GoPro Hero HD Camera Review

Want to show your buddies what it looks like to bomb a hill at 40mph? That’s where the GoPro camera comes in. It’s easy to carry, helmet mountable with a waterproof casing and records video in full HD quality.

$299 for the HD version$189 for the standard

This is the best mountable sports camera out there by far. It can be used for pretty much any sport and can be mounted on surfboards, handle bars, helmets and anything else you want via a suction cup. It’s solidly constructed and is enclosed in a hard plastic case that can be submerged to up to 180 feet (100 feet for the standard version). There’s a reason the GoPro has been the best selling sports camera for the past few years and the quality speaks for itself.

You’ll get about 2 hours of battery life out of a single charge which can vary a bit depending on the conditions and how your using it. The new rechargable lithium ion battery is a major plus over the older versions which took AA batteries. Also the GoPro takes SD cards, so toss in a 32GB and you can store 9 hours of footage to get you stoked whenever you want.

The GoPro is ridiculously easy to use even for the most inept at technology. All you do is make sure the battery is charged,  mount the camera on your helmet  and then film away. Mounting is a breeze since theres so many options, if you were trying to film some surfing for example you could just mount it on the nose of your board facing you. Imagine capturing the moment of getting barreled by an overhead wave to show off to your friends. Lets face it, this thing is just cool.

The quality is simply amazing on this camera  thanks to the full 1080p quality the camera records in. The resolution is stunning at 1920×1080 pixels and will be sure to make your buddies drool when you show them video on your big screen TV. Seriously I was just blown away when I first got a peek at how great the quality of video this thing can record.

Included are mounts for attaching the camera to three helmets and two pieces of gear/vehicles, as well as a head strap allowing you to wear the camera like a headlamp. You can also pull this strap over helmets for easy camera sharing between friends. One of the above mentioned helmet mounts is a lace-through strap-mount designed for vented helmets.

If your looking for an affordable high quality sports camera then I highly recommend the GoPro Hero for you. The $299 price tag may seem a little steep to some but for the quality you get its surely worth getting one. I’ve only had the chance of testing one for a few sessions of downhill skateboarding but once I have the cash I plan on buying one right away.

Go get one and Go Pro!

GOPRO HD VIDEOS

GoPro Hero HD Specs:

Camera Optics

• Lens Type: Fixed Focus (2ft/.6m – ∞), glass
• Aperture: f/2.8 (high performance in low-light situations)
• Angle of View: 170º ultra wide angle in WVGA, 720p, or 960p mode
• Angle of View: 127º wide angle in 1080p mode

Video

• HD Video Resolution Modes: (subject to change, pending final firmware release)
  • 1080p = 1920×1080 pixels (16:9), 30 fps, 15 Mbit/s data rate
  • 960p = 1280×960 pixels (4:3), 30 fps, 12 Mbit/s data rate
  • 720p = 1280×720 pixels (16:9), 60 fps, 15 Mbit/s data rate
  • 720p = 1280×720 pixels (16:9), 30 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate
  • WVGA = 848×480 pixels (16:9), 60 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate
• Sensor Type: 1/2.5″ HD CMOS, 2.2µm-sized pixels
• Light Sensitivity: Super low-light sensitivity (>1.4 V/lux-sec)
• Video Format: H.264 compression, saved as Windows- & Mac-compatible MPEG4 (.mp4) file
• Exposure Control: Auto with user selectable center weighted average and spot metering settings
• White Balance: Auto

Audio

• Microphone: Built-in, mono with AGC (automatic gain control)
• Audio Format: 48 kHz, AAC audio compression

Photo

• Resolution: 5 megapixel
• Capture Modes: Single shot, photo every 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 secs.; 3 photo burst; self-timer

Storage

• Memory: SD card, up to 32GB capacity (SDHC)
• Average recording times (using 32GB SD card):
  • 1080p (30 fps): 4h 21m
  • 960p (30 fps): 5h 26m
  • 720p (60 fps): 4h 21
  • 720p (30 fps): 8h 09m
  • WVGA (60 fps): 8h 09m

Camera Connectors & Cables

• PC Connection: USB 2.0 (data connection and battery charging)
• HDTV Out: HD NTSC & PAL (component cable incl.)
• Audio Out: Combo 2.5mm jack with stereo audio and composite video out
• PC Compatibility: Windows® XP (Service Pack 2 or later) or Vista; Mac OS® X 10.4.11 and later

Power & Battery

• Battery Type: Rechargeable 1100 mAh lithium-ion
• Battery Life: Approx. 2.5 hrs
• Charging: via USB to computer or optional power adapter
• Charge Time: 80% capacity after 1 hour with optional power adapter; or 2 hours with a computer’s USB port

Waterproof Camera Housing

• Depth Rating: Up to 180 feet / 60 meters
• Construction: Polycarbonate and stainless steel
• Hardware: Stainless steel

Size & Weight

• Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.6” x 2.4” x 1.2” (42mm x 60mm x 30mm)
• Weight: 3.3oz (94g) incl. battery, 5.9oz (167g) incl. housing

View the original article here

Posted in: Camera, GoPro, Review