(Questions about GoPro Hero 3+)

AT: How to turn on the camera?

O: To turn on the GoPro Hero 3+ camera, you need to install a charged battery into the body, then press button No. 5 (see photo) on the front of the camera once

AT: Why is there a "white elastic band" (retainer) in the kit?

O: The latch is installed in the mount (see photo). In most cases, it is not necessary, because. the plug is very tight.

AT: How to enable video recording?

O: To start recording video, you need to press the button on top of the camera once

AT: Camera modes

AT: How to enable Photo+Video mode?

O: Simultaneous Video and Photo mode allows you to shoot both video and photo at the same time. You can set the camera settings so that photo capture is activated every 5, 10, 30, or 60 seconds during video recording. Before setting Photo Capture in Video Recording mode, check that the appropriate video resolution is set and that Protune is turned off.

Note: You can shoot in Simultaneous Video and Photo mode only when the resolution is set to: 1080p at 30 and 24 fps, 720p at 60 fps, or 1440p at 24 fps.

AT: How to reverse a record?

O: If you are mounting your HERO 3+ camera upside down but want the files to display correctly when viewed or edited later, you must enable this feature. It will avoid the need to flip video and photo files after recording.

To enable this mode, you need to turn on the camera, enter General settings, then to the Capture Settings section and select the required item marked with the icon

AT: Why spot meter mode?

O: Spot Meter should be used when shooting from a dark area to a bright area, such as when shooting from inside a car.

To enable this mode, you need to turn on the camera, enter the general settings, then the Capture Settings section and select the required item marked with the icon

AT: Why low light (auto low light) mode?

O: The GoPro HERO3+'s Auto Low Light mode automatically adjusts frame rates to find the optimal frame rate for use in both bright and dimly lit environments.

AT: How to quickly exit the settings?

O: In order to quickly exit the camera settings menu without scrolling to the EXIT item, you need to press and hold button No. 2 (see photo)

AT: Why are blurry photos?

O: Because the camera does not have an image stabilizer, flash, and / or other source of external illumination of the subjects being shot, the presence of good lighting in the shooting area is very important. On a sunny day, you will definitely get good dynamic pictures, but their quality will drop commensurately with a decrease in illumination (evening, twilight, night)

Advice: To reduce photo blur, use a Wi-Fi remote/smartphone with the proprietary GoPro app by pressing the capture button on it. Thus, the camera will remain more stable. You can also turn on continuous shooting in the camera settings, one of several shots should turn out clear.

AT: How to enable/disable Wi-Fi?

O: In order to turn on the Wi-Fi module in the camera, you need to press the button on the end of the camera once

The fact that Wi-Fi is on is signaled by a blue LED on the front of the camera and an icon on the display.

To turn it off, press and hold the button on the end of the camera. Switching off is signaled by 7 flashes of the blue LED, as well as the absence of an icon on the LCD display.

Attention: remember that the wireless module works autonomously, even when the camera is turned off.

AT: How to connect the Wi-Fi remote to the camera?

O: To connect the camera and the remote control, it is necessary to carry out the so-called pairing. First, turn on Wi-Fi on your camera.

You need to enter the menu WiFi settings. To do this, click again on the Wi-Fi enable button.

Choose New

The camera will enter remote search mode

After that, you need to turn on the remote control by holding the red button. After turning on (2-3 seconds), release the red button - the remote control will go into search mode. After a while, the pairing will be established.

Can the remote control be submerged in water? is he water resistant?

It is dust/moisture/splash resistant. The remote control can not be submerged deeper than 3 meters under water

AT: How to connect a smartphone/tablet to the camera?

O: To connect the camera and your device, you need to download the proprietary GoPro app. You can do this in the App Store (for IOS) and PlayMarket (for Android).

First, turn on Wi-Fi. Press the button again and go to the settings. Choosing a GoPro app

Let's move on to the smartphone / tablet. Open the WiFi connection settings and select the network with the camera name. Enter the standard password to connect goprohero(pay attention to the case of letters, this is important).

We open the application. We are asked to change the name WiFi networks and her password (this step is required).

A confirmation of the change with new data will appear on the screen

The connection is established, you can use the functionality of the application to control the camera.

AT: What is the standard Wi-Fi password?

O: goprohero (no spaces)

AT: Camera operating time. Charger

The charging time of the camera may be different, it depends on the output current of your charger. If you charge the camera through the original charger, the charging time will be 1.5 hours at 80% and 2 hours at 100%. Standard charging gives out a current equal to 1A, at a voltage of 5V. When choosing Z \ U, look at its parameters. Ideally, they should match the parameters of the original chargers. When using a charger with a higher current strength, battery wear increases. Non-original chargers can charge the battery up to 100% in two to three hours.

AT: What is hard reset for GoPro?

O: hard reset is resetting the camera settings to default values.

AT: Does a hard reset reset the firmware?

O: No, the firmware does not change, all your settings are simply reset to factory defaults

AT: How to make a hard reset?

O: Turn off the camera, remove the battery, press the capture button and do not let go, insert the battery, press the power button. The settings will be reset.

AT: How to format a flash drive through the camera?

O: You need to go to the settings and scroll to the last item with the trash icon. At this point select All/Format and confirm the action.

AT: Why can't I delete files from the memory card when the camera is connected to a PC?

O: The Hero 3+ camera is protected against file deletion when the camera is connected to a PC via a USB cable. In order to clear the memory card, you can use the above method (No. 21) and clear the contents of the card in the camera itself. Or by connecting a memory card to a PC using a card reader.

AT: How can I watch the captured video on TV?

O: There are several options, you can choose the most convenient:

1. By connecting the camera via an HDMI cable (the cable is not included and must be purchased separately)

2. By copying files from a memory card to a USB flash drive and connecting to a TV (smart), set-top box / player, etc.

3. By connecting the camera to the TV directly via the USB port, like a flash drive

AT: Why does the video slow down when viewed on a PC?

O: The camera shoots video with a high bitrate and the computer can not cope with its decoding. There are several ways to fix this situation:

1. install the current (fresh) codec

2. try another player (VLC for example)

3. if possible, then use "hardware video acceleration"

4. change the computer to a more powerful one (upgrade the CPU, video card, RAM)

5. transcode the captured video into a less "heavy" format/bitrate and then watch it.

AT: How and with what to process the captured video?

O: There are many programs for video editing, you need to decide which one will be convenient for you? Which one is right for a particular task?

The most simple to learn, but at the same time quite powerful in terms of functionality are:

Sony Vegas (Windows)

Final Cut Pro (Mac)

Further, more complex programs can be noted, such as Adobe products - Adobe Premiere Pro (not to be confused with Adobe After Effects, because AE for compositing and creating special effects). So are simpler ones, for example, standard Windows Movie Maker, etc.

AT: What to do if the camera freezes?

O: If your camera freezes, it usually means that you need to update the firmware or you have some problems with the SD card. Below are the steps to help you troubleshoot the issue:

1. Find out what you have installed latest version firmware. You can find out how this is done in item #30. If you have an old version of the firmware, or if you are not sure that you have the latest version, we recommend that you update it.

2. If you have the latest firmware, you may need to update it manually, as some failures may have occurred during installation.

3. Try reformatting the SD card using the "delete ALL" menu function.

Try another known good SD card. Try to use cards of quality manufacturers!

4. If your camera is still freezing, you need to contact GoPro Customer Support using the "Contact Us" form.

AT: How to reduce the fisheye effect?

O: First, let's figure out what it is. Fisheye, fisheye (from the English fish-eye) - a distorting ultra-wide-angle lens. It differs from conventional (orthoscopic) short-focus lenses by a pronounced uncorrected barrel-shaped distortion and a field of view angle close to or greater than 180°. The use of a fisheye lens is most often reflected in shooting outdoor extreme sports (parkour, skateboarding, BMX, etc.). We can say that it is the "main" lens in such shootings, allowing you to capture from a short distance both the "rider" himself and the architecture used when performing tricks. Also, the use of a fisheye lens is very common in photography. spherical panoramas, because it allows you to get the full scope of the panorama with a minimum number of frames.

We now know that this is the type of wide angle lens found on the Gopro Hero 3+. In order to reduce this effect, the settings need to be done a few simple steps. Open the camera settings and select the menu with the settings for resolution and frames per second. There are 4 setting items in this menu: RES (Resolution); FPS (frames per second); FOV (angle of view \ field of view); LOW LIGHT (low lighting).

We need an item called FOV. The camera has three viewing angle settings: WIDE (wide) MEDIUM (medium) NARROW (narrow). To reduce the fisheye effect, we need to set the viewing angle to exactly NARROW (narrow). Note that as the viewing angle decreases, the picture will no longer be widescreen.

Reducing the viewing angle through the settings is not the only way remove fisheye. For those who process video, there are video tutorials on how to remove fish in editors. When using editors, some part of the picture will still be lost.

AT: What should I do if the camera does not turn on?

O: If your camera does not turn on, then the problem may be either in the camera itself, or in the battery, SD card, or somewhere in the camera the contact is lost. Here are some tips to help you figure out what problem you have.

1. Disconnect all BacPac accessories, battery and SD card from the camera. Insert only one battery. If the camera turned on, then your camera just hung and now you can safely continue to work with it.

2. If the camera still does not turn on, remove and reinsert the battery and charge the camera using a USB charger or your computer. Do not try to turn on the camera while it is charging. You should see a red light on the front of the camera. Once the light is off, disconnect the camera from the USB and turn it on. If the camera turned on, then your battery was dead and just needed to be recharged.

3. If your camera won't turn on and it's a HERO3, look at the red light on the back of the camera. If it is dim, remove/insert the battery and try turning the camera on again. You may have to do this 10 times until the camera turns on.

4. Try to make a Hard Reset (item #20)

5. If your camera still won't turn on, you'll need to contact GoPro Customer Support using the "Contact Us" form.

AT: How to find out the firmware version of the camera?

O: You can check the firmware version installed on your HERO2 or HERO3/3+ camera by looking at the version.txt file saved on the SD card in the MISC folder.

If you cannot find the file, follow these steps:

1. Reformat the SD card using the "delete ALL" menu function.

2. Record a short video or take one photo.

3. In the MISC folder you will find the version.txt file.

4. Open the file. For the HERO3 camera, you will find a firmware version line, "firmware version", and a Wi-Fi version line, "wi-fi version". For the HERO2 camera, you will find a line with the firmware version, "version".

AT: Why do I need .lrv and .thm files on a GoPro memory card?

A: .lrv - These are video files in low resolution (Low Resolution Video).

.lrv can be used to edit video files on weak PCs, and in the final render, replace them with high-resolution originals. If you change the extension of these files to .mp4, you can view them with a simple player. These files can also be used by smartphones to display captured videos through a proprietary application.

.thm are thumbnails of recorded video files (Thumbnail Image File).

.thm can be used to display the first image on the camera's LCD screen, or preview it on a smartphone via the GoPro app.

These files may appear on the memory card if you shoot with a camera: HERO3+ Black, HERO3+ Silver Edition, HERO3: Black Edition, HERO3: Silver Edition, HERO3: White Edition, HD HERO2, LCD, or via GoPro app

AT: Why can't I view the captured photos and videos on iOS through the app?

O: In order for you to be able to view the footage through the application in an iOS smartphone, you must allow the application to save photos on the device when you first start the program.

Everything is solved simply: open "Settings",

and move the slider in front of the GoPro

GoPro Hero3 Black Edition

And so a couple of weeks ago I bought myself a GoPro Hero3 Black Edition, I will not describe the completeness of the camera and the picture quality of this is full on YouTube.
During operation, the camera heats up well to 55-58 degrees and you can’t hold your finger for a long time. The pain temperature threshold is on average 50-55 degrees, depending on the person and his skin sensitivity, there can be a difference, what is unbearable for a finger for a normal operating temperature chip.
The manufacturer answered the question about heating that a powerful processor is installed in the camera and such heat generation is within the permissible range, and that this is the normal operating temperature of the camera.
The base of the lens is metal, and it is this place that heats up strongly, and metal is not a bad heat conductor, and so in the protective case, the base to which the lens is attached is also metal and it passes through the entire box to the outside. It’s not for nothing that the manufacturer used metal there, which means it plays a role heat sink from the camera outside the box where this same metal part is blown by air, wind and cools down.

About the real time of the camera in different modes

Black edition with LEDs off and wifi

1440r 48fps 82min
1080p 60fps 71min
720r 120fps 80min
720r 60fps 86min
480p 240fps 80min

The camera with an Lcd touch BacPac connected to it worked for 57 minutes at 1080p 60fps, which is not bad at all
the camera with BataryBacPac in 720p 120fps mode lasted 190min.

Here is another very interesting article from Abe Kislevitz who is engaged in video filming, editing and video processing in GoPro.

Well, you have become the proud owner of a brand new GoPro HERO3 Black Edition! Luckily, GoPro has added about 137 different video modes(sic!), so every time you start shooting, you can involuntarily begin to doubt whether the video mode is the right one. But I will help you deal with these mysterious modes, the only thing is you need to be a little tech-savvy.

To begin with, let's understand such concepts as video resolution (resolution), frame rate (fps), and video quality. The quality of digital video is based on a large number of different values, for example, 1080p on a GoPro is VERY different from the same 1080p on an Alexa camera - and it's not just the image sensor that's the culprit. A lot depends on the algorithm of the processors built into the cameras, thanks to which information is read from the image sensor and written to the SD card. There are various tricks that are included by the developer in the main algorithm of the processor to get all this wide variety of video modes.

So, how does video recording work? The sensor, like a film, captures the image, and the camera reads the necessary area from it - the "window" and the larger the reading area (the larger the window), the greater the load on the processor. To read the sensor completely means to get the fullest possible image coming through the GoPro's widescreen lens (i.e. the reading window is equal to the width and height of the sensor). The sensor in the HERO 3 Black Edition camera has a resolution of 12 megapixels and a 4:3 aspect ratio. So when shooting video in 4k mode, the processor reads information over the entire width of the sensor, but not over the entire height. the output video will be in standard 16:9 aspect ratio. Since it is necessary to receive video in 4k resolution, the processor does not need to compress it and it saves information without changing the image size (that is, we have 4k at the input and output). The sensor reading area in this case is the same as when shooting, for example, in 1080p WIDE mode, however, in the latter case, the processor has to convert the image to a lower resolution at the final stage. The size of the video output also affects the degree of processor load, so when shooting 4k we have only 15 frames per second, and at 1080p (I repeat, despite the fact that the same large area is initially read from the sensor as in 4k) up to 60 frames per second.

Regarding digital video shooting, it is worth mentioning another important term: digital video can be native (i.e., optimal in terms of the interaction between the sensor and the processor) for the camera and not. In the Hero 3 Black Edition camera, the processor reads the maximum possible area from the sensor (for a 16:9 ratio), and then downscales the image to 1080p, and does this 60 times per second (which is optimal for this kind of processor). 1080--60fps and 2.7k are among the most best modes shooting - the processor and sensor interact perfectly with each other, which allows you to get the maximum image quality for this camera. There are also modes when information from the sensor is received by the processor using other algorithms, which leads to roughness (uneven edges of objects, for example, it is noticeably noticeable if there are electrical wires in the distance on the video). Try 1440--30fps and then 1440--48fps and compare the resulting video. The way the processor reads information for 48 and 30 frames is slightly different (high processor load at a resolution of 1440 and also 48 frames per second does not affect the most in the best way on quality). The same problem can be seen with the Canon 7D when comparing 1080p versus 720--60fps modes. So the image obtained at 720 will be rough (let me remind you that you need to look closely to see these “roughnesses”). the processor is heavily loaded (high resolution means a large number of pixels, and the frame rate determines the speed of reading information from the sensor per second).

GoPro Hero 3 video modes in detail

WVGA--240fps--WIDE-- Well WVGA is WVAGA. If you look closely, the image is quite rough because of the low resolution, but it will do for youtube. If you don't care about video quality, then 240fps will make for incredible slowmotion.

720--60fps--WIDE-- Looks great, but why don't you try 1080--60fps?

720--120fps--WIDE-- I just don't like this mode. The rough edges (if you look closely) are nothing compared to the quality of the 1080--60fps mode, all this is due to the way the processor reads information from the sensor and processes it. But it looks great if your end goal is to upload the video to youtube (because the video has crazy fps).

720--120fps--NARROW-- Super! 120fps! There are no distortions! Absolutely clean video (the processor does not reduce the image received from the sensor)! If there's a mode that screams "I'm not a GoPro", this is it. The video is incredibly clear, as if shot at 50mm. Slowmotion is great! But comparing with 1080 and 2.7k, you will notice how softer the image is in this mode.
960--48fps--WIDE-- Not tested (because it's a rather peculiar format).

960--100fps--WIDE--The quality is the same as at 720-120fps. You can get rid of jagged edges by dynamically stretching to 1080. Otherwise, not a bad mode.

1080--30fps--WIDE-- One of the best modes, very high image definition (similar to 2.7k 30fps).
I tested shooting the same scene at 1080-30 and 2.7k30. When 2.7k was reduced to 1080, the amount of detail and sharpness was almost identical to 1080-30. So I really like this mode, but you have to ask yourself why not shoot in 2.7k mode and have higher resolution video (for the future). Anyway, 1080--30 has one of the cleanest images on camera.

1080--60fps--WIDE-- Loss of clarity compared to 1080-30fps, but it's barely noticeable (the image looks more "soft"). There is a rollin-shutter effect (just a little bit!). Great for shooting fast moving subjects.
Comparing 1080--30 and 1080--60, you will notice that at 60FPS the image is slightly softer than at 30. But you won't notice this if you upload the image to youtube, but how the camera receives this video is slightly different. In the end, I choose this mode for shooting action scenes. The roller shutter effect is noticeably reduced when shooting at 60fps, due to the fact that the exposure time is reduced.

1080--60fps--MEDIUM-- Very clear image, less distortion, video doesn't look like standard GoPro video, great slow motion. Great for shooting with mechanical mounts when the camera moves very smoothly. But be careful with shooting from the first person. in Medium and Narrow modes, camera shake is very noticeable.

1080--60fps--NARROW-- This mode is incredible! Still an incredibly clean image, however, there may be noticeably more pixels and noise. Since the image received from the sensor is not reduced by the processor, the video quality will not be very good in low light. However, the details will be softer. Narrow mode looks like shooting DSLR video, which is very interesting in a GoPro environment. It's funny, but in the final GoPro video, we did not include a few moments shot in this mode, because many simply would not believe that the video was shot 100% on a GoPro.

1440--30fps--WIDE-- I love this mode. Firstly because of the high sharpness and very clean video. If you shoot from the first person, it really seems that you see the world through the eyes of another person. Processing can be tricky because the ratio in this mode is 4:3, but if you know how to dynamically fit an image to 16:9, that's great. So if you're shooting a video that then just relive those moments, this mode is the bomb!

1440--48fps--WIDE-- The high frame rate is great, but if you watch the video in full resolution, you can notice the roughness around the edges. This is due to the processor's high frame rate algorithm. However, few people look at full resolution and peer into the edges. Looks great on youtube!

2.7k--30fps--WIDE-- Amazing! This mod is just crazy! Incredible picture clarity! The image is read from the entire sensor! The only negative is that there is a roll-shutter effect since 30fps. If you shoot in this mode, with the camera on something steady at high speeds or in low light, you'll get pretty good motion blur. In general, in conditions of lack of light, this mode is very good.

2.7k--24fps--CIN-- Same as 2.7k--30fps--WIDE, only with cinematic cropping (top and bottom).

4k--15fps--WIDE-- Great for time lapse (with subsequent refinement in CineForm).

4k--12fps--CIN-- Same as 4k--15fps--WIDE, only lower frame rate and with cinematic cropping.

Protune mode

Auto This is my lifesaver when I use Protune. The camera does a great job of reading the brightness and light and adjusting the mode as needed. This allows you to get a visually coherent material, which is especially important when shooting in the snow. I'll briefly describe Protune's other color temperature modes below, but I don't really use them much.
3000K This mode should be used in very warm light, such as at sunset or sunrise. In a neutral environment (in a room with white walls), the video will have a blue tint.
5500K This mode should be used for brighter light, during the day for example. With a neutral environment, the video will be in warm colors.
6500K This mode should be used when the sky is overcast, in a neutral environment it has an even softer tint.
cam raw This mode does not correct the color balance, but simply records what the camera sees in a given situation. This mode can give you incredible possibilities for further editing (but videos shot under different lighting conditions will be very mixed, so in post-production you can face a huge amount of work!)

But there are a few important things to note about how Protune works - Protune won't make video better at night! With Protune in the dark, you will see a little more detail than you could with a camera of this size, but the price for this will be the noise that will be present where there should be complete darkness. So as soon as the sun goes below the horizon, it is better to turn off Protune. What's more, there's virtually no digital noise reduction in Protune mode, so you get both more detail and more noise. But as I said, in low light conditions the sensor in this camera works great (for a camera of this size). However, if GoPro added the ability to control the level of noise reduction to the camera, then it would be possible to get even better video in low light.

To summarize, for me - Protune+AutoWB + 1080-60, 2.7K, 1440-30; 1440 48 & are the most popular modes. I am also experimenting with 720-120 Narrow, 1080-60 Medium & and they seem to be great for me too.

I'll start with the main one.

What is an action camera and what is it for?

About terms. The phrase action-camera is understood as a small camera with a minimum of settings and controls, designed for shooting in various uncomfortable conditions, which dictates the basic requirements that such a camera must meet:

• minimum weight
• ease of mounting (ideally, an action camera can be mounted on anything, including a dog)
• a minimum of controls and, in general, a minimum of operator participation
• dust-, shock-, heat-, waterproof case
• the longest possible battery life (but not at the expense of weight)

Indispensable for skydivers and other flyers, skiers, surfers, divers and other extreme sportsmen. I especially want to draw attention to divers: in their case, an action camera can be a very cheap and convenient alternative to a bulky camera in.

Many companies are engaged in the production of action cameras, but here I will tell you about the camera of the company gopro, because it was she who was at my disposal.

GoPro Hero 3 action cameras

GoPro cameras have made their way into our market quite widely, and you can now find them in any more or less serious computer or photo store. They gained a large number of fans and received a diminutive name "goproshka".

The Hero 3 series cameras come in three variants (ordered in descending order of coolness):

• Black Edition
• Silver Edition
• white edition

They differ in capabilities and equipment, but structurally they are exactly the same. My camera, the one that is white (White edition) is the worst, but it also has quite pleasant, pleasing to the eye, properties.

Briefly about technical specifications GoPro Hero 3 White edition cameras:

The camera comes in an incredibly pretentious box, most of which is empty space. The box is crowned with a transparent cap made of thick plastic, under which we see, in fact, a camera in a hermetic box, mounted on a special platform.

Inside the box is:

• sealed box door
• two platforms on double-sided tape (for mounting on a flat and convex surface)
• paper about the guarantee
• a piece of paper saying that there are no instructions here, and everything that is interesting - see the website
• a piece of paper telling us to make sure we have the latest firmware
• some "GoPro(r) Be a Hero" stickers

A huge, too cool box is, of course, overkill, but the lack of a multi-page instruction for downs, and replacing it with a piece of paper that sends us to the site is right, at least they saved a little wood and saved users from unnecessary waste paper, which most of them even won't open.

On the side of the camera are connectors and a slot for a microSD card.

There are 3 buttons on the camera:

• on/off/mode switching
• shooting/photo
• on/off WiFi

WiFi is used to connect to a WiFi remote control or smartphone, on which you can install an application that allows you to remotely control the camera and see on the screen the same thing that it sees. Since I don’t have one or the other, this button annoys me, but if you have the appropriate devices, its benefits are obvious: after all, WiFi drains the battery 10-15% faster, so when it’s not needed, it makes sense to turn it off.

Video and photo quality, examples

Video quality I was satisfied almost completely (when it comes to shooting in good lighting). At least, it is much higher than that of a budget camera. The main mode I use is 720p at 30fps. One minute of video in this resolution weighs about 70 MB.

It's all about, basically, clarity and built-in deshaker which, by the way, works well. But with color reproduction things get a little worse.

The camera very noticeably "softens" the image, giving it a yellowish-pastel tone. Moreover, the color ratio is preserved, and when using auto levels in the editor, the picture acquires the lost blue and becomes much more similar to the original. But this is provided that there are no blockages in the frame, for example, a bright sun. If they are, all adjustments will have to be done manually. Here, for example, is the same frame shot on GoProshka and on a regular camera, see the difference:

GoPro Hero 3 camera features that won me over

Underwater photography

As you know, everyone who has ever snorkeled in more or less transparent waters must have thought that it would be great to capture underwater beauty in a photo or video. Some citizens solve this problem with underwater shooting boxes, to which this site is dedicated.

GoPro owners get an amazing bonus of underwater shooting without any additional devices: because the camera is already supplied with a hermetic box! And what is especially nice here is the price. For example, the GoPro Hero 3 White camera (including the box) costs $200, and the Canon Powershot G15 aqua box costs more than $300.

Let's add here the ability to attach a gopro to any part of the body, freeing up your hands and focusing on scuba diving and contemplating the beauties, and not on whether or not we are currently filming and how uncomfortable it is to paddle with one hand.

This is what a person who knows the problem firsthand tells you: I have ever dived with Canon camera SX100 in . Unfortunately, I can’t give an illustration of using the GoPro Hero 3 camera underwater yet, but I will correct it.

timelapse

For some strange reasons, the ability to shoot time lapses, with all the simplicity of its implementation, is not available in all cameras. And those in which it is implemented usually cost much more than $200.

GoPro cameras capture time lapses with adjustable frame intervals, which can be selected from the following set of values: 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, and 60 seconds.

Actually, that says it all. After all, capturing how quickly the sun sets and how wildly the clouds rush across the sky is, perhaps, the second obsessive desire of all amateur photographers after underwater photography and dew on the leaves.

GoPro Hero 3 White edition camera disadvantages

Yes, this camera, of course, also has disadvantages. I can draw your attention to the following:

1. The camera is designed exclusively for shooting in bright light, ideally on a clear day outdoors. When trying to shoot video indoors, an incredible amount of noise appears in the frame, and the overall video quality becomes indigestible.

2. Incorrect color reproduction, incl. in bright light (“softening” the picture, as mentioned above).

3. Very strange behavior of the camera when shooting a long time lapse, especially when the light starts to change (for example, the same sunset). From frame to frame, exposure and color balance can jump as they please. In low-light scenes, the camera can increase the exposure as it should be, or it can suddenly decide that enough is enough and set the parameters at which we can see only a black screen for the next thousand frames. Here is a good example illustrating all these jambs:

4. Camera GoPro Hero 3 shamelessly buggy. Maybe it's just my copy. But the glitches will be below in detail.

5. Of the less obvious and more controversial shortcomings: well, why not make more mounting lugs on the case? This would have made the structure heavier by a couple of grams, but how much more versatile the camera would have become in terms of mounting!

Well, since we're talking about fixing...

GoPro camera mounts - make or buy?

A little pleased with the acquisition, I thought. The two adhesive tape mounts included in the kit - one on a flat surface, the other on a convex one - did not impress me very much, because where to glue them, you still have to figure out, and then constantly live with the thought “what if it falls off?”

As a bonus third mount, a flat platform on which the camera stood during the sale can be used, but in my case this was also not an option, because. the length of the mounting lugs does not allow the camera to be positioned parallel to the site.

Well, there is an easy way here - to buy. After all, a crazy amount of different accessories are sold for GoPro cameras. If you look at the Internet on this topic, then, literally, your eyes start to run wide. And, it seems, each gizmo separately is not so expensive. It turns out expensive when the leading eyes also want this mount on the steering wheel for $ 20 and this for the head for 22 and this for the chest for 30 ... As a result, the amount quickly exceeds 100 bucks. In general, buying is not our way. And I decided to do it myself.

Homemade GoPro forehead mount

The first thing that came to mind was to adapt the mount from a headlamp. No sooner said than done, since there were plenty of substandard flashlights in my household.

Not as beautiful and functional as industrial. The main two drawbacks are the impossibility of quickly removing the camera from the site and the periodic spontaneous loosening of the nuts, accompanied by “pecking”. The disadvantage, in principle, is removable, but for now it will do.

Important point. Pay attention to the metal plates hammered between the fixing ears of the hermetic box. It is necessary to select them so that the total thickness of the plates exactly matches the gap, otherwise, when tightening the nuts, you have every chance to spoil the product!

The disadvantage of this GoPro mount on the forehead is its non-rigidity. When driving on a bumpy road, the camera jumps quite a lot relative to the head, adding jitter in order. In this regard, the fastening must be reinforced with additional straps, although, in my opinion, it is impossible to ensure a sufficiently rigid position on the head with the help of a brace. That is why cameras are very fond of mounting on helmets: a properly selected helmet is practically a single whole with the head.

Homemade GoPro camera mount on the chest and other parts of the body

The forehead mount easily transforms into a chest strap. It is enough to slip it under the tightened right place belt.

The mounting platform from the flashlight turned out to be quite versatile. With shorter straps, it can also be attached to places such as the ankle and knee. In general, there is room for creativity.

In the following video, I give examples of mounting the camera on different parts of the body during a ski trip.

For some unknown reason, my camera always turns out to be tilted to the right. Moreover, if at first I thought that I always ride with my head tilted, then I suddenly discovered that the same tilt is obtained when attached to the knee, ankle, chest. What is the catch - it is not clear. Either the camera warps a little towards the battery due to imbalance, or I fixed it on the site with an offset to the right.

Sometimes you really want to attach a bubble level to the goproshka.

Summary

Although the manufacturer will not pay me a cent for these lines, I will say that gopro- an extremely convenient thing, completely worth the money (of course, I was doubly pleased to receive it as a gift, but we're not talking about that). The scope for capturing reality from a variety of angles and in a variety of conditions, this camera provides huge.

For example, there is a video on Youtube where one American DIYer attached it to a radio-controlled glider, on which he descended from a height of about 30 kilometers, so we have someone to take an example from. Although, this do-it-yourselfer is not the only one, Youtube tells us that only the most notorious lazy person has not yet tried to attach a gopro to an airplane / glider / balloon. For example, I’m going to make a report with, but I’ll wait for the wind ...

UPD: Problems with the GoPro Hero 3 White camera: the camera does not turn on

Despite the general enthusiasm for the product, I regret to add the following unpleasant remark here. If in the future there will be problems with the camera, I will add their description here.

Description of the problem

For no apparent reason, the camera suddenly refused to turn on.

The harbinger of strange behavior was the flashing of the WiFi light, which could not be turned off by pressing the corresponding button. It helped only to remove the battery, after which the camera no longer turned on.

How did they do it?

Since the camera is under warranty, I didn’t try to climb inside, and without this, all options for action come down to the following:

• remove/insert memory card
• remove/insert USB
• remove/insert battery
• Turn on, turn off
• shake, knock, blow

And also to all possible combinations of the above actions.

Having resorted to all these measures at the time the problem was discovered, I did not get any effect, caught fire and went to bed, with the idea that now I need to look for warranty documents and ... in short, I lost my camera for a long time.

After about an hour I touched the camera - it turned out to be warm! In horror, I pulled out the battery, already suspecting that there was a short circuit inside, everything burned out, and the battery also died.

The camera worked after I blew into the battery compartment and then inserted the battery. After that, she began to turn on, turn off and shoot without any problems.

Causes of malfunction and disappointing conclusions

What was the reason is completely incomprehensible, but the incident leads to extremely unpleasant thoughts about reliability of GoPro cameras. And if this happened at the moment when it was supposed to be filmed the most valuable video in life?

For example, it was precisely because of these problems that the moment of flight from rescuers was not captured on video at the time, which is rather insulting.

I will definitely unsubscribe about further oddities in the behavior of the camera, although, of course, I really hope that the glitch was a one-time, caused by bad location satellites around Jupiter, and it will not happen again.

Continuation of a story

Alas, the disease progressed. About a month after writing the previous paragraph, the camera finally died: it refused to turn on and charge the battery when connected to USB. The “let it rest and try again” method, which worked well earlier, has now failed to produce results.

Recharging the battery outside the camera did not help either, and the methods of reviving the camera, which are in abundance at the request of “GoPro dead”, “GoPro won’t power on”, etc., did not work either.

Tellingly, there were no extraordinary actions with the camera, or its use in extreme conditions. The problem arose upon arrival home after a completely normal past video shooting.

In May 2014, the camera was handed over for warranty repair in Moscow and returned to me only in August. The fault is the motherboard that was replaced. As it turned out during a thorough examination, it was not the board that was replaced, but the entire camera as a whole (some characteristic abrasions on the case disappeared).

One way or another, let's hope that the problems are over. At the moment (December 20, 2014) — the flight is normal.

GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition is an action camera (or, as it is also called, “sports DVR”) of the third generation. Compact, somewhere three times smaller than the fourth iPhone, the camera is designed to shoot in the most unpredictable conditions where a conventional video camera simply cannot cope: water, dust, sand.

Thanks to its size and convenient mounts, GoPro can shoot while moving, in free fall or up to 60 meters under the water, even when your hands are busy with something else (wheels, for example). However, driving a selfie is not the best use of the GoPro Hero 3. Read on to find out where this miracle of technology can be used, what it can do and how it differs from a regular DVR.

Who cares?

GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition is the base model of third generation action cameras. It has a wider range of options than the White Edition (for example, a built-in Wi-Fi module), and is limited in comparison with the top Black. It also performs well as a video recording device (30 frames per second at Full HD and 60 at HD quality). Of course, the frame rate in 1080p is not enough to mount slow motion video from the footage, but in 720p you will be able to do it. And a rather suitable “soap box” can come out of a silver GoPro - with an 11 megapixel matrix, it is capable of taking pictures in series or in time lapse mode. In the latter, you set the frame capture rate yourself - from 0.5 to 30 seconds.

Characteristics:

• 11 megapixel matrix
• HD and Full HD video (60 and 30 fps respectively)
• photography in 11, 8 and 5 MP quality
• Protune mode (advanced color management capability)
• monochrome display on the front
• MicroUSB and Mini HDMI connectors
• 1050 mAh battery (enough for a little more than 3 hours of continuous shooting)
• microSD slot (supports cards up to 64 GB)
• built-in Wi-Fi module for remote control of the camera from a remote control (not included in the package) or from a smartphone (also not included :))

What's new?

So, we have already said that new version GoPro introduces Protune shooting mode. Let's talk about it in more detail. In this mode, you can manually select the white balance and increase the amount of video stream capture from the standard 15 Mb/s to 35 Mb/s. Thus, GoPro Hero 3 can be brought closer in terms of shooting quality to professional cameras.

Hero 3 also introduced a video capture mode called Video Looping. It allows you to record a video fragment of a given length an unlimited number of times. In principle, it is useful if you know exactly how long the moment you want to capture will last.

Contents of delivery:

• the camera itself
• plastic protective box
• covers for the box - ordinary and waterproof (up to 60 meters deep). The waterproof lid also provides reliable protection action cameras from dust and dirt.
• three-angle hinge
• flat mount
• stickers to fix the mount on flat and convex/concave surfaces
• USB cable
• brand name stickers
• instructions and warranty card

Camera remote control

As we already mentioned, Hero 3 Silver received a built-in Wi-Fi module. In an action camera, it is not needed at all in order to connect to the free Internet in cafes (and it doesn’t have such opportunities in principle). The camera can be remotely controlled via Wi-Fi. To do this, in addition to the camera itself, you can buy a remote control (remote control). It has the same two buttons as the camera and the exact same monochrome display. With the top version, the remote control is supplied, and for the silver version, you will have to pay another 80 euros for it. But this is not the most important thing. The camera can be controlled via Wi-Fi from a smartphone or tablet running Windows Mobile, Android or iOS. The remote control app is available for download on AppStore, Google Play and Windows Store.

IMPORTANT! Before installing the application, update the camera software from the official website! If you ignore the update, only android smartphones will work as a remote control.

And finally

Do not rush to order a camera "over the hill". Remember that the risk of such a purchase is $ 340 + shipping costs thrown to the wind. Firstly, you lose the 12-month warranty, and secondly, you can get an already broken camera.

To shoot video, it is advisable to install a class 10 memory card. It costs more, but it will affect the quality of the video.

One last thing: GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition performs poorly in the dark, but better than second-generation cameras.

Instead of a preface

The history of GoPro began during a trip to Australia by Nick Woodman. It was then that he decided to bring to life an idea that he had been thinking about for several years. He dreamed of conveying in photography the sensations that you experience when riding a perfect wave: what is it like to be inside a water tunnel and run your hand through the water that closes above your head? Cameras that could handle such a task in those days were very expensive, and only professionals could shoot such videos. Nick and his comrades wanted to become professionals (“go pro”) and look like heroes (“hero”) in the eyes of others. Thus, he set out to develop the world's first affordable wrist-mounted camera.

Contents of delivery

GoPro Hero 3 comes in a quality plastic box. On a special stand-mount, the camera itself flaunts in a waterproof case, and a rather rich set of accessories is compactly placed under the camera.

Despite such a serious set of accessories, you still have to buy additional ones, depending on the needs of the videographer.

And now the kit itself:

• the camera itself
• case with waterproof (up to 60 m) and conventional (non-sealed) lid for improved sound recording
• flat mount
• 3-way swivel
• stickers for attaching the mount itself to flat (1 pc.) and curved (1 pc.) surfaces
• USB cable
• 2 branded stickers (a la Apple)
• instruction
• warranty

Appearance

The camera is very light (74 g) and very tiny, even in a bulky waterproof case. Made from impact resistant plastic.

This is what the camera looks like with the iPhone 4S, with not the biggest and longest phone.

On the front there are two indicators (on and shooting), a monochrome display, a power button, which is also one of the control keys, and a slightly protruding lens.

On the left side there are HDMI, microUSB connectors, a slot for micro-SD memory cards (up to 64 Gb).

At the back is a 1050 mAh lithium-ion battery. Enough for 3-4 hours of active shooting.

Photo and video shooting

GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition has an 11-megapixel matrix, shoots Full HD (up to 30 fps), HD (up to 60 fps) and WVGA (848 × 480) 120 (!) fps. You can shoot excellent slow-motion, even at 60 fps. The image quality is quite good for this sensor size. Detailing starts to suffer in the dark. But in general, for an action camera, GoPro shoots just fine, copes with all its tasks 100%. There will be no videos of their own yet, since the camera has not been used in the conditions for which it is intended. But in the winter they will...

I think many people remember the video when the camera was thrown from the stratosphere, and it did not suffer at all ...

And here is how the camera was used on RedBull Mount biking.

Additional functions

There is a special accessory for GoPro cameras - a Wi-Fi remote control (supplied with the Black Edition). It duplicates the monochrome screen of the camera itself and receives a signal up to 200 m line of sight.

The same function is performed by a special GoPro application, which is available in the App Store, Play Market and even in the Windows Store.

White, Silver, Black… What to take?

As you know, there are three models of cameras that differ in the characteristics of shooting photos and videos, equipment and price. About each in order:

• White Edition: 5-megapixel sensor, full hd (up to 30 fps) and hd (up to 60 fps) shooting.
• Silver Edition: 11-megapixel sensor, full hd (up to 30 fps) and hd (up to 60 fps) shooting + WVGA (848×480) 120 fps shooting, shooting in Protune mode (special shooting mode with extended dynamic color range).
• Black Edition: 12-megapixel sensor, full hd (up to 60 fps) and hd (up to 120 fps) shooting + 2.7K (30 fps) and 4K (15 fps) shooting, Protune mode + remote control remote control via Wi-Fi.

Their post-GoPro Hero 3+ prices are $280, $340 and $440. I consider the Silver Edition to be the ideal option for buying, since it is unlikely that you will use the Wi-Fi remote control and shoot in 4K. The only plus is 120 fps in hd, you can shoot really cool slo-mo.

Conclusion

The GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition does a great job not only as an action camera, but also as a regular camera that you can use to capture memorable events, carry it around with you all the time and shoot fun slo-mo videos.

And imagine how cool you would look on skis or snowboard with a camera on your helmet among a crowd of “non-professionals”. It can also be used for a trip to the sea for shooting underwater and not only.

It may seem that if you are not involved in extreme sports, then you do not need such a camera. In fact, the camera is fraught with many hidden features and uses.