gopro hero4 black edition lcd touch screen made in china
I purchased the GoPro HERO4 Black recently because I"ll be going scuba diving in a few weeks and wanted to provide some video to document the trip... and be able to display it on my 4K UHD Samsung TV. I haven"t taken it diving yet, but after some playing around, was able to set it up so I can remote control it (view, start recording, stop recording) with a GoPro app on my iPhone 6S. I recorded my son"s school awards assembly in 4K and it looked great on my TV. The camera is pretty slick, and there are so many attachments and mounts available that it"ll be a while before I figure them all out. I did purchase an upgraded memory card as I read somewhere that the transfer speed on lower end memory cards won"t keep up with the amount of data required for a 4K 30fps video. I ended up with a 64GB Lexar Professional micro SDXC Class-10 UHS-II U3... where the package shows it"s ideal for 4K and can transfer up to 150MB/s. I wanted to be prepared, but am not sure what I would see (or not) with the SanDisk card that came with the kit shooting at 4K. I will certainly hold on to it as a backup or for those times I"m shooting normal 1080P video. So far, I"ve been very impressed and am looking forward to all the experiences I can get on video now that I own a GoPro HERO4 Black.
Install the extension back cover to the front shell can be waterproof 114 ft, in the diving, rainy day, snorkeling, swimming, etc. can also real-time watch your photos and videosPacking list:1x Suptig LCD Screen
GoPro has its own terminology to explain its camera qualities; these devices are named with specific conventions that users need to understand. The label Black indicates top end model of GoPro family, it possesses much higher picture and video quality and hence is preferably used by professionals but at the same time the price range is also a bit higher. On the other side, the Silver label defines the series for prosumers- the people who have skills to record amazing videos with action cameras. So your device selection must vary accordingly.
If we talk about GoPro session then it is one of the smallest as well as simplest action camera units with basic switches. It"s simple on and off buttons can assist users in fast switching between recording functions. And the best part is that you can also control these devices via mobile phones using dedicated applications. In terms of frame rate and resolution, this camera use to have smallest specs ratings but the price is again low; such devices are preferably used by consumers who wish to capture trouble free scenes.
Once you pick your camera in hand you will find the difference, the GoPro Hero4 Silver is the first camera in this series that possess built in type touch screen LCD. It helps users to view whatever they are recording and at the same time provides easy navigation options with the touch panel. Thus this device is very handy for framing different shots, checking previews and for reviewing photos or video footages.
The disadvantage of this touch screen type LCD panel is that it causes very fast decay in battery as compared to the other unit that does not have touch screen panel. The GoPro Black does not have built in LCD panel but it possesses wide angle type lenses that assist users in efficient recording. The photo playback as well as video preview is also easier to watch.
Both these cameras- Hero4 Silver and Hero4 Black are almost of same dimensions and users can pack them inside same housing during under water shooting. If we talk about weight then the black edition is observed to be little heavier but the maximum weight difference could be just around 5 grams or below 0.2 ounces.
Hero4 Black as well as Hero4 Silver; both serves with impressive video quality as they can shoot full HD videos and camera resolution varies up to 4K value. Being the higher end device, naturally you will find Hero4 Black much better for shooting immersive content due to the one major feature difference that is black allows video recording at 60Mbps whereas with silver you can achieve recording speed only up to 45Mbps.
Most of specifications of both these camera units are almost same so that audio quality is also rated to be almost equivalent. The Black as well as Silver use to initiate recordings at 48 KHz frequency range with advanced AAC compression technology. The automatic gain control mechanism along with internal multi band type compressor is available for overall sound improvement. The mono internal microphones can be attached to both these devices as well as the external microphones can be plugged in via 3.5mm audio jack to mini USB type adapter.
One of the major differences between both is in their high end audio. The black unit use to possess an advanced analog to digital converter so that much better audio quality can be generated but this studio level audio quality will not work with your silver unit.
The price range of GoPro Hero4 Black is $325.00 whereas for Silver you need to pay only $220. Most of the features are comparatively equal so it is good to decide your product as per your budget.
GoPro is in the enviable position of being synonymous with action cameras. The diminutive devices are used widely on TV, as well as by professional and amateur sportsmen and women. The latest model can capture 4K video, but is it worth the high price? Here’s our GoPro Hero4 Black review.
For existing Hero 3 owners, the Hero4 looks very similar. It’s not identical, though. The battery now slides in from the bottom, and old batteries can’t be used. That’s a pain if you already have a few, but the other change is more welcome: the old Wi-Fi button on the side is now a HiLight button which you can press just after a significant moment. This makes it much easier to find that video gold when you return.
At the front, the LEDs have been moved next to the tiny LCD display (which still isn’t backlit) possibly in an attempt to avoid them being visible in video shot at night. There are also flashing LEDs on the top and rear faces to let you know the camera is recording.
Like the Hero3, there’s no minijack port for attaching a mic, but you can buy an optional GoPro micro USB adapter cable for around £20 which gives you the necessary 3.5mm port. You’ll need to make a hole in the side of the waterproof housing to connect a mic, or use a different housing when mounting the camera.
You get a couple of adhesive mounts in the box, but note that there’s no Wi-Fi remote as you got with the Hero3 Black edition. The old remote will work with the new camera, but there’s a new version of the remote which has the extra Highlight button. You can also buy the optional LCD BackPac, because the Hero4 black doesn’t have the integrated LCD touchscreen of the Hero4 Silver. Alternatively, the proprietary connector on the rear also works with the Battery BacPac.
The reason to pay more for the Hero4 Black is, of course, because it can shoot 4K video at 30fps (or 25 if you’re in PAL mode). This means smooth footage compared to the 15fps 4K mode of the Hero3+.
The Hero4 Black will also capture 120fps in 1080p, 240fps in 720p and there are lots of other resolutions and modes to choose, including super-wide angle, wide angle, medium and narrow. It will depend on what you’re shooting – and the chosen resolution and frame rate – as to whether all angles are available or not.
As well as high framerates for slo-mo sequences, the Hero4 Black also does time-lapse, offering various modes up to 4K. At lower resolutions you can record video and capture photos for time-lapse videos at the same time. Intervals vary from five to 60 seconds.
Experience GoProers will understand the ProTune capture mode, which essentially allows you to get even better quality in the final video when editing with the free GoPro Studio software. With it, you get manual control over colour, ISO limit, exposure and other parameters.
Video quality is excellent. Obviously you’ll need a UHD screen to see the full detail the Hero4 is able to capture, but even on a 1080p TV or PC monitor, there’s a noticeable improvement over footage captured at 1080p.
There may be no screen on the Hero4 Black, but if you have an Android, Windows Phone or iPhone the GoPro app solves that niggle as you can see a live, low-res feed on your phone. Despite the low ratings in the App Store, we found the app to be very good. Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are now used to communicate and, once paired, you have full control over the camera.
Plus, the app lets you review clips remotely which is handy if you want to check you captured the moment without having to take the microSD card out of the Hero4 and put it in a laptop.
Controls and buttons are large and easy to use when you’re in a hurry outdoors: compared to a lot of the rubbish you get with Chinese knock-offs, GoPro’s app is very slick.
Early last month GoPro completed their annual October ritual of releasing a suite of new units. Like past years, GoPro doesn’t tend to make massive upgrades in their units, but rather works to add incremental features and performance bumps.
It’s somewhat rare that I group this many products into a single review. Sometimes I’ll do two minor variations of the same product in a single post, but I think this is the first threesome I’ve had around these parts. When it comes to the GoPro packaging though, all three units are pretty similar actually. They all include the following:
– The camera itself (duh) – The battery for the camera – A mini-USB cable – An underwater case rated to 40m/131ft – An alternate/secondary door for the case that allows for better audio – A small stack of GoPro stickers – A small quick-start guide and other paper junk – A flat adhesive mount – A curved adhesive mount – A loss prevention rubber stopper
In addition, the Hero4 Black and Silver also include a little adapter arm for the mounting system to change the direction a bit. Of course, because everyone wants to see exactly what comes in each package, I’ve included the unboxing for each of them below. I’ve abbreviated it a little bit though on the Silver/Base just to keep things non-redundant. Sound good? Let’s tear apart some boxes…
To begin you’ll find the boxes of the Black and Silver fairly similarly designed, with only the Base Hero slightly different with cheaper packaging materials to save weight and cost.
Here’s what you’ll get inside the Hero4 Black box. It’s all the items noted above, but one little piece that many people accidentally miss – which is the flat black baseplate that the Hero comes on. It can in effect act as a handy little tripod, yet many folks simply throw it away.
Next, the standard mini-USB plug that can be used to both charge the unit as well as download photos. Note that this USB cable (and your attached GoPro) can be plugged into any USB outlet on the planet.
Both the Black and Silver come with the same set of mounts. You have two adhesive mounts, one being pancake flat, while the other is slightly curved (such as for a helmet). Behind it are two different mount pieces, one that holds the camera a little further back, while the other has less extension (it’s attached to the baseplate to begin). Meanwhile they also include a few extenders and direction changers seen to the right.
The bottom opens up identically on the Black and Silver, which is where you’ll place the battery. There’s a small little button you’ll press that’ll then pop open the door. It’s a much better design than the annoying battery cover found on previous GoPro units.
The only difference in the box is the case doors. The Silver edition includes three doors (instead of two), and two of these doors are designed to allow you to operate the touch screen. In the below photo, the two lower doors allow touch screen operation. The left one is completely open, while the right one has a thin flexible plastic.
Here’s the front of the camera, as you can see, it’s virtually identical to the Hero4 Black. Though, strangely in my case it actually has a small manufacturing defect on the front of the LCD screen. It hasn’t bothered me though, and I’m too lazy to deal with returning it.
The 2014 GoPro Hero base unit is packaged slightly differently. For example it lacks the top plastic ‘dome’ found on the other/past units, as well as the plastic baseplate. Obviously at a fraction of the price they were looking to cut costs that were unnecessary, which, is completely reasonable.
Below are the components within the box. You’ll find the two adhesive mounts (flat/curved), but only one mounting attachment piece between the GoPro and the adhesive mounts. Don’t worry, you still get stickers.
When it comes to size, the Hero4 is identical to that of the Hero3, so there’s no changes there. It’ll fit into all the same mounts, cases and locations that the Hero3 did. This is particularly interesting even in the case of the touch-screen display included on the Hero4 Silver. Of course, if you add a touch/display screen to the Hero4 Black then it’ll increase the size accordingly.
Looking at other units on the market, the GoPro remains the smallest unit with the highest quality video. No doubt you can look at something smaller like the new Polaroid cube, but with that comes incredibly rough video (stabilization-wise). While the baseline Polaroid 1080p video isn’t horrible when just sitting still, it’s not at all awesome with any movement at all. And given the point of an action cam is…action, that’s sorta limiting:
Meanwhile, if you compare it to something like the Sony series of action cams, it’s sorta a wash. The Sony cams are longer, but thinner. While the GoPro’s appear a bit chubbier. Both can go sans-case, though neither should be taken underwater without their respective cases.
Turning to something like the VIRB series, the GoPro is much smaller without the case, though only somewhat smaller with the case. The VIRB doesn’t require a case unless going deeper underwater (splashing around in a pool is fine). But, the GoPro is also roughly the size of a Twinkie compared to that of a kiwi fruit (not the bird, nor the New Zealander’s) with the Garmin VIRB. Note that both the VIRB and VIRB Elite share the same outer shell.
Of course, to some degree comparing sizes with the GoPro is somewhat academic. It’s well established as a completely acceptable sized unit within the marketplace – with the case. And without the case the options are pretty much unlimited.
Let’s start off with establishing some of the basics, things that are largely common to all units. To begin, you’ll turn on the unit by holding down the front-facing button (Mode). This will get the GoPro ready to record, but won’t start recording:
Each of the units will require a MicroSD card to record to. These are super-cheap though and can be found starting at about $12 for quality 16GB ones. The Hero4 Black and Silver support card sizes up to 64GB, whereas the Hero base only supports 32GB. Note that when it comes to speed of cards, it’ll depend a little bit on how you plan to use the units. For generic 720p/1080p content in the 24-30FPS mode, it’s frankly not going to matter too much how fast of a card you have. But if you start recording 2.7K/4K footage at full frame rates you’re going to want fast cards to be able to keep up.
For those curious, in the Black/Silver I’ve been using the SanDisk U1 64GB Extreme Plus cards, without any recording issues. Again, for the Hero base, this would be beyond overkill (it couldn’t use it if it tried).
With the camera powered on, all units have a front-facing LCD screen. This screen will show you which mode you’re in, for example, video, photo, time lapse, etc… You can simply tap the front mode button to iterate to the next mode.
New to the Hero4 lineup though on the Black/Silver models is a direct settings button found on the side. While the button has always been there, it’s been for enabling WiFi. Now, it’ll do both. If you short-tap it, it’ll open up the settings menu for just that particular mode. If you long-hold it, it’ll enable/disable WiFi. It’s a beautifully elegant solution.
The same is true of photo modes, allowing you to then change how many shots it might take, and the resolutions of those. It’s without question one of my favorite features of the Hero4 lineup. Of course, you can still dive into the traditional settings menu using the mode button, but now those options on the Black/Silver pertain more to whole-camera options.
For example, this is where you would change the orientation of the camera (Black/Silver/Hero), as well as change which mode the camera starts off in, for example, photo instead of video (Black/Silver).
In the February 2015 update, they also enabled the ability to do automatic orientation. This means that the Hero4 Silver and Black can now automatically be oriented based on whichever way is determined as ‘up’. You can also just leave it manually as well.
And, you can enable the ability to automatically shut off after a preset time. I like 5 minutes, because that’s typically longer than I’d wait around for any action sequence to happen – and usually means that I’ve forgotten about the camera. Since the GoPro doesn’t save too much battery sitting in standby versus recording – I prefer to keep it off as much as I can.
Also note that unlike the Black/Silver, the Hero base can’t have settings changed via the phone apps, but more on that later. Next, when it comes to actually record something, you’ll start/stop the recording (or photos) by pressing the top button on the GoPro (with the red circle).
And again, to stop it, you’ll just press the same button. By default the unit will chirp/beep and then the red recording light will blink. You can change the volume of the chirps. I do that if I plan to use the unit indoors where the chirps can get a bit annoying (Side Note: I fail to understand why there is a 100% volume, 75% volume, and 0% volume level…but no 25% or 50% level).Outside of course, it’s handy to have the chirps though if mounted on a helmet. With those basics covered, let’s get onto the Silver-only touch screen, and then I’ll cover many of the features individually.
The GoPro Hero4 Silver sports a new addition to the Hero lineup, a touch screen. While you could in the past attach a LCD screen to the back of units, it always came at the cost of increased space as well as just being sorta clunky. With the Hero4 Silver though, it’s embedded into the back of the unit while remaining exactly the same size as previous models.
The screen is both there to display what the camera is shooting, but also to act as a touch screen to change settings. To do so, you’ll press the little red dot and then slide down and hold a few seconds. This ensures that you can’t accidentally bump it on, like butt dialing, but for action cameras (which, upon reflection could be really awkward).
Once you have it unlocked, it’ll show you a touch menu that you can go into and modify settings for each of the modes. You effectively get all of the modification capabilities of the front LCD + buttons, with the back screen:
Now of course while recording, you can use this to frame your shots ahead of time and then keep an eye on things while recording. By default it’ll shut off the screen shortly after recording to save battery. I’ve gotta say, when I first saw the marketing images of the screen I figured it’d be like the Garmin VIRB screen. In that while the VIRB screen was marketed to look like a orgasmicly colorful experience, in reality it was like 1930’s black and white silent film.
Thankfully, the Hero4 Silver is legit color. Brilliantly colorful and just as crisp and pretty as the marketing shots look. It’s a bit tricky to take photos of because of the light differential between foreground and the LCD screen, but, you can get a little bit of a feel for it in some of the below:
And on top of that, it will playback sound as well. When it comes to a screen on an action camera, this is perfect for me. Or rather, for my wife. I actually didn’t use it nearly as much as her – who loved being able to see exactly what she was shooting and play it back without a phone (as was the case with her cannonballs seen later).
Now with all that praise, do keep in mind one thing: For most folks, the screen is merely used for framing a shot. So while the color is much appreciated, I wouldn’t say it’s a complete deal-breaker. I’m able to frame shots on the 1930’s style black and white screen VIRB just as easily as the Hero4 Silver.
When it comes to video quality in an action cam, nobody has higher resolutions than the GoPro. Period, end of story. Well, at least today. So what does that mean from a practical standpoint? Well with the Hero3+ Black, GoPro offered 2.7K at full frame rates. In this case, full frame rates are anything above 24FPS. Below that and you’ll start to get degradation viewable to the human eye in most situations. So in the case of the Hero3+ Black, it had 4K footage…but at 15FPS. With the Hero4, things simply shifted. The Hero4 Black got full 4K at 24/25/30FPS, while the Hero4 Silver got 2.7K at 24/25/30FPS, and 4K at 12.5/15FPS. So basically, the following happened:
As you can see, I took the 4K video, but then cropped down just a chunk of it to 1080p. Note that cropping is different than downscaling. Cropping means you cut some of the image away. Whereas with downscaling (aka ‘to downres’), you simply convert the entire video down to a lower resolution. You don’t lose any of the picture, but you just lose quality. To explain some of the differences between the two resolutions, here’s a segment where I had all three cameras mounted side by side. Here’s the Hero4 Black (be sure to set the resolution to 4K):
Can you tell the difference? For most on smaller screens – probably not. But that’s likely just because you’re viewing it on a device too small to notice the differences. But, this is a key point in deciding whether or not it’s worth the money to pay extra for what is 4K/2.7K over just 1080p resolution found on every other device out there.
Now when it comes to resolutions, keep in mind that while GoPro has action cam dominance today, tomorrow that might change (hence why it’s always good to check out the Product Comparison Tool). In general, I wouldn’t expect any changes between now and the end of 2014. But I fully expect that to change starting with CES the first week of January. CES is the annual and massive Consumer Electronics Show, where everyone in the gadget world comes out with their new stuff.
In addition to high resolution video, the GoPro series can also do high speed video. High speed video refers to the idea of increasing the frame rate (frames per second) recorded in order to then play it back at ‘regular’ speed and achieve a slow-motion effect. Take for example 120FPS footage. It’s captured (wait for it) at 120 frames per second. But, when it comes to playback, it might be played back at 30FPS, which then results in that one-second moment of action taking 4 seconds to play back. Thus achieving gloriously smooth slow-motion. You can see this below with a Hero4 Black and a touchscreen attached.
With these higher frame rates at higher resolutions, you’re no longer having to make sacrifices in quality or frame rates for slow-motion footage. Like other settings, on the GoPro you can modify these within the app, or within the camera itself. In the case of base GoPro Hero, you’re only getting 1080P-30FPS, or 720P-60FPS. The exact frame rates offered for each resolution I’ve included within the comparison table at the bottom of the review.
So what does this look like? Well, no better way to test this than a canon ball into a swimming pool. The perfect way to illustrate slow-motion, in this case with a common 120FPS 720p clip (from the GoPro Hero4 Silver):
Now I could have gone to 240FPS on the Hero4 Black, but that reduces the resolution. Previous to February 2015 it was WVGA, but now it’s 720 – which makes it potentially a fair tradeoff. Still, for those wanting to keep it 1080p or higher, you could instead look to slow it down further with the GoPro studio and take the hit on frame rates instead of resolution. In this case, I went with 20% speed playback.
Note that the GoPro Studio offers the ability specify the exact moment in time that you switch from regular playback to slow-motion playback by simply splitting the clips. This allows you to keep at normal speed until just the moment of action, such as this where I kept it regular rates for the first few seconds, then slowed it down when she was mid-air, and then let it get back to half-speed towards the last few seconds.
Further, GoPro has also introduced what they call ‘Flux’. The idea behind it is a bit smarter interpolation of the frames when slowing down video, allowing you to get cleaner video. In the above case I used Flux for the middle section of slow-mo, though, it’s not really required since I shot at 120FPS already and there was plenty of slow motion as-is. But it’s more noticeable if you really wanted to slow things down even further than that.
For example, if you wanted to turn what would have been 4-5 seconds at playback speed into 8-10 seconds. In that case you’d lose so many frames that it might be tough to get smooth video. Note that Flux is all done after the fact within GoPro Studio, and is not something done on the camera itself. It does not require you do anything on the unit itself.
Ultimately, the Hero4 lineup offers the most diverse options in the marketplace today when it comes to high speed frame rate offerings as well as higher resolutions at those frame rates.
The Hero4 introduced a new night capture mode to the lineup, which aims to compliment the other photo modes found within the unit. Before we dive into the night mode, it’s probably good to start with a quick overview of all the major modes found on the Hero lineup:
Ok, with those basics out of the way, let’s get to some shots and how I use it. In most cases, when I’m using the GoPro as a camera, I’m shooting in the highest possible megapixel arrangement with the wide option. This is because the way the GoPro works is that even if you were to select a medium crop image, it’s simply taking the 12MP wide image and cropping that automatically. Thus it’s much better to take the higher resolution and do the cropping yourself. For example, below if I wanted just the fish from this GoPro image, I could crop to just the fish and the sea anemone.
But what situations would you want medium over wide? Well, for those where you didn’t want to deal with cropping. For example, The Girl (aka, my wife), borrowed the GoPro Hero4 Silver for the day while snorkeling. She didn’t want the super-wide shots that were coming in on wide mode, and instead preferred the zoomed in aspect of the medium mode. For her, she’s not going to want to deal with cropping the photos afterwards on the computer or her phone. She just wants to be able to take them and post them to whatever platform she wants – no editing.
Finally, let’s look at some night shots. In this case, I used the Night Mode to get a longer exposure with the unit. I toyed around with a few different exposures (aside from Automatic), but decided that a 2 second exposure worked out the best. Here’s the un-edited shot from the Hero4 Black:
The GoPro series includes a time lapse mode. In this mode the unit will take a series of photos at a preset interval, such as every half a second. You can then take those photos and compile them together to make a video time-lapse. Alternatively, this mode is ideal when you want to simply have photos of/during an event, but don’t know when the moment of action will come (or won’t be in a position to press record).
For example, you might be mountain biking downhill and want to easily capture photos along the way (instead of video). Just plop it in time lapse mode and it’ll capture photos at the defined interval. Why use this instead of video (and then take a screenshot)? Well, the resolution is substantially higher with photos over video. Further, you tend to get crisper photos this way. The GoPro series supports different intervals depending on the model. Here’s the run-down for the 2014 series:
Next, you’ll need some software to turn these all into a pretty video. Of course, if you don’t want a video, then you’re just done as-is. For the video, GoPro Studio enables you to drag the photos into the software and it’ll compile it into a video.
There’s two ways of doing this. The first is to just drag the first photo in the series into GoPro studio (and it’ll do the rest automatically). Or, you can manually put them all in a folder and then drag the folder in. Whatever floats your boat:
However, with the February 2015 update for the GoPro Hero4 Black and Silver, it’ll now create that same video for you within the GoPro unit itself. I’ll discuss that in the next section.
In February 2015, GoPro introduced a new time lapse mode that automatically exports out a video file when you end the recording of the time lapse. This means that when you hit finish on the time lapse on the camera, you immediately have a video file – instead of a huge pile of photos that need additional processing. This option was made available to only the Hero4 Black and Silver models, via a free firmware update.
When you look at the configuration options, they’re identical across both the Black and Silver units. You’ll select ‘Time Lapse’ as an option under the Video settings. Then within that you can select the interval for how often to take a photo to add to the video.
The Hero4 Black and Silver carry through the capability of being able to control and transfer data from the camera to the phone. This allows you to use your phone as a secondary display for the camera, or, just a quick way to get photos up to share with friends via social media. Note, this is not compatible with the 2014 GoPro Hero base unit.
To begin, you’ll need to enable WiFi on your Hero4. Just hold down the left side button until the blue light blinks on the front of the GoPro. Then, on your mobile device connect to the WiFi network.
You’ll need to go through a setup of pairing steps before moving forward. They’re fairly straight forward and ensure that you have a unique name for each unit, and unique password. Once that’s done you can go ahead and open up the GoPro app and then click “Connect & Control” to start the connectivity to the GoPro.
It’ll start on the preview screen, which shows you the exact same view as that of the camera. You can rotate the phone as well to get a cleaner view.
If you click the little tool icon, you can go into the settings and tweak every camera mode and overall camera settings quickly and easily. This is great when you are taking iterative shots at different resolutions or frame rates and don’t want to mess with the camera or touch it physically.
Next, you can transfer both photos and videos. To do this within the GoPro app you’ll tell it to enumerate the files. It may take a few seconds. Or, in the event you have a time lapse pile of photos – it may never actually complete at all (as I learned). Thus, I wouldn’t recommend trying to enumerate it if you just took a few thousand photos.
Overall, while seemingly straight forward and potentially simple, the phone app capability on the GoPro app is actually exactly one of the best (if not the best) out there from an action cam perspective. Some other action cams don’t allow live preview while recording, for example. Or, they don’t permit you to transfer files. Or, the apps are just poorly coded.
The same week that GoPro announced the Hero4 lineup, they in conjunction with Livestream announced the ability to stream your GoPro recordings live to the internet via the Livestream service. This requires the use of your mobile phone, which connected to the GoPro via the GoPro WiFi network, and then streamed the data out via your cellular data connection.
Initially when I posted this review the functionality wasn’t yet enabled on the Hero4. So, I did some expirements on the Hero3 instead, which you can view here. Since then, the Hero4 support has been enabled with LiveStream.
But, instead of trying to cram it all into this post, I’ve written up a HUGE post on live streaming options for action cams. I cover the GoPro in super-detail, along with numerous other options and apps.
The Hero4 Black and Silver include ports that you can use to stream both audio and video off of the device. The ports are standardized, which means it’s fairly easy to utilize them (in comparison to some action cameras that have funky proprietary connections).
The first port you’ll find is the mini-USB port. The primary use for most people will be charging the GoPro as well as transferring photos/videos to a computer. Those are both fairly straight forward scenarios in that the GoPro will simply show up now as an imaging device on your computer (this is actually a change from previous lines, where it enumerated as a standard USB device):
But the mini-USB port is also capable of transmitting and consuming non-digital audio and video to other devices. For example, you can connect the 3.5mm stereo audio connector cable to it, and then plug a microphone to it. Note on the audio connector, that this is only supported on the Hero4 Black/Silver (and older Hero3/3+ units).
Additionally there are some microphones that are only supported on the Hero4 Black Edition. So you’ll want to double-check their compatibility list if you’re using a separate mic. Alternatively, you can utilize one of two different composite video cables. One that includes the 3.5mm mic input, and one without it. In either case, quite frankly most people won’t be doing this as it’s pretty crazy low resolution these days.
Lastly for the mini-USB, it can actually be used by some remote viewing systems directly. For example, on the First Person View (FPV) system I have for my DJI Phantom2 unit, it plugs straight into the mini-USB port and transmits that video, no HDMI required (Note: At the moment, with the standard Zenmuse H3-3D system, this doesn’t quite work yet due to a bug on the Hero4 and/or Zenmuse).
Next, we’ve got the micro-HDMI port. This port enables you to playback video and photos straight to a TV using an HDMI cable. Note though that your regular HDMI cable likely won’t work here, since most HDMI cables you have around the house are standard HDMI connectors are both ends. The micro-HDMI connector is on the GoPro end of the equation and much smaller. You tend to see this also used in some tablets, such as the Microsoft Surface’s and some Android tablets.
There’s a fundamental reason why you see Hollywood shoot with the GoPro, and the core of that reason is ProTune and the flexibility offered within it. ProTune is one such feature that has long been leveraged in GoPro units to offer more flexibility in editing afterwards. It’s sorta similar (though not exactly) to the way that higher end photographers primarily shoot RAW photos for the ability to better tweak photos afterwards, people also shoot GoPro video with ProTune so they can easily tweak it afterwards. When I talk to ‘tweaking’ I’m referring to the ability to drive change easily in things such as White Balance, ISO, Sharpness and more.
For example, virtually all of the photos you see here on the blog (not just in this post, but all posts) I shoot with higher end cameras in dual JPG/RAW formats. This allows me to clean them up in Lightroom and make any color/lighting corrections as required. The same applies here with GoPro cameras using ProTune with the GoPro Studio. Now this doesn’t actually just apply to video in the case of GoPro, but also to photos. So you have that same power there too.
Now, GoPro notes there’s no downside to enabling ProTune. It won’t make your images/video ‘require’ additional tuning. So you might as well enable it and then decide later if you need it in post production. A better question is whether or not having (or not having) ProTune is a deciding factor.
The GoPro 2014 series all include waterproof cases that protect the unit down to 40 meters (131 feet). This is pretty much the max for what a standard openwater PADI/NAUI certified diver would go to (by a little bit). And of course fine for snorkeling and other random pool activities. In the slim chance you’re diving deeper than that, you can get a more hardened case that goes 60m (197 feet). In my case, I didn’t have any dives on my radar for this time period, so it was just limited to snorkeling and pool time. In both cases, I had no problems.
Since the change a few years ago to the flat glass on the dive housing you’ll no longer have any issues with focus problems out of the box. Here’s some non-edited images from the unit (Hero4 Black):
Now what is notable is that there’s no water protection issues using the touch screen capable case underwater at least at snorkeling/pool depths. However, you won’t want to try and use the touch screen underwater as the pressure will make it impossible to use. Instead, just use the regular buttons on the side/front/top to change any settings or take any photos.
Note that while I didn’t use any of the corrective color filters, you can get such filters, especially if doing diving with the GoPro, which will help correct the colors a bit. For snorkeling and pool shots, you can easily adjust them in the GoPro Studio as well, though I find that leaving a bit of the blueish tint at shallow depths tends to make the images pop a bit more. It’s when deeper that you lose the colors that you want to use the filters.
Finally, in the event you’re doing a lot of water sports, you may want to look at picking up the floating door accessory. That will keep the GoPro afloat in the event it departs from your grasp. If you’re just doing snorkeling or in a pool it’s a bit unnecessary, but if you’re constantly out on openwater it’s probably worth it.
When it comes to battery life, the Hero4 series took a bit of a dive at the top end unit. In previous generations you’d get about 1hr 30 minutes of run-time at the highest recording settings. Now however, the Black unit gets only about 65 minutes at the highest settings. Which isn’t to say that battery life went down across the board. No, if you go to more minimal settings – such as 2.7K 30FPS on the Silver, it’s clocking in around 1hr and 50 minutes. Yet, on the Black it still only gets 1hr 10mins at that setting, despite sharing the same battery. The majority of settings for the Black put it in the 1hr 5min to 1hr 10min range, with only 720p 120FPS extending it up to 1hr 50min. All of these though assume WiFi is off. Both the Hero4 Black and Silver share the same 1106mAH battery.
Meanwhile, continuing the trend of apparently cheaper units getting better battery – the 2014 Hero base units can hit 2hr and 45 minutes at 1080p 30FPS, more the twice that of the Hero4 black at 1/4th the cost. Go figure.
Now, about the only complaint I have about said Hero base unit is that because of the non-detachable case design I’ve found it’s easier for the unit to get turned on during travel in a bag than the Black/Silver out of their cases. And unlike the Black/Silver, it doesn’t have the option to automatically turn off after a period of inactivity. Thus, I’ve had more situations where the Hero base is out of juice when I go to use it.
In my testing with the battery life on the Hero4 Black, I found it got just a few minutes below the specifications. Though, I also found that even while in standby you’re unlikely to get too much more battery if left on (but not recording), which is a bit different than other action cameras on the market that do a much better job in standby.
Now one accessory I have found handy though is the dual battery charger. It connects via standard mini-USB cable and then will charge your GoPro batteries. Note that it works best with a 2AMP USB port, such as those found with an iPad or other tablet. So if you use just a regular amperage USB port you’re likely to get slow charge times. When you insert the battery in, it’ll show orange for charging, and green for completed. Note though that it can be easy the first time to not push the battery in all the way and think it’s doing something. The simple rule is if there’s no light, it’s not doing jack.
Now, here’s a bit of a secret though: While the above charger is nice…it’s also overpriced. So instead, I bought the below dual-charger from Wasabi Power which costs only $23 and that includes two Hero4 batteries. Seriously. Pure awesome.
When it comes to accessories, there’s no greater selection than that with the GoPro lineup. Heck, even other action cams now include GoPro adapter mounts, simply to be able to tap into the massive range of accessories and mounts found within the GoPro lineup. The majority of mounts that most folks will use will likely be 1st party mounts made by GoPro, but there’s still a huge array of 3rd party mounts by other companies that are oftentimes far more interesting.
1) GoPro 3-way Pole: This came out last winter and instantly became my favorite accessory. As you can see from the below animated image I put together, you can twist/mix/fold/unpack/pack it up a crapton of ways. I can use it as a tripod, or as a selfie pole, or just to get a better angle and extend my reach.
In my case, I bought the DJI Phantom 2 last winter and have been experimenting with it to get cool shots and videos. From a setup perspective, I use the GoPro Hero4 with the DJI Phantom 2 in conjunction with the Zenmuse H3-3D gimbal. This gimbal is really the special sauce that allows silky smooth footage. Proof of that comes with the fact that the wind was never less than 10-15MPH during my flights in New Zealand.
There were two H3-3D gimbal versions out there – the first gimbals require a slight modification to not bump the side settings/WiFi button on the Hero4, whereas the second generation is molded just a hair bit differently and doesn’t require any modification. Luckily I have the second version.
Note that both the Hero4 Black/Silver work just fine in the mount, but the Hero base edition won’t because it can’t be removed from the case. While I have a first person view transmitter for the system, I don’t tend to use it too much, instead just flying within line of sight and by feel. I flew remote control and real planes when I was younger, so I have a bit of experience there in the aviation world.
Of course, with a gimbal video is the name of the game. While down in New Zealand over the past few weeks I was able to get a number of shots put together. Here’s one session I did just after sunrise on an isolated black sands beach with the Hero4 in 4K/24p mode:
You can use the below comparison charts to see how each unit stacks up against each other. In the below chart I’ve just set it for the three GoPro units for 2014. However, you can easily dive into the comparison database to see how older GoPro units stack up, as well as some competitor units. You can mix and match and create your own charts there.
Best video quality money will buy in an action cam: For those in this category, there’s simply no question it’s the Hero4 Black. Specs alone dictate this, and thankfully the camera backs up the specs from a delivery standpoint. There’s just no other action cameras on the market today doing 4K at full frame rates (Correction: There’s apparently this camera, but it’s pretty wonky being two separate pieces).
Of course, the real question is – does this matter? For most people, probably not. You’d likely be hard pressed on today’s screens to tell the difference between 1080p and 4K, let alone 2.7K and 4K. Still, for the reasons I outlined in the 4K section above, there’s certainly value in such a camera.
An all around action cam: For this, it’s tricky. On one hand the GoPro Hero4 Silver is solid, but at the same time, it’s also a bit overpriced compared to other offerings. They effectively bumped up the price to $399 from what was sub-$300 before. At that price you’re paying double something like the VIRB Elite or Sony Action cams, but of which have more features/functionality (i.e. sensors like GPS, altimeters, etc…). Sure, the Hero4 Silver can do 2.7K video at full frame rates, but for most people, that won’t matter.
A budget action cam:This is where things get really interesting. GoPro dropped the bottom of the price floor with the $129US price point. That’s an incredible price, especially for such a quality cam as the Hero base. At the same time, Garmin more or less countered with VIRB units now at $129US, and flirting every few days with $99US. The VIRB base unit is more functional in every possible spec category than the 2014 Hero base (or equal in those not exceeding).
Mount considerations: There’s no question that GoPro has the most mounting options out there when you include 3rd party mounts. But I wouldn’t let that be the deciding factor. Virtually every other action cam on the market includes a GoPro mounting adapter, so that kinda becomes a wash.
Availability of accessories: When it comes to finding spare parts like a battery pack during a trip, you’ll find no wider availability than GoPro parts though. In every airport on this planet and in just about every terminal of those airports, you’ll find GoPro parts. I was blown away over the past month as I travelled to find that Hero4 parts and cameras were easily accessible in all sorts of random places around the globe, airport or just shopping plaza – mere weeks after launch.
Editing Tools: GoPro’s offering is good (not great, but good), and makes it relatively easy to edit videos. On the flip side, you can edit GoPro footage in most other software video apps – many of them free.
Mobile Apps: When it comes to phone apps, GoPro’s is far and away the best. While most allow you to change settings, not all other companies allow streaming of content or transferring of photos and videos, all quickly and easily. This can be a major benefit when you’re trying to get content somewhere quickly and share it. Further, the quick turning on/off of WiFi via a solid button press on the Silver/Black is awesome. It’s just quick and painless.
Hero4 Silver Touchscreen: This is cool, no doubt, but at the same time, for my particular use cases it’s less important. Usually if I’m mounting a camera to a bike or to my helmet, I can easily check framing via the GoPro mobile app display. And the same goes for playback via the phone app. On the flip side, my wife loved the screen and much preferred having that unit over the other GoPro’s, purely because of the screen.
Battery: While the Hero4 Silver and base have good and competitive battery life, the Hero4 Black’s battery life is just downright bad. Only an hour? It’s somewhat ironic as the target audience for that model is likely to shoot more video than the lower models. Still, you can relatively easily solve that with extra spare batteries.
Ultimately I’d say the decision to go Black will simply pivot on whether you care about 4K video or not. Ultimately, you’ll have to balance the pros and cons of each of the components, along with price, and figure out what unit works best for you and the set of circumstances you’ll use it for.
Like previous years, GoPro has continued to raise the bar on action cameras from a specification standpoint – in particular, within the resolution and video/photo quality department. That aspect alone will no doubt make it a must have for those wanting the best video quality money can buy in an action cam.
Meanwhile at the budget end of the spectrum, they’ve forced other companies to slash prices to compete with the new $129US GoPro Hero. While this unit isn’t as full featured as other competitive products that are now priced the same or less, it is a rock solid option.
The next year will no doubt be interesting to watch for GoPro, especially going into CES with what will undoubtedly unleash a slew of new action cameras into the market. With GoPro pushing prices up $100 on their two top units, I’m not fully convinced that the bulk of consumers will follow to the higher end.
I think their base model is brilliant, but selling the Silver model at $400 will be a hard push to the mid-market. Meanwhile, at least until new competitors get out there, the Black model will likely hold (and rightfully so) the top spot for the upcoming winter.
I’ve partnered with Clever Training to offer all DC Rainmaker readers exclusive benefits on all products purchased. You can read more about the benefits of this partnership here. You can pickup the GoPro units through Clever Training using the links below. By doing so, you not only support the site (and all the work I do here) – but you also get to enjoy the significant partnership benefits that are just for DC Rainmaker readers. And, since this item is more than $75, you get free US shipping as well.
Additionally, you can also use Amazon to purchase the GoPro units or accessories (though, no discount). Or, anything else you pickup on Amazon helps support the site as well (socks, laundry detergent, cowbells). If you’re outside the US, I’ve got links to all of the major individual country Amazon stores on the sidebar towards the top.
I am an adrenaline junkie who enjoys the high-octane outdoorever sport of white water rafting. And like many other adrenaline junkies I love sharing my wild, adrenaline filled life with the world. And it is for this reason that I got myself the GoPro Hero 4 black. This rugged camera has been my filming companion since 2014-2015.
So naturally, when I decided to take a trip down the Colorado River, there was no question in my mind as to which camera to take on my trip along with my best binoculars. That was before October came and GoPro decided to announce the release of their newest Hero camera, the Hero 5 Black.
Needless to say, I was tempted, would I stick with my trusted Hero 4 or go for the new Hero 5? After giving it much thought, I decided to take a leap of faith and buy myself the new Hero 5 Black. After all what kind of a loyal customer would I be if I did not buy the new Hero 5? I decided to take both cameras with me and see how the new Hero 5 compares to its predecessor.
Comparison CriteriaGoPro Hero 5 BlackGoPro Hero 4 BlackGoPro Hero 4 SilverDimensions (TallX Wide X Deep)44.6 x 62 x 32.7 mm41 x 59 x 21/30 mm41 x 59 x 21/30 mm
Well in this regard I would like to explore more in depth technical aspects of these three action cam in terms of Portablity and Weight, LCD Screen, Housing And other Aspects that might be a buying trigger for you.
At first glance, the Hero 4 and Hero 5 look identical in some technical aspects not in appearance. However, as I soon find out, the Hero 5 boasts of some exciting new features. Therefore, the Hero 5 was heavier than its predecessor. Also, although it is hard to tell unless you look closely, the Hero 5 is wider and taller than the Hero 4. Thus, in terms of overall size and weight, the new camera is heavier and larger than its predecessor. This is not a necessarily bad thing though as the additional weight and size help accommodate the additional features. So if you are wondering which camera would win in a gopro hero 4 vs 5 battle for portability, I would have to go with the Hero 4.
One of the main distinguishing features between the Hero 4 and Hero 5 is the LCD touchscreen. The Hero 4 does not have a screen while the new Hero 5 has an LCD touchscreen. So for purposes of comparison, in this section, I am going to have a Gopro Hero 5 Black Vs Gopro 4 silver battle for screen supremacy.
In regards to ease of use, I still would go with the Hero 5, why you ask. Well, for starters, the menu of the new Hero 5 marks a significant improvement to that of the Hero 4 silver. Furthermore, GoPro has done away with the back door housing making the screen more responsive. The controls of the two cameras are relatively similar. Thus, they both offer the same benefits in terms of ease of navigation.
I know I said that the Hero 5 is heavier than the Hero 4 Black, but when you consider the housing of the new Hero 5 this difference in weight becomes irrelevant. Unlike other GoPro’s the new Hero 5 has a built in housing, something that I was really impressed with.
While the Hero 5 is, by all means, the undisputed victor in the Gopro Hero 4 vs 5 (Black Edition), its price might be a turn off for some people. This is especially considering that you can now get a good deal on the Hero 4. Also, the Hero 5 has limited third-party accessory options as it is relatively new to the market.
When compared to both the Hero 4 black and silver, the Hero 5 Black is in a class of its own. It offers all the features offered by its two predecessors and some extras. So if you are wondering which GoPro to buy, I personally would recommend the Hero 5.
If you want a lighter more subtle camera, I suggest going for the GoPro session 5. The latter offer almost the same features as the Hero 5 black but is lighter and smaller.
If you are looking for something unique, I suggest going for the GoPro Karma. The latter is a drone designed by GoPro and works with different GoPro cameras.
On the other hand, if you are short on funds, you can get the Hero 4 Black and Silver models at discounted rates as soon they will no longer be in the market. Therefore, you are bound to stumble on a dealer looking to finish the Hero 4 stock.
RMW8BKYW–An GoPro Hero4 camera is installed on a self-driving car produced by Changan which departs for Beijing after a launching ceremony in Chongqing, China,
RMW6CX61–--FILE--A GoPro Hero4 camera is installed on a self-driving car produced by Changan which departs for Beijing after a launching ceremony in Chongqing,
RF2F6XMEY–Avola, Sicily - April 3rd 2021: Gopro hero 9 Black on a blue background. View of the front and bottom sides of the camera with mountings open.
RF2F6XMEE–Avola, Sicily - April 3rd 2021: Gopro hero 9 Black on a blue background. View of the front and bottom sides of the camera with mountings closed.
RF2F6XMFH–Avola, Sicily - April 3rd 2021: Gopro hero 9 Black on a blue background. View of the front and bottom sides of the camera with mountings open. Object
RF2F6XMEP–Avola, Sicily - April 3rd 2021: Gopro hero 9 Black on a blue background. View of the front and bottom sides of the camera with mountings open.
GoPro has announced its new lineup of Hero cameras. The Hero4 Black is a new flagship model capable of 4K video at 30 fps, 2.7K video at 50 fps and 1080 at 120 fps. It will also allow for extraction of 8.3MP still images from 4K video footage. The Hero4 Silver offers a touch sensitive display and records 2.7K at 30 fps, 1080 at 60 fps and 720 at 120 fps. Both cameras can capture 12MP stills at 30 fps, and GoPro claims to have improved Wi-Fi performance in both models.
Also introduced is an entry-level model, simply called the Hero. It offers 1080 at 30 fps at 720p at 60 fps with a built-in rugged, waterproof housing. All three models will be available October 5; the GoPro Hero4 Black will cost $499 and the Hero4 Silver will sell for $399.
HERO4 Black: 2x the Performance of the Previous Black Edition GoPro, now featuring 4K30, 2.7K50 and Ultra High Speed 1080p120 Frames per Second Video Capture
SAN MATEO, CALIF.(September 29, 2014) – GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRO), enabler of some of today"s most immersive and engaging content, today unveiled HERO4, the highest performance line of capture devices the company has ever made. HERO4 is available in two editions, HERO4 Black at MSRP $499 and HERO4 Silver at MSRP $399. GoPro’s Emmy® Award-winning imaging technology combines with enhanced ease-of-use and powerful new features such as 4K30, 2.7K50 and 1080p120 video capture (Black) and built-in touch display convenience (Silver), to make it easier than ever for consumers to self capture and share stunning, professional quality content of their favorite experiences.
HERO4 Black delivers 2x the performance of its best-selling predecessor and now captures cinema-quality 4K video at 30 frames per second (fps), 2.7K video at 50fps and 1080p video at a blistering 120fps, virtually eliminating rolling shutter in most scenarios while allowing for time-bending slow motion effects. HERO4 Black also features an entirely redesigned audio system that captures high fidelity sound with 2x the dynamic range of previous models. Additional enhancements include improved image quality, low light performance, highlight moment tagging and an improved user interface that allows for easier discoverability and access to key features and controls. The HERO4 Black is simply the highest performance GoPro yet.
HERO4 Silver delivers the same professional image quality as HERO4 Black less some of the higher performance video capture modes including 4K30, 2.7K50 and 1080p120. HERO4 Silver includes a brilliant built-in touch display for those who value convenience and ease-of-use over the no-holds-barred performance of the HERO4 Black.
“For the past twelve years, our passion has been to make it easy for people to self-capture jaw dropping, professional quality footage of themselves engaged in their favorite activities,” said GoPro Founder and CEO, Nicholas Woodman. “That passion led us to embark on our most ambitious design and engineering effort ever, and the result is nothing short of the ultimate GoPro—the HERO4 Black. We can’t wait to see what the world captures with it.”
The flagship HERO4 Black builds upon GoPro’s Emmy® Award-winning technology to deliver the next level of GoPro image quality, versatility and performance:
“A common pain-point is deciding between capturing video or photos of an experience,” remarked Woodman. “Each frame of4K30 video is similar to an 8.3 megapixel photo. The result is that users can simultaneously capture eye-popping 4K30 video and impressive 8.3 megapixel photo-like video stills at 30 frames per second when using HERO4 Black. It’s one of the many wild capabilities of this impressive new device.”
For those who prefer to take manual control of their GoPro to maximize versatility and performance, we’ve expanded our professionally minded Protune mode to include Color, Sharpness, ISO Limit, and Exposure controls for both photo and video capture.
HiLight Tag enables you to mark key moments with the push of an on-camera button while recording, making it easy to find, playback and share your favorite clips in GoPro Studio or with the GoPro App. You can also HiLight Tag using the mobile GoPro App or the new Smart Remote accessory.
GoPro is also proud to debut HERO, the perfect entry-level GoPro. Designed with simplicity in mind and built directly into a rugged, waterproof housing, HERO captures high-quality 1080p video at 30fps and 720p video at 60fps. HERO captures the same immersive, eye-popping footage that’s made GoPro one of the best-selling cameras in the world—all in a simplified package that’s accessible to everyone with an MSRP of $129. For more information visit the HERO product page on GoPro.com.
Smart Remote – Control your GoPro from up to 600’ (183m) away with the wearable and waterproof remote. Conveniently mark key moments as they happen with the Smart Remote’s HiLight Tag button when paired with a HERO4 Black or HERO4 Silver.
New BacPac accessories – A new and improved Battery BacPac provides almost twice the battery power over the camera’s internal battery alone. And a new LCD BacPac provides improved touch and swipe performance when used with HERO4 Black.
GoPro Studio makes it easy to import GoPro footage from your camera to your computer to create professional-quality videos. GoPro Studio features GoPro Edit Templates, template versions of some of GoPro’s most popular videos. All you have to do is replace the original GoPro video clips with your own favorite clips and the editing style that has made GoPro famous becomes your own. GoPro Studio now supports the HERO4’s HiLight Tag feature, making it easy for GoPro Studio to identify your videos’ best moments thereby allowing for faster and more convenient editing. Also new to GoPro Studio is Flux™, a powerful ultra slow motion and speed ramping tool that enables the dramatic time-shifting effects GoPro has become so well known for. Want to highlight a particularly awesome moment in one of your edits? Flux that thing and share it with the world.
The GoPro App for mobile not only gives you instant access to the GoPro Channel and all of the incredible content that has made it the number one brand channel on YouTube, it also gives you full control of HERO4 Black and Silver and allows for quick and easy changes to any mode or setting. Expanded GoPro App support for HERO4 also includes support for HiLight Tagging while recording, as well as searching for tags during playback. As always, the GoPro App also allows for shot preview, playback and sharing of your favorite photos and videos via email, text, Facebook, Twitter and more.
GoPro is committed to inventing innovative tools that make it easy for people to self-capture and share engaging and immersive experiences with others.
GoPro, Inc.GoPro and sometimes stylized as GoPRO) is an American technology company founded in 2002 by Nick Woodman. It manufactures action cameras and develops its own mobile apps and video-editing software. Founded as Woodman Labs, Inc, the company eventually focused on the connected sports genre, developing its line of action cameras and, later, video editing software. It is based in San Mateo, California.
On May 19, 2014, GoPro filed its Form S-1 with the SEC without specifying the number of shares or their price. The company stated that they hoped to raise a