GoPro Hero 3 [White Edition] Review – Freeze Actions Into Crystal Clear Pictures
If you are looking for a quality Wi-Fi camera that is also easy on your pocket then you are in the right place. The GoPro Hero 3 White is chock full of features for its price point and gives you high-quality videos and pictures that you can cherish forever.
It is also social-media ready as it comes with a Wi-Fi features instantly share your fun moments on social network sites like Facebook, Twitter and much more. It also comes with a waterproof housing to be adventure-ready.
So whether you are surfing the giant waves or bungee jumping off a cliff or paragliding for the first time, you can capture everything in crystal clarity. Do not make the mistake of buying cheap cameras when you get a quality brand such as the GoPro at an affordable price.
Read on as we tease the features of the GoPro Hero 3 in our review below. You can then decide if it will be the right one for your requirements.
GoPro Hero 3 Features and Specs
- High-quality photos and pictures with a wide angle lens for superior coverage
- Different photo modes such as time-lapse and burst for the best shot
- Wi-Fi ready for instant photo sharing using the GoPro app
- Superior audio performance with wind-noise reduction
- A waterproof housing for protection up t0 60 m underwater
- Compatible with all BacPac accessories
Is The GoPro Hero 3 The Best Wi-Fi Action Camera on The Market?
If you love action sports and want to capture high-quality pictures and videos but do not want to invest in expensive cameras, then the GoPro Hero 3 might be a good choice for you. It will give you crisp and clear pictures and videos that you can instantly share with your Facebook friends or family.
True to its name the Hero 3 is chock full of features making it the center of all your adventures such as hiking, camping, trekking and more. Below we look at each of its features in great detail to help you get a clear picture of its capabilities.
Photo Capture Modes
Trying to get the perfect shot when there is a lot of action involved can be quite tricky. But leave it to the Hero 3 which comes with a number of modes to suit every scenario. You can take regular 5MP pictures or use the burst mode that quickly captures 3 frames per second to find just the right shot. No more trying to make everyone smile at the same time and click just at the right moment. There will definitely be one photo in your burst shots where everyone is smiling. Problem solved!
Enjoy hands-free shooting of pictures with the Tim-elapse feature. This comes in handy especially when your camera is mounted onto a gear and you are unable to use the shutter button every time. Simply set your camera to the Tim-elapse mode and select the time interval to be anywhere between 0.5 seconds to 60 seconds. The Hero 3 will then automatically click pictures at the set interval. In the end, you will have a huge set of pictures from which you can select only the best ones and share it with friends and family.
Videos
The GoPro lets you take stunning videos of all your fun-filled action moments with its 5 Megapixel camera. You can take videos up to 1080p resolution and with different frame rates. From 30 fps at 1080p to 30 fps at 960p to 60 fps at 720 p to 60fps at WVGA resolution, you will be amazed at the professional quality of the videos.
The Lens
The Hero 2 White features a f/2.8 lens which is a super wide angle lens that does not let anything go out of focus. It gives your videos the much desired fish-eye effect that the GoPro videos are popular for.
Whether your camera is gear-mounted or you want to take close range shots such as selfies, the Hero 3 gives you shots that come alive.
Audio
The Hero 3 is not great for just shooting immersive videos but it also comes with a matching audio performance for stunning videos that also sound great. It captures everything from the smallest of sounds to the loudest in the vicinity giving you clear audio for your footage.
As if that wasn’t enough it also has wind noise reduction which comes in handy while shooting sports and high-speed activities. You can also further improve the sound quality for underwater shooting by using the skeleton back cover.
Design
Source: hdvcam.net
The Hero 3 has a minimalistic design which adds understated elegance to its overall looks. It comes with an LCD panel and a monochromatic display on the front. There is also an indicator each for the Wi-Fi and recording on the front panel.
The back panel houses the 1050 mAh Lithium-ion battery that lasts up to 2 hours of continuous recording. On the right side panel is the Wi-Fi button which when turned on can connect the camera to the Wi-Fi remote or the GoPro app on your smart devices.
The left side has the slot for microSD card with a memory of up to 64GB. On either side of the camera are two powerful mics that pick up every little sound. The housing is made of high-quality poly-carbonate that makes the camera very durable.
Controls
Using the GoPro Hero3 is super-exciting as it is compatible with a variety of mounts and can be fixed to everything from helmets to vehicles to poles and much more. So you can have hands-free comfort when you are part of the fun and take great videos at the same time.
What’s even better is that you can control the camera with a Wi-Fi remote which can be fastened to your arms or wrists. Just like the Hero 3, the Wi-Fi remote too is waterproof and can be used to control up to 50 GoPro cameras at the same time. If you don’t want to use the remote you can also control the camera with GoPro app on your smartphone or your tablet.
Built-in Wi-Fi
When everyone today has a smartphone from which you can take pictures instantly and share with your friends, it only makes sense for your HD camera to be Wi-Fi ready.The Hero 3 lives up to the expectation of the internet age as it comes with a built-in Wi-Fi.
The built-in Wi-Fi serves two purposes. Firstly, you can use it to connect to the Wi-Fi enabled remote and control your camera from up to 600 meters away. Secondly, you can download the GoPro app on your smartphone or tablet and use them as a Wi-Fi remote to control the Hero 3.
This lets you adjust all camera settings remotely and also preview or playback your pictures instantly. You can also then post your pictures instantly to social network sites like Facebook and Twitter or share with email or text messaging.
Compact and Light
Unlike the bulky SLR cameras that require you to be super careful and have enough space in your bags, the Hero 3 is compact and light. It weighs just a mere 2.6 ounces and is very compact making it easy to take with you wherever you go. Because of its low profile body, it is also a great choice for gear mounted shooting of videos and images.
Waterproof
The Hero 3 comes with a waterproof housing that protects your camera up to a depth of 197 feet under water. The same housing also protects your camera from dirt and sand making it really long-lasting. So you can take your camera wherever you go and not worry about damaging it. It can take quite a beating giving you complete peace of mind.
BacPac Compatibility
You can make shooting with the Hero 3 more fun as it is compatible with all BacPac accessories. So you can team your camera with a Bacpac display to instantly playback photos and videos or preview them to make necessary adjustments to settings.
If you are going on a long trip where finding a power source can be difficult then you can also team the Hero 3 with a BacPac battery and increase the battery life of your camera.
Pros
- Superior quality videos due to the high 1080p resolution
- Built-in WiFi for quick transfer of photos to social media or other devices
- Good value for money as it has a number of features
- A compact construction than its predecessors
Cons
- The field of view is rather narrow when you use the 1080p mode
Conclusion
The GoPro Hero 3 truly lives up to its name and the hype. It can be used for taking action shots and high definition videos no matter where you are. As it is portable and water-proof, there is literally no place where you can’t use the Hero 3.
Don’t take our word for it as you can find rave reviews from customers who have used this little wonder of a camera that retails for a great price of under $200. It is one of the top selling Wi-Fi enabled HD cameras on the market that you can buy without thinking twice as it comes from a reliable brand such as GoPro. Go for it and capture all your great moments and freeze them forever.
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