Introducing the new GoPro Hero4

Get ready Canada for the latest and greatest GoPro cameras – the new GoPro Hero4 Silver and Hero4 Black Edition. GoPro have once again upped the ante by packing in higher resolution, higher frame rates and a whole bunch of new exciting features into a camera the same size as their previous Hero3+ models.

Introducing the all new GoPro Hero4 Silver and Black Edition cameras

GoPro Hero4 Silver Edition

GoPro have taken a massive leap forward with the new GoPro Hero4 Silver Edition camera which is the first ever GoPro camera to feature a built-in LCD touch screen. The new Hero4 Silver features the same pro-level sensor that was in the Hero3+ Black Edition, which means that you can capture video at up to 4k/15fps, 2.7k/30fps, 1080p/60fps and 720p/120fps as well as 12MP still photos. All this and the camera is the same size as the previous Hero3/3+ models!

The new GoPro Hero4 Silver Edition is a great option for pro-sumer and everyday users equally, matching professional level quality with user friendly features such as the built-in LCD screen. The Hero4 Silver will be released in Canada early October 2014 and will retail for $449.99

GoPro Hero4 Black Edition

The new GoPro Hero4 Black Edition is the most powerful GoPro yet, featuring full professional filming modes such as 4K/30fps, 2.7K/50fps and 1080p/120fps.

The GoPro Hero4 Black Edition is aimed at the professional videographer and will be a favourite of those who can utilize the 4k/30fps and 1080p/120fps modes. The Hero4 Black Edition is due to be released in Canada late October 2014 and will retail for $549.99

Shared Features

Both the new Hero4 Silver and Black Edition cameras have the following features:

• New Protune settings for both photos and video unlock manual control of Colour, ISO Limit, Exposure and more.
• Built-in wi-fi and bluetooth for connecting to the GoPro App, Remote Control and more.
• New Night Photo and Night Lapse modes offer customizable exposure settings of up to 30 seconds for single and Time Lapse photos.
• Menu screen and controls updated to make menu navigation even easier.
• HiLight Tag enables you to mark key moments while recording so you can quickly locate your best clips later for convenient playback, editing or sharing.
• QuikCapture mode turns your GoPro into a one-button camera, allowing you to power on and start recording automatically with the press of a single button.

GoPro Hero3+ cameras

Today GoPro announced their new range of cameras called the GoPro Hero3+. As the name suggests, the new Hero3+ cameras build on the Hero3 platform, introducing a range of new features and upgrades. The Black and Silver versions of the Hero3+ see the most upgrades.

The all new GoPro Hero3+ camera. Notice the new housing?

GoPro Hero3+ Black

The GoPro Hero3+ Black is the most powerful camera from GoPro yet. Like its predecessor, the Hero3 Black, the new camera will shoot 2.7k/30fps video (as well as 1080p/60fps and 720p/120fps) and 12MP photos at up to 30 frames per second. New for the Hero3+ is Superview mode, which films a more immersive wider field of view. Auto Low Light mode will automatically adjust the video frame rate to optimize the video quality based on available light.

The GoPro Hero3+ Black ships with a new waterproof housing that is smaller and lighter than previous versions. Waterproof rating is reduced to 40m but you can fit the Hero3+ in any of the Hero3 housings if you want to go deeper. Existing GoPro LCD and Battery Bacpacs will also work with the Hero3+, although you will need a Hero3 housing for the camera to fit with a bacpac.

A big complaint with the Hero3 was the limited battery life. The GoPro Hero3+ Black comes with a new 1180 mAH battery (compared to the old 1050mAH) that is said to last up to 30% longer. Wi-Fi connectivity is now 4x faster which should result in much better performance from the GoPro App when using it for live preview and playback.

The Hero3+ is smaller and lighter than previous models.

GoPro Hero3+ Silver

While the Hero3+ Black keeps the same resolution as the previous model, the GoPro Hero3+ Silver sees a significant improvement and now shoots 1080p at 60fps and 720p at 120fps, meaning that customers don’t need to go up to the Black Edition to record prosumer level video.

The Hero3+ Silver gets the same cosmetic upgrades as the Hero3+ Black, including the new housing, improved battery life and wifi connectivity.

The GoPro Hero3+ Black will go on sale in Canada in October for $499.9 and the GoPro Hero3+ Silver for $349.99.

How to update GoPro Hero3 firmware

GoPro recently released firmware updates for the full range of GoPro Hero3 cameras. The updates vary for which model of camera you have, but all cameras receive improvements in firmware that will resolve reported glitches as well as add new features. The firmware update is easy to apply to your GoPro Hero3 camera, just go to the GoPro Support page and follow the instructions. You will need to make sure your battery is charged and your memory card is correctly formatted before doing the update. If you have any problems with the update then check out this handy video:

The GoPro Hero3 Black Edition sees the most improvements, with a large number of bug fixes as well as the following enhanced features beding added:

• Software version # is now visible on upon startup.
• Narrow FOV 1080p30/1080p60 (Protune)
• Narrow FOV 720p60 (Protune)
• Medium FOV 720p60 (Protune)
• Default start-up mode is now 960p48

GoPro Hero3 announced with lots of options

The all new GoPro hero3 camera

GoPro have just announced the release of a slew of new cameras that all fall under the GoPro Hero3 banner. The GoPro Hero3 will be available in Black, Silver and White Editions (all with different sensors, shooting modes and price points) and the Black Edition will be available in 3 different packages (same camera, different mounts). Some of the new improvements will be shared across the entire range and others will be camera specific.

New features on all Hero3 models

The most obvious change with the new GoPro Hero3 is the size – all the new models are 30% smaller and 25% lighter than the previous Hero2 model. This of course means that the housing is a different size and therefore any of the old housing-based accessories wont fit the new Hero3. The Hero3 will also have a new battery that is a different shape to the Hero1/Hero2 battery. All the Hero3 models will now come with Wi-Fi built in (although the Black Edition is the only one that will come with the Wi-Fi Remote Control included). All models of the GoPro Hero3 will also get a new front lens cover on their waterproof housings; the lens cover is now flat instead of curved which means no more need for a separate dive housing for underwater use.

GoPro Hero3 White Edition details

The GoPro Hero3 White Edition can be thought of as the original GoPro HD Hero with the above new features. The GoPro Hero3 White Edition has the same 5MP sensor that came in the original HD Hero and will have the same shooting modes as the original.

GoPro Her03 Silver Edition details

Similarly, the GoPro Hero3 Silver Edition can be thought of as a GoPro Hero2 with the new shared Hero3 features (new housing, smaller size, built in wi-fi). The only other major difference compared to the Hero2 packages is the GoPro Hero3 Silver Edition is no longer available in Outdoor, Motorsports and Surf packages and it now only comes with a couple of basic mounts.

GoPro Hero3 Black Edition – professional shooting modes and more

GoPro Hero3 Black Edition details

The GoPro Hero3 Black Edition is the all new camera in the Hero3 line-up. The Black Edition Hero3 is the most advanced camera yet to be released by GoPro with some very impressive specifications. The new 12MP sensor will shoot in a range of high end video modes including 2.7k/30fps, 1080p/60fps and 720p/120fps. The photo burst mode is now up to 30 photos per second and the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition will also simultaneously take videos and photos at the same time (in limited configurations such as 8MP + 1080p/30fps). The Hero3 Black Edition will be available in three different packages: the Adventure, Motorsports and Surf packages. The Adventure and Motorsports packages will be exactly the same, the only difference will be the images on the packaging. The Hero3 Surf package will have the same basic contents as the other two, however it will come with surfboard mounts instead of the more generic flat/curved mounts that come in the Adventure and Motorsports packages.

Canadian can expect the GoPro Hero3 White and Silver Editions to available late October or early November and the Black Edition is due to be released some time in December.

GoPro App available on iPhone

The GoPro App works with Hero2 cameras with a Wi-Fi Bacpac attached.

GoPro have announced today that the long awaited GoPro App is available for download in the iTunes store. The GoPro App is designed to work with GoPro Hero2 cameras that have the GoPro Wi-Fi Bacpac attached and it gives you:

• Full control of your HD HERO2 camera’s settings + features from your smartphone/tablet
• Live preview of what you are shooting
• Access to GoPro’s Photo and Video of the Day

At this stage the GoPro App is only available for Apple products; their is no news from GoPro when an Android version of the app will be released. The GoPro website states that the playback and control of multiple cameras options that were slated for release with the app will now be available with a future update, although no date is given for when that will happen either.

Diving and snorkelling with a GoPro camera

For the longest time filming underwater has been the realm of professional videographers who could afford to spend a ton of money on a waterproof housing for their camera. GoPro changed all that with the introduction of their affordable HD cameras that come with a waterproof housing, although ironically the standard GoPro waterproof housing distorts the video quality underwater due to it’s convex lens cover. GoPro have finally remedied this situation with the release of the GoPro Dive Housing which has a flat lens cover for sharper image capture underwater. But one question that often goes unanswered is how do I actually mount or use my GoPro when I am diving and/or snorkelling?

The GoPro Dive Housing allows you to get sharper footage underwater, but how do you mount it?

A lot of people think that the GoPro Wrist Housing might be good way to mount their GoPro camera underwater, but this mount is far from ideal. First of all, the GoPro Wrist Housing has it’s own built in wrist strap and as such the wrist housing can’t be used with any other GoPro mount (the wrist housing doesn’t have the standard GoPro mounting point on it). This of course means that you can’t use the GoPro Dive Housing with the wrist strap. The other problem with using the wrist housing is that the camera shoots at right angles to your forearm (ie hold your wrist in front of your face, with your elbow bent at 90 degrees. This is the position you would need to be in to shoot what is in front of you), which invariably means that it’ll be pointing in the wrong direction. Fortunately though there are other options, including the GoPro headstrap mount and pole mounting.

The GoPro headstrap mount works well and sits above your mask.

The GoPro headstrap mount is a cheap and easy way to mount your GoPro camera while diving or snorkelling. The GoPro headstrap mount is highly adjustable and stable and it will sit just above the top of your mask. The other way to mount your GoPro camera while diving, and my personal favourite, is to mount the camera on the end of a pole or a monopod. Mounting your camera this way gives you the ability to point the camera wherever you want and get it in closer to the action. The easiest way to mount a GoPro camera to a pole is to either get an extendable monopod along with the GoPro tripod mount adapter, or to use any old pole/stick you have lying around and attach your camera using the GoPro Handlebar/Seatpost mount. Whichever method you use, it’s always a good idea to have a wrist loop on the end of your pole just in case you drop it in deep water.

How to tether a GoPro camera

GoPro make some really strong mounts such as their adhesive based helmet mounts and suction cup mount, but what happens to your prized GoPro camera when those mounts fail? Well, if you’re in deep power or out on the lake, there is a good chance your GoPro will be lost forever which is quite an expensive prospect. The black plastic clip on the bottom of GoPro cameras is definitely the weak point and it’s designed to break in a big crash (to lessen the chance of you damaging your neck or back from the camera catching on something); the suction cup can also let go without warning. The safest thing to do is to tether your GoPro camera to something in case the mount does let go. GoPro have know this for a long time, providing a tether point with their surfboard mounts for years. Now they have released a special tether kit that will work for a variety of applications.

GoPro tether and adhesive based anchor on a helmet.

The GoPro Tether Kit comes with five tethers and five adhesive based anchors that can be stuck on any flat-ish, smooth surface. The anchors use the same 3M VHB adhesive that is found on the GoPro curved and flat surface mounts, which we have found to be super strong. As mentioned above, it’s highly unlikely that the adhesive based mount will come off (as long as it was put on properly); it’s more like that the black plastic base on the bottom of the camera will snap so don’t worry about the attachment method of the mount and the anchor being the same.

Attaching the tether to your GoPro is the part that most people have trouble with, although it’s quite simple once you know how. All you have to do is the loop the tether (or any thin piece of cord or wire trace) through the middle of the door hing on the bottom of the camera and then back on itself and voila!, you have a tether on your GoPro camera. It’s a lot easier to do with either the black clip unscrewed from the bottom of the camera or with the rear door pulled off ( to do this, just open the rear door and pull it away from the camera…..it will pop out quite easily). Of course you don’t have to use the GoPro anchor points; if you have somewhere solid that you can tether to then you can just as easily use that as your anchor point.

Putting a tether on your GoPro is always a good idea when you are using it somewhere where you wont be able to find the camera if the mount lets go. If you are using your GoPro camera around water, you might also want to consider the GoPro Floaty Backdoor which is designed to keep you GoPro camera afloat and easy to find (it’s bright orange!).

GoPro Wall Charger and Auto Charger

GoPro recently added two new chargers to their product line-up: the GoPro Wall Charger (Universal) and the GoPro Auto Charger. Both are USB style chargers that plug in to your GoPro camera (and battery bacpac, wi-fi bacpac, remote control, etc) or any other device that charges via a USB connection.

GoPro Wall Charger with Universal Wall Plugs

The GoPro Wall Charger has two USB ports, which is handy if you have another GoPro accessory (such as the wi-fi bacpac or battery bacpac) that also charges via USB. GoPro claim that this wall charger will charge your battery twice as fast compared to using a USB port on your computer. The GoPro Wall Charger comes with a selection of interchangeable wall plug connections so that you can easily use it when travelling around the world. The only downside of this charger is you can’t charge spare batteries outside of the camera; if you are looking for a battery dock charger for your GoPro check out this post.

GoPro Auto Charger

The GoPro Auto Charger is the 12V version of the wall charger; it plugs in to your cigarette lighter plug in your car and can be used to charge you camera (or power it while in use). Just like the wall charger, the GoPro Auto Charger has two USB ports so you can charge a second camera, GoPro accessories or any other device that charges via USB.

Difference between GoPro Hero2 Outdoor, Motorsports and Surf Edition cameras.

Trying to work out which GoPro Hero2 camera is right for you can be hard (or even harder if you are buying it for someone else). There seems to be a lot of different options and most people will do a variety of sports and activities. So, what is the difference between the GoPro Hero2 Outdoor, Motorsports and Surf Edition cameras?

Well, the short answer is not much. The camera that comes in each for the GoPro Hero2 kits is exactly the same. They all come with the GoPro waterproof housing, which is pretty important because all the GoPro mounts attach to the waterproof housing. They all come with a rechargeable battery and a USB cable. The only difference between the GoPro Hero2 Outdoor, Motorsports and Surf Edition cameras then is the mounts that they come with. Pretty simple hey? Well, it can still be confusing as to which one to get. What if I snowmobile in the winter and hunt in the summer? Or maybe you’re in to skiing and kayaking. Which GoPro Hero2 kit do you get then?

The best way to decide which GoPro Hero2 camera is right for you is to ignore what the name says (Outdoor, Motorsports or Surf) and actually see which one has the most mounts that you think you will use. The GoPro Suction Cup that comes in the Motorsports Edition is very versatile and can be used for a range of activities that don’t require a motor (such as kayaking). The Surf Edition includes the GoPro Floaty Backdoor which is very useful for most watersports. The Outdoor Edition includes a headstrap mount that is great for users that don’t wear a helmet. Each kit comes with a good selection of mounts, here is the full breakdown of the contents of each kit:

GoPro Hero2 Outdoor Edition

• GoPro HERO2 Camera (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x Waterproof Housing (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x HD Skeleton Backdoor (same as all the other Hero2 kits, this replace rear door provides better audio but isn’t waterproof)
• 1 x Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x USB Cable (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x Vented Helmet Strap (for helmets with lots of vents such as road cycling helmets)
• 1 x Head Strap (allows you to wear the camera without a helmet)
• 2 x Curved Surface Adhesive Mounts (good for mounting to most helmets)
• 2 x Flat Surface Adhesive Mounts (good for mounting to most flat surfaces)
• 1 x Three-Way Pivot Arm (allows you to mount the camera at right angles to a mount, can also be used as a short extension)

Contents of the GoPro Hero2 Outdoor Edition package

GoPro Hero2 Motorsports Edition

• GoPro HERO2 Camera (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x Waterproof Housing (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x HD Skeleton Backdoor (same as all the other Hero2 kits, this replace rear door provides better audio but isn’t waterproof)
• 1 x Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x USB Cable (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x Suction Cup Mount (attach to any smooth, fairly flat surface)
• 1 x J-Hook Buckle (allows you to mount the camera on vertical surfaces or can be used to mount the camera a bit higher above adhesive mounts)
• 2 x Curved Surface Adhesive Mounts (good for mounting to most helmets)
• 3 x Flat Surface Adhesive Mounts (good for mounting to most flat surfaces)
• 1 x Three-Way Pivot Arm (allows you to mount the camera at right angles to a mount, can also be used as a short extension)

Contents in the GoPro Hero2 Motorsports Edition kit

GoPro Hero2 Surf Edition

• GoPro HERO2 Camera (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x Waterproof Housing (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x HD Skeleton Backdoor (same as all the other Hero2 kits, this replace rear door provides better audio but isn’t waterproof)
• 1 x Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 1 x USB Cable (same as all the other Hero2 kits)
• 2 x Surfboard Mounts (extra strong adhesive based mounts for flat surfaces)
• 1 x FCS™ Compatible Camera Mount (mount the camera to an FCS plug)
• 1 x Floaty Backdoor (keeps the camera afloat in water)

Contents of the GoPro Hero2 Surf Edition package

GoPro in Whistler, Canada

Once again GoPro was back in Whistler, BC for the annual Crankworx mountain bike festival as one of the official sponsors. GoPro have been a long time supporter of Crankworx and a ton of the athletes were seen wearing them throughout the week, from downhill racing legend “Sik Mik” Hannah to slopestyle guru Martin Soderstrom. GoPro had a big booth in village showing off all the GoPro cameras, accessories and slick GoPro videos.

Earlier in the week Sam Dueck took his GoPro Hero2 Outdoor Edition camera for a run down the slopestyle course during qualifying. The video shows just how big and gnarly the Crankworx slopestyle course is as Sam throws down some big tricks on his way to qualifying for the main competition on Saturday. Sam would go on to place 13th overall in the finals which was were held in difficult windy conditions:

GoPro HD: 2012 Crankworx Red Bull Joyride Qualifying with Sam Dueck on Pinkbike