You jazz how mass call every kind of facial tissue paper “ Kleenex , ” even if it ’s technically from another brand ? These day , GoPro is practically synonymous with action camera . I ca n’t use any other action cam without someone asking me , “ Is that a GoPro ? ” But there ’s a bloody expert reason why GoPro is on top of the man .
The unexampled GoPro Hero4 Black and Hero4 Silver are two of the verybest action cameras you could buy . Most of the competition is n’t even snug . For whatever reason , though , we have n’t done a full - on critical review . get ’s mend that now .
If you ’re asking yourself , “ Why would n’t I just shoot video with my earphone ? ” you probably do n’t need an action cam . Modern smartphones typically sprout excellent video , but action cams are valuable because of their shape - constituent . They ’re small , light , aero / hydro - dynamic , and tough . You break them out in luck where using your telephone set would be impractical , or hazardous . You would n’t stick your phone to your surfboard and paddle out into six base waves . You would n’t strap your DSLR to your head and go snowboarding . But if you desire to strap one to your baby , your heel , a firework , a aviate bourdon or a ceiling rooter , they ’re honorable for that , too .
What ’s a GoPro ? A tiny , boxy little action camera that ’s typically one step ahead of the pack in image timbre and feature — plus an absurd number of mounting options made both by GoPro and by third - political party companies . Everything from 3D printed 360 - grade camera tractor trailer to aerial picture taking drones ( i.e. the popular DJI Phantom carriage ) are built specifically to house GoPro cameras . There are also steadicams , selfie peg , surfboards with GoPro mount built like a shot into the deck of cards . It sacrifice you a ton of options .
Which convey us to the GoPro Hero4 Black , the new flagship $ 500 poser . And the GoPro Hero4 Silver , which is $ 100 cheap than the Black , but almost identical . The Black ’s claim to fame is an ability to shoot 4 K TV at 30 form per second , and 1080p video at 120fps ( for some very sweet slo - mo . ) The Silver ’s C.P.U. is a turn slow , so it ca n’t manage those higher frame pace , but the optic , the image sensing element and everything else front just as good . Basically , if you ’re shooting 1080p at 60fps , the two are undistinguishable .
Oh , except that the Silver has an LCD cover which is very handy for lining up pellet and review footage on the fly sheet , which is squeamish for adjust options because it ’s skin senses - sensitive too . It ’s a bit counterintuitive that the flagship Black variant is the one that does n’t have the silver screen , but … yeah , I do n’t know how that occur .
In term of excogitation , the Hero4 camera basically look just like the Hero3 and the Hero3 + . It ’s that same little box that GoPro ’s been using for the last three age , and that think of it ’s compatible with basically all of GoPro ’s mounts and housings since 2012 . Mics and luminousness are shifted around slightly , but the only major difference is that the electric battery panel is now on the bottom rather of the back . It really makes the barrage fire a small tougher to access when the tv camera is in a lodging , but I guess they had to make elbow room for the touchscreen on the Silver .
Speaking of housing : The waterproof housing that comes with both camera is rate down to 131 feet deep , which should be more than enough for all but advanced - level SCUBA divers . By comparability , Sony ’s flagship natural process River Cam come with a grammatical case that ’s rainproof down to just 15 feet , which credibly wo n’t even be enough for vigorous snorkel diving .
In or out of the housing , you could adjust all a GoPro ’s options using just three button , and it ’s even easier on the new Hero4 cams . Now , the side button give you flying accession to the configurations for whichever manner you ’re in ( e.g. television , photo , or multishot ) . There ’s still a fair amount of push - pushing involve to switch modality , but it ’s a Hades of a lot easier than it used to be . For example , to just change the telecasting result and get back to shot , it have a minimum of 10 clicks on the Hero3 + . It have only four on the Hero4 .
I ’ve found the GoPro mobile app to be pretty true and intuitive , too . you’re able to remotely check the camera , head start / stop recording , and adjust pretty much all of the camera ’s place setting , in addition to framing shots , apace playing back footage , and transferring photograph and video over to your phone for quick sharing . Most every action cam has an associated app now , so while it ’s nothing to save home about , it ’s a square performer .
Unfortunately , the same ca n’t be said ofGoPro Studio , the company ’s video editing computer software . It has some secure idea , like templates that allow you to just drag and drop clip into cuts that are pre - timed to music , but it ’s a buggy , crashy mess . o.k. adjustments are often impossible , and I ’ve been midway through edits when abruptly it ca n’t find any of my media , and I expend an hour seek to reconnect every lost clip ( one by one because it ca n’t do batches ! ) , only for that to fail and to have to start the whole projection again from simoleons .
It needs some serious workplace , but at the same time , pro - grade applications like Adobe Premiere really fight with 4 kB footage and 120fps frame rates ( on my two twelvemonth old , maxxed out MBP ) , and that sucks a lot , too . essentially , if you ’re buying this camera to hit 4 KiB or high-pitched framerates , set for redaction to be a real pain in the junk . Anything under 1080p60 should be fine on a reasonably new system .
There are some Modern additions too , like Bluetooth , though its consolidation is a little confusing . The Bluetooth ( which currently only works with iOS ) does n’t connect straight to your sound , but rather uses it to make out when your telephone set is nearby to reduce power usance when pairing with Wi - Fi . It would be decent if you could record audio frequency through extraneous Bluetooth mics or integrate withRipcurl ’s hunt GPS Surf watchto put your video on a map . So far it does n’t do any of that . However , a novel accelerometer inside the television camera can detect change in orientation course , letting you mount the camera upside down without occupy about needing to thumb the footage afterwards . Well , after an upcoming microcode update , anyways .
That ’s all good stuff , but the real rationality the GoPro remains our pick is much simpler …
Image Quality
Simply put , video shot with the Hero4 ( both Black and Silver editions ) looks honest than the contention . The upcoming 4 honey oil Sony Action Cam might put GoPro to the test , but for now it ’s no competition . Details are sharper , colors are more exact , and critically , the GoPro has excellent dynamic range . Even when a subject is backlit by the sun , you could usually see their face . It feels like HDR , and it ’s really telling . Also , the low - ignitor capacity are much improved this class , as you’re able to see in the GIF above comparing a Hero4 to a Hero3 + . GoPro also has the most video mode , resolutions , and physical body rates to choose from .
Let ’s take a facial expression at some of those :
The above TV contains footage of the Hero4 Black ’s banner features , namely 4 K at 30fps and 1080p at 120fps . Both see really , really good . I especially think the surf and deep piddle shots stand out for clarity and evenness . If you want to see more 4 K samples , check this video , and if you want more 1080p at 120fps , click this .
As you’re able to see in this comparison video , the Hero4 Silver does a really nice problem keeping thing balanced and expose correctly . It ’s the skilful in low light source , it has very solid audio ( when not inside its waterproof case ) , and colors are pretty true to life . Obviously , this video only shows it against three other cameras — all of which are $ 100 or more tawdry than the Hero4 Silver — but still , it ’s the clear success in these mental testing ( check that you find out at full firmness of purpose ) .
to boot , the Black edition is getting a few new and very sweet modes , which you may read about here from when we got ourexclusive first hands - on .
Exclusive First Footage : GoPro ’s Buttery Smooth High - Def obtuse Motion
The above video shows the Hero4 Black ’s raw 720p at 240fps mode , which is sodding for buttery quiet dull motion . I slowed it down to play back at 24fps , so you ’re image 1/10th hurrying . It looks really good , especially in well - light situations . That say , it is limited to a narrow-minded field of operation of view , which can be pretty limiting , especially if you ’re shooting back at yourself . It ’s worth noting that Sony ’s outgoing flagship Action Cam , the X100V , will also shoot 720p at 240fps , but it will do so in the wide field of opinion , which seems manner more useful .
The Black can also now shoot 2.7k video at 60 frames per 2nd ( up from 48 ) , which allows you to shoot very magnanimous telecasting that can both be cropped ( or used with ikon stabilization package ) and slack down . I really love the way this footage looks . This fetch me back to my point that GoPro declare oneself doubly as many shooting modes as competing models . Sometimes they are unsung aspecct ratios that do n’t count , but you ’re go a lot more tractableness . Some of the manner that are exclusive to GoPro have really become my favorite fashion to inject . For example , you’re able to seein this videohow Super Mode squeezes way more into a frame , which is great for breakers or snowboard shots .
The Modern software can also mechanically cut together timelapse video . Previously when you hit a timelapse you ’d just end up with a elephantine folder of stills . You still have that option , but if you ’d rather , you could have it trim down together the timelapse into a 4 K or 2.7 K video right inside the camera which you could immediately partake in . It ’s silken . The Hero4 also has a Night Lapse mode , which lets you take a twine of long exposures . I ’ve found that it takes some tinkering to get the result you ’re after — particularly on the Black edition , which has no screen — but it ’s possible to getsome pretty neat results .
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The current gold standard for image quality . specially the Black edition with high-pitched resolutions and framerates , but at 1080p60 the Silver face just as honorable . Audio is very clean and low - lighter situation are met with humbled noise . Terrific dynamic orbit . set the bar for sharpness , too . Tons of accessories available , and it includes a instance that ’s waterproof to 131 feet . pass modes that other tv camera do n’t have ( like 2.7 cat valium video , 4:3 ratios , and SuperView ) . Light and well-off to wear , and the menu system of rules is easier to voyage than late iterations .
The touchscreen on the Silver variant look slap-up . It ’s abrupt and easy to read outdoors , and makes it a lot simple to ensure you get the shot you need . It ’s a substantial shame that the Black does n’t have it , too .
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barrage fire biography . Ho man , battery life . GoPro has never been a leader on this front , but the Hero4 Black — the Modern flagship — is at the bottom of the barrel . While shoot at 1080p 30fps , it only mustered 97 minutes . Even the Hero3 + managed 115 minute ! Shoot 4 K at 30fps and it cast off to 70 second . Shoot 1080p at 120fps and it sink to just 63 minutes . Yes , batteries are cheap and can be trade out , but that does you no practiced if you ’re surf , snorkel diving , dive , etc . It ’s deal - down the worst thing about the Hero4 Black . The Silver variant managed a much better 119 minutes ( at 1080p30 ) , but that ’s still a good ways behind the 150 second I ’ve pay back from a Sony AS100V. This is something GoPro needs to fix .
And if you ’re upgrading from a previous GoPro , you ’ll need to buy Modern battery because the Hero4 has ones shaped slightly differently . You ’ll also want a new external battery battery charger , if you bought one of those . Which I did . Damnit .
The Hero4 does n’t have any built - in stabilization . Most legal action cameras do n’t , but Sony ’s does , and it ’s been getting better . What was initially a gimmick could finish up making a very big difference in TV quality . The Hero4 also does n’t have work up - in GPS , which many ( including the Sony ) do now . The Hero4 no longer includes a remote ascendence ( which is furrowed and waterproofed , and commodious if your camera is out of arm ’s grasp ) , which came standard with the Hero3 and Hero3 + models . It ’s $ 80 now . The photographic camera themselves are n’t so chintzy , either .
Should You Get It?
Shortcomings aside , the Hero4 Black is still the best action camera you’re able to presently buy . At $ 500 , it ’s not punk , but if you want your military action videos to take care as serious as possible , that ’s the way to go . you’re able to expect large Hollywood product companies to purchase these thing by the palette , and it ’s going to ease up some really sweet dull motion scene at angles you would n’t see otherwise .
That suppose , for most consumers , the Hero4 Silver edition is probably the good pick . You probably do n’t need 4 potassium video at 30fps , or 2.7 one thousand at 60 , or 1080p at 120 , or 720p at 240 . I entail , they ’re awesome , but you could in all likelihood settle for a little less solvent and a short less speeding . For that compromise , you ’ll save $ 100 , and gain a very ready to hand touch screen and a mo of battery life .
It ’s also worth noting that Sony ’s 4 K Action Cam ( X100V ) is just around the corner and gunning for the Hero4 Black . It cost the same $ 500 and has a lot ( but not all ) of the same shooting modes , plus stabilization and GPS . We should be sire our hands on it very soon , and we ’ll have a headway - to - brain comparability as soon as we can . For now , though , the Martin Luther King Jr. remains on his crapper .
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