GoPro managed to take a very unique market niche, and make it very popular and active, while at the same time introducing various new features to the mix that were seen as defining for wearable cameras. The latest release of their Hero 4 was initially met with some mixed reactions, as some were concerned that the new model is not that different from the company’s previous offers – however, after critics and buyers have had a chance to play around with the new model for a while, the opinions have quickly shifted to a much more positive note.
The GoPro Hero 4 is actually a significant improvement over the Hero 3, despite looking very similar to its predecessor. The most notable feature of the new model is the doubled framerate for its video recording – the Hero 4 can record 4K video at a full 30 FPS, compared to the 12 FPS that the Hero 3 was capable of. This is a huge step forward for the cameras, and has been one of the most requested features in the previous models.
Despite the advanced post-processing that can be applied to videos recorded with GoPro Hero 3 and earlier models, 12 FPS is still quite low, and even heavy motion blur can’t save videos from looking choppy when recorded at such a framerate. The GoPro Hero 4 addresses this problem more than sufficiently, and the new camera allows for some truly breathtaking shots.
In addition, the firmware of the camera has been improved, and it’s now less prone to problems during regular use, while the menus are more intuitive and straightforward. GoPro seem to be putting a lot of effort into making their cameras more accessible to a wider audience, which has been getting them well-deserved positive attention from the very beginning. On the other hand, the company recently faced some criticism due to an increasing number of injuries related to head-mounted cameras, although the risks associated with adding a GoPro to a helmet have been known for a long time. The company has maintained a relatively neutral stance in the debate.
Meanwhile, Engadget UK have decided to give their readers a chance to win a free Hero 4 – just in time for the holidays. The contest is only valid in the UK, and those who want to enter must be of legal age. There are just a few days to go until entries are closed, so those who want to try their luck and possibly win the latest GoPro for free should head over to Engadget’s site and sign up, considering that there really isn’t anything to lose in this case.