First look at the GoPro Gen 4

Earlier today (and after many rumors and leaks) GoPro announced its new line of extreme cameras. The new line includes 3 cameras: HERO 4 Black. HERO 4 Silver and the HERO. The two major improvements – better video recording (and faster frame rates) as well as a touchscreen on the silver model.

On the CENT video above, Josh Goldman takes a (very) quick look at the new GoPro models and some of the differences between this generation and the previous one as well as the differences between the current models.

The new camera line from GoPro

Gopro-4-series

Here are the main features of the GoPro HERO4 Black:

  • A 12 MP sensor capable of 4K video at up to 30p (compared to 15 fps in the previous version).
  • New and faster processor – dual A9 ARM Core ® CortexTM-A9 processor 1GHz with FPU accelerator.
  • Better fps across all resolutions – including 4K@30p, 2.7K at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps and 720p at 120fps.
  • faster WIFI and BT (added).
  • Shooting up to 30 stills images in burst mode in 12MP.
  • Minor design changes such as the move of the activity lights to the side of the display.
  • A new and improved battery.
  • Waterproof to 131 feet.
  • More manual control.
  • $500 price.

An official look on the GoPro HERO4 Black

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rcDPF14sr0[/youtube]

The Silver version is very similar to the black but does not have the 24p,25p and 30p @4K  (only 15 fps like the older HERO 3 BLACK), on the upside it does have a built in touch screen at the back and comes at $400 price.

An official look on the GoPro HERO4 Silver

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKM9jAqJZoY[/youtube]

The touch screen on the HERO 4 Silver

GoPro-silver

The final and most basic version is called simple HERO and it will be selling for only $130 – it brings more low end features including 1080p@30fps and 720p@60fps, stills at a lower 5MP, and Burst Mode up to  5 per second.

An official look on the GoPro HERO

 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVrp4s9BYFA[/youtube]

 

Official 4K video shot with the HERO 4 Black

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTcNtgA6gHs&list=UUqhnX4jA0A5paNd1v-zEysw[/youtube]

Videographer Philip Bloom had some time with the new GoPro HERO 4 Black and here is an initial video he shot using it and a DJI Phantom 2 with Lightbridge

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/107415158[/vimeo]

On his blog, Bloom mentions some of the things that bugged him on the previous version of the GoPro – many of them seem to be fixed in the new version.

If you don’t want to miss any new photography product be sure to check out our product photography section on our photo gear channel.

Iddo Genuth
Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.

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