The HERO range is brought to us by GoPro who launched the first version of their camera back in 2005. This early addition came in the form of the Helmet Hero which was then superseded by the Helmet Hero WIDE which sported the 170º wide angle lens but still shot in standard def. In November 2009 we received the first HD Hero's in the UK, the GoPro HD HERO took its place as the first Full HD 1080p helmet camera on available. It is available in three variations to suit your use; the HD Helmet HERO, the HD Motorsport HERO and the HD Surf HERO. Read on below to find out the pros, cons and everything else you may want to know about the GoPro HD range.
The Good:
The fact that this little GoPro camera can film in Full 1080p High Definition video must be at the top of this list. There are some videos further down in this review showing the quality delivered by the GoPro HD; we'll be surprised if you're not blown away by these!
Each of the versions of the GoPro HD comes with a range of mounts in the box which suit each particular use very well. To see which mounts come with each one please check the relevant product page. Even though the mounts provided with the camera are enough to get you going, you may want to have a look at the wide range of extra mounting options available to you for the GoPro cameras. These various mounts let you attach the camera to pretty much anything which is fantastic for getting creative shots of your favourite sports.
In terms of functionality the the GoPro must be commended on delivering a wide range of features. Apart from being able to customise the functions when using the camera you also have extra options of being able to take still photos at 5megapixels, you can set this to take a photo every 2 seconds or you can use the self timer for getting yourself in the shot too.
If you look at the camera you'll notice there's only two buttons on the camera, one on top and the second on the front of the camera. For a camera with so much functionality, how can it just have two buttons to control it? This is done by having a very easy-to-use menu setting. Once you're happy with the settings, use the front button to select the function (video/photo/etc) and then the top button to activate it. In photo mode the top button will take still images, if you're taking a photo every two seconds then pushing the top button once will start the sequence and pushing it again will stop it. If you're in video mode pushing it once will start your video and the second push on the button will stop your vid. There are also beeps to tell you what it happening.
The ultra-wide angle lens pics up a massive field of view which is 170º wide (measured on a diagonal axis across the image). This basically means that the lens has a vision nearly as wide as you can see with your eyes. Although it is a bit fish-eyed you only notice this effect in the outermost corners of the image. When filming in the 1080p HD setting the field of view is brought down to 127º.
The GoPro camera comes in a protective waterproof housing which not only protects your camera during while you focus on your sports but it also waterproofs the camera down to 60meters underwater. We really don't know how many people have used the camera that deep but one thing's for sure, this fact does give you confidence in the fact that this casing will keep your HD camera protected from the elements.
Housing the camera in this case sure does protect the cam but it also slightly muffles the audio recording picked up by the microphone on the camera. GoPro has thought of a solution to this and this solution comes in the box as part of the kit; you get a second back-door for the housing which you can use in dry conditions so that the camera picks up max audio. Attaching this can be tricky but just open the back door and you'll see the pin holding it in place. If you give this a twist it will pop off and you can replace it with the other one.
The final really good point about the HD Hero camera is about how GoPro has really thought out what the users would be looking for and have provided particular packages to suit each use. For sports enthusiasts doing sports using a helmet, the HD Helmet Hero is ideal. For the motorsports lovers out there they have created the HD Motorsports Hero. And for all those of you looking to stick the camera on the end of your surf board, there's the HD Surf Hero just for you.
The Not-So-Good:
First impressions last, right? Well most people that we speak to don't really like the look of the GoPro cameras. The feedback we've heard is that it is too bulky, not sleek enough, and that it looks like a toy stuck on your head. Of course for many other users, they are all about the video being delivered from the camera and don't worry at all about the looks. After all, it is a gadget.
The is no viewfinder or any other way to know exactly what you are filming. However, the ultra wide angle lens does mean that it would be hard to miss the shot you're looking to get but it is a not-so-good point that you don't know what you're filming until you're able to hook it up to your computer to have a look at your videos.
Filming in 1080p HD
is fantastic but not all computers (like the one this review is being
written on) cannot handle the size video, when you watch it back it
looks very jerky. What you need is to have 512Mb of dedicated space
available of ram just to be able to watch your videos smoothly and to
be able to edit them.
The Action Cameras Bottom Line:
The most important things to consider when looking at a helmet camera include the video that you're going to get, the ability to mount it easily and the ease of use. The GoPro HD does very well on each of those points. This has proven itself to be one of the top rated helmet cameras time and time again and it definitely gets out vote.
To have your review or comments added to this post, please send them through to reviews@actioncameras.co.za. Here is a fantastic YouTube unboxing and review video for you to enjoy. Thanks for reading.
