Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view

GoPro Hero 3 Plus

A year on and GoPro have tweaked the 3 series and have introduced the 3+. I have taken GoPros official release on the GoPro Hero 3 Plus and have added my commentary along the way.

GoPro Hero 3 Plus

So what is the difference between the Hero 3 and Hero 3+. Will you be underpowered if you have the Hero 3?

Both the Silver and Black editions have been upgraded to GoPro Hero 3 Plus level! The Hero 3 white edition remains within the range at the same price point.

The HERO3+ Black Edition is 20% smaller and lighter than previous models—making it the most mountable, wearable and versatile GoPro ever. However the Silver Edition of the Hero3+ is being listed as only 15% smaller and lighter I can’t see why unless it is a typo. The reduction in weight/size seems to be from tweaks to the outer case. There is marked difference in the comparison shots and the “old” case is being referred to as the BacPac Compatible Housing (197′ / 60m) suitable for the Hero3 and Hero3+. The bacpacs for the 3 will fit the 3+ which suggests that the form factor of the camera is similar if not the same.

GoPro Hero 3 Plus

Stunning video quality has made GoPro the world’s best-selling camera company, and the HERO3+ Black Edition continues this tradition. High-resolution, high-frame rate 1440p48, 1080p60, 960p100 and 720p120 video modes result in professional quality footage and allow for liquid-smooth slow motion playback. 4Kp15 and 2.7Kp30 enable ultra high-resolution, cinema quality capture. 4K capable TVs still haven’t reached the market place at a price point that would allow Jo Average to hang one up on his or her wall. Given that most GP footage ends up online there may be still some time before 4K is a must.

The HERO3+ Black Edition captures gorgeous 12MP stills at up to 30 frames per second—perfect for fast-action sequences. Time Lapse mode enables automatic photo capture at 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 second intervals. Continuous Photo shoots full-resolution stills at a steady 3, 5 or 10 frames per second when holding down the shutter button.

GoPro is proud to introduce SuperView, a video mode that captures the world’s most immersive wide angle perspective. It allows you to capture more of yourself and your surroundings in the shot—resulting in captivating, ultra engaging footage. Having a larger shooting window seems to be a great idea. Not sure if calling it SuperView is as good.

Want your camera to automatically adjust for low-light situations? Auto Low Light mode intelligently changes frame rates based on lighting conditions for enhanced low-light performance. It will be interesting so see whether this is actually a hardware or software function. I would suspect that it would be software related.

Enjoy crisper, clearer footage with reduced distortion. The HERO3+ Black Edition boasts a 33% increase in image sharpness thanks to its sharper lens and 2x reduction in imaging artifacts. The Black Edition Hero 3 already had a pretty good glass lens. So it will be interesting to check out a like for like video comparison.

Sound quality is as important as image quality. The HERO3+ Black Edition features upgraded audio performance, capturing even the most subtle of sounds—whether you’re recording voices, music or the roar of your engine on a spirited drive. Advanced wind-noise reduction technology keeps the audio clearer during high-speed activities.

Featuring a 30% increase in battery life, you can go longer and capture more with the HERO3+ Black Edition. The online store is listing the batteries as compatible with both the 3 and 3+. This again backs up my suggestion that the form factor has remained the same. It would also suggest that the GoPro’s use of power is more efficient as the new battery has only been bumped up from 1050mAh to 1180mAh.

With 4x faster connectivity to the GoPro App, you can preview content in near real-time2, and share your photos and videos quicker than ever. The GoPro App makes it easy to control your camera remotely with a smartphone or tablet—plus preview, play back and share your favorite shots via email, text, Facebook®, Instagram™ and more.3 Also enjoy enhanced connectivity to the included Wi-Fi Remote, which enables control of up to 50 cameras from distances of up to 600’/180m. This has always been possible with the latest software/App. Having a faster Wifi connection rate will make it better. Whether it will improve the real time lag is yet to be seen.

GoPro Hero 3 Plus

The camera still uses micro SD cards and supports up to 64GB. What is interesting is that GoPro are now listing Lexar cards with no sign of Sandisk on the site. This may well be the result of issues reported by some users on some of the forums.

So what does this all mean? The GoPro has received a set of minor tweaks that will appeal to only the real video enthusiast or professional. I now a silver and black editions and cannot justify an upgrade on the grounds of the tweaks listed above. The only real appeal again is the weight saving. If this is down to the case then £40 or so for a new housing in a few weeks time may be a viable upgrade.

There will be a GoPro Hero3+ landing here at Unsponsored HQ within the next few days. So watch this space.

1 Comment

  1. Daniel Jones

    As much as this looks good, I don’t think it’s anything to get excited about, it’s a smaller upgrade than before, and won’t really affect anyone but the most serious videographers. However the extra battery life and some of the new accessories certainly look interesting, if not a little overpriced

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