GoPro Hero

BACK TO BASICS, AND ALL THE BETTER FOR IT.

AS THIS IS GoPro’s budget-focused action cam there’s no 4K video capture. You get the option to shoot at either Full HD 1080p, or at1440p, although this does force the camera to shoot in a not very video-friendly 4:3 aspect ratio. While GoPro’s pricier models, and some rival cameras from other manufacturers, offer a wide range of frame rates and resolutions, the Hero keeps things simple, with only 30fps or 60fps on offer, and it can’t shoot higher frame rates at lower resolutions.

The Hero doesn’t get the Hero6 Black’s GP1 processor, but there is image stabilisation on board to help keep footage steady. It can capture 10MP JPEG images as well as video, though unlike on the premium GoPro models, there’s no RAW file support. The Hero can shoot a burst of 10 files in succession — more than enough for most people — and there’s also a timelapse mode, although you’re restricted to 0.5-second intervals where you get multiple options on the higher-end models.

Just like the Hero5 and Hero6 Black, the Hero gets a 2.0-inch touchscreen, along with GoPro’s handy voice control feature. There are 12 simple voice commands, covering pretty much everything you’re likely to want to do with the camera, but you don’t get the Wake On Voice function that we saw with the Hero6 Black. Finally, the Hero uses the same 1220mAh battery with USB-C charging that we’ve seen before.

GoPro has opted to stick with the same design for the Hero as for the Hero5 Black and Hero6 Black, which is great to see as the two high-end models are perhaps the best designed and finished action cameras on the market. The Hero has an understated smooth dark grey finish and feels extremely well made. The Hero is also waterproof (down to 10m) without the need for a housing, which means there’s nothing to get in the way of the built-in microphone, making audio quality that bit better. Should you want to take your Hero deeper underwater, there’s an optional Super Suit housing that offers protection down to 60m. The Hero comes bundled with a sturdy plastic frame which is a world away from some of the cheap Chinese rivals out there in terms of quality; the fit is nice and snug, and it’s compatible with a huge range of GoProcompatible camera mounts.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the small 2-inch touchscreen would be awkward to use, but it really isn’t that bad. The screen is responsive, with only light swipes and taps required, while the interface is fairly straightforward.

You can transfer images from the microSD card to a computer, while GoPro’s QuikStories app enables you to upload images when you’re on the move. As well as transferring videos and images via Wi-Fi, the app can be used to adjust all the Hero’s settings and hosts an almost-instant live feed, allowing you to position the GoPro Hero remotely and hit record should you wish. You can choose to share shots without editing, but QuikStories can automatically turn footage into a video collage, adding transitions and even music, and the videos are fully editable if you want to make changes.

Shoot in Full HD 1080p and you should get about two hours of battery life from the GoPro Hero at 60fps, while this can be stretched to 2.5 hours if you reduce the frame rate to 30fps — good going for an action camera. While the absence of 4K might seem to put the Hero at a disadvantage compared to some rivals, the quality of its Full HD 1080p footage is very good. We reckon you’d be hard-pushed to notice the difference between it and 4K on a smartphone or tablet screen, with footage appearing nice and smooth when replayed, although if you’re going to be regularly replaying footage on a larger monitor or TV screen, you may be want to look for a 4K action camera that offers greater clarity and sharpness.

Colours look good, the built-in image stabilisation works well (within reason) and the exposure seems pretty dependable. That said, GoPro has dropped its ProTune options from the Hero, so you don’t get the advanced control over exposure, colour, white balance and sharpness that you do on other GoPros.

The Hero shoots 10MP JPEG stills, although it probably isn’t going to trouble your smartphone or compact camera for image quality. The ultra-wide angle of the lens means it’s not suited to a lot of subjects (although it’s perfect for selfies), while a little too much noise-reduction processing is applied to images, which means detail is compromised.

There are better-specified action cameras out there for a similar price, including ones that offer 4K video, but they don’t have the refined design and polished controls of the GoPro Hero. This is a great action camera for the budget-conscious or novice user.

THE HERO COMES BUNDLED WITH A STURDY PLASTIC FRAME WHICH IS A WORLD AWAY FROM SOME OF THE CHEAP CHINESE RIVALS OUT THERE IN TERMS OF QUALITY.