I Have a Gopro Hero 7 Camera

GoPro is a camera that has revolutionized an industry whose name has become a household name. You often hear how any action camera is called by this name. In just 16 years after the creation of the first prototype, the manufacturing company, led by Nick Woodman, experienced rapid growth, and today it is the fastest growing company in the niche of cameras and cameras in the world with an annual turnover of more than 1.5 billion.

Nicholas Woodman, the founder of the company, an amateur photographer and an avid surfer, in the early 2000s got the idea to attach an existing camera to his hand to show how riding on a surfboard looks like with the eyes of a surfer, since shooting from the shore wasn’t so spectacular, and professional equipment was expensive and completely immobile. After several unsuccessful attempts, he decided to create his camera complete with a mount and an airtight box. That is how the GoPro company came about, today numbering more than twenty full-fledged action cameras, each with its own character, functionality and a set of accessories. But they are all united by one idea: “Go Pro”. literally, become a professional. And indeed, the capabilities of the camera and its mounts allow you to shoot, in no way inferior to professional athletes and operators.

The variety of released models and their external similarities often raise the question: what is the advantage of one model over another, and how to distinguish them? This article is intended to answer this question.

GP HERO (2005)

This is the first industrial model of GoPro, which was then called the GP HERO. Known for being the only camera to take photos on 35 mm film. She was powered by two AAA batteries. The delivery set included a camera, a hand mount and a sealed aquabox with the ability to immerse to a depth of 5 meters.

GoPro Digital HERO (2006)

GoPro Digital HERO is the first digital action camera in the world. The name changed from GP to the usual GoPro. Unlike its film predecessor, it supported the shooting of 10-seconds. then the camera did not have a slot for memory cards, and the amount of internal memory was only 16 MB. But already this was enough to win an army of fans and earn the first serious money on it.

The delivery has not changed: camera, waterproof box and soft mount on the arm. She also was powered by two finger batteries.

Gopro Digital Hero3 and Digital Hero5 (2007)

The following two models are very similar to the original Digital HERO in appearance and functionality, so they are easy to confuse.

Digital HERO3 differed from its predecessor in the presence of an SD card slot (support for a memory card up to 2 GB), and Digital HERO5. in a similar slot and an improved 5MP matrix.

GoPro Digital HERO Wide (2008)

Then Digital HERO Wide is released. a very important model in the company’s history. Since it included mounting not only on the arm, but also on the head and other parts of the body, the range of accessories began to rapidly develop, due to which GoPro made a splash among outdoor enthusiasts and became popular among the masses. The number of competitors trying to diligently copy the camera and its functionality has increased.

This is the first model with the ability to record in 640×480 resolution and equipped with a wide-angle lens, better known as “Fisheye”, with an angle of 170 degrees. The “Hero” matrix was inherited from the previous model, but the waterproof box and packaging concept changed, which has remained unchanged to this day: a stylish black box with accessories and documents, and above it is a plastic cube with a camera.

Gopro Hero 960 (2010)

The camera was further developed by abandoning AAA batteries in favor of a replaceable lithium battery, which made it possible to make a flat back surface. The design of the aquabox remained the same, but the box itself became a little deeper, since the novelty was several millimeters thicker. Manufacturers also refused the viewfinder window, which was present on all previously released models. over, the HERO 960 now shot at 960p and 720p.

Gopro HD Hero (2011)

The “elder brother” of the HERO 960 camera. Now on GoPro there is an opportunity to record FullHD in 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. For 2011, this was a major breakthrough. A multifunctional port has appeared on the back of the novelty, allowing you to connect BacPac accessories. LCD screens and additional batteries. HD HERO, like its budget alternative HERO 960, sold very well and contributed to the further growth of the company.

Gopro HD HERO2 (2011)

In 2011, the manufacturer following HD Hero launched its new development, the GoPro HD HERO2. The camera was equipped with an 11MP matrix and an advanced processor, which allowed HD HERO2 to shoot at a frequency of up to 120 fps. A new Protune mode has been added to the camera. a special shooting mode with an extended dynamic color range. The model was released in three different trim levels: Outdoor Edition with a helmet mount, Motorsport Edition with a suction mount and Surf Edition with a mount on a surfboard.

The manufacturer also released a new accessory: the BacPac Wi-Fi module with a remote control, using which it was possible to remotely control the capabilities and settings of the camera and tie it to mobile devices or a computer using a special program.

GoPro HERO3 White Edition, Silver Edition and Black Edition (2012)

Three new cameras were introduced at the end of 2012: GoPro HERO3 White, Silver and Black. They were 30% more compact and 25% lighter than their predecessors, despite the Wi-Fi module built into each new product, and were equipped with new waterproof boxes that withstand water pressure even at a depth of 45 meters. The complete accessories and camera mounts remain the same. The models themselves in this line could be distinguished from each other by the color of the number “3” on the front panel.

White copied the functionality of the HD HERO model: shooting photos in 5MP, 1080p with a frequency of up to 30 fps and 720p with a frequency of up to 60 fps. Silver copied HD HERO2: shooting photos in 11 MP, 1080p up to 30 fps, 720p up to 60 fps, WVGA (848×480) up to 120 fps and support for Protune mode. And the new flagship of the company, Black, has become incredibly popular in the market due to its capabilities: the camera took photos with 12MP resolution and 4K with a frequency of 15 fps and 2.7K with a frequency of 30 fps. over, the manufacturer decided to include the Wi-fi Remote in the Black Edition kit, which was previously only available with the BacPac Wi-Fi accessory. HERO3 Black, like the HD HERO2, was also available in three different trim levels: Adventure, Motorsport and Surf Edition. While the first two trim levels were no different from the box design, complete with a Surf Edition instead of straight and curved adhesive platforms, you could find a mount on a surfboard

GoPro HERO3 Silver Edition and Black Edition (2013)

In 2013, GoPro launches HERO3 Silver and Black, replacing the corresponding models of the previous generation. At the same time, the HERO3 White Edition still remains in the line as a budget model. Serious work was done on the bugs: stability was improved, the quality of shooting in low light, image stabilization, the battery capacity was increased and the noise reduction system was redesigned. Now the cameras were less warm during operation, which was so lacking in the previous series.

Externally, the models differed only in the “” sign next to the model name. Silver in FullHD resolution now shot at 60 fps, but the manufacturer decided to remove ProTune mode from its functionality. The technical specifications of the Black series have not changed much, but the equipment has undergone changes: the Motorsport version has disappeared, and a new version of Music has been added to Adventure and Surf with a special mount for musical instruments, a microphone stand mount and a clothespin mount in the kit.

The plastic in the HERO3 boxes has become a little thinner, the aquabox has become more compact and lighter, because of this the depth of immersion with it has decreased to 30 meters. However, the box was still compatible with previous generation cameras. Also, it became possible to connect an external microphone via an adapter.

Gopro Hero 2014

This camera is also known as GoPro HERO4 Gray Edition. This model inherited and developed the concept of the HD HERO model. Due to its low cost, it has become one of the leaders in the budget market.

Of the features, it should be noted a 5MP matrix, shooting in FullHD at a frequency of 30 fps, a capacious battery that allows continuous shooting up to 3 hours, interval shooting (Time Lapse) and a wide viewing angle (Superview). Of the obvious minuses: the lack of a Wi-Fi module, the battery built into the case, and the lack of the ability to get the camera out of the aquabox.

In the entire history of the company, this model is the most budgetary, its price at the time of the start of sales was only 129.

GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition and Black Edition (2014)

In September 2014, the manufacturer announced the release of two new models: HERO4 Silver and HERO4 Black. The package included a camera, waterproof box (immersion depth up to 40 meters), several mounts and a USB cable. The cameras weighed only 85 grams.

HERO4 Silver copied the functionality of HERO3 Black, but was sold without a remote control. instead, an LCD touch screen was built into the camera instead. The design has changed slightly: LEDs are now located near the monochrome screen. The ProTune mode also returned, the battery capacity increased and its location changed.

HERO4 Black externally differed from Silver only in the absence of an LCD screen (for economical battery consumption), but in the filling they had significant differences: now it was possible to shoot 4K with a frequency of 30 fps, 2.7K with a frequency of 60 fps and 1080p with a frequency of 120 fps, photo in 12MP resolution. Among the features of the model, it is worth noting burst shooting up to 30 fps, continuous shooting up to 10 fps, Time Lapse with an interval of 0.5 to 60 s, turning on the camera and starting recording with the click of a button (QuickCapture) and marking mode ( HiLight Tag). All three flagship configurations were inherited from HERO3 Black with the only exception that now the Adventure Edition has become known as the Standard Edition.

Gopro hero and HERO LCD (2015)

In 2015, two new models saw the light one after another: HERO and HERO LCD. Both new products were a logical continuation of HERO 2014, replacing it in the budget segment.

HERO differed from HERO 2014 in the presence of a Wi-Fi module, and HERO LCD in the presence of a Wi-Fi module and an LCD screen. Otherwise, the characteristics of the new models coincided with the characteristics of HERO 2014.

Gopro Hero4 Session (2015)

GoPro HERO4 Session was announced back in 2014 along with HERO4 Black and HERO4 Silver, however, camera sales began only in July 2015. HERO4 Session had the shape of a cube (a completely new format for GoPro) and turned out to be 50% smaller and 40% lighter than the cameras of the fourth series, with a side size of 38 mm and weighing only 74 grams. On top of the model was the “Record” button, below it was a small display. Another button was located on the back of the camera: it was responsible for displaying useful information on the screen and for turning on Wi-Fi. The Cube was waterproof to a depth of 10 meters and was equipped with two microphones for recording audio.

After the release of the 5th GoPro series, the manufacturer renamed HERO4 Session to HERO Session and reissued in a new, white box.

Gopro Hero5 Black Edition and Hero5 Session (2016)

In the fall of 2016, the manufacturer released a new series of cameras. GoPro HERO5 Black and HERO5 Session. Both models had a sealed enclosure that allowed you to dive to a depth of 10 meters without a special aquabox, equipped with voice control and digital stabilization function. They could automatically upload the footage to the GoPro Plus cloud (the cloud subscription, unfortunately, is not yet available).

HERO5 Black could be called a leader in the action camera market because of the following characteristics: the ability to shoot in 4K resolution at 30 fps, 1080p at 120 fps and 720p at 240 fps, photo in 12MP resolution, the ability to shoot in RAW format and the availability of a GPS module for telemetry. over, the HERO5 Black has an LCD touch screen with which you can control all the camera settings. HERO5 Session has slightly more modest characteristics: shooting in 4K resolution at 30 fps, 1080p at 90 fps, 720p at 120 fps and photos in 10MP resolution.

Gopro Hero6 Black (2017)

The new HERO6 Black model was released exactly one year later and became a logical continuation of the HERO5 Black. She inherited the appearance from her predecessor: the same stylish, sealed case in dark gray with an LCD screen on the back, which ensured full compatibility of accessories. At the hardware level, the differences are more significant: the camera was equipped with an optimized GP1 processor, which improved image quality and doubled the performance compared to HERO5 Black. Now GoPro could shoot in 4K resolution with a frequency of 60 fps, 2.7K with a frequency of 120 fps and 1080p with a frequency of 240 fps. This is really a major breakthrough for a small camera weighing only 117 grams. Also, thanks to the new Wi-fi module, support for 5GHz networks has appeared, image stabilization has improved, the quality of shooting in low light, and the ability to scale.

Gopro Fusion (2017)

The next model released by GoPro in the fall of 2017 was the 360-degree GoPro Fusion camera, capable of shooting spherical content in 5.2K30 and 3K60 resolutions. In general, the camera inherited some of the characteristic features of past GoPro models, for example, water resistance, shockproof, voice control, the ability to connect via Wi-Fi, GPS-module, etc., but also included several innovations. Of special note is the presence of two lenses, each of which writes to a separate memory card, an 18MP matrix, an updated futuristic design, an improved stabilization system and an increased battery capacity.

But special attention is not attracted to the appearance or technical characteristics of the camera, but to software designed specifically for this model. The first interesting feature is the ability to record and “glue” photos ands without visible seams. Another interesting feature is the ability to programmatically remove the complete monopod from the frame so that the immersion effect when viewing is maximum. And it is impossible not to mention OverCapture. with the help of this function built into the GoPro App and Fusion Studio, the user can turn spherical content into a traditional 2D format for further processing and export, for example, to social networks.

Gopro hero (2018)

In the spring of 2018, GoPro released a new camera for novice users. HERO 2018. The following can be said about the new product: the appearance and design completely coincide with the HERO6 Black and HERO5 Black, which will ensure full compatibility of mounts and accessories for these models. HERO 2018, like its predecessors, is shockproof and completely waterproof at a depth of 10 meters, is equipped with a removable 1220mAh battery, and is also equipped with a touch screen, electronic stabilization, Wi-Fi module and voice control.

However, if you look at the technical specifications of HERO 2018 in more detail, you will find that the model is really not aimed at professionals, but at beginner users: there are no 4K and 2.7K modes and some flagship functions, however, the novelty is capable of shooting in 1440p and 1080p at 60 frames per second, photo in 10 MP resolution and time lapse. And the most important difference between HERO 2018 and its predecessors is its price. The camera at the start of sales costs only 199, which ensures its accessibility to almost everyone who wants to buy GoPro.

GoPro HERO7 (2018)

In the fall of 2018, GoPro updated its line of cameras and introduced three new models: HERO7 White, HERO7 Silver, HERO7 Black. The cameras have a similar form factor, which ensures compatibility of accessories and mounts from previous models.

HERO7 White. model for beginners GoPro lovers. Durable, waterproof to a depth of 10 meters, supports in a resolution of 1440r60. The camera has built-in digital stabilization and is capable of taking photos in 10 MP resolution. The built-in battery provides up to 1.5 hours of continuous shooting.

HERO7 Silver, like the younger model, has a non-removable battery, but it can already shoot in 4K resolution. Digital stabilization, voice control, touch screen, the ability to take photos in HDR format. these and other features for which users love GoPro so much are implemented in HERO7 Silver.

HERO7 Black. No doubt the flagship model of this year. Manufacturers made a breakthrough by equipping the camera with digital three-axis stabilization. This preserves the compactness of the camera and allows you to get incredibly smooth even without the use of stabilizers. And the implementation of the live broadcast function will allow users to share moments of what is happening without lag in time. The camera is waterproof up to 10 meters, has a removable lens, which allows you to use an aquabox and dive to a depth of 60 meters. A removable battery, photos in a resolution of 12 MP and, of course, 4K with a frequency of 60 frames per second.

Also, for the most devoted fans of the company’s products, an exclusive limited edition of HERO7 Black in full white was released under the name HERO7 Black Dusk White.

GoPro HERO8 Black and GoPro Max

In the fall of 2019, GoPro once again made a technological leap and updated its line of cameras. On October 1, two professional-class products were presented to the public at once. the HERO8 Black model, which is the follower of last year’s flagship HERO7 Black, and HERO MAX. the sequel to the panoramic GoPro Fusion, so loved by fans of spherical shooting. Let us dwell on each of them in more detail.

GoPro HERO8 Black not only absorbed all the best features of previous top GoPro models, but also offered a number of revolutionary solutions that had not previously been seen in the action camera industry, namely, it received support for the so-called “modules”. additional accessories that are integrated into the camera’s ecosystem and allowing you to get a ready-made solution for shooting vlogs.

In particular, the presentation presented: a multifunctional media module with a microphone-gun, MicroHDMI, Type-C and 3.5 jack connectors, and two clips for connecting light sources, microphones and LCD screens, commonly referred to as the “cold shoe”, a compact folding module. A screen designed to simplify the lives of operators when shooting vlogs, as well as a waterproof and shockproof flashlight module that provides brightness up to 200 lumens. Manufacturers promised not to rest on their laurels and eventually release several more modules that will help operators to shoot on GoPro faster and better.

The camera itself has also undergone significant modifications. Firstly, the case design has changed: it has become a little bigger and narrower, microphones have been redesigned and improved, and the lens protective lens and the legendary “ear” mounts were integrated into the camera body, which eliminated the need for a mounting frame.

But the main changes concerned precisely the functionality: the device received support for the ultra-modern stabilization of HyperSmooth 2.0, which became available in all resolutions and at any frame rate. New features have been added: LiveBurst (similar to the LivePhoto function on the iPhone), NightLapse. the possibility of night time lapse, TimeWarp 2.0, improved HDR photos and live broadcasting on social networks in FullHD.

Of particular note is the redesigned HERO8 interface: it has become even friendlier, and for GoPro users who are just starting to understand the basics of action shooting, presets were invented. recommended preset settings for standard, sports, slow-motion and cinematic recording. We didn’t forget about the professionals: sharks of photography can now use all photo modes for shooting in RAW, and vlogers use revolutionary horizon alignment for cinematic shooting!

GoPro MAX, the long-awaited camera for spherical shooting, during the production of which engineers and designers took into account all the shortcomings of its predecessor, Fusion, and turned them into advantages, cannot be ignored. The camera itself is positioned by GoPro marketers as “Three cameras in one”: after all, in addition to shooting 360 ° in 5.6K30 resolution, the user can now shoot on each lens individually with parameters 1440p60, receiving standard 2D at the output. Also, future MAX users will clearly be delighted that now, for shooting panoramic content, they will need only one flash card, which was lacking in the previous generation model.

Of course, the manufacturer did not stop at only working on bugs and added several new, but much-needed and long-awaited features: to please vlogers, the device was equipped with an LCD screen from which you can control settings and monitor the shooting in real time. Audiophiles also did not stand aside: MAX is equipped with six (!) Microphones for excellent sound capture. Other important innovations include improved stabilization of MAX HyperSmooth and the MAX TimeWarp function, panoramic photographs with a viewing angle of 270 ° and live broadcast to social networks in FullHD. Finally, the integration with the GoPro App was completely redesigned to conveniently create and publish the resultings.

Summarizing the above, we can conclude the following conclusion: confidently following the trends, creating and improving our ecosystem of mounts and accessories and moving towards supporting blogging, the GoPro camera ceased to be a highly specialized device for action shooting and turned into a full-fledged means of expressing oneself that one wants to use every day and take with you everywhere and always.

In just 15 years after the release of the first industrial model, GoPro has made a huge leap from the manufacturer of film “soap holders” to the modern market leader in digital action cameras, which all the major players in this niche are guided by. This fact is confirmed by both multimillion-dollar sales and the presence of a huge number of GoPro fans.