GoPro HERO3 Black Review | 96 Data compared

in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside You sent: 1 tab and said: 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside GoPro Hero3 review: GoPro bets big on its Hero3 Black Edition - CNET 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside

The GoPro Hero3 Black Edition delivers outstanding video quality, earning it the title of Motorcycle Action Camera of the Year for 2012. It features a redesigned f2.8 aspherical glass lens that provides sharper images and superior low-light performance. The camera captures up to 12MP photos and boasts highly impressive video formats. These include 1080p at 60fps, 2.7k Cinema, and 4k resolution. It also features built-in Wi-Fi, a wireless remote control, and a solid microSD slot mechanism. The automatic exposure algorithm functions seamlessly without visible stepping. Furthermore, it maintains compatibility with legacy BacPac accessories. Despite exceptional footage, the camera is heavily criticized for its clunky, square form factor. It requires a bulky waterproof housing and a fussy proprietary "fork" mount. The "yestertech" black-and-white text menu system is incredibly cumbersome. It lacks a "Back" button, requiring up to 29 separate button presses just to switch formats. Battery life is disappointing, lasting only about 30 minutes of recording time. Additionally, the unhinged side cover is easily lost. Finally, the excessively large, non-recyclable plastic retail box is labeled environmentally unfriendly.

The GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition is a lightweight and compact action camera designed for outdoor enthusiasts, offering unmatched sharpness and superior image quality in both daylight and low-light conditions. It features an expanded array of frame rates and high resolutions—including the ability to shoot 4K video—alongside a "Protune" mode that records uncompressed, raw video for detailed post-production editing. Built with physical flexibility, its waterproof housing (rated down to 197 feet) allows users to tilt the camera vertically on gear like surfboards, while its upgraded Wi-Fi capabilities support long-range control using an included wearable remote. Despite its top-tier video performance, the camera is heavily hindered by a dismal battery life, lasting only 88 minutes when recording at 1080p—significantly shorter than its main competitors. The battery meter also lacks precision, providing a simple three-bar layout instead of a detailed percentage display. Furthermore, navigating the deep menu settings on the tiny, non-backlit screen remains unintuitive, the 15fps 4K video mode is too choppy to be useful, the camera lacks a rotating lens, and the unattached protective cover for the mini USB and...

The GoPro HERO3: Black Edition is a compact action camera that delivers professional features and notable performance leaps over previous models, despite a few physical and usability drawbacks. A major highlight is its expanded resolution capabilities, offering 4K video recording, 2.7K capture at fluid television frame rates (24fps and 30fps), and a high-speed 720p mode capable of reaching 120fps for detailed slow-motion footage. It brings clear enhancements over its predecessor, the HERO2, including cleaner audio processing with a better wind noise reduction algorithm, improved dynamic range in dark environments to prevent blown-out highlights, and a streamlined menu system that lets users hold down the record button to instantly jump back into shooting mode. Furthermore, its case retains backward accessory compatibility, introduces a flat lens for sharper underwater focus, incorporates a safety slider lock, and features a dedicated side Wi-Fi button to easily pair with a smartphone or the included long-range, waterproof remote control. However, the camera has clear limitations, notably a short battery life that drains even faster if the Wi-Fi feature is left turned on. While the advertised 4K...

The GoPro Hero3 Black Edition is a slim, 2.6-ounce action camera that stands out for its outstanding video quality and versatile shooting modes. It is capable of recording 1080p video at a smooth 60 frames per second (fps) and introduces an industry-first 4K video capture at 15 fps. In real-world ski testing, its 1080p60 footage delivered crisp details, true-to-life colours, and low image noise under challenging light, easily outperforming competitors like the Sony Action Cam and Drift HD Ghost. The camera includes a waterproof housing depth-rated to 197 feet, a Wi-Fi remote capable of controlling up to 50 GoPros, Protune firmware for advanced colour correction, and 12-megapixel still image capture with a 30-shot-per-second burst mode. The review highlights several core pros and cons for this Editors' Choice winner. On the positive side, the camera delivers superb video clarity, includes a rugged build with a wide selection of mounts, features highly flexible shooting modes, and offers an easy-to-use two-button control scheme. On the negative side, the product is quite pricey and suffers from significant Wi-Fi implementation issues. Specifically, using the built-in...

The GoPro HERO3: Black Edition is a robust, lightweight action camera that introduces built-in Wi-Fi and 4K video recording capabilities, although its maximum 4K resolution is limited to 12fps. Shrunk in size and 25 grams lighter than its predecessor, the redesigned casing features a flat lens that drastically reduces internal fogging and allows for direct underwater use down to two meters without a separate dive housing. It features a 12-megapixel sensor capable of shooting 11MP photo bursts at 30fps, utilizing a smaller microSD card slot and an updated, easier-to-operate button layout. While an optional 5cm touchscreen LCD is available to simplify menu navigation and shot framing, it lacks independent power, drains the camera battery quickly, and remains difficult to view under bright sunlight. The camera's primary strengths include its versatile professional shooting modes, improved highlight detail retention, and integrated Wi-Fi connectivity. Furthermore, its physical updates yield a lighter, smaller form factor that seamlessly fits existing mounts while mitigating housing fog issues. On the downside, the sensor sacrifices detail in darker, low-light environments, and the automatic white balance occasionally skews images...

The review by Cyrus Sutton highlights the GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition as a major leap forward that elevates the compact action camera into professional film production. Key pros include its design, which is 30% smaller, 25% lighter, and thinner than previous models, making it far easier to mount on riders or drones. It features an upgraded f/2.8 6-element lens that heavily reduces the annoying bubble distortion of past generations, alongside a flat dive port providing tack-sharp clarity underwater. On the technical side, the review praises its powerful video frame rates—specifically shooting 120 fps at 720p, 100 fps at 960p, and 60 fps at 1080p—coupled with a high 35 megabyte per second ProTune data stream that delivers fuller dynamic range. It also boosts photography with 12-megapixel photos and a 30-frame-per-second burst mode, and incorporates built-in Wi-Fi for smartphone app control and a compact waterproof remote. However, the review also notes a few cons and trade-offs regarding the new device. Upgrading to the Hero 3 introduces a completely new Micro SD card format and a redesigned housing shape, meaning users cannot...

The GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition is a highly capable action camera designed for outdoor enthusiasts, offering unparalleled, professional-grade image quality that easily surpasses its competitors in both bright daylight and low-light environments. It features a significantly thinner, lighter footprint than its predecessor, a waterproof housing rated up to 197 feet, and an expansive ecosystem of versatile mounting options. Advanced options like the Protune mode give pros raw, uncompressed video at higher bitrates for editing, while versatile overcranking capabilities deliver buttery 5x slow-motion footage at 720p and 120fps. Additional usability perks include an included wearable Wi-Fi remote that controls the camera from up to 80 feet in dense areas, and cross-compatibility with older GoPro mounts. However, the camera suffers from a major tragic flaw: a dismal battery life that lasts just 88 minutes when recording at 1080p, falling far short of competitors like the Sony Action. Deep menu navigation on the tiny, non-backlit LCD screen remains clunky and non-intuitive without purchasing an expensive LCD Touch BacPak or waiting for the smartphone app. The device lacks a rotating lens, does not...

Abe Kislevitz’s guide highlights that the GoPro sensor uses a 12-megapixel, 4:3 aspect ratio, allowing for full sensor width readout that produces highly detailed, true 4K video. This approach maximizes data extraction from the wide-angle lens for superior image quality. Abe Kislevitz A noted limitation involves processor constraints when capturing 16:9 widescreen, which requires cropping the top and bottom of the 4:3 sensor rather than utilizing the full, wider 4:3 image. This scaling process results in a loss of vertical field of view for standard widescreen output.

The GoPro Hero3 Black Edition is lauded as a powerful, ultra-compact action camera featuring 4K video, cinema-grade 2.7K, and 1080p60 recording, along with a waterproof housing usable up to 197 feet. It offers versatile Wi-Fi connectivity for pairing with the GoPro mobile app for remote operations and live framing. YouTube · Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks, including a frustrating two-button interface, poor battery life when using Wi-Fi, and relatively weak still photo quality. Furthermore, the lack of an integrated viewfinder, requiring an optional LCD BacPac for display, and the clunky, often unnecessary included Wi-Fi Remote are cited as notable downsides.

The GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition is highlighted as a powerful, versatile action camera that is 30% smaller, 25% lighter, and twice as fast as its predecessor, featuring 4K video, 1080p at 60fps, and 12MP photos at 30fps. Key pros include the integrated Wi-Fi and inclusion of a waterproof housing, making it ideal for capturing high-stakes action. Conversely, the review notes significant cons, most notably the lack of an integrated viewfinder screen for real-time viewing. To achieve live viewing, users must purchase an additional, separate touch-screen LCD BacPac, and the compact design requires care to avoid blocking the lens with fingers when shooting handheld.

The GoPro HERO3 Black Edition achieves a record-breaking DxOMark Mobile video score of 75 due to its specialized action-camera design. Key strengths include exceptional exposure control that minimizes highlight clipping, low-noise footage in bright light, and sharp details across an immense depth of field (from 30cm to infinity) without needing active autofocus. Its ultra-wide 170° lens inherently reduces visible camera shake and motion blur. Additionally, the camera supports high frame rates up to 240fps for smooth slow motion, weighs under 75g, features built-in Wi-Fi, offers a professional Protune video mode, and comes with a 60-metre waterproof housing. However, the specialized wide-angle design introduces distinct drawbacks, including massive fisheye distortion and severe lateral chromatic aberration that causes color fringing at the frame edges. As a still camera, it ranks lower with a photo score of 68, suffering from a complete lack of a built-in flash, a white balance yellow bias, and low color saturation. It struggles significantly in low light, stretching exposure times to 1/6s at 20 lux, which results in severe motion blur. Finally, the hardware compromises on user convenience;...

The GoPro Hero3 Black Edition delivers exceptional image quality and highly detailed footage using a high 20,025Mbit/s video bit rate, making it a standout performer when stationary or in low-vibration environments. The camera features a large 1/2.3-inch sensor that enhances low-light capture and allows for 12-megapixel photos and fast 30fps burst shooting. It is highly versatile, offering comprehensive resolution options including 1080p at 60fps and 720p at 100fps for smooth slow-motion editing. Users will find the physical design user-friendly, highlighted by handy recording LEDs flashing on three separate sides to clearly signal when recording is active. Furthermore, its compatibility with a massive ecosystem of existing mounts, combined with a robust smartphone app for direct Wi-Fi controls and live previews, ensures deep utility and seamless mounting options.