GoPro HERO Action Video Camera Review

GoPro HERO: The perfect video camera for the non-professional?

The GoPro HERO 3 and GoPro HERO 4 have long been popular video cameras.  The trouble is that many fans of these cameras wondered if they really needed all the bells and whistles they were paying for.  After all, the GoPRO HERO is hardly a professional video camera, no matter how thin you slice the baloney.

Enter the GoPro HERO - a new and inexpensive fast action version of the venerable video camera with just enough technology to make it super useful and not so much technology as to be clumsy or complicated or needlessly expensive.  The result is that this version of the popular camera is one of the most popular selling items at amazon.

Many people like the $129 dollar price tag because they feel that, at this price, this is the perfect throwaway camera.  There is no need to risk your $15,000 dollar camera that has all the bells except when you really need it.  This video camera is perfect to take along anywhere to grab those precious moments, but should it be lost or damaged you won’t feel as if you lost your best friend.

Here are the specs on the GoPro Hero

• High Definition Camera
• Ultra Wide Angle Lens
• Exquisite Video Quality: Records beautiful 1080p30 and 720p60 video.
• Diverse Photo Capture Mode
• Captures single shot, Time Lapse and Burst photos up to 5 fps
• Built-in Microphone records great audio
• Durable + Waterproof to 131-Feet (40m)
• Designed to withstand extreme environments and conditions
• Compatible with all GoPro Mounts and accessories
• GoPro Software: To view and share your videos.
• External Memory: Supports microSD cards up to 32GB (Sold Separately)
• Integrated Waterproof Housing

GoPro Hero Product Description

The GoPro HERO video camera aims to make it easy for you to capture those precious moments in your life and to share your world with those you love.  The GoPro HERO is one of the best-selling cameras in the world.

Earlier customers who tried this product say that this camera is so easy to use as to be ridiculous.  If you are expecting a complicated panel of intimidating buttons, you can relax; because you will not find that here.  However, that does not mean that this video camera is short of features.  It means that GoPro HERO tames its features so that you can manage them easily.

The user-friendly modes include QuikCapture Mode, a real-time saving feature that lets you power up your camera and begin recording at the press of a single button.  There is also the Burst Photo Mode that will capture fast-action sequences at up to five frames per second.  It does all the hard work, so you don’t have to.                                                                                            

Introducing the Ultra Wide-Angle Glass Lens.

GoPro HERO supports an ultra-wide-angle glass lens - which is responsible for the extra “immersive” perspective for which the GoPro HERO video camera is so famous.  This version also has a chargeable, but permanent battery, so that you cannot carry several batteries in your bag and just trade one out when the power is low.  That probably means that you want to take a more professional camera with you on your next jungle safari.  For life in the big city though, this camera is near perfect – according to the customers who buy and use this camera.

What Customers Say about the GoPro HERO

Customers LOVE this camera, pure and simple.  You might wonder what makes it so special, and to that, we say – ask the earlier customers of the GoPro Hero.  In fact, we have done that for you.  Here are the results.

Of 174 customer reviews, 160 of these rate at three stars or better out of five stars possible.  That large number of reviews means that this is a very popular selling item at amazon.  Moreover, these numbers mean that this product has a popularity rating of 4.4 stars out of five stars possible.

That is a BIG “thumbs up” from the video camera buying community for the GoPro HERO.  You can be skeptical – perhaps should be skeptical – but customers who did not get what they expected are rarely kind when writing a customer review.  They either are impressed, or they are not.

Here are some additional comments, in the customers own words.

“This changes the whole "action" based camera scene. At a measly $129, you really can capture a lot of great video at great specs.”

“If you want the interchangeable batteries for longer usage while out, and having a remote.  Get the go pro 3 silver or white edition. White edition is only $199, so for $70 more you can start to alleviate some of these pains.”

“For someone who wants something basic, super affordable, clear pics/vids, or for an extra camera on hand, it is perfect.”

“Awesome!!!! just plain awesome.I've been wanting one of these for a very long time.” 

“Great camera. Does almost everything the Hero3/4 does at a fraction of the price. If you don't run thru a lot of batteries, this is the camera for you.”

Complaints about the GoPro Hero:

Complaints are all over the road, but if there is one persistent complaint, it is captured in these comments.

“…don't like that the camera cannot remove from the housing”

“This camera is different from other GoPro Models in that it does not come out of the waterproof plastic case. This is not a problem for most applications of the camera, but it makes it incompatible with a variety of gimbals.”

Please excuse the grammar above.  We cannot promise you the customers own words and then edit their writings.  We must present the customers own words.  Ok.  ‘Nuff said.

As you can see, the biggest drawback for most people is the inability to separate the camera from the waterproof case and the lack of a removable battery.  Of course, your camera will not be the only electronics with you today, so if you have the means available to recharge your cell phone on the trail, then you have what you need to charge your GoPro HERO as well.  You may need a different plug adapter than your cell phone uses, but for a few pennies, that is a minor issue to fix.

There are of course newer models of the GoPro HERO that offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, both super cool features for which you will pay a great deal more.  Remember that whenever you travel with your camera, chances are high that you will lose it.  You want to take along the GoPro HERO on these types of trips – instead of your expensive, high-end video camera.  You will get GREAT shots, transferrable directly to your computer for safekeeping – and if you should lose your camera, you the loss will be much easier to take.

There are a few other complaints, but each one different, and NONE of them consistently point to a problem with the quality of the camera itself.

You have the product links below to read the negative reviews for yourself – and you can reach your own conclusions.  If you are looking for a product that draws zero complaints from earlier users, then you should know that we do not see many of these.  We try to help you to read between the lines, but in the end, YOU make the call.  To be safe, read the negative reviews on site at amazon before you buy.

That is our take on things.  If nothing else, we hope that you found them as entertaining as we did.

Shop Smart & Prosper!

Product Link at Amazon:   http://amzn.to/14Ykobt

For a FULL Catalog of GoPro HERO Products:   CLICK HERE

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