GoPro Gets Even Tinier With Hero4 Session: Here's Why You Should Buy It
Smallest. GoPro. Ever.
By Sadho Ram — 07 Jul 2015, 02:40 PM
At 1.5-inch, the GoPro HERO4 Session is the company's smallest camera ever, (it's 50% smaller than other HERO4 cameras). Cube-shaped, it sits perfectly in your palm and can shoot 1080p video, still images, and time-lapses. There's only one main button which takes just one tap to turn it on and start recording, and one tap to stop.
What's more is that, unlike its bulkier older brothers, the HERO4 Session doesn't require a plastic box to be taken out into the water
The Session, available on July 12 worldwide, is superior in every possible way: It has the high-quality HD video recording you expect from a GoPro and a new dual-microphone system for the best sound out of any GoPro.
The Session's sealed design also means it's waterproof up to 33 feet without needing a waterproof case the way other GoPros do.
mashable.com
The Hero4 Session features several distant advantages over its counterparts. First, it doesn’t need a case to be waterproof or shockproof. This is key. Other GoPro cameras require various cases and accessories to survive a dip in the pool or a bounce on the floor. The Session waterproof to 10 meters.
With the waterproofing, GoPro built a new microphone system that works similarly to human ears. A membrane drains water that’s trapped on the microphones. And this happens crazy quick: Just a second or two. This means that the GoPro can pick up clear audio moments after leaving the water. There is also a rear-facing microphone, which the camera switches to when it detects high amounts of wind noise on the front microphone.
The Session detects its mounting orientation and automatically rotates the video.
techcrunch.com
The smaller size, however, comes with concessions
The camera lacks the 4k recording capability found in GoPro’s high-end models. The battery is also not replaceable or swappable. Yet the camera still hits a sweet spot. The Hero4 Session is the best GoPro yet.
techcrunch.com
But the sticking point for consumers is still going to be the price. It’s $399, which is the same price as the HERO4 Silver, which, as the Verge points out, can shoot at a higher resolution and can take higher resolution still photos as well.
On top of that, the Session isn’t the only cube-shaped action camera on the market. Polaroid’s CUBE camera costs $99 and can also shoot 1080p video, though its battery life isn’t quite as long.
qz.com
GoPro is also launching a handful of new mounts
First there’s the Ball Joint Buckle, which is basically your standard GoPro clip with the ability to rotate the camera around 360 degrees without having to unclip it. One will come with every Hero4 Session and they’ll be available separately, too, for a price that’s yet to be determined.
There’s also The Floaty, which you jam your Session into to keep it from sinking. It’s made from the same kind of foam rubber they use for Crocs. That’ll be 20 bucks. My favorite new mount is The Strap (a.k.a. the Ironman, unofficially). It’s very versatile and allows you to attach your camera to your hand, leg, arm, wrist, foot, etc. That’ll run you $60.
wired.com
There’s also The Jam for mounting GoPros to musical instruments ($70, which is steep), and the Casey, which is GoPro’s first storage/organization solution for your camera and all its little parts. Lastly, there’s the WindSlayer, which is a windscreen made of foam that goes around your Hero3, 3+, or 4 when it’s in the Frame mount. It muffles that rushing sound of wind which should result in less shrieky video. Twenty bucks for that.
wired.com
Why you should buy it
It's a versatile, durable, waterproof camera for capturing fast-paced moments of life, minus the complicated nature of previous GoPro's two-button design and menu system.
The HERO4 Session would be a good addition to a content creator's camera kit, enabling them to capture some unique perspectives that weren’t available before, effectively enhancing their storytelling abilities.
Its lightness and low-profile design make it a great complement for bikers who want a helmet-mounted action cam, or musicians looking to capture interesting angles at a gig.
The smaller size also makes it easier to hide — a big boon for hidden camera shows or for recording reactions.
This is the easiest to use GoPro yet.
It's a little 1.5-inch cube, so it's small enough to mount just about anywhere. Fully waterproof without a case, even the microphones.
The Session's small size makes it mountable in places the other bigger Hero cameras can't be.
Image via Mashable