GoPro HERO4 unveiled alongside new budget offering

Not content with dominating the action camera market, GoPro is pushing things forward again as the a new line of devices is formally unveiled, headlined by the GoPro HERO4 Black.

Introducing three new devices, the top of the line GoPro HERO4 Black will line up alongside the touchscreen display incorporating HERO4 Silver and the entry-level GoPro HERO.

“For the past twelve years, our passion has been to make it easy for people to self-capture jaw dropping, professional quality footage of themselves engaged in their favourite activities,” GoPro Founder and CEO, Nicholas Woodman said.

He added: “That passion led us to embark on our most ambitious design and engineering effort ever, and the result is nothing short of the ultimate GoPro—the HERO4 Black.  We can’t wait to see what the world captures with it.”

GoPro HERO4 Black
Said to offer twice the performance capabilities of its predecessors, the GoPro HERO4 Black will allow users to shoot 4K video at 30fps. This premium video quality will allow users to strip 8.3-megapixel still images from the content stream.

GoPro has suggested that this new feature has been added in response to calls from users.

“A common pain-point is deciding between capturing video or photos of an experience,” Woodman said. “Each frame of 4K30 video is similar to an 8.3 megapixel photo.

“The result is that users can simultaneously capture eye-popping 4K30 video and impressive 8.3 megapixel photo-like video stills at 30 frames per second when using HERO4 Black. It’s one of the many wild capabilities of this impressive new device.”

On the stills front, the GoPro HERO4 offers a dedicated shooting mode with 12-megapixel shots capable of being captured at 30 photos per second.

Retaining a similarly svelte form from past GoPro cameras, the HERO4 Black offers faster Wi-Fi connections and an updated UI, making it easier to navigate and discover the camera’s mass of shooting modes.

These modes include a number of high frame rate options. The HERO4 Black will allow users to capture 2.7K content at 50fps and 1080p, Full HD video at a speedy 120fps.

Night Photo and Night Lapse modes will make it easier to capture high quality content after dark while a refreshed audio system offers sound with twice the dynamic range of past GoPro cameras.

The GoPro HERO4 Black price reflects the camera’s flagship nature. Wannabe owners will need to fork out £369.99 to snap one up.

GoPro HERO4 Silver
Despite lacking some of the top end shooting options of the Black – 4K, 120fps at 1080p – the GoPro HERO4 Silver has a number of redeeming qualities of its own.

The first GoPro to come packing an integrated touchscreen display, the camera’s compact display will allow users to better frame shot, view captured content and navigate the device’s controls. Inbuilt Wi-Fi is also present.

Packing the same 12-megapixel stills capabilities of the Black, it adds 2.7K video recording at 30 frames-per-second. Further shooting options are handled by 60fps 1080p and 120 fps 720 modes.

The GoPro HERO4 Silver price has been set at £289.99.

GoPro HERO
As well as tackling the top end of the market, GoPro is letting more users get into the action camera space. The GoPro HERO is an entry-level device with a wallet-friendly, £99.99 price tag.

Built directly within the rugged, waterproof housing, the GoPro HERO is capable of shooting 1080p, Full HD content at 30fps. Those after a higher frame rate can enjoy 720p, HD video at 60fps.

The GoPro Hero4 release date has been set for October 5, with all three new models set to hit retailers on the same day.

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