While consumer video cameras have been around for decades now, it has only been a few years since actions cameras came to the market. An action camera strips out a lot of the features compared to regular video cameras in an aim to keep their size down. The first digital GoPro action camera features were extremely limited. It only had a 3MP sensor and could only shoot SD content. However, its size still allowed for up close action shots and gave so many people the ability to record spectacular videos. Just like with all consumer technology, it gets better as they years go on and GoPro have delivered throughout those years and not only brought new features and better performance, they managed to fit all of the upgrades into smaller devices.
The latest and greatest from GoPro is the Hero3+ Black Edition, which includes a 12MP sensor with a wide range of video shooting modes including 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, 2.7K@30fps, and 4K@15fps (fps depends on NTSC or PAL selection). There is also time-lapse, burst mode other features available, which should cover pretty much any need when it comes to shooting with an action camera. To start of the review, we have included the full specs below.
[accordion title=”Full Specifications” id=”specs”]
Weight
Camera: 74g (2.6oz)
Camera with housing: 136g (4.8oz)
Video Modes
| Video Resolution | 4K | 4K 17:9 | 2.7K | 2.7K 17:9 | 1440p | 1080p | 1080p SuperView | 960p | 720p | 720p SuperView | WVGA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTSC fps | 15 | 12 | 30 | 24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
240 |
| PAL fps | 12.5 | 12 | 25 | 24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
240 |
| Protune™ Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (except 48 fps) | Yes | Yes (except 48 fps) | No |
| Field of View (FOV) | Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide, Medium | Ultra Wide, Medium | Ultra Wide |
|
Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide |
|
Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide |
| Screen Resolution | 3840×2160 | 4096×2160 | 2704×1524 | 2704×1440 | 1920×1440 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 1280×960 | 1280×720 | 1280×720 | 848×480 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 17:9 | 16:9 | 17:9 | 4:3 | 16:9 | 16:9 | 4:3 | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 |
*720p120 and 720p100 support Ultra Wide and Narrow FOV only.
Video Format
H.264 codec, .mp4 file format
Advanced Video Capture Settings
SuperView™
Video mode that captures the world’s most immersive wide angle perspective. Allows you to capture more of yourself and your surroundings in the shot, and provides full widescreen playback.
SuperView Settings
| SuperView Mode | Video Resolution |
|---|---|
| 1080 SuperView | 1920 x 1080 |
| 720 SuperView | 1280 x 720 |
Protune™
Advanced video mode that yields stunning image quality and cinema-caliber video optimized for professional productions, giving content creators more flexibility and workflow efficiency.
- Captures images with less compression, giving content creators higher quality for professional productions.
- Protune enables manual control of White Balance, Color, ISO Limit, Sharpness and Exposure for advanced control and customization of your video footage.
- Records video in cinema-quality 24 fps, allowing you to easily intercut GoPro content with other source media without the need to perform fps conversion.
White Balance:
White Balance adjusts the overall color tone of videos.
| White Balance Setting | Recommended Lighting Conditions |
|---|---|
| 3000K (Default) | Warm Light (incandescent or sunrise/sunset lighting) |
| 5500K | Slightly cool light (cool fluorescent, average daylight) |
| 6500K | Cool light (overcast conditions) |
| Cam RAW | Industry standardized optimized color |
Color
Color allows you to adjust the color profile of your video footage. There are two Color options: GoPro Color (default) and Flat. GoPro Color delivers the same great color you get when Protune is turned OFF. Flat results in a neutral color profile that can be color-corrected to better match footage captured with other equipment, offering more flexibility in post-production.
| Color Setting | Resulting Color Profile |
|---|---|
| GoPro Color (Default) | GoPro color-corrected profile |
| Flat | Flat, neutral color profile |
ISO Limit
ISO Limit adjusts the camera’s sensitivity in low-light environments, and creates a balance between brightness and resulting image noise. A higher ISO Limit will result in brighter footage, but you may experience more noise. A lower ISO Limit will result in darker footage, but will deliver reduced noise.
| ISO Limit Setting | Resulting Video Quality |
|---|---|
| 6400 (Default) | Brighter video in low light, increased image noise |
| 1600 | Moderately bright video in low light, moderate image noise |
| 400 | Darker video in low light, reduced image noise |
Sharpness
Sharpness controls the sharpness of your video footage. There are three Sharpness options: Low, Medium and High.
| Sharpness Setting | Resulting Video Quality |
|---|---|
| High (Default) | Ultra-sharp video |
| Medium | Moderately sharp video |
| Low | Softer video that allows for more flexibility in post-production |
Looping Video
Records a continuous video loop that overwrites itself until you press the shutter button to stop it. It’s ideal for saving space on your memory card while waiting to catch a moment of action.
Exposure
Exposure compensation affects the brightness of your video. Adjusting Exposure can improve image quality when shooting in environments with contrasting lighting conditions.
| Exposure Settings |
|---|
| +2.0 |
| +1.5 |
| +1.0 |
| +0.5 |
| 0 (Default) |
| -0.5 |
| -1.0 |
| -1.5 |
| -2.0 |
Spot Meter
Ideal for filming within a dark space with the camera pointed towards a brighter setting (such as filming outdoors from within a car).
One Button
Upon powering on, the camera automatically begins recording video or capturing Time Lapse photos.
Auto Low Light
Automatically adjusts frame rates according to lighting conditions for enhanced low-light performance.
High Frame Rate Settings
| Bright Light | Medium Light | Low Light |
|---|---|---|
| 960p 100 fps | 960p 50 fps | 960p 25 fps |
| 720p 120 fps | 720p 60 fps | 720p 30 fps |
| 720p 100 fps | 720p 50 fps | 720p 25 fps |
| 720p SuperView 100 fps | 720p SuperView 50 fps | 720p SuperView 25 fps |
Medium to Low Frame Rate Settings
| Bright Light | Low Light |
|---|---|
| 1440p 48 fps | 1440p 24 fps |
| 1080p 60 fps | 1080p 30 fps |
| 1080p 50 fps | 1080p 25 fps |
| 1080p 48 fps | 1080p 24 fps |
| 1080p SuperView 60 fps | 1080p SuperView 30 fps |
| 1080p SuperView 50 fps | 1080p SuperView 25 fps |
| 1080p SuperView 48 fps | 1080p SuperView 24 fps |
| 960p 60 fps | 960p 30 fps |
| 960p 50 fps | 960p 25 fps |
| 960p 48 fps | 960p 24 fps |
| 720p 60 fps | 720p 30 fps |
| 720p 50 fps | 720p 25 fps |
| 720p SuperView 60 fps | 720p SuperView 30 fps |
| 720p SuperView 50 fps | 720p SuperView 25 fps |
| 720p SuperView 48 fps | 720p SuperView 24 fps |
Photo Modes
Still Photo
| Resolution | Field of View (FOV) | Screen Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| 12MP | Ultra Wide | 4000 x 3000 |
| 7MP |
|
3000 x 2250 |
| 5MP | Medium | 2560 x 1920 |
Time Lapse
0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, 60 second intervals
Burst Photo
- 30 photos/1 second, 30 photos/2 seconds, 30 photos/3 seconds
- 10 photos/1 second, 10 photos/2 seconds
- 5 photos/1 second
- 3 photos/1 second
Continuous Photo (up to 30 seconds)
- 3 photos/1 second
- 5 photos/1 second
- 10 photos/1 second
Simultaneous Video and Photo
| Photo Resolution | Photo Capture Interval | Video Resolution | Video fps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12MP | 5, 10, 30, 60 second intervals | 1440p | 24 |
| 7MP | 5, 10, 30, 60 second intervals | 1080p |
|
| 5MP | 5, 10, 30, 60 second intervals | 720p |
|
Photo Modes Overview
Still Photo
Capture a single photo.
Continuous Photo
Hold down the shutter button to continuously capture a series of photos until shutter button is released.
Simultaneous Video and Photo
Record video and capture Time Lapse photos at the same time.
Burst Photo
Capture up to 30 photos per second – perfect for fast action photography.
Time Lapse
Automatically capture a series of photos at timed intervals. Ideal for capturing photos when the camera is out of reach.
Image Quality + Optics
- 33% improved image sharpness compared to HERO3: Black Edition
- Ultra-sharp 6-element aspherical glass lens
- Fixed f/2.8 aperture
- Ultra wide angle field of view
Battery + Charging
- 30% longer battery life compared to HERO3: Black Edition
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Rated at 1180mAH, 3.7V, 4366mWh
Battery Life
The chart below indicates the approximate continuous recording time (hr:min) you can expect when shooting in various video modes using a fully-charged battery.*
| With Wi-Fi Off | With Wi-Fi On + Using Wi-Fi Remote | With Wi-Fi On + Using GoPro App | With Wi-Fi Off + Using LCD Touch BacPac™ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video Mode | Estimated Time | Estimated Time | Estimated Time | Estimated Time |
| 4K 15fps | 2:00 | 1:50 | 1:20 | 1:25 |
| 2.7K 30fps | 1:40 | 1:35 | 1:10 | 1:15 |
| 1440 48fps | 1:50 | 1:40 | 1:10 | 1:20 |
| 1080p 60fps | 1:30 | 1:20 | 1:00 | 1:10 |
| 1080p 30fps | 2:00 | 1:50 | 1:20 | 1:25 |
| 720p 120fps | 1:55 | 1:45 | 1:15 | 1:20 |
*Based on GoPro engineering testing. Actual performance may vary based on settings, environmental conditions and other factors. Maximum battery capacity will normally decrease with time and use.
Audio
- Mono, 48kHz, AAC compression with AGC (automatic gain control)
- Increased audio range by approx. 10dB compared to HERO3: Black Edition
- Handles approx. 2x greater volume without distortion compared to HERO3: Black Edition
- Supports 3.5mm stereo microphone via optional adapter (sold separately)
[/accordion]
The Hero3+ Black Edition
The Hero3+ Black Edition measurements comes in at 20-percent smaller than its predecessor. This makes it GoPro’s smallest camera to date. The front of the device has the power on/mode button, with the top containing the capture button. Both of these are used together to navigate the menu system for selecting different modes and settings.
The camera includes a Micro HDMI output, MIcroSD slot, and Mini USB cable on the right side. The left side has a button to activate/deactivate the WiFi.
The Hero3+Black Edition has a longer lasting battery compared to the previous Hero3, but is actually less compared to the Hero2 and Hero1 and even the Hero3+ Silver Edition, but this of course comes down to the difference in quality with resolutions, fps.
The WiFi remote is straight forward and acts like the display, capture modes, and power on/mode button as seen on the camera itself. Basically, this allows you to have the exact same control over the device, but remotely from a distance or without having to remove the camera from it’s placement.
The wireless remote can be connected to to your wrist with a strap or anything for that matter. Charging is done through a provided cable via USB.
GoPro App and Settings
The Hero3+ Black Edition comes with extensive settings for you to choose from with different resolutions, frame rates, and field of view. There is also a lot of modes ranging from continuous shooting, burst mode, and time lapse. While the full list below conveys all of the different modes and settings available, it’s not exactly straight forward. Thankfully Go Pro have an app that can be downloaded on either an Android or iOS device. The App allows users to connect directly to the Hero3+ Black Edition via WiFi and not only control all of these modes and settings, but also start recording and view previously taken videos and pictures as well. It even allows you to download them to your smartphone/tablet in various resolutions/sizes. We have included a list of the available modes and their respective frame rates, angles and features supported below.
Video Modes
| Video Resolution | 4K | 4K 17:9 | 2.7K | 2.7K 17:9 | 1440p | 1080p | 1080p SuperView | 960p | 720p | 720p SuperView | WVGA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTSC fps | 15 | 12 | 30 | 24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
240 |
| PAL fps | 12.5 | 12 | 25 | 24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
240 |
| Protune™ Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (except 48 fps) | Yes | Yes (except 48 fps) | No |
| Field of View (FOV) | Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide, Medium | Ultra Wide, Medium | Ultra Wide |
|
Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide |
|
Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide |
| Screen Resolution | 3840×2160 | 4096×2160 | 2704×1524 | 2704×1440 | 1920×1440 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 1280×960 | 1280×720 | 1280×720 | 848×480 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 17:9 | 16:9 | 17:9 | 4:3 | 16:9 | 16:9 | 4:3 | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 |
GoPro App
We have put together a good few screen shots of the app to give you a breakdown of how it looks and what kind of settings you can control on the Hero3+ Black Edition and its available features.
Viewing previously recorded images and videos within the GoPro app works much like the gallery within Android and iOS in general. You can easily download or view any files to your connected device, including different resolutions of the content for smaller sizes. The settings area gives you complete control over the GoPro camera.
Here we can see all of the video resolutions supported ranging from WVGA up to 4K. Each containing their own set of available frame rates. All the frame rates are again depended on NTSC or PAL selection. Above we can see 1080p resolution has 24/30/48/60fps available with NTSC selected. In PAL mode it has 24/25/48/50fps available.
The GoPro isn’t just about video and includes high quality images. Field of view options affects how much information is seen horizontially and includes wide, medium, and narrow.
Burst rate gives you a choice of how many images you wish to take in either 1/2/3 seconds . Time-lapse includes time options 0.5/1/2/5/10/30/60secs. Continuous shot mode will keep taking photos while the shutter button is pressed. It supports single shot, 3/5/10sps.
Other settings include keeping certain LED’s active during recording and device sounds levels.
Photos
Before we take a look at some video footage from the Her03+, let’s take a look at some photos we took, just for a quick idea of the quality of images it can provide.
Videos
While the Hero3+Black Edition supports a lot of video modes, we put together some videos using those that are supported on YouTube and most viewer-ship resolutions. The videos recorded below are 1080p@30fps and 1080p@24fps. Keep in mind that quality will have been affected by YouTube itself, and the original files will always have better quality, although that can be said about all videos on YouTube and doesn’t just apply to GoPro footage.
RC Plane
Snowboarding
Field of View Options
The Hero3+ Black Edition includes multiple FOV options: Narrow, Medium, and Wide. GoPro also provide a new superview fov option which comes as it’s own resolution (720p or 1080p). We included a short video below to show how each FOV looks, along with the new superview mode.
Conclusion
The GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition offers a massive range of modes, features, and support. It’s is clearly aimed at those who want the best possible quality and features available. The Black Edition comes with a water proof housing, 3-way pivot arm, and a set of adhesive clips (flat and curved). It also comes with a wireless remote to quickly start recording at a distance or without having to dismount the camera. The Go Pro app for Android and iOS further allows for more control over the camera and can act as a view finder for the device, allowing you to see what the camera can see with slight lag Direct downloading of previously recorded files to your phone/tablet is also available, but even more, allows for low or high quality download of any file.
The Hero3+ Black Edition quality truly speaks for itself, and we are flabbergasted at how GoPro continue to provide better quality and features with their latest products and yet, still manage to make them smaller and that is an important factor in the overall awesomeness of the Hero3+, as it allows you to pretty much place it anywhere without too much worry – such has been the nature of the GoPro cameras since their creation and it just keeps getting better.
The Go Pro name is clearly the king of the action camera world, and the Hero3+ Black Edition is not only GoPro’s greatest device to date, but also the best action camera we have seen. The only downside is the pretty high price tag of €449, but high quality products typically come with high price tags, and without a doubt the price doesn’t dissuade our opinion over the camera. We seriously feel that no one will regret purchasing the Hero3+ Black Edition. That being said, GoPro do offer other devices with less specs and performance compared to the Hero3+ Black Edition, and should you wish to still get high quality, then the Hero3+ Silver Edition and Hero3 White Edition are €100 and €200 cheaper respectively.
Our finally words on the GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition our pretty straight forward. It’s the best action camera that you will find. Its features, performance, and support are off the scale and nowhere near matched by competitor products. In fact, if your looking for something cheaper, then your best bet is one of the other GoPro models, but the Hero3+ Black Edition is your only really option if your looking for the best action camera available. We gladly award the GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition and Gold award, and more over, we can’t wait for what’s next and GoPro have us eagerly waiting.
