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GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition - sight of the tourist and cyclist

Hello, dear friends!

I want to tell you about the GoPro HERO 3+ Black Edition action camera. This is GoPro's most advanced product to date. Compared with previous versions of GoPro cameras, it received a number of improvements: a new reduced waterproof box, a reduced minimum focusing distance, an increased battery life, increased sharpness (improved optics) and an increase in the speed of the integrated Wi-Fi module 4 times ... I chose this name for review, because most of the commercials were taken off the bike (I and a friend were riding). Pleasure and underwater filming was done by a brother during his tourist trip.

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> Introduction


GoPro Hero 3+ comes to the market in several versions, between which there are significant structural differences. Also, cameras of different modifications are equipped with various stock accessories (remote control, mounts, etc.). You must first familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each delivery option. This can be done, for example, on the website of the largest GoPro official dealer in Russia or on the GoPro official website .

> Technical Specifications


CMOS matrix , 1 / 2.3 ", 12Mp;
Lens Wide-angle (170 degrees), f / 2.8, fixed focal length (0.6 m - infinity); glass lens with 6 aspherical elements;
Video resolution : 4096 x 2160 (12 frames / s), 2704 x 1524 (25 frames / s), 2704 x 1440 (24 frames / s), 1920 x 1440 (up to 48 frames / s), 1920 x 1080 (up to 60 frames / s), 1280 x 960 (up to 100 frames / s), 1280 x 720 (up to 120 frames / s), 848 x 480 (up to 240 frames / s)
Record format MPEG4, H.264
Sound Built-in microphone and the ability to connect an external microphone
Photo format: JPG, 12 MP, 7 MP, 5 MP;
Memory: MicroSD card up to 64 GB;
Interfaces: HERO, Micro-HDMI, Mini-USB 2.0, microSD memory card slot;
Network: Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n;
Battery Capacity: 1180 mAh (4.37Wh) (Li-ion), 2 hours of continuous shooting at 1080p / 24fps;
Dimensions: 59 × 41 × 29 mm;
Weight: 75 g;
Additional options: SuperView mode (for ultra wide viewing angle), Protune mode with high dynamic range, Auto Low Light mode (improved shooting in low light conditions), photo during video recording, white balance adjustment, wireless camera control using a remote control or mobile devices, start recording video when you turn on the camera, charging from USB, serial and interval photography, cyclic video recording;

> Completion


Classic GoPro box made of plastic and thick cardboard. The camera itself was hidden behind the transparent cover, and a remote control was modestly attached next to it.



The camera is equipped with the necessary set of basic accessories.



In addition to the standard delivery, the dealer adds: a universal mount on the chest, a carrying bag, a car charger, a wrench for clamps and a napkin for the optics:




Included are two different in purpose USB cables of good quality and comfortable length. One cable is needed to connect to a PC and charge the camera's battery (the indicator on the front panel lights up red, when the battery is fully charged it goes out):



Another cable is needed to charge the battery of the remote control. The charging process and information about the end is displayed on the LCD screen of the remote control:



Protective sealed box made of fiberglass is equipped with a latch on the top panel and large duplicate buttons that are conveniently press blindly. Boxing withstands heavy blows and dive to 40 meters. In addition to the boxing there is a cover with slots, which is intended for shooting, where special requirements are imposed on the sound accompaniment:




The camera can be mounted on one of the two mounts, also in the kit - a swivel hinge and two landing pads of various shapes (flat and curved) on 3M Velcro for mounting on different types of surfaces:




Special detachable lock allows you to fix the remote as a keychain:



Full set of instructions and warranty cards of all stripes, including the user manual in Russian:


> Design and ergonomics


The camera comes in a classic silver-black color. The case itself is made of impact-resistant plastic with a soft-touch coating, which does not allow the camera to slip out of hand. The dimensions of the device are 59 × 41 × 29 mm and weighs 75 grams.



On the front panel there is a large fisheye lens, a small monochrome display, an on / off button and camera operation indicators (WiFi - blue, top, charge \ shooting - red, bottom).



On the top of the camera are the shutter button \ menu item selection, shooting indicator (red) and microphone slot:



On the right side there are Micro-HDMI, Mini-USB 2.0 connectors, covered with a rubber cover, a microSD memory card slot up to 64 GB. Mini-USB port is combined with an audio input for an external microphone and an analog video output (tulip). To use these additional features, you need to purchase a combo cable or microphone cable (3.5mm).



On the left side you can see the Wi-Fi activation button and the audible alarm speaker:



On the rear panel is the battery compartment lid, HERO interface connector (for an external display, etc.) and a status indicator (red):



Removing the back cover, remove the battery, battery weight 26 grams, capacity 1180 mAh:



Camera weight with a battery of 75 grams:



The remote control has a status indicator and a small monochrome display that copies the state of the camera's main screen. The remote is lightweight and the controls are no different from the camera itself. It allows you to fully manage shooting at a distance of 200 m.



> Iron


The proprietary processor of the camera easily processes video with a resolution of 4096 × 2160 (4K) without failures and overheating, in this recording mode the case does not overheat above 45 °. GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition has a 1 / 2.3 "resolution matrix with a 12 megapixel resolution and a lens with a glass lens (6 aspherical segments, the minimum aperture is f / 2.8, the minimum focusing distance is 0.18 m). In short, GoPro Hero 3+ can: shoot a video, photo, a series of photos (30 frames per second), work in the mode of time-lapse photography (time-lapse).



> Interface and software


The camera interface is simplified to minimalism, by pressing only two buttons (switching - button on; selection - recording button), you can change the current modes of operation: video, photo, serial photo, time-lapse, settings. Moving through the menu is only in one direction and information about the settings in the current mode is displayed on the screen.

The camera does not have a built-in viewfinder; this problem is corrected by an external LCD touchscreen from commercially available accessories. Also, the viewfinder can be a smartphone or tablet running iOS or Android. To use this feature, you must activate the Wi-Fi module built into the camera. To connect the mobile device and GoPro, you need to select the appropriate mode on the camera. To work with the remote control, you need to select the desired item in the camera menu. Simultaneous operation from a smartphone and remote control is not possible. After pressing the button on the left side of the camera, the local wireless network with integrated security system is activated (the name of the access point and password can be changed). To fully use the viewfinder, control the settings of the camera and access point, you must install the GoPro App for iOS or Android .

The camera uses a new Wi-Fi chip. The delay time when viewed in the application for mobile devices is 1 sec. Video on your phone or tablet is displayed in almost real time.




> Shooting in various modes


A fisheye lens with a fixed focal length has a viewing angle of 170 degrees. The software of the camera allows using several modes in viewing angles: Wide, Medium, Narrow. The new Super Wide mode gives additional spatial distortion when shooting.
A wide range of resolutions is available for shooting, up to 4K, but in my subjective opinion, the most optimal and universal mode can be considered “1080 Super View” (1920 x 1080 at 48/50 frames per second).
The camera completely lacks interlaced scan modes, i.e. There is no interlace when viewing. In general, the colors are very bright, the picture is characterized by sharpness and saturation.
With this camera you can take slow-motion video in the modes: 1280 x 960 with a frequency of up to 100 frames per second, 1280 x 720 with a frequency of up to 120 frames per second and 848 x 480 - up to 240 frames per second.
I would like to separately mention the Protune mode, this mode does not particularly stress the built-in processor, but it allows you to adjust the white balance and improve the picture quality.

GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition can take photos with a resolution of 12 megapixels. Pictures are obtained with some spatial distortion and sharpness reduction at the edges. I would especially like to mention the photo-shooting mode called “time-lapse”, in it you can set the interval between frames (from 0.5 seconds to one minute) and manually control the number of frames in the interval.

As I promised at the very beginning of the review, I divided all the videos and photos directly taken on this camera into two parts. The first part is tourist, walking, swimming, the second part is more rigid, extreme, cycling.

> 1. Tourist's view


Photo:




Original photos with a resolution of 12 megapixels.

Video:
The main mode of shooting of recreational and underwater video was chosen as 1080 Super View mode - 1920 x 1080 at 48 frames per second (PAL). Protune and Auto Low Light modes have also been activated.

Source video


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> 2. Cyclist look


Photos "from the saddle"




Original photos with a resolution of 12 megapixels.

> Extreme video


To test the capabilities of the camera, I and a friend recorded weak-extreme videos with different resolutions and frame rates. Rollers divided into 3 parts: day, evening, night.

1. Daytime shots (I only):

Source video


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2. Evening (I and a friend):

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3. Night shooting (I only):

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> Conclusion:


Hero 3+ Black Edition made a positive impression on me, it meets all the requirements for modern portable action cameras. It should be noted a number of factors that allow GoPro cameras to be popular and in demand: build reliability and utmost compactness; a large number of recording formats; wide-angle optics, giving excellent sharpness and excellent resolution of the matrix. The camera is also popular due to the large variety of mountings. They make it possible to fix the camera anywhere, which allows you to get unusual shots from different angles. This is especially true for shooting outdoor activities and practicing extreme sports, when shooting on a regular camera is simply impossible.

Pros:
1. Shooting FullHD video with high frame rate (50-60fps)
2. High-speed Wi-Fi with a minimum delay time for broadcasting a video stream (1s)
3. Micro HDMI interface for output video without delays
4. A serious reserve of autonomy, the battery at 1180 mAh (2 hours of continuous shooting)
5. Compact size and light weight (75 g)
6. Waterproof protective box and other accessories included.
7. Good software optimization for mobile devices (GoPro App)
8. Lack of interlaced shooting modes (no interlaced scanning during playback)
9. LED indicator for charging, shooting mode and Wi-Fi operation

Minuses:
1. Mechanical buttons (the only possible option for normal camera control in gloves)
2. Archaic monochrome LCD display, left by the manufacturer due to the preservation of the compact size of the case. If desired, you can connect a full - fledged color touch screen from the available accessories.

Camera Hero 3+ Black Edition can be purchased from the largest official dealer in Russia, the store Action5.ru . Buying in this store provides several advantages:
1. Free air courier delivery
2. As a gift, additional accessories for the camera, the list of which is constantly updated.
3. Free test drive (you can return the camera within 20 days after purchase)
4. Lifetime discount on accessories when buying a camera in the online store action5.ru
5. The largest selection of mounts and accessories in Russia.
6. Extended Warranty.

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Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/230955/


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