GoPro 4 and the Hero- Crushing the Action Cam Market

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GoPro announced updated action cams yesterday.  The Hero 4 Black, Hero 4 Silver and the Hero.  Most people are talking about the new Hero 4 Black that allows 4k recording at 30fps but the real news here is the pricing on the new, numberless model, Hero - just $129.  The action cam market is quite crowded, though you might think there is only GoPro, and up until now one of GoPros weak points was price, with previous models starting at $299. The Hero at just $129 opens up the door for interested buyers who couldn't quite justify the price when they weren't sure the could even justify a need for a camera like this.  Polaroid made news recently with their cute little Cube (we chatted about it on Episode 27 of Photo Mish Mash) and at $99 it looked like a good deal, now that the Hero is here it seems to me to be worth spending $40 more.  Why?Polaroid Cube $99 - Buy from B&HScreenshot 2014-09-30 14.24.42

  • 1.4 inches square (35mm)
  • 1.6 ounces (45.4g)
  • 124° View
  • 1080p 30fps or 720p 30fps
  • 6MP Stills
  • Dust/shock resistant (not waterproof)
  • Video files split into 5 minute chunks
  • 32GB Micro SD card limit
  • Colors - Black, Blue and
  • Cute Mounts available and magnet on bottom for stacking or attaching to metal surfaces

Video quality I have seen is OK - certainly not spectacular.Go Pro Hero $129 - Buy from B&HScreenshot 2014-09-30 14.38.24

  • 3.9 ounces (this includes waterproof/shockproof housing)
  • 171° View
  • 1080p at 30fps or 720p at 60fps
  • 5MP stills
  • Time lapse mode - (every 0.5 seconds)
  • Burst Mode - (5 photos/second)
  • 32GB Micro SD Card Limit
  • Standard GoPro size fits all goPro accessories and mounts

The specs are very similar between the two cameras but the fact that you get a completely waterproof camera(inside the housing it comes with) and the additional modes- like time lapse- makes the GoPro Hero worth the extra money.The updated Hero 4 Black and Hero 4 Silver specs (compared to last year's 3+ Black)

Screenshot 2014-09-30 15.38.38 Screenshot 2014-09-30 15.39.02 Screenshot 2014-09-30 15.40.48
GoPro Hero 4 Black GoPro Hero 4 Silver GoPro Hero 3+ Black
 Resolutions 4K 30fps, 2.7K 50fps and 1080p120fps video 1080p60 and 720p120 video 4k 15FPS 2.7K 30fps and 1080p 60
 MP 12MP and capable of 30 fps bursts 12MP and capable of 30 fps bursts 12MP and capable of 30 fps bursts
 Connectivity Wifi and Bluetooth Connectivity Wifi and Bluetooth Connectivity WiFI Connectivity
 Headline Feature Improved Processor and IQ Built in touch display
 Price $499 $399  Now $349- going out of stock
 BUY B&H photo video | Amazon B&H photo video | Amazon B&H photo video

Recommended GoPro Accessories - Watch my video on the best bag for your GoPro stuff