gopro hero+ lcd hd waterproof action camera made in china

The AKASO V50X generously includes a huge accessory kit featuring things like a remote control, 12 different mounts and a waterproof case. You really have everything you need in the box.

Like most budget action cameras on the market there is no shortage of bundled accessories. Put it in the waterproof housing and suddenly you have an underwater camera. The included wrist-strap remote is quite basic but does the trick for taking photo and capturing video without having to touch the camera itself.

Ever since the release of the GoPro HERO5 (released in 2016), GoPros are waterproof out of the box (typically up to 10m). You don’t have to worry about extra casing when you go to swim at the pool, surf around the beach or go kayaking on the river.

However, the vast majority of non-GoPro action cameras are not waterproof out of the box. You need to put them in plastic casing which is usually included in the box. This is not only a bit of a hassle, but using external housing will also slightly reduce audio quality since it adds an extra layer between the sound and mic.

The Dragon Touch Vision 5 is waterproof up to 40m without casing. It’s therefore a great budget friendly GoPro alternative for those who don’t want to deal with external casing.

As for video quality, it’s not the Vision 5’s strongest point, and it is very similar to slightly cheaper action cameras like the Vision 3, ACT-74 and AKASO EK7000. In other words, you’re definitely paying a premium for the waterproof design.

Most cheap action cameras also come with other bundled accessories. Typically this will include a spare battery, mounting accessories, a remote control and a waterproof case.

Action cameras are designed to be taken underwater. However most action cameras will require them to be put in waterproof housing. Make sure you correctly fit the waterproof casing before taking your new action camera underwater.

Today GoPro announced its latest action camera, the GoPro HERO+ LCD.  This marks the first time GoPro has done an ‘off-cycle’ release of a new camera product, as the company has historically released new action cams in the September/October timeframe.  It also bookends a rather busy week of announcements for the company.  Last week they announced both their intentions of launching a drone early next year, as well as their crazy 6-camera spherical mount system.  And that’s all before we talk about an apparent upcoming software update to start cloud sync of GoPro files to some sort of still unannounced internet service.  And don’t forget that even more crazy 16-camera virtual reality mount they built for Google.

The new GoPro HERO+ LCD is sorta exactly as the name implies: It’s the 2014 GoPro HERO…plus…an LCD screen.  Well, and connectivity over WiFi and Bluetooth Smart.

You’ll likely remember that the entry level GoPro HERO was $129US, and had a non-removable external case.  That meant that you couldn’t take it out of the case, which in turn meant you couldn’t add in any additional rear-attaching accessories such as the extra battery packs or LCD screen.

They also added in the WiFi and Bluetooth Smart compatibility.  Not for sensors, but rather for connecting to your mobile phone. This connectivity allows you to transfer photos and videos over to your phone, and then up to the interwebs.  Further, the HERO+ LCD includes the remote highlight tagging, which wasn’t available on the lower end model.  This means you can use the remote control to tag highlights so you can find them quicker later on during editing.

Finally, the camera has an internal editing capability, allowing you to slice the clips a bit better before transferring them.  This helps reduce the time to transfer video clips to your phone, making the process a little bit quicker.  This is planned to come to the HERO4 Silver later this summer, and the HERO4 Black as well (if you have bought the additional LCD back touchscreen).

The Hero+ LCD unit includes a few different back doors, so you can use it in wet environments and still touch the screen, as well as using an open door too.

Definitely an interesting market for sure.  For those curious about my recommendations – for 95% of folks it’ll likely shift from the Hero4 Silver to the HERO+ LCD, assuming there are no issues with it.  The reason being that if you’re using it for cycling and such, you can actually use your Garmin Edge device with the GoPro, inside of Garmin’s free VIRB Edit software suite – thus getting all the benefits of data overlays there (I suppose Garmin is probably happy you’re buying their device).  It’s really only if you’re doing direct to camera sensors and don’t already have a GPS device for speed/distance/pace/altitude that I’d recommend looking at the Garmin X/XE lineup.

Note: You can now order the Hero+ LCD via both Amazon and Clever Training.  While both sites help support the site here and all the work I do, by using Clever Training you’re also going to save 10% on your order with DCR Reader Coupon Code DCR10BTF – further, you’ll get free shipping within the US!

The HD HERO also offered an expansion port on the camera"s rear panel, branded the HERO Bus. Optional accessories included the LCD Bakpac, which offered a small monitor that displayed and played back video, and the Battery Bakpac, which doubled the battery life of the camera.

The HERO3+ camera models claim dramatically improved low light performance and have a waterproof enclosure which is 20% lighter and 15% smaller than the HERO3"s, according to the GoPro website. The HERO3+ camera housing is 20% smaller than the HERO3. The cameras are claimed to have improved image sharpness (close focus down to 7" vs about 3 ft on the HERO3, at the expense of distant focus which is slightly less sharp

In September 2014, GoPro released an entry level camera named simply "HERO", priced at $130, alongside the HERO4 Black and HERO4 Silver. It is built into a waterproof housing, unlike the HERO4 line.

The GoPro HERO (2014) can capture 5mp still images and has a 5fps burst option. It is able to record 1080P at 30 or 25fps and 720P at 60 or 50fps on to a MicroSD card up to 32GB. It has an LCD non touch display on the front and is waterproof down to 40m.

In June 2015, the company started to sell the GoPro HERO+LCD, which provides video recording at 1080p at 60 fps and 8 megapixel photos. The HERO+LCD is also built into a waterproof housing.

The HERO8 Black largely introduced several new functions into the camera. Physically, the HERO8 Black now incorporates the connecting prongs that are used to connect accessories, directly onto the camera. Originally, the cameras would only be able to access the prongs if the cameras utilised either the frames (for cameras HERO5 to HERO7) or the protective cases for HERO4 and before. Moreover, the GoPro logo moved under the LCD screen to make way for extra microphones. More additions to the camera most notably were part of the software aspects of the camera. These included an option to switch between various settings presets, including standard, activity, cinematic and action shots and adjusting on-screen shortcuts of the user interface. Most notably as part of software, was the introduction of the night-lapse video, which similar to the time-lapse video mode, automatically stitches the frames captured by the camera at set intervals, however with the addition of improved low-light performance.

The HERO8 Black also attempts to address vloggers who may wish to use the GoPro in such a manner. As such, GoPro has also introduced an external accessory known as the "Media Mod" which includes a USB Type-C port for supplying power to external microphones and accessories, a micro-HDMI port and a 3.5mm microphone port. Moreover, the accessory includes a mount to connect either external microphones, LEDs or an LCD screen.

Is the DJI Pocket 2 an action camera? Well, it"s not rugged and waterproof, but it"s pocket-sized, simple to operate and does many of the jobs you might have bought an action camera for – and with superb stabilization, smooth "follow" modes and flip-around selfie shooting. There’s also a handy ultrawide lens attachment that definitely drops quality, but adds field of view. Despite some real highlights: shallower depth of field than expected and nippy focusing, not to mention great object tracking and color reproduction, noise handling isn’t a highlight on the Pocket 2. That aside, the convenience, versatility, and stabilization offered by the DJI Pocket 2 can’t be overstated. After all, nothing much can do all the things it can and still slip into a jacket pocket. You can even plug it into your smartphone and get big-screen control and playback via the DJI app.

If you’re looking for one of the best GoPro alternatives(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab) for all-round basic use then the Wolfgang GA400 action camera (US$119.99 / £119.99) should be on your radar. Boasting 4K 60fps video and up to 20 megapixel stills, it appears to match its much pricier rivals both on resolution and by having a natively waterproof chassis. It’s loaded with accessories and easy to use yet it lacks some crucially important characteristics that flagship action cameras alone offer.

These include dual displays, one on back and another up front, and weather sealing. Rubber bungs over the two ports provide IPx7 water resistance without a case. It’s all you need unless you want to start snorkeling with your action camera. And a diving-style case with 40m waterproofing is included too.

Luckily, there’s a Mini USB cable in the box, but it’s not alone. Also in there is a pile of accessories ranging from two spare batteries and a separate charger to a handy wrist remote, a waterproof case, a mounting frame, a huge collection of screws and mounts for bikes and helmets, sticky fixes, zip ties, Velcro strips and a cleaning cloth.

Almost all cheaper action cameras have no water resistance without a case. The good news: all in this test bar the GoPro Hero 7 White come with one as standard. The bad news: these cases ruin audio capture and also spoil image quality to an extent. They put a layer of plastic between the subject and the camera lens, which is far less crystal clear than it looks. The ideal is still an action cabers with baked-in water resistance. Don’t use the waterproof housing unless you need to.What is a good cheap GoPro?GoPro cameras have long been the action camera brand to beat. They offer a range of creative shooting options, class-leading image stabilization and smooth, sharp footage, all in compact packages that are tough enough to go almost anywhere. Trouble is, you usually have to pay quite a lot for that combo.

If you’re willing to look at an older model though, it’s possible to find a cheap GoPro that still ticks a lot of the right boxes. Take the GoPro Hero 7 Silver. Released in 2018, the Hero 7 Silver has always been a mid-range model, sitting between the White and Black options in the line-up. All the same, it’s still a capable option for those with a spending cap: it’s waterproof to 10m without a housing, features a touchscreen and can capture decent 4K footage at 30fps. The good news for buyers on a budget is that, because of its relative age, the GoPro Hero 7 Silver now represents excellent value. You’ll find it widely available online for prices in the region of $235 / £200 / AU$300.