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As some of you Action Sports fans might have heard, GoPro have just announced x3 new cameras that will be released before Christmas - the Black, Silver and White editions.  I will give a quick in-sight into some of the defining features for each Hero3 model – hopefully in a digestible form, for our simple minds! :p

White Edition: £199.99 (inc vat)

In essence, this is basically an upgrade of the original HD Hero Camera. It uses the same sensor as the original, so the video quality is the same (which is still better than most helmet cameras out there!).

The profile of the camera is thinner and lighter than the previous shape – a massive benefit as a lot of people said that this was the main problem with the camera, so now it looks hotter on a helmet!

GoPro have upgraded the locking hatch on the case, making it more sturdy and reliable.  It has a 5 Mega Pixel camera for still photos and the ability to shoot 3 pictures per second on Burst Photo Mode.  The camera has various shooting modes and are as follows - 1080p/30fps, 960p/30fps, 720p/60fps.

The stand-out features on this camera for me? Firstly, the built in Wi Fi. No messing around with BacPacs, you simply connect your smart phone to the signal and use your phone to operate the camera, as well as many other functions – just remember to download the Free GoPro App!

Secondly, the included waterproof case also comes with a built-in Flat Lens. This means there is no need to fork out for an underwater lens, simply because it comes with one! Therefore, taking video above water and below gives you the same high quality video results you would ever wish for!  All for under £200!

Silver Edition: £279.99 (inc vat)

This new model is comparable to the HD Hero 2 – but better!

Using the same sensor as their best-selling HD Hero 2 camera, you get that razor sharp video quality that has established GoPro as the biggest brand in the game.

It boasts all of the same features as the White Edition Hero 3, but with a few more improvements, as you would expect.

It comes with the same Waterproof Case, Flat Lens and Thinner Profile, as well as filming at the same frame rates and resolutions (apart from filming at 960p where you can squeeze out 48fps). But that’s where the comparisons stop. 

This model has an 11 Mega Pixel sensor for taking still photos. In burst photo mode, you can take 10 pictures per second, giving your sequence photos a professional edge.

The Wi Fi capability is built-in on this model as well.

Unique features include being able to use GoPro’s Protune technology - offering 35mbps data rate, 24fps video mode, colour grading and more, this latest update dramatically enhances your GoPro's editing options for Full HD video at a cinematic standard (read more about this here).

You can also manually change the White Balance on your camera, giving you adaptability when out in your action sports world. Colour correct the video to suit your conditions! This was previously only available in editing packages post-production. All in all – it’s a Hero 2, but soooo much better!

Black Edition : £359.99 (inc vat)

And here is the all singing, dancing, sprinting, punching powerhouse that is the GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition.

The Black edition has completely new technology inside the camera and the results are incredible.  As well as being the same weight, size and design as the alternative Hero 3 models, you can set the camera to film at 1440p and 48fps! Yeah, 1080p is so last week!

Whilst filming at 1080, you can get 60fps, meaning even smoother and more detailed slow motion shots at HD. Shooting at 720p, you can now get 120 fps! These are the most advanced settings we have seen on a camera the size of a mobile phone. The specifications for filming rates are as follows - 1440p/48fps, 1080p/60fps, 960p/100fps, 720p/120fps.

Equipped with a 12MP camera for shooting still photos and a burst mode of; get this… 30 pictures per second! Quoting the infamous Muhammad Ali – ‘I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.’ If you took a photo of Ali doing this, you’d have 30 crystal clear photos of him by the time he got into his bed!

The Wi Fi is built-in, like the other models, but this one come with the remote control as standard; a very useful product when your phone runs out of battery. As expected, the Hero 3 Black has sharper image quality due to a newly designed lens with less distortion than previous models, a faster processor, re-designed audio system and quicker video/photo performance.

I could go on for hours about what’s new, but I don’t have enough blog, and believe it or not, I do sleep sometimes… in the office of course.

When using the camera in post-production, this new model has an extensive range of new features to aid you in making the next box office smash. New advanced camera settings include: Looping video, Continuous Photo, Manual White Balance control, and Protune Mode, which will allow you to shoot photos while recording video!

So what do you think? The new HERO 3 range seems like everything we expected and so much more. Still at the forefront of this market, the biggest name in the game just took it to another level.

You can see they are aiming these cameras (especially with the Black Edition) at filmmakers and production companies as a new market. I’m sure it won’t be long until we have a full-length movie, made entirely from a GoPro – who would have thought?

The Silver Edition should appeal to a lot of customers, as this is nearly as cheap as the Hero 2 and includes more technology including the WiFi. And lets face it,  it was only a short time ago that the Hero 2 was the undoubted king of the GoPro castle.

The White edition is perfect for those who don’t want to spend over £200 on a camera, perfect gift for Christmas I presume. A new model GoPro with built in WiFi? I know it’s on my list!

Estimated UK Release :

White / Silver Edition -  around the 26^th of October

Black – Mid November

PRE-ORDER NOW! 

I hope this has been a helpful review about some of the differences and main features from the new range of HERO 3 cameras.  Let us know what you think through the normal social networking channels and as always, if you have any questions or queries, contact us and we will be happy to help.