4 He’s a Jolly Good Go Pro

Specs and Photos for Go Pro HD Hero 4 Released!

It’s here…the long awaited and new (what should have been here earlier but ended up being the Go Pro HD Hero 3+)…the Go Pro HD Hero 4! Da-Naaaaa…

In order to garner a buying frenzy when the official announcement is made next month, it appears that Go Pro have released the specs of this latest addition early and it’s looking good (albeit a little predictable with 4k but unpredictable with manual controls!!).

I currently own the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Go Pros and love them all. All I wanted from this next edition was 4k at 30fps to match output from the Panasonic GH4.

4K is still in its infancy and barely anyone has a 4K TV yet but as I mention in this article on one of the benefits of 4K video, there is more to 4K than just a bigger picture.

Black edition gets 4k at 30fps, silver gets touchscreen included but neither has both!

The silver edition of the Go Pro HD Hero 4 will get a built in (built into the already tiny frame that is) touchscreen at the rear but only 15fps 4K video.

The black edition gets a mighty 30fps for 4K video but no rear touchscreen…boo!

So which do you buy? Check out the specs for each below and then give yourself a few weeks thinking time before deciding…

Go Pro HD Hero 4 – Silver Edition Specs

• Touchscreen Display (very nice)
• 4K at up to 15fps (boo)
  
• 2.7K at 30fps
• 1440p at 48fps
• 1080p at 60fps
• 960p at 100fps
• 720p at 120fps
• 12MP Photos at 30fps (nice)
• Manual controls to be confirmed (probably will be)

Go Pro HD Hero 4 – Black Edition Specs

• 4K at up to 30fps (excellent!)
• 2.7K at 50fps (nice)
• 1440p at 80fps
• 1080p at 120fps (very nice)
• 960p 120fps
• 720p 120fps (no 240fps…boo)
• Ultra Wide, Medium, and Narrow Settings for Lens
• Manual controls for ISO, Exposure, Color (NICE!!!!)
• Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
• Take 12 megapixel photos at 30 frames per second (nice)
• Mark key moments in footage for later (cool)
• Improved audio with 2x dynamic range (thank you)
• Waterproof to 40m
• QuikCapture allowing camera to be fired up and start filming with one button (like)
• Compatible with all Go Pro mounts and accessories (and so it should be)

For me, 4K at 30fps is excellent and manual controls even better!

If you have shot with any Go Pro in the past, you will know that auto exposure is a real pain. Ride your bike through a dark tunnel and you have a nasty exposure transition, especially when you leave a dark tunnel into bright light and you get complete burnout.

This will solve that once and for all.

1080p at 120fps is also extremely cool as you will be able to slow down your HD footage by 5 times when rendering out at 24p. Superb…I love slow motion and 1080p is going to be around for a lot longer yet despite 4K video appearing in many cameras now.

It appears, at the moment, that there are no real downers to these cameras (apart from the fact that neither has both a rear touchscreen and 4K at 30fps) especially as all the old accessories will fit. Well done for not getting greedy “Apple style” with all new connections etc.

It’s on my shopping list so watch out for a full review in the near future…

Comments, likes and shares always welcome below…will you be buying one?

Pre-order the new Go Pro HD Hero 4 from B and H Photovideo

GoPro HERO4 Black (Adventure Edition) – $499.99 Expected availability: October 05 2014

Silver (Adventure Edition) – $399.99 Expected availability: October 05 2014

GoPro HERO4 Black (Music Edition) – $499.99 Expected availability: October 05 2014

Silver (Music Edition) – $399.99 Expected availability: October 05 2014

Action Camera – $129.99 Expected availability: October 05 2014

Huge thanks to Petapixel for info and pics.

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