It’s made for those who jump, dive, sprint and scream in equal measure. What’s an adventure if it doesn’t set your adrenaline rushing?
IF YOU can spare around Rs 50,000 to spend on some exciting new piece of tech, what will you go for? My money is on mobile phones, a premium wireless speaker or maybe on amazing connected home electronics that you can play with through your mobile app. But if you’re not the homely kind and fancy a good ol’ adventure, I would suggest GoPro Hero 4.
WHAT’S IT FOR?
You wouldn’t know a 4k video until you’ve seen one, and the GoPro Hero 4 camera shoots them with ease. Looks do deceive, and at first look you might wonder why this costs Rs 45,000 of your hard-earned money. You should take another look.
GoPro Hero 4 isn’t made for selfies, groupies or clicking amazing mountain shots. It’s made for those who jump, dive, sprint and scream in equal measure. What’s an adventure if it doesn’t set your adrenaline rushing? You can mount it on your mountain bike, your light little motorcycle or even on your helmet as you set off on another rollercoaster of a journey. The waterproof casing does help a lot too!
WHAT’S IN THE CAMERA?
The camera is a 12MP one with a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor and an impressive f/2.8 aperture. The lens is pretty wide so you’ll be able to capture a lot more than on your smartphone camera.
While 4k videos look great, I’ll suggest you try out 1080p or 720p resolutions if you’re willing to preserve the battery for a long haul. These resolutions aren’t bad at all. Hero 4 can shoot great photos and videos in low light as well, so you shouldn’t worry much when it gets a little dark. If you want to try out the night mode, the camera will let you shoot 30-second stills at a time. Waiting for daylight will probably be a better idea.
OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
The best part about using a GoPro is that you can livestream everything you do. The camera connects through Wi-Fi with your smartphone internet and your phone app will let others views what you’re up to in real time. If you want to see your videos before you share them with others, a 64GB microSD card can save all your data for later use.
Be aware that the battery isn’t among the best and may fizzle out quickly if you do 4k videos or Wi-Fi. Rationing is the key here. If you’re rich, get an extra battery. But don’t even let the battery stop you from recording those amazing slo-mo videos!
You can view all the videos and stills on your Hero 4 through your Android or iOS phone by using the latter as a viewfinder. The camera’s settings also let you play with resolutions and adjust effects like brightness, sharpness, balance and exposure once you’re done with all the excitement.
WILL I BUY IT?
It depends. If I am planning to go on a long road trip and need to record the best bits, I will definitely consider the Hero 4. It’ll let me capture crisp photos and videos and back them up from time to time. However, the poor battery life will lead me to do all the research before I start packing and a helpful friend will probably buy me an extra battery.
However, pricing is the issue here. Will I spend 45k on an action cam that I’ll probably use only twice or thrice a year? I might, but if you live for the moment, you should go for it.