GoPro has announced the $199 HERO, a low cost, entry-level action camera. The HERO joins the $299 HERO5 and $399 USD HERO6 in GoPro’s lineup. With GoPro falling on tough times and the ever increasing number of lower cost action cameras flooding the market, the company look to be trying to win back the low-end consumer market that they once dominated.
The HERO features a 2-inch touch display, is waterproof to 30 feet, has voice control and video stabilisation, and on the surface at least, doesn’t appear to be much different from the companies more expensive offerings. What is different is the recording resolutions it can shoot at. The HERO has a maximum resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 at up to 60 frames per second. Unlike other GoPro cameras in the range, it can’t shoot in 4K resolutions or high frame rates. It’s also limited to a 60-degree field of view in all modes, which isn’t particularly wide if you compare it to the 80 and 120-degree options available in certain shooting modes on the HERO5.
The HERO uses an older Ambarella chip and not the GP1 image processor that is in the HERO6 Black. This is not that surprising given the difference in price between the HERO and the HERO6 Black. The HERO still records at 60Mb/s like the HERO5 and HERO6 Black models in MP4 (H.264). Unlike the HERO6 Black, it can’t record in H.265/HEVC. The biggest problem I can see looking at the specifications of the HERO is that it looks like it can only capture videos in 30p and 60p. There doesn’t seem to be any 24p,25p,50p frame rates available.
The HERO can take 10MP photos, which is slightly down from 12MP that the HERO5 Black and HERO6 Black can do. The other limitations it has is that it can only do burst shooting at 10fps, and there is only one-time lapse setting (0.5 seconds per shot).
The HERO is exactly the same size and weight as the HERO5 and HERO6 Black models and it uses the exact same batteries and USB and HDMI ports. It’s compatible with all the same accessories that are already available for the HERO 5 and HERO 6 Black cameras.
You can offload the HERO’s photos and videos to the GoPro app and share them. If you are looking for more, you can subscribe to GoPro’s PLUS subscription service. This gives you Cloud backup, damaged camera replacement, and 20-percent off accessory discounts. The PLUS subscription costs $4.99 USD a month, cancellable anytime.
The HERO isn’t a replacement for the HERO Sessions, GoPro will continue to sell that camera. The HERO Sessions was a marketing disaster for GoPro after they priced it too high and had to subsequently lower the price, not once, but twice.
Even at $199 USD, the HERO still lacks features found in much cheaper action cameras that are already available. The camera is clearly aimed at the consumer market and people looking to grab an affordable action camera for the first time. For working professionals, the HERO still looks to offer some value. If you only require HD then the low cost enables you to buy a few of them and use them almost as disposable cameras. The captured material should also cut in fairly easy with the more expensive HERO5 and HERO6 Black models.
HERO is already available to order and it is shipping as of today. Would you buy a GoPro HERO? Is it a case of too little too late? Let us know in the comments section below.
Key features
Award-Winning Image Quality: HD Video (1440p60 and 1080p60) and 10MP photo performance
2-Inch Touch Display: Using HERO is as easy as using your phone thanks to its touch display
Voice Control: Tell HERO to start and stop recording, take a photo, turn off and more
Waterproof + Extremely Durable: Waterproof up to 30’ (10M) and designed go everywhere your smartphone can’t
Video Stabilization: HERO features video stabilization that helps smooth out the shakes
Smartphone Compatible: HERO offloads your photos and videos to the GoPro app which creates fun, shareable videos for you, automatically
Body and Gear Mountable: compatible with 30+ GoPro mounting accessories
