What do you think of when you hear the word ‘hero’? For some, the word might evokes images of inspirational figures like Martin Luther King or Mother Teresa … or perhaps your parents and loved ones.
But for us here at Camera House, we instantly think of the GoPro HERO range of video cameras. Emblematic of the future of film, GoPro’s HERO video cameras are a marvel of innovation, giving everyone the power to capture, create and share.
Why GoPro?
For the uninitiated, GoPro is renowned for its professional-grade action and sport video cameras. But they’re not just for fabulous close-up surfing footage or extreme mountain biking. GoPro HERO video cameras can do it all.
If you fancy creating a time lapse in the forest, filming your band’s local gig, showing off your pet’s skills on YouTube or capturing a flash mob that’s popped up at your train station, GoPro has you covered.
But with so many video cameras, it can be nearly impossible to sift through them all and reach an informed decision. That’s why we thought it a good idea to review and compare four of our favourite GoPro HERO digital video cameras. Because even among the GoPro HERO range, there are a boatload of differences.
If you’re an avid video camera aficionado or just a casual user, GoPro has a camera for you … but the question is: which one? There’s a lot to consider, things like battery life, weight, waterproof capabilities and storage space. This handy table compares the models so you can work out where you stand.
Our GoPro HERO comparison
| GoPro HERO | GoPro HERO4 Silver | GoPro HERO4 Black | GoPro HERO+ LCD | |
| Battery life | Built-in 1180mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery | 1160mAh lithium-ion rechargeable | 1160mAh lithium-ion rechargeable | Built-in 1160mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery |
| -at 1080p | 2:45 | 1:50 | 1:30 | 2:25 |
| -at 720p | 2:30 | 1:55 | 1:50 | 2:25 |
| Weight | 111g | 84-147g (depending on housing) | 89-152g (depending on housing) | 127g |
| Image quality | 5MP | 12MP | 12MP | 8MP |
| -FOV | Ultra wide | Ultra wide + Medium and narrow FOV capabilities | Ultra wide + Medium and narrow FOV capabilities | Ultra wide |
| -Light Performance | Consumer grade | Professional grade | Professional grade | Consumer grade |
| Video quality | Up to 1080p30 | Up to 4k15 | Up to 4k30 | Up to 1080p60 |
| 720p60 | 1440p48 | 1440p80 | 720p60 | |
| 1080p80 | 1080p60 | |||
| 1080p Superview | 1080p Superview | |||
| 720p120 | 720p240 | |||
| -Time lapse video | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| -Night photo + lapse | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sound quality | Mono, 48KHZ, AAC compression with standard AGC | Mono, 48KHZ, AAC compression with advanced AGC | Mono, 48KHZ, AAC compression with advanced AGC | Mono, 48KHZ, AAC compression with standard AGC |
| Estimated price | $200 | $600 | $700 | $450 |
| Ports & playback | Mini USB, microSD | Mini USB, microSD + Micro HDMI | Mini USB, microSD + Micro HDMI | Mini USB, microSD |
| Extra features: | ||||
| -Waterproof | 40m | 40m | ? | 40m |
| -QuikCapture | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| -Spot Meter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| -Storage | Up to 32GB | Up to 64GB | Up to 64GB | Up to 64GB |
| -WiFi/Bluetooth | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| -Built-in touch display | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| -Protune | No | Yes | Yes | No |
What does this all mean?
HERO and HERO+ LCD
As you might expect, the HERO and HERO+ LCD models come with a few less features and a cheaper price tag than the Silver and Black models. They’re great, consumer-level cameras that still have enough grunt to capture all your adventures.
In fact, the HERO and HERO+ LCD have better battery life than their more professional cousins, due to the Silver and Black models requiring more energy to manage their high-end video qualities.
Although the HERO and HERO+ LCD are fairly similar, the HERO+ LCD comes with WiFi/Bluetooth capabilities and more storage space. But perhaps the biggest difference is the built-in touch display. This great feature lets you preview your shot to frame the scene and simplifies camera control.
HERO Silver and Black
The Silver and Black GoPro HEROs have noticeably better image, video and sound quality and are crammed full of features; the time lapse, night lapse and QuikCapture features are pretty cool. Both are great for professionals or amateurs with an eye for quality.
The HERO4 Black is currently the most advanced GoPro on the market and this high-powered processor can deliver up to 4K30 video resolution. The HERO4 Silver is not far behind, capturing video at 4K15. All in all they’re strong candidates for those seeking top-quality resolution.
But if you’re not a professional, take the time to work out whether you’ll actually use these features and how concerned you are with quality. That’ll help narrow down your choice.
At the end of the day, no matter which of these video cameras you choose, we’re sure you’ll love it so be sure to browse Camera House’s full range of GoPro video cameras here.
