16.1.2018

This all-rounded GoPro should suit the needs for most people with an active lifestyle. This review will be more of a comparison between the Hero 3+ and Hero 5 as I own both products. Is the Hero 5 overkill? Maybe. Is the Hero 3+ lacking in features? Maybe. I will share my thoughts and opinions and hopefully you can draw a conclusion on whether or not this camera will be of use to you.Camera quality:The Hero 3+ does not support 4K. That may be an issue for some in this day and age but for most, including myself, it is completely fine. The simple reason I’m happy with that is because 4K videos use SO much space. You will not be recording much with 4K quality unless you are shooting for movies or something.I probably wouldn’t even use 1080 as that also uses a LOT of space. 720 is probably most commonly used. When skiing with my family recently, we used 720p almost all of the time. A 32gb memory card will be full in around an hour with 4K. For that reason I wouldn’t give the Hero 5 an edge in this department though it’s nice to know that feature is there.Battery:This will be very important for many people. The battery life is not great but I would mainly blame the lack of technology available for that. The Hero 3+ has 1180 mAh while the Hero 5 has 1220 mAh which is exactly 3.39% which is negligible. You would get roughly 2:30mins from a full charge with the Hero 3+ and in fact the Hero 5’s battery is slightly worse presumably due to the screen included. You will get about 2:20 mins with the Hero 5. You should note that the battery in the Hero 3+ is non-removable but the one in the Hero 5 is removable. That shouldn’t mean much to the average user but it just means that when the battery wares away over time, you won’t be able to swap it for a new one. I haven’t found that to be a problem as I have gotten a new GoPro before the battery deteriorated noticeably but it might bother some.Microphone:I have found the microphone in the 3 to be of good sound quality. It only has 1 while the Hero 5 has 3 for stereo. The Hero 3 has a mic in option so if stereo sound is essential then it is possible with an external microphone. The Hero 3+ does not have voice commands like the Hero 5 which is a pity. The voice commands are great especially when your hands aren’t free. It means you can stop and start recording without using your hands. It is a really cool feature to have but probably more of a gimmick to be honest.Screen:This is probably the biggest drawback for the Hero 3+. Not having a screen means not knowing exactly where the camera is shooting. This won’t be a problem if you wear the camera on a helmet or use it for something not requiring accuracy but it can be quite frustrating. If you compare it to the Hero 5 which has a nice, HD screen. It looks great and makes the whole experience much more worthwhile. It shows exactly what the camera sees and makes using the camera easier. It is much more simple to us and change settings. With the Hero 3+, There is only two buttons meaning you have to go through many options when using them for tasks like settings. The Hero 5’s screen also powers out automatically which is highly useful. The addition of a screen makes such a difference and would definitely be a game-changer for me.Accessories:There are many accessories you can purchase for both the Hero 3+ and Hero 5. Ones I have include a waterproof case, head strap, suction mount and extension pole but there are many more you can purchase. There is a great selection for both the Hero 3+ and 5.Why 4 stars?I may have given the Hero 3+ 5 stars when it came out but it’s hard to do that now when there are great alternatives on the market at better prices not to mention the newer GoPros. Obviously GoPro is a name to trust when it comes to action cameras but a quick look at the competitor’s specs and you’ll see there isn’t much of a difference. Also, because of the lack of a screen with the Hero 3+ is a big factor. For these and other reasons I opted for 4 stars.Extras:Both the GoPro Hero 3+ and Hero 5 have WiFi built-in. A nice little feature to have. The Hero 3+ is missing GPS whereas that is included in the 5 but it probably soundly be used often because it drains the battery considerably. Other things that aren’t in the 3+ but are with the 5 include time lapse function, slow motion function, stereo microphone, BSI sensor (backside illuminated), CMOS sensor, faster WiFi and voice commands.Ratings (compared to Hero 5)Features: 6/10Value: 9/10Performance:10/10Camera quality: 8/10Ease of use: 9/10OVERALL: 8/10This has been my comparison and review for the GoPro Hero 3+ and Hero 5. As you can see, there are many differences yet most of them are negligible. At the end of the day it comes down to functionality vs value. Can you justify spending much more on the newer model or are you happy with the lower-end specs with a smaller price tag? Ultimately it is up to you but I hope this review has been of help to you for deciding which camera to get. I highly recommend this camera and no matter what, you won’t be disappointed with this purchase.

28.5.2015

This is one awesome camcorder!After the release of the new GoPro HERO 2014, I realised that GoPros weren't just for people who do sports stuff. I realised Gopros could be used as your everyday camcorder. So i got interested as i'm a keen videographer person!So, after some very in depth research (as i would be sacrificing my expensive field trip to wales for this and would be my only christmas present) i found the the Hero 3+ silver was going very cheap at £199! I knew it wasn't going to stay at that price (which was the top of my budget) so i bought it quickly and knowing GoPro as a very good company, i didn't bat an eyelid about it being a terrible camera. It ISN'T!//UNBOXINGThe unboxing experience is maybe the best bit!! The GoPro comes with a J-Quick release buckle for mounting your camera to vertical stuff (Like the chesty), two adhesive mounts (one curved, one flat), a 3 way pivot arm (for turning your Gopro 90 degrees or extending the mount), a locking lug and a USB cable, along with your camera and housing itself. It comes with enough kit so that if you have a helmet or other piece of equipment you'd want to mount your GoPro on with the sticky mounts, you're ready to get started! Because i'm not a sporty person and don't have a need (yet) for the sticky mounts, i didn't have a lot to get started! Note that the camera doesn't come with a microSD card. This must be bought separately and needs to be class 10.// INITIAL THOUGHTS + SETUPThe camera itself is TINY! Taking it out of the case for the first time was a little scary - it felt like i was going to break it! This didn't bother me , i just couldn't get my head round the fact that other versions of this camera that were the same size could film in 4K.To get started, i didn't need the manual. I may be just a little techy, but once you've got used to the buttons and how to un-screw/screw and use the QR mounts, the GoPro set up process is next to nothing.I first charged the battery. It came with a partial charge but I decided to charge it then and now so i could mess around with the camera as much as i liked later. Note the battery must be inserted into the camera first - an easy process which is very self explanatory. I then changed the resolution on the camera to suit my needs. The 720p120 mode is excellent, and can produce EPIC slow motion especially with the aid of Flux in GoPro studio. Mostly I use 1080p60 if battery life isn't a problem.Another thing I did during set up was download the mobile app on my phone. This is very easy easy to use - it's not only a viewfinder - you can change all settings, modes and even watch your footage and download it straight onto your phone or tablet! I use this a lot to share my photos on facebook and instagram. This app is definitely a MUST.After i had gathered a few mounts from my family, I was starting to realise what a versatile camera this really is! I haven't had a situation when i haven't been able to mount my camera. The HUGE array of mounts is fantastic!Because i'm musical, I care a lot about the sound quality as sometimes i record myself playing drums at church. The mics on the GoPro are AMAZING! I know lots of people say the sound quality is bad, but it really isn't! The bassyness is amazing and is not tinny whatsoever. This is one of the best things about this camera - I LOVE IT!The 170 degrees lens is awesome and lets you capture everything you want. The image quality is superb, and i'm starting to prefer my GoPro to my £145 camcorder!// MOUNTING SOLUTIONSBecause there are so many GoPro mounts - here are the ones I use and some that i recommend you get:Recommended:- Suction cup- Jaws flex Clamp- Chesty- Floaty Backdoor- Spare batterys (3rd party - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Li-Polymer-Replacement-AHDBT-201-AHDBT-301-AHDBT-302/dp/B00M3PAWFI?ref_=pe_780071_41837251 )As a musical person, i recommend:- The Frame- Jaws Flex Clamp- Removable instrument mounts- Mic Stand MountThe frame helps you get better audio and gives you access to the side HDMI and USB ports. I use it all the time. The skeleton housing you can buy is pointless - do not buy!// CUSTOMER SERVICECustomer service from GoPro is top notch:Once my suction cup fell off my car window (as i might have not secured it properly) When the gopro hit the ground, the housing snapped open and the camera fell out. I email GoPro customer service, and within two days, i had a reply asking for pictures, then for my postal address so that i could get a replacement housing. The staff at Gopro were really helpful and even if you don't have gopro issue, they are still the for technical service. I couldn't ask for better// CONCLUSIONThe GoPro Hero 3+ silver as an awesome camera. Everything from the sound, video, image quality and the size of it is phenomenal and i couldn't be happier with my purchase. This is a must have for literally ANYONE!Be warned - You will never have enough mounts! Be prepared to splash the cash. But for now, have fun, and capture your life, like a true HERO!

12.5.2016

Got an adventurous spirit? A love of video? If either of those apply to you, then you're likely well familiar with GoPro. Heck, if you nodded "yes" to both, then there's a chance you actually even own one. My review shows my honest opinions on my new GOPRO HERO 3+.DesignGoPro claims that the new HERO3+ models are smaller and lighter but you won’t really notice it if you look at the pictures. Other than the obvious HERO3+ label, the camera’s dimensions, control layout and small monochrome LCD are all the same. But place the HERO3+ Silver Edition within the new waterproof housing and the size difference immediately becomes obvious. Thanks to the slim design, this waterproof casing doesn’t add any significant bulk to the device.Compared to the HERO3 Silver Edition with the older housing, the GoPro HERO3+ Silver Edition gets a cool 20% reduction in size and 15% reduction in weight. You can actually leave the camera within the housing to protect it from harsh conditions without sacrificing portability. Accessories and mounts remain convenient to use with the housing on. The waterproof capability is reduced to a maximum of 40 meters deep compared to 60 meters with the older model but the versatility advantages should impress the majority. Besides, the old housing will still be available as the “Diver Case” and it retains compatibility with the HERO3+ Silver Edition since the physical dimensions are the same as the older HERO3 model anyway.Featuresit is now possible to record in full 1080p video at 60 fps so you don’t have to dial down to 720p for high-speed action. 720p remains a compelling option as it now supports 120 fps as well. These improvements alone make the GoPro HERO3+ Silver Edition superior than the original HERO3 Black Edition. While the Silver Edition lacks the SuperView and Auto Low Light modes exclusively featured in the HERO3+ Black Edition, the HERO3+ Silver Edition remains strong with impressive low-light performance and sharp imagery.Audio quality has been improved as well and you should notice these improvements if you record in windy environments. The mic can capture very subtle noises while the advanced wind-noise reduction technology kicks in to improve the clarity of more important noises. Even the battery life has been improved which is pretty amazing since the physical dimensions of the camera hasn’t changed. Expect the GoPro HERO3+ Silver Edition to last about 30% longer than any of the HERO3 models. Although I would still recommend buying a few extra batteries for when you are on the go out and about!The camera’s ability to take 10-megapixel photos is middling too but the various modes make this camera more fun to take still images. The burst function allows up to 10 frames per second to be captured. The Time Lapse mode remains as a useful function if you prefer to have the camera automatically snap shots as quick as every half second or as infrequent as every 60 seconds.Accessories? GoPro has them. Lots. The camera itself comes with:-131’/40m Waterproof Housing-Higher Capacity Li-ion Battery-Quick Release Buckle-Vertical Quick Release Buckle-1 Curved + 1 Flat Adhesive Mount-3-Way Pivot Arm-USB Charging CableOverall I highly recommend this camera, I take it with me wherever I go and it is able to capture everything I want it to! Also, it has impressed me with its ruggedness and low light image quality.

26.2.2015

Given the Hero4 model has been out for a couple of months now, I’m guessing you’re looking at the 3+ because like me, you’re not sure whether to stump up the extra cash. I’m a self-confessed gadget geek and not going for the latest model normally doesn’t sit right with me. I only use the GoPro for filming so the still image quality was something of no concern to me. My main requirement was that the camera filmed in 1080 at either 30fps (frames per second) or 60fps to ensure I had a really good image. I also needed an external microphone jack so I could get good quality audio. The 3+ meets these requirements so that was my starting point.Looking at the Hero4 Silver, the built-in touch display was no use to me,as the 3+ has wi-fi built-in – this means I can view the camera angle and change settings through the GoPro app on my iPhone. The Hero4 Silver also shoots in 4k, which if you’re wanting to future proof could mean it’s a smarter investment. But, I won’t be getting a 4k TV for a long time and decided I wasn’t willing to wait delaying the purchase of a GoPro until I get a 4k TV. Both the Hero4 Silver and Black have adjustable settings for ISO, exposure, colour and an improved processor, which for me was the biggest issue I had in choosing a 3+ over a Hero4.I use my GoPro to film my car both inside and outside and that’s it. I don’t jump out of planes, ski, board, or any other wild activities. I’m also certainly not a professional and chances are would only end up making my videos look worse playing about with the adjustable settings on the Hero4. 1080 at 60fps is good enough for me was what I thought in the end. And I think I made the right decision. The Hero3+ is amazing in good lighting conditions and terrible in low light conditions. And I do mean terrible. If you do a lot of shooting in low light this is not the camera for you, my videos were full of motion blur, dull and no amount of post-production would sort it out. I’ve still gone with 5 stars for this because low light conditions are not an issue for me.Setting up the built-in wi-fi to create a network for the GoPro app is a doddle, as is using the camera itself to video. Power on, press the wi-fi (if you want to check angle or change settings) and press record, that’s it. The real fun comes in editing your videos and have to say, the GoPro Studio is very easy to use, producing great quality edits. The Hero3+ comes with the waterproof housing, which means the camera is just that but has a big impact on audio quality. I needed the skeleton housing, which has a gap in the casing to attach a USB so you can charge whilst using, or as in my case, attach the external mic. I also bought the official GoPro suction mount, but will eventually buy the mounts for my pushbike too.So am I happy with not spending the extra £50 for the Hero 4 Silver or the extra £120 for the Hero4 Black? Yes. GoPro say that the Hero4 cameras are aimed at professionals, which I know what they mean but think this is a bit misleading. Unless you’re shooting for an actual film that will be released in the mainstream, the Hero3+ produces an image quality that is staggering. My folks still can’t believe something so small can produce such crisp quality. Apologies for the lengthy review, but hopefully will help those undecided between this and a Hero4 before parting with their hard earned.

3.10.2014

You can tell this is a quality product, straight from taking it out of the box. Included is: the camera (all ready in it's waterproof case), sticky adhesive mounts, instructions, 3 way pivot mount and the box (which if you keep it acts as a flat board mount).Anyway, the camera:The photo quality is excellent. Although it's a downgrade from the Hero3 (it used to be 11MP, it's not 10MP), you still receive very wide-angle shots in a resolution close to 4K. The 10fps in 1 second mode is helpful for photos. The only downside to photos is that you can't change the field of view, so it is impossible to take close up shots.Video quality is good. Although it's maximum resolution is 1080p (I would have preferred 2.7K at a lower frame rate)

25.7.2015

Bought to replace my Ion head cam which I lost in a pit of muddy water (thanks Tough Mudder for no contact whatsoever about my lost property even after 3 months - and it wouldn't have been hard to find on the obstacle I lost it on - rant over).I wanted the extra features of the Silver 3+ (ie various video and photo options) over the more basic model and also the ability to switch battery if on a long day out. I didn't need 4k video or the lower battery life the newer models have (apparently due to the more power hungry processor needed to process 4k video? GoPro's own website shows the lower battery life regardless).So far I'm pleased - in the alps it did a good job of balancing the bright

27.12.2015

If you want to record almost anything, the GoPro is easily the best way to do so. However I understand how people may struggle to choose between the models, I wont compare them all, but I will explain why I chose this model in particular.I wanted to record at 1080p60fps, which is what this camera is capable of. The Hero was immediately struck off my list because it can only support up to 32gb sd cards, which wouldn't allow me to record as much footage as I wanted.So next I looked to the Hero 4, which is very impressive and offers some upgrades in capability to the Hero 3+. However, I decided against it because of the price, and because frankly I don't need to record at anything higher than 1080p.

7.10.2014

Just a few quick tips based on what I've learned in the past 24 hours.- At the moment you can get the GoPro Hero3+ Silver edition for £199.99 from Curry's and Argos online or in store.- It does NOT come with a memory card. I wasn't told this by Curry's, so I'm currently charging it, but I can't use it until the memory card is delivered. I bought a SanDisk Extreme 64GB microSDXC (SDSDQXL-064G) for around £20 on Amazon, but there's a list of certain micro SD cards on the GoPro website that should be used with this model.- Perhaps invest in a spare battery as a back up, because the one it comes with will only last around 2 hours of shooting.- Watch unboxing videos on Youtube so you don't throw

7.5.2014

I bought this as I have been wanting to get an action/sports camera for a long time now. After plenty of research and watching videos on youtube I decided to settle for this, as it was £70 cheaper than the black model, yet still one of the best on the market.I took this to Spain on holiday and it captured some great footage out there whilst white water rafting and canyoning. It performed just as needed on all the activities I did, and with the simple button controls there was no messing around having to remove it from my head to check it was getting the footage etc.I was worried that without a back display I would miss some footage as I didn't know where the camera was filming,

25.9.2015

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT.As a keen photographer and outdoors person I was surprisingly late to the Go Pro party. Why did I wait so long?!?!Easy to use, good quality video, can attach it to virtually anything. I now take this everywhere with me and thus far it has held up to all I throw at it - Sea Kayaking, mountain biking, snowboarding, sailing, drone flying etc = no problem.I do wish the camera had a lens cap included in the price / box, although a tough little camera I am constantly paranoid i'm going to scratch the precious glass in front of the lens. The other down side is the mobile app could be improved, its not horrid just has some lag and limited functions.Top tip - don't buy cheap accessories,

18.3.2014

First of all you were bored to death by friends and families slide shows, photos of their holidays now you can be embalmed with their exciting videos at a wonder 1080 or 720 resolution. 1080p is great res but still find a little choppy even with a class 10 SD card in it, will try a more expensive card over next few weeks. 720 is more useful to me, using for airsoft capture. I have used the iphone/ipad app with it and great, but does use a lot of batteries, used it to set up and get angle of camera correct. Once done I have turned of wifi. Timer says 2 hours 50 minutes on supplied battery, in reality it is around 2 hours 15.I also bought the official head strap and also NVG mount for my fast helmet,

27.10.2014

Great mobile HD camera, 1080@50 or 25fps for uk, plus everything down from that, quality is pin sharp. Lens can be set for wide normal or narrow to suit your subject, comes with extras as standard including a waterproof housing. Wifi excellent with app and plugs into HDTV with mini cable (not supplied). Downside is I would like to edit the files from the card within a pinnicle edit program but it does not recognise the file format. Still working on this at present, have heard there is a re-streaming program available to change the format but not found it yet. Otherwise still good for viewing on computers without editing. Slight problem with soundtrack running about 20secs behind video on long recordings,

2.6.2016

We bought this product, not as gadget geeks but to film skiing, swimming and for use with my partner's children in the garden etc.. This is fantastic piece of kit for all of the above. The videos and photos are very good quality and once you know how to use the camera, it is easy to do so with ski gloves on, or when it is mounted on a helmet or body. The only real downside when filming is that you cannot see, without having it linked up to your phone on wifi, where you are filming but once you have filmed your skis enough times, or cut off peoples' heads, it is easy to get the hang of it. We have no experience of the Hero4 but for anyone buying for use with a family and on an amateur basis,

19.2.2014

Brought the silver edition because didn't really have the money for the black and there seemed to be a lot of different issues with the black, so i decided to get the silver edition and to be honest with you i wouldn't need anything better, filming my day on the slopes (skiing) in 1080p was a breeze didn't have to worry about it running out of battery or anything.Pro's-Awesome resolution-Great Battery life (2hrs only drained 1 bar of battery, in cold a climate)-Shoots great pictures as well as video-Mic was better than expected (in water proof case)-Really easy to useCon's-haven't found any with the cameraWould Highly recommend for anyone wanting a GoPro and is a bit strapped for cash.

14.9.2014

Bought this as a treat to myself after seeing hundreds of YouTube clips. So far it has totally surpassed what I thought a camera of this size could do. I am always thinking of ways to clamp it to whatever activity I am doing, it is also making me think of things to do. Build quality is very good, battery life seems ok. The menu system is a little fiddley at first but after a while comes to you, using the gopro app on the phone or tablet is very good as is the gopro studio software. Looking forward to my med holiday to really utilise this little beauty.

GoPro HERO3+ Silver Edition - Reviews

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