One way to convey a compelling story is through the use of creative angles, especially point of view shots (POV). But how does one go about capturing these shots? GoPro's HD Hero packs full 1920x1080 HD video with its 1/2.5-inch HD CMOS sensor. The GoPro crew sent some mounting systems they offer with the HD Hero that allowed us to mount the camera wherever we desired - whether it was on the front of a surf board, a wrist, or even mounted on the front of one's chest - GoPro had us covered.

The Hero

GoPro's HD Hero is compact and packs a powerful punch with more than three resolutions from full 1920x1080 HD video, 1280x960 for vertical video and 1280x720 HD recordings up to 60fps for super smooth, slow motion shots. The GoPro HD Hero can record up to nine hours on a single 32GB SDHC and about 2.5 hours on a single charge. The battery is easily recharged via its USB port through a computer or compatible wall or car USB charger. It can also be used while charging for shooting timelapses. We found the included removable polycarbonate housing extremely valuable in those rare cases when the camera took a nasty spill, instead of replacing the whole unit, simply replace the inexpensive outer shell. Did we mention the housing is waterproof up to 180 feet!?

Testing Grounds

The HD Hero was simple to setup, but the menu was a little difficult. With a little practice it proved no longer an issue. We easily mounted the HD Hero to a car with a suction cup mount, which GoPro sells as an additional accessory. We captured several hours of footage along with a dozen photos, all with exceptional results that cut together well with footage from our traditional more expensive Full HD camcorder. The GoPro HD Hero has a 170-degree viewing angle when shooting in 960p and 720p, so you'll get the super wide almost fisheye look. The audio the GoPro captures is fine, but nothing to write home about, so plan to capture sound with an additional device if audio is a staple in your production. The amazing full 1920x1080 HD video, comparable to more expensive and heavier cameras, paired with limitless mounting options even has some producers capturing their whole videos with these tiny cameras.

Tech Specs

Sensor Type: 1/2.5" HD CMOS
Video Format: H.264 compression
Audio: Built-in Microphone
Photo Resolution: 5 Megapixels
Video Resolution: 1920x1080 30fps, 1280x960 30fps, 1280x720 30fps and 60fps
Storage: SD cards up to 32GB
Battery Life: approximately 2.5 hours
Weight: 5.9oz with housing
Data Transfer: USB

Strengths

• Amazing quality
• Tons of mounting options
• Compact

Weaknesses

• Slight learning curve
• Not much feedback from display

Summary

Full 1920x1080 HD video that compares to more expensive and heavier cameras, paired with limitless mounting options and a go-anywhere design makes the GoPro HD Hero an amazing little camera.

GoPro
2450 Cabrillo Hwy S, Suite 250
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
www.gopro.com
$260

Derek Sine is the Digital Imaging Technician for a California State University