurations are available to the buyer:

  • GoPro HD Hero2 Motorsport Edition - for us motorcycle lovers
  • GoPro HD Hero2 Surf Edition - for surfing and similar water rides
  • GoPro HD Hero2 Outdoor Edition - in general, for everything else
It is worth clarifying that this division into configurations is very conditional and differs only in a set of accessories.
Only the basic set remains unchanged:
  • camera + Li-Ion battery
  • shockproof box with access to connectors and microphone
  • sealed waterproof box
  • USB cable
Everything else is easily purchased separately.

Thus, having a moto kit and purchasing the necessary accessories, you can turn it into a surf kit, and vice versa.

The GoPro HD Hero is now sold in a Naked package and, in addition to the camera and battery, only comes with a waterproof case, 1 flat surface mount, and a set of cables.

GoPro HD Hero2 Motorsport Edition

In addition to the basic set in this set we will see:
As you can see, the manufacturers have taken care of the mounting methods for all occasions.

Briefly about the main

Camera dimensions - 42×30×60 mm, weight - 94 g with battery.
Considering what this little girl can do, it's impressive, isn't it?

Battery
Battery life in mode 720p/60 fps - 2.5 hours.
Charging method as standard - only from USB cable. Full charge time in this case is approximately 4 hours.

The battery is removable, but not standard and not compatible with any others. Those. if the camera is discharged on the road - then, as they say, "arrived." The problem can be solved:

  • spare original battery
  • an additional charger, for example, from a cigarette lighter with a USB adapter, which can also reduce charging time
  • a mega battery expander from the manufacturer - which clings to the back of the back of the device and approximately doubles its life time
Recording time is approximately:
  • 1080p (1920x1080) - 12 minutes/GB
  • 960p( 1280x960) - 13 minutes/GB
  • 720p (1280x720) - 16 minutes/GB
The camera has on board 2 GB of internal memory, which is enough for 25-30 minutes of video, and is sold without a flash card. Supports SD cards up to 32 GB.

Thus, having purchased a flash card, you can "shove" into the camera:

  • 4 GB: 50-60 minutes
  • 8 GB: 100-130 minutes
  • 16 GB: 3-4 hours
  • 32 GB: 6-8 hours
It is quite enough to feed YouTube and VKontakte with your Hero's videos and provide impressions to friends, girlfriends (where without them?) And work colleagues on boring working days, throwing up a lot of topics for discussion with them in the smoking room.

Control is carried out by two buttons, and all the main information is displayed on the LCD display on the front panel. The display in the Hero2 version is more detailed and displays more information, but in both In some cases, the display is not backlit, making it difficult to read in low visibility conditions.

Button presses are duplicated by a built-in "beeper", which also signals some situations, for example, when the battery is low.

Minimalism in the controls affects the intuitiveness, and since. the camera has a bunch of possible modes of operation, at least for the first time you will have to carry instructions with you. They even say that there were cases when, instead of the desired action, users accidentally deleted the footage ...

Connecting to a computer for downloading materials does not require the installation of drivers and is compatible with operating systems Windows and MacOS - the camera is automatically detected as a multimedia device or external storage medium. It is modern and very comfortable. Recorded video file format - .MP4 (H.264)

A standard camera has neither an optical viewfinder nor a digital display for this purpose, so it's nearly impossible to judge the composition of the shots you're shooting. It remains only to intuitively guess where the camera is directed, or (guess what? - right!) To buy an additional screen - which, as in the case of an extended battery, is hung at the back. Wherein bearing capacity there is only enough room for one of them.

As you may have noticed, manufacturers have taken care of a variety of accessories.

For example, 3D shooting kit GoPro 3D Hero System

The kit allows you to combine 2 cameras into a single system for shooting video in the recently fashionable 3D format. For synchronization, the cameras are connected with a special cable through the Hero-bus interface, which is connected to the connectors on the rear side.

The box not only allows you to conveniently place 2 cameras in 1 sealed box, but also respects the required distances and angles, without which 3D video cannot, in principle, turn out to be full-fledged.

Here is an example of such a video (be sure to watch in stereo glasses and in maximum quality)

Do you feel how much you now need for happiness, although 15 minutes ago you lived perfectly without it? Marketers are trying :)

The main differences between HD Hero2 and HD Hero:

GoPro HD Hero2 GoPro HD Hero
Picture quality 2 times clearer clear
Megapixels 11, 8, 5 MP
wide angle (170º)
medium (127º)
5 MP
Photo modes single
10 frames / sec
cycle photo every 0.5, 1, 2, 10, 30.60
single
3 frames / sec
cycle photo every 1, 2, 10, 30, 60
Video modes
1080p 1920×1080
wide angle (170º)
medium (127º)
narrow angle (90º)
30 fps
1920×1080
wide angle (127º)
30 fps
960p 1280×960
wide angle (170º)
48 fps
30 frame/sec
1280×960
FOV Wide (170º)
30 fps
720p 1280×720
wide angle (170º)
30 frame/sec
60 frame/sec
1280×720
wide angle (170º)
30 fps
60 fps
WVGA 848×480
wide angle (170º)
120 fps
60 frame/sec
848×480
wide angle (170º) FOV
60 fps
Control
User Interface text 3-character code
signal LEDs 4 1
Inputs Mini HDMI, Composite,
USB, SD, HERO port,
3.5mm external stereo microphone input
component, composite,
USB, SD, HERO port
Battery life
(in 720p/60 mode)
2.5 hours 2.5 hours
Capabilities
Expansion modules
WiFi BacPac + WiFi Remote
wifi remote control
WiFi video viewing
WiFi streaming
camera control from a smartphone,
tablet or computer
WiFi remote control
Other GoPro BacPacs Expansion Pods LCD BacPac™ - optional display
Battery BacPac™ - battery expansion module
3D HERO®System - 3D shooting system
Wi-Fi BacPac™ - Wi-Fi module
WiFi Remote - remote control
LCD BacPac™ - additional display
Battery Pack™ - battery expansion module
3D HERO® System - 3D shooting system
Wi-Fi BacPac™ (limited) - limited
Wi-Fi Remote - remote control

For the sake of objectivity, it is worth adding that despite all the nano-innovativeness of the devices, no one has canceled physics and a really beautiful video is obtained only in good daylight. Otherwise, the result turns into a subject of search for noise, artifacts and other abstruse terms.

But when used correctly, the "wow" effect is guaranteed.

The article used materials from the sites www.gopro.com, www.webbikeworld.com, www.ixbt.com.
Free interpretation - www.site

Detailed comparison test HD Hero and HD Hero2 -

The GoPro HD Hero2 is an extreme camera with a rugged body that mounts almost anywhere: on the head; in the chest area; on a surfboard; by car; and even in a hot air balloon.

The camera itself is a simple gray box stuffed with technological “cutes” for fast video processing. 1/2.3-inch 11MP sensor capable of capturing video at resolutions from 720p in HD quality (1280x720 pixels) at 30 or 60 fps to 1080p (1920 x 1089) at 30 fps in NTSC quality . The camera also records in PAL format from 25 to 100 frames per second.

If you lower the resolution to WVGA (848×480 pixels), you can record up to 120 fps (best for high quality slow motion footage). The f/2.8 convex lens with up to 170-degree field of view allows for extreme shooting in any conditions.

Navigation of the camera is very easy thanks to the buttons on the body, which are equipped with springs, eliminating actions such as accidentally turning off the camera, thanks to human factor. There is a button on the front panel for navigating through settings and switching shooting modes. And on top is a button for, directly, the main function - shooting.

While the GoPro HD Hero2: Outdoor Edition doesn't have manual controls for adjusting the exposure, the camera easily adapts to any lighting conditions thanks to the ability to turn on spot metering (when you capture the outside world from inside a dark car, for example).

With this feature, you can attach the camera to your bike and choose a route through the tunnel in sunny weather. When you view the finished video material, you will undoubtedly be pleasantly surprised. Despite the extreme conditions, the video will contain a minimum amount of noise with a very high quality picture.

The waterproof case allows you to surf with this camera. The only negative: sea drops that willy-nilly fell on the lens.

However, without a special waterproof housing (for a fee) called Dive Housing, you will not be able to make high-quality underwater shooting. This is due to the fact that the box is equipped with a special lens protection, without which the camera can only shoot over the waves.

Camera weight: 222g including dedicated helmet mount (weighs two eggs). Agree - this is normal. Although from the outside you will look a little strange)

If you think that you absolutely do not need a liquid crystal display (and it comes as an additional component), then you can save money and the weight of the camera itself.

The LCD screen connects to the back of the camera, which is also used if you want to connect another GoPro HD Hero2 for 3D shooting. Other connections are located on the side of the camera, including a USB port, a mini HDMI port, a composite video port, and a stereo microphone input.

The camera has four LED indicators, one on each side of the perimeter.

Verdict

If you like to take risks, then you should seriously consider purchasing action camera GoPro HD Hero2: Outdoor Edition. Rest assured, it won't let you down when it comes to high quality HD video footage!

Recently, the Gopro 2 Hero 2 action camera has been actively gaining popularity. The brand under which it is produced is the leader in the production of devices of this type. The camera has rich functionality and at the same time small size and weight. All components of the device work without software conflicts, and Gopro HD Hero 2 also features good reliability and support for high-definition video recording.

All new GoPro lines have their drawbacks. In previous models, the main problem could be identified as a potential overheating when the camera is in the box. Another shortcoming is the delay in transmitting a video stream over a wireless network to a smartphone or tablet. The package bundle of the camera significantly depends on the type of delivery chosen, so there are likely to be differences.


In the received kit, there was no remote control, as well as a standard tripod mount. Appearance device differs little from the previous model. The same small display is installed on the front of the camera, although it would be more convenient to see it from the side or back. The body of the gadget is quite narrow, on the back side there is a battery compartment.

Minor flaws

Disappointing is the lack of a hinge for the lid that closes the interface panel, where the memory card slot, Micro-HDMI output and Mini-USB port are located. The plug is very easy to lose, although it has little practical meaning, protecting ports from only minor impacts. The Wi-Fi power button was assigned the responsibility for activating the settings menu.

Manufacturers decided that few people use wireless communication on an action camera, so it is unreasonable to allocate a separate key for this option. If the button in question is held down for a few seconds, Wi-Fi will turn on.

Establishing a wireless connection with a smartphone or tablet takes a long time, and some users find it annoying. It is extremely inconvenient to control the camera through the phone in field conditions, since the screen is useless in bright sunlight. In frosty weather, the situation will be even sadder.

In addition to turning off the HD Hero GoPro camera, you need to disconnect the wireless sensor, which is able to work separately from the device, to avoid quickly draining the battery. This function is made by the manufacturer for remote power management. The built-in battery for Gopro Hero 2 is not designed for long work On a single charge, it lasts for 47 minutes of continuous 4K video recording with the wireless receiver turned off.


If you turn it on, then the time battery life will be reduced to 27 minutes. Some experienced users claim that the high power consumption is caused by flaws in the camcorder's firmware. Therefore, after purchasing the device, it makes sense to immediately install new software, since problems can be fixed in it.

Temperature regime

The camera becomes very hot during operation. After half an hour of shooting video with Wi-Fi turned off, the case heated up to 55 ° C, and a temperature of 68 ° C was recorded in the display area. Interestingly, these figures were measured without using the GoPro Hero Case in a room with a room temperature of 21°C. The camera is probably equipped with thermal protection, but it remains a mystery how long the device would have worked on the beach under the rays of the scorching sun. GoPro has many recording modes that differ in frame size and frame rate.


The variety of shooting formats can confuse an inexperienced user with the problem of choosing the right set of settings. Professionals can feel the freedom of action, and even for the most exotic conditions, a video recording mode will be selected. You can shoot underwater, high in the mountains, and even deep underground. Everywhere the picture with a reasonable choice of settings will look tolerable.

For beginners, a mode with a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels with a frame rate of 25 frames / second is suitable. It is not without reason that it is called "native" for the camera in question. There are no noticeable distortions of the picture and incomprehensible artifacts. The viewing angle in this mode is optimal.

If the 4K resolution is too high, then the user can turn on the standard FullHD 1080/720 p at 50 fps. Reducing the image size is achieved by lightly interpolating the image around the edges. There is no rolling shutter in the camera, because the matrix is ​​new. A static picture is shot quite well, the rate of encoding video recording of active movement is not much different from the bitrate of similar devices for extreme sports.

To achieve best quality images, you need to ensure good lighting in the shooting location and less camera shake. It has a stabilizer, but the clarity of the picture will still suffer from a lot of sudden movements. When shooting still, the image looks much better.

The white balance in different conditions is set automatically, and this option works quite correctly. When shooting underwater, autofocus does a great job. If you use the camera in low light conditions, the shutter speed will drop to 1/25, this leads to skipping frames, and then to repeating them many times in the video. Photos taken with the camera in question are highly detailed.

If they are slightly processed by the built-in means of the device, then geometric distortions will be eliminated. These images can be compared in terms of quality with the received serious cameras. The only difference is the lack of a depth of field threshold. That is, objects in front of the camera and on the horizon will be in focus. The possibility of continuous shooting and interval photo mode are present in the device in question.

When connected to WiFi networks problems may arise through Android gadgets, since the video stream works only on some smartphones, while on the rest you can see a black screen. This is probably a flaw in branded applications for phones, since the fleet of devices is huge and it is impossible to ensure the correct operation of the camera on all of them.

If you use an Apple product such as an iPad or iPhone, GoPro streaming will start immediately. The delay in the video stream is less than a second, and the distance of reliable signal reception is 50 m, depending on the presence of radio interference sources. Memory cards must be used at least speed class 10, neglecting this condition can lead to device freezes or hard-to-explain errors. This includes long response times to button presses, long video endings, and more.

General impression

In conclusion, we can say that the GoPro camera - the second hero of the previous model - has undergone a very successful update. Here you can shoot in 4K format with an acceptable frame rate. This is quite a breakthrough for such a miniature action-class device.

The rest of the parameters are preserved. It would be nice to equip the cameras with a full LCD display, although this is hardly possible with the small size of the device. Resolution and light sensitivity have reached their limits, they will definitely not change with the release of new 2 GoPro models with the same form factor.

I would like to see in the camera the ability to use an NFC chip for contactless connection and a better application for mobile devices, because on this moment The success of connecting to a smartphone depends on the brand of the gadget. If its manufacturer is not very common, then you should expect problems when working in conjunction with the camera.

Mid October American company GoPro has dealt a decisive blow to its competitors by launching three models of action cameras at once - compact digital video cameras designed specifically for outdoor enthusiasts and extreme sports enthusiasts. I got to test the average camera of the new line - GoPro HD Hero 3 Silver Edition, positioned as a direct replacement for the second generation Go Pro HD. What is really different about the new camera, and is it worth buying? Read my special test!

GoPro cameras have gone through a lot of evolutions in almost ten years. If in 2004 the first GoPro camera took only photos on 35 mm film, then current models record high-quality digital video in Full HD. Introduced in October 2011, the HD Hero 2 created a lot of buzz, cementing GoPro's image as the leading action cam maker. Why?

Compared with the previous model, HD Hero 2 provides the ability to record high-definition (HD) video in the following formats: 1920×1080(30 fps), 1280×960 (48 or 30 fps), 1280×720 (30 or 60 fps ), 848×480 (60 or 120 fps). The quality of photos has grown due to the 11-megapixel matrix. The ability to choose the viewing angle and the optimal shooting mode, as well as the power of the protective case and a wide range of various accessories, made the HD Hero 2 an instant hit not only for athletes, but also for videographers filming a wide variety of scenes (from weddings to reports from the mouth of a crocodile). ).

A year has passed, and GoPro has introduced a new series of third-generation HD cameras. There are now three models in the lineup, and the Hero 3 Silver Edition I'm testing sits right in the middle. The retail price of this model is similar to that at which the HD Hero 2 was sold before the new product appeared, and the GoPro company itself does not hide the fact that the Silver is a direct replacement for the "kopeck piece". What has changed in the new camera?

Camera Body

The first change is obvious and striking - Hero 3 received a new, more compact and lightweight body.

The width and height of the body remained the same, but Hero 3 has become almost twice as thin as its predecessor.

The "faceted" body of the "treshka" is much more comfortable in the hand, and the rubberized inserts around the perimeter are much nicer to the touch than the smooth plastic on the Hero 2.

The size and material of the control buttons have changed - now they are not rubber "pins", but full-fledged wide buttons.

They are much more convenient to use than before.

The camera is controlled by two buttons - exactly the same as the previous model, but one new button appeared on the side, which is responsible for initializing the Wi-Fi module.

The connectors are now covered with a removable plug, which is easy enough to lose.

The set of connectors itself has also changed - now instead of three video connectors (HDMI and two jacks for video and audio), there is only one Micro-HDMI. Next to it is a standard mini-USB connector. To use an external microphone, you now have to buy an adapter that plugs into the USB connector.

On the reverse side there is a connector for accessories - a battery pack or an LCD screen.

These accessories from Hero 2 fit without a problem.

The camera battery has become more compact. The battery cover also decreased proportionally, and received a new latch.

The lithium-ion battery capacity is 1050 mAh, which is 50 mAh less than the Hero 2, but the Hero 3's battery life without using the Wi-Fi module is the same - about two and a half hours.

Another change is that instead of a standard SD card, the Hero 3 uses a baby Micro SD.

The maximum capacity of the card is 64 GB, against 32 in the previous version. Cards must be class 4 or higher, but if you want to shoot continuously, you must use cards of class 10 or higher.

Optics

All third-generation Hero models received new 6-element aspherical optics. The new lens makes the picture clearer and gives less distortion at the edges of the frame. Of course, distortions are still noticeable, because the camera's viewing angle is 170 degrees, but the picture looks much more natural.

Hardware

Technically, the new model has characteristics similar to Hero 2. It is based on the A5s platform developed by Ambarella, one of the world leaders in the production of video processing systems. The ARM11 processor is clocked at 528MHz and compresses H.264 video on the fly. The 11-megapixel matrix is ​​similar to the HD2 - the sensor size is still the same 1/2.3", light sensitivity is .84 V/lux-sec.

WiFi module

The key difference between Hero 3 and Hero 2 is the presence of a built-in Wi-Fi module, which allows you to fully control the camera using a proprietary remote control ... or a tablet or smartphone on the iOS or Android platform. To connect the camera to a smartphone, just download and install a free application, then turn it on wifi camera and connect your device to the grid that appears.

After that, just launch the application, click "connect" - and you get full access to camera control, as well as the ability to view a preview of the image that the camera sees, almost live. Why do I say "practically"? The fact is that the image is broadcast with small but noticeable delays that must be taken into account. The delay between pressing the shutter button and triggering the camera is about half a second.

The practical value of this "chip" can hardly be overestimated - because now you have the opportunity to install the camera anywhere, and at the same time control what is in the frame using your smartphone or tablet, achieving the perfect composition. Without a doubt, this innovation is able to attract new users to GoPro - not only extreme maniacs, but ordinary lovers of advanced gadgets.

This is important: Before using your new Hero 3 camera, make sure you have the latest firmware. The box with the camera even included a special card with a corresponding appeal - to immediately update the software. This is probably due to the fact that the camera was sent to production even before the appearance of applications for iOS and Android, and this part of the firmware was later changed. With old firmwareWi- fionly worked for meAndroid. iphone andiPaddidn't see the camera. But after flashing the camera through the GoPro website, the Phone & Tablet item appeared in the Wi-Fi settings menu, which is necessary for pairing with mobile devices, and the camera began to work with all mobile devices as expected.

Soft

Despite the hardware base shared with Hero 2, Hero 3 has more advanced software, which by default provides the buyer with more options for recording video and photos.
Firstly, now you can shoot at 24/25 fps at all major resolutions. Second, there's a new Protune mode in the camera menu, developed with the guys at CineForm, the company whose codec was used in the post-production of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire.

By activating the Protune mode, you not only get the ability to manually select the white balance (Auto, Manual, 3000K, 5500K, 6500K, and Cam Raw), but above all, capture a video stream of 35 megabytes per second, which brings the Go Pro Hero 3 closer to professional cameras.

More than a twofold reduction in compression (normal stream - 15 Mb / s) has a positive effect on image quality - at the output you get a less contrast and less saturated image, which, however, contains less noise and more details in the shadows and bright areas of the frame, which makes this mode is indispensable for shooting with subsequent video editing.

To be fair, the Protune mode is also included in the updated firmware for the Hero 2 camera, which can be downloaded from the official GoPro website. Prior to this release, Protune had only been tested by a lucky few, such as survivalist Bear Grylls and operators of the Discovery TV channel.

Hero 3 also has another new mode of operation - Video Looping, which allows you to repeat the recorded fragment as many times as necessary.

Protective housing

The Hero 3 camera has received a new protective housing that has two main differences from the previous model (besides the obviously changed size).

Side view

The new flat outer lens provides a huge advantage when shooting underwater, as I personally saw during my time.

The flat lens does not interfere with focusing, and Hero 3 can take pictures underwater professional quality. True, in comparison with the prototype, the case of the "treshka" received a reduced optical port, which favorably affected the appearance.

The case is still waterproof and can be used at depths up to 60 meters.

The second important difference of the new case is the changed latch mechanism, which has now become a little more miniature and more reliable. Opening the case by accident is now absolutely impossible (although I never had this on the previous version).

In addition to the above key points, the case has got a third button - to control the Wi-Fi mode.

The body mount is completely identical to the previous model, so all fasteners fit without problems. The compact form factor of the new body allows it to be tilted to large angles relative to the mount, expanding the range of shooting possibilities.

Shooting

To check the quality of the shooting, I went to the field - more precisely, to the motocross track. Both cameras were mounted on the helmet of a motorcyclist.

Rider Aleksey dashed desperately along the frozen track, taking photos and videos for this test from two cameras at the same time.

What did you manage to find out? Indeed, both cameras produce a similar picture with the same FPS and resolution, but in the case of Hero 3 we have more natural colors, less distortion at the edges of the frame and slightly more image clarity.

The difference in auto white balance is striking in both photos and videos. Obviously, the more natural picture from the Hero 3 will require less post-processing, which means more time to ride!

Go Pro HD Hero 2 Video 1

Go Pro HD Hero 3 Silver Edition Video 1

Go Pro HD Hero 2 Video 2

Go Pro HD Hero 3 Silver Edition Video 2

In low light conditions, both cameras again shoot almost the same, but here the Hero 3 pulls ahead a bit.

Go Pro HD Hero 2 Night Shot

Go Pro HD Hero 3 Silver Edition Night Scene

It is worth noting that activating the Protune mode would significantly reduce the amount of noise when night shooting, but I did not use this mode for the correctness of the comparison.

The guys from GoPro claim that they have also worked on sound processing - this is very similar to the truth, in any case, it seemed to me that the new camera records sound better, especially for low frequencies.

As for photography, the set of settings here is completely identical to the previous version of the camera. As with HD2, with Hero 3 Silver you can choose resolution 11MP, 8MP, 5 MP), angle of view (170º, 127º), Single shot (Single), Burst of 10 photos per second (Photo Burst) , Time-Lapse, Self-Timer. For interval shooting every 0.5 seconds, an SD card of at least class 10 is required.

Here are some sample photos taken with GoPro Hero 3 (11MP mode)

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the basis of the GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition camera is a thoroughly redesigned "kopeck piece", the new camera is much more interesting than its predecessor in every respect. New optics, compact body and light weight make it easy to get high-quality photo and video material. Software Protune allows you to expand the range of professional use of new items. The picture from the new camera looks better, and this applies to both video and photos. An important advantage of the Hero 3 is the presence of a built-in Wi-Fi module, which turns the Hero 3 Silver edition from the best action camera in its class into an exciting gadget that can attract many new fans to the GoPro banner.

The author expresses his gratitude to the Zoomlab photo studio and personally to Ruslan Milyukov, as well as to the MOTORACE X-Team | KTM-shop, Velomirshop.ru store and GoPro Russia for help in creating this material.

Text and photo Artem Achkasov. Any use of this material is possible only with the indication of the author and an active link to the page