Many people who are fond of outdoor activities, sports and tourism have repeatedly heard about multimedia solutions under the GoPro brand. The action camera is so overgrown with legends and myths that the sellers themselves often do not know where the truth is and where the lie is. The focus of this article is the representative of advanced technologies - the camera for extreme sports and active entertainment GoPro Hero 4. Specifications, review and reviews of professionals will allow the reader to learn everything about the best action camera in the world. It remains only to decide whether to give preference to a device that is designed for real professionals.
Market positioning
The world market is not so rich in unique products that do not have a specialized niche that defines the purpose of the product. GoPro Hero 4 Black Edition is considered a versatile device that is designed to record video in any conditions. There are no restrictions: shooting underwater, in frost and heat, in quicksand or in outer space. In any case, the device will complete the task assigned to it.
But such extensive functionalityIt also has the other side of the coin - high cost. The retail price of an action camera ranges from 30-35 thousand rubles, which causes dissatisfaction with many potential buyers. However, as practice shows, there is no other way out, because this is the only gadget in the world that can shoot video in extreme conditions, so it’s better to put up with the cost.
Full set
Whatever sport a potential buyer does, he does not need to worry before purchasing a GoPro Hero 4 Black, because the manufacturer has provided for all the needs of users and provided his product with a decent bundle. For shooting underwater and in high humidity conditions, the owner will find a waterproof case that can withstand pressure at a depth of 40 meters. There is also a skeleton cover for the case in the box, but its installation violates the tightness of the structure and, judging by the reviews of professionals, reduces the practicality of the action camera.
Buyers will also like the gadget's mounting system. During the testing process, it was not possible to find an item that cannot be attached to GoPro Hero 4. The instruction in Russian, present in the kit, will appeal to all residents of the CIS countries, because all users will have to deal with the controls before starting operation.
When it comes to absolute quality
Rich equipment, an attractive box and multifunctionality have always been the hallmark of Chinese companies positioning their inexpensive products onworld online auctions. Therefore, it is not surprising that many enthusiasts in their reviews begin to compare an expensive gadget with consumer goods, because it is not customary in the world market to provide multimedia devices with a decent bundle. However, the opinion about the product changes with its detailed study.
GoPro Hero 4 action camera has no flaws. If we are talking about the case, then it is made of very high quality plastic. No gaps or uneven joints can be found. Interface cables do not dangle when connected, and the mount has a very comfortable and rigid fixation. All components are perfectly matched to each other, and it is impossible to find fault with them.
Strange box
The first thing that the owner of the gadget pays attention to is the size of the device and ease of use. The miniature GoPro Hero 4 camera is very compact and weighs only 80 grams. However, many users are confused by the huge size of the buttons and the strange lens that does not hide in the case after the power is turned off. Everything is explained quite simply - it is convenient to press large buttons if the camera is placed in a protective case. And the immobility of the lens made it possible to reduce the size of the device.
No less strange, the action camera looks assembled with all the mounts, in a protective case. But as they say, only meet on clothes. Millions of people in the world prefer the functionality of this device, rather than external beauty. Therefore, professionals recommend that beginners put up with the strange look of the camera andget to know the management and operation better.
Work autonomy first of all
A huge lithium-ion battery not only claims half the total weight of the GoPro Hero 4 Black Edition camera, but also takes up almost the entire space inside the gadget. The manufacturer provided the device with a very powerful battery with a capacity of 1160 mAh. The action camera consumes a little - 4.4 watts per hour, but the battery life directly depends on the quality of shooting and the operation of wireless interfaces. For example, if you turn off the LCD screen and the WiFi module, you can shoot continuously 3 hours of video at 720p resolution at 120 FPS. Upgrading to 4K even with frame rate drops (up to 30 FPS) will cut GoPro Hero 4 battery life by a factor of three.
As for the battery pack, the installation and removal of the battery is in order. A standard block with a reliable latch is used, as in conventional digital cameras. The battery compartment is located at the bottom, and its accidental opening is completely excluded.
Interfaces and connectors
There is a lot of negativity in the media from users regarding the manufacturer's implementation of the interface panel. Firstly, the removable cover is perplexing, under which the HDMI and USB ports are hidden, as well as a slot for installing memory cards. The cover that closes the compartment is not attached to the device, and there is no protective mechanism in its fastening. With frequent use of connectors, the plug wears out and is able to open on its own in the process.exploitation and therefore get lost.
A step into the past was made by the manufacturer and the installation of the mini-USB interface. Now the owner of the GoPro Hero 4 Black needs to always carry the appropriate cable with him (to transfer data to a computer when away from home). The same goes for the micro-HDMI port. A rather strange approach to customers from a well-known American manufacturer.
Ease of operation
The GoPro Hero 4 manual states that the action camera has a touch LCD screen, and this is doubtful for many beginners. However, after a detailed review, it turns out that it is impossible to find fault with the quality of the display. The sensitivity of the sensor is good, it reacts the same in different weather conditions, regardless of temperature, and this is good, because many owners have already encountered problems with the touch display on smartphones not working in severe frosts.
The GoPro Hero 4 miniature screen matrix shows decent color reproduction. The brightness of the display is a little confusing, it is underestimated. In their reviews, many experts assure that the picture can be made even juicier in the settings, but this change will greatly increase battery consumption. If we talk about the convenience of viewing the footage, then it simply does not exist. The smallest details on the miniature display will not be able to see. The touch screen is only useful for controlling the action camera.
Advertising is the engine of progress
Deceived buyers may consider themselves users who wish to shoot at high4K resolution (3840x2160). The manufacturer, having launched an advertisement for GoPro Hero 4, missed one moment - at the maximum resolution, the camera shoots at a frequency of 15 frames per second. It's one thing if the camcorder shoots statically, and a completely different situation with objects moving at high speed. The result is disappointing: a slideshow from which only high-quality photographs can be selected.
Professionals in their reviews recommend shooting video at FullHD resolution (1920x1080 dpi). In this case, the matrix will read information at a speed of 60 frames per second, and this is quite enough to create high-quality video material or a film. It is not at all clear what the 480p mode is for, which accelerates the matrix to 240 frames per second. Four identical frames in a video (60x4) to reduce screen flicker is overkill.
All about the quality of shooting
There is a negative in the media from some potential buyers regarding the lack of autofocus in the GoPro Hero 4 camera. Review and testing of the device, conducted by experts and enthusiasts in different parts of the world, proved that autofocus is not needed for a video camera in extreme conditions. The lens is not capable of processing data even at a frequency of 15 frames per second. The camera perfectly receives and processes data without autofocus.
To improve the quality of shooting, the device has several useful functions. In low light conditions, you can turn on the Auto modelow light, however, the owner of the gadget should be prepared for the fact that the sensitivity of the matrix will be lower, which will affect the image quality when watching video at high resolution (similar to ISO in cameras). The ProTune mode, which is able to create the effect of movement, has proven itself well.
Camera for extreme conditions
When it comes to the quality of photos taken with the GoPro Hero 4 camera, user reviews are disappointing. Like any other device for recording video (we are talking about webcams and other video cameras), the gadget did not work out with photo capabilities. Fine manual adjustment allows you to change the settings of the device and force the 12-megapixel sensor to take a high-quality picture, but for this you need to securely fix the action camera, and the subject must be a stationary object.
Declared by the manufacturer, continuous shooting at 3 frames per second and the function of automatic adjustment of the matrix for night mode do not cope with the tasks. As a result of testing, not a single expert managed to come close to the quality of images obtained by conventional digital cameras, popularly referred to as "soap dishes".
Software and controls
Quite a strange decision of the manufacturer - to equip your product with a wireless WiFi interface. The GoPro Hero 4 Black can act as an access point and connect wirelessly to any mobile device. And if the reader thinks that the manufacturer gave himrouter, then it is wrong, and this would be a great solution for many users.
Conveniences include the ability to connect the action camera with a smartphone based on Android OS. There is special software that provides functionality for full control not only of the camera itself, but also of the video shooting process - a wireless remote control. A rather interesting decision by the manufacturer in terms of program access to the hardware of the device: all light indicators and sound devices are fully controlled from a smartphone. A forgetful user will always find where the camera is hidden, all you need to do is to make the speaker emit sound alerts from the phone.
In conclusion
The GoPro Hero 4 camera will definitely appeal to all outdoor enthusiasts, because in fact there is simply nothing similar on the market. As a device for shooting video, the device will fully satisfy even a demanding customer: a variety of modes, resolutions and quality control will allow the owner to create a full-fledged movie, and not shoot an amateur video. The manufacturer has perfectly approached the solution of convenience and safety - with an action camera you can play football underwater, 100% protection.
There are also negative points, but they relate more to the overestimated requirements of buyers who still have not learned to distinguish cameras from video cameras. GoPro Hero 4 is definitely not suitable for those who like to take photos in high quality. The owner will have to take care of the reliability of fastening the plug on the interface panel, losingit is very easy, but impossible to purchase, as the manufacturer did not take care of this and did not provide the necessary component for retail trade.
