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Released during fall 2012—just in time for the winter action season—the GoPro Hero3’s primary assets are that it is 30% smaller and weighs 25% less than its predecessor, the Hero2; includes a new f/2.8 lens; and has built-in Wi-Fi capability.
Since the versatility of the GoPro line of adventure cameras is that they can be worn on the body or mounted to action gear, it is a major advantage to make the Hero3 smaller and lighter. The height and width, at approximately 1.66 x 2.5” (42 x 60mm), remain the same, but the depth, or thickness of the camera body, has been reduced to approximately .67” (20mm). With a weight of 2.6 oz. (73.7g), the Hero3 is a powerful little image maker in such a small package that you’ll hardly know its there…until you look at the great photos and videos it records.
The new lens includes 6 elements, with an aspherical design that does a better job at reducing distortion and creating sharper images. You’ll also be able to capture more of the excitement of your adventures with a selection of field-of-views: ultra-wide, medium and narrow.
What may be the most important upgrade to the Hero3 Black Edition is a new processor that is twice as fast as the Hero2. For still photos, you can choose from 12-MP, 7-MP and 5-MP resolutions and four different modes: single-shot, time-lapse, burst and continuous. It’s nearly impossible to miss any of the action or environment with burst modes from 3fps during one second and as much as 30fps during three seconds. You’ll be able to capture 90 shots with a single push of a button. Select the time-lapse mode at various intervals, from as fast as a half-second to 60 seconds. The Hero3 Black Edition will also record still photos during video shooting; and you can select this interval as well as, from 5 to 60 seconds.
Video is king, however, on the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition. Not only have the technicians at GoPro improved the camera’s capability of recording in low light at twice the sharpness of the Hero2, but also they have given the camera a rather complete list of video recording resolutions and other features. You have a choice of 1080p Full-HD at as much as 60fps, 960p Tall HD video (4:3 aspect ratio) at as much as 100fps, 720p HD at as much as 120fps and WVGA 480p video at as much as 240fps, which allows you create great slow-motion action footage.
If that list of video specs wasn’t enough, the Hero3 is also capable of 1440p (4:3 aspect ratio) at as much as 48fps, 4K Cinema at 12 fps and 2.7k Cinema at as much as 30fps. To render cleaner sound recording, GoPro also upgraded the audio system with even better reduction of wind noise, so your friends will hear more of the sounds that add to the thrill of your adventure and puts them in the center of the action.
Of course, what makes the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition potentially the best action camera available today is the clear plastic shell in which it is protected from most of what you and the environment can do to it. The housing has been redesigned to accommodate the smaller size of the Hero3, but is waterproof to 197 feet (60m). This new shell includes three waterproof buttons that control the power/mode select button, shutter release and new Wi-Fi button. GoPro didn’t fool with the back panel, making it easily removable, so you can use one of the optional doors that allow for quick installation of any of GoPro’s matching BacPac accessories. With a new, two-stage lock on the door, the Hero3 camera body is even more protected than before.
The new GoPro Hero3 Black Edition digital camera comes as a complete package ready for any adventure or sports action that challenges you to test your limits.
Hero3 Black Edition Camera
Waterproof Housing
Wi-Fi Remote and Key Ring
Remote Charging Cable
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
QR Buckle
J-Hook Buckle
3-Way Pivot
1 Curves Adhesive Mount
1 Flat Adhesive Mount
Assorted Mounts and Hardware
USB Charging Cable
The GoPro Hero3 Black Edition Digital Camera is available from Amazon for $479.99
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