GoPro’s New Hero4 Lineup: 4K, Built-In Display, and a $130 Camera
via ReCode
Get your action gear and your selfie face ready.
GoPro, the maker of best-selling action cameras, has just announced its next lineup of cameras, including one with a touchscreen display and another that costs just $130.
The $500 GoPro Hero4 Black, the top-of-the-line camera, shoots 4K video at up to 30 frames per second (compared with the Hero3+ camera’s 4K at 15 fps), 1080p HD video at 120 frames per second and 12-megapixel photos. It also has a processor that GoPro says is twice as fast as the previous camera, and a slightly enhanced interface for easier navigation through menu options.
The GoPro Hero4 Silver, which costs $400, shares many of the same specs of the Hero4 Black, with the exception of the 4K video frame rate (15 frames per second). Both the Black and Silver are supposed to capture better low-light and nighttime imagery, as well. But the Hero4 Silver’s standout feature is its touchscreen display. Other GoPro models require users to pair the camera with their smartphones if they want to see what they’re shooting, or to purchase an $80 LCD BacPac accessory. Now the Hero4 Silver has a display built in.
Finally, there’s the GoPro Hero. This “entry-level” camera shoots 1080p HD video at 30 frames per second and 720p HD video at 60 frames per second. It captures five-megapixel still images at up to five frames per second. It costs $130.
All three cameras have the same small form factor, are waterproof up to 40 meters and work with microSD cards.
Of course, as action-cam owners know full well, the base price of the camera is usually not the only cost involved: They often require cases, mounts or tripods that can cost anywhere from $20 to $80 per accessory.
But it’s clear that GoPro is targeting a variety of consumers with its Hero4 line, as companies like Sony, Garmin and Panasonic try to stake their claim in the action camera market. The Hero4 Black is likely to appeal to pros or prosumers who want high-quality 4K video, while the Hero4 Silver’s display will be a draw for people who would rather see what they’re shooting than have useable 4K.
The Hero is aimed at consumers who don’t want to pay big bucks for a tiny camera they’re not sure how to use, or who don’t need all of the bells and whistles of a more advanced one.
The new cameras begin shipping on October 5.