GoPro launches HD Hero3 camera line including Black Edition that can shoot 4K video
posted Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 9:57 AM EDT
GoPro launched its new HD Hero3 camera line this morning, which includes three versions in white, silver and black. The black model, officially called the HD Hero3 Black Edition, is the real headline-maker since it's capable of shooting 4K video, which is a first for a small rugged action camera.
While 4K video is a cool feature, it's the poky 12fps speed that might not be so cool. 4K is approximately four times the resolution of 1080p HD, which will also make the file size much bigger.
The GoPro HD Hero3 Black Edition also records 2.7K video at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps, and 720p at 120fps, for slow-motion playback.
With the help of its 12MP sensor, the Black Edition can shoot still photos in 30fps bursts.
The Silver Edition can shoot 1080p at 30fps, 960p at 48fps, and 720p at 60fps. It has an 11MP sensor and can shoot 10fps still image bursts. The White Edition has the same video specs as the Silver but uses a 5MP sensor for 3fps photo bursts.
The compact HD Hero3 camera line is approximately half the size of the previous model and includes built-in WiFi in all three editions. You can now pre-order the Black, Silver and White editions at GoPro.com for $399, $299 and $199, respectively. They're also slated to go on sale at photo specialty stores in the coming weeks.
Below is a clip of HD Hero3 Black Edition sample footage posted by GoPro. It's a must-watch.