21.8.2019

I am a total novice with action cameras so I waited a while to review this so I could give a fair and informative review for a novice.I chose GoPro after going through a multitude of reviews for just about every camera and every price range I could find. I surprised myself by going for one of the most expensive on the market rather than a cheap one. So, what influenced my decision?Gopro continuously came up as about the best product on the market with the Hero7 black as the bees knees, and the silver and white falling into second and third place. I could not find a single good review, except on amazon, for cheaper copies.Although I am not in a position to criticise them.Review of the various GoPro versions on You Tube showed the performance of the black to be outstanding with additional benefits of good audio, has multiple microphones and is not impeded by the need for a waterproof case. It is waterproof to around 20-30 meters without a case and there is a further case available if you need to go to 40 meters. There is a wide array of photo and video settings, voice control, blue tooth, internet, remote phone connection at 2.5 and 5.0 “whatevers” for the mobile phone app. The features go on and on and what’s more they can be viewed working on the internet so in the end I trusted these features work, and they do.There were a few negatives and I have cured most of these.I discovered it eats power, like a bitch. Initially this caused me a lot of annoyance but I have discovered that the cure is simple. It’s certain features that kill your power so if you are not using them turn them off. Then the power consumption turns from useless to excellent. Features that need to be turned off if you are not using them:1) Connection to app2) Connection to internet3) GPS4) Voice Control5) Blue tooth6) Screen brightness – it is very bright so it only needs to be at about 20% and that is still brightI don’t find not using the app a problem as the touch screen is fully readable even if you wear a + 4.5 prescription lens (as long as you are wearing them). This surprised me as I normally have to go for a big screen option. The app is great when you are getting to know your device and getting used to the touch screen controls but, it can be a bit glitchy. Give the touch controls a chance. They are annoying at first but you soon get used to themExtra tips I would give are:1) Buy an extra battery or two and a charger, non-branded ones still work well.2) Only use voice controls if you need them or, all you hear in the recording is you shouting at your GoPro (probably no need to shout). In addition, when using the voice control the device reverts to stand-by for 6 hours following the command to turn off. During which it has a nasty habit of turning itself on spontaneously. I have had a 25-minute recording of the inside of the camera case with the voices of people around it and lost a good deal of battery power.3) Read the manual available online. I found it very helpful indeed, and it is not too techy to put a novice off.4) Make sure the memory card you buy is suitable for 4K recording, it needs to be high speed. Check the specs online before purchasing. I bought a 128gb high speed card, and you honestly do not need one with quite that much space but, it was not much more expensive than one with 64gb. Note: I have not bothered with the 4K yet as I do not currently have a 4K monitor.There is the option to buy the GoPro Plus which gives you unlimited cloud storage, extra support function, half price accessories and a new GoPro should you manage to break it. This to me suggested it was very difficult to break. I purchased it but, did note that you can only upload short clips i.e. less than 5 minutes. Disappointing but, not enough to make me cancel my subscription. The failed order I put through may. But, let’s see how they resolve it. Note: your first 30 days is free and the account does give you easy access to support information, downloadable content and various other bits and bobs that are very useful for a newbe.Overall it was money well spent. It’s a smart trustworthy piece of kit. The features work well once you get used to them. I even managed to take time lapse recording of night landing from the interior of a plane. Not brilliant but, it was my first attempt and there were results. I keep finding new stuff it does – which is amazing.I have given it 5 stars because 4 does not do it justice. It’s about a 4.6 with the loss coming from it little niggles when getting used to it and the power consumption before I worked out the cure.In terms of the EIS, I originally uploaded a sample but, I have removed it because the uploaded version just did not do it justice.

1.8.2019

When GoPro decided to split their lineup with the white, grey and black GoPros, it was clear what well seasoned GoPro users would go for. The Black one.The Hero 7 Black is a massive upgrade from the 6 and the 5. The principle feature being hypersmooth video, electronic image stabilisation that is apparently a gimbal killer. After trying it out and using it alongside other action cameras, yes it was almost as good as a gimbal, but definitely not the killer it tried to be.This review is written also with the mind of GoPro's now biggest competitor the DJI Osmo Action. With a competitor creating a product so clearly aligned to compete with the Hero 7 Black, you have to draw that comparison.They are both intensely rugged and offer some best in class digital stabilisation- absolutely incredible technology on both cameras.Whilst both cameras have their pros and cons - i write below some of my experiences of which camera delivers better.For GoPro- The GoPro has a better suite of apps and connectivity which makes transfer and edit of files much more streamlined. This is probably due to the fact that GoPro is far more established, and as such i suspect over time, the gap will narrow- The Osmo Action has some sort of strange lag which is very annoying when trying to take videos. I expect this will be fixed in a firmware update in the future- The GoPro battery pack and extra battery charger is much sleeker.- File transfer is speedy on the GoPro- So many accessories for the GoPro. Note the accessories for Osmo Action are drip feeding into the market slowly though.- The GoPro fisheye sort of look for FPV shooting looks so much more "Action Orientated" than the Osmo Action (but this might be a for Osmo Action point depending on your shooting style and preference)- The GoPro has better mic capture (in my opinion)- The GoPro has a more vibrant colour profile in its photos and videos. Though this might be slightly colour graded so may not be actually what you are seeing in real life.- Hyperlapse is so so so much better than the timewarp feature on the Osmo Action. I don't know if this is down to software stitching not as good at the moment - but this would be a massive improvement on the Osmo Action if it gets improved upon.For Osmo Action- The Rocksteady feature is an absolute beast. In so many ways, it bests the GoPro - if you take a running video, you will notice the GoPro shakes far more than the Osmo Action. Just look at the Horizon and you'll see the difference instantly- The Front facing screen - this is absolutely key for those action and killer shots. If you can't see what you're videoing, you might just miss your chance to get that once in a lifetime shot in the perfect frame- The easy to remove lens. Okay so the GoPro isn't that difficult to remove once you know how, but it is still a nightmare to attach things like ND filters. The Osmo action lens is much easier to remove and much easier to apply different lens filters that are properly attached.- It is way cheaper - especially on Amazon at the moment - if you want a bargain, definitely go for the Osmo Pocket.- I have not found any weird freezing issues with the Osmo Action. With the GoPro, you sometimes get screen freeze and you can't rotate the screen or it just stops taking video or photos. You have to physically remove the batter to reset.Overall both cameras have their Pros and Cons. It's down to personal preference and budgets whether you would go with a new competitor that is the Osmo Action or the well established but somewhat cumbersome at times, GoPro. Because of its lower price point and good deal at the moment, I would give Osmo Action a 5/5 and GoPro Hero 7 black a 4/5, especially when I think over time some of the cons of the Osmo Action should be addressed via their firmware updates.Still the GoPro is a good device, sometimes let down by its freezing issues and very expensive price point. It tries to make up for these flaws via its better software. Unfortunately if GoPro doesn't improve reliability, In time, I would expect its competitors to continue to eat away at its well deserved market share.

17.3.2019

I think a lot has been said already about this camera so I will keep my comments brief.Picture quality is great strait out of the box but your best delving into the menus to tweak the settings.The EIS does a great job and I would say it is nearly as good as a gimbal, but not better. I tested mine on an I steady pro and looked similar. More expensive gimbals may do a better job, but was well pleased with the results using it with a selfie stick or just hand held. I am heavy footed when I walk and the camera copes well with the way I walk. It is definitely the best camera out of the three different action cameras I own.The touch screen is great once you have downloaded the latest firmware via the Gopro App.I have a great WI-FI signal using an iPhone and it downloaded and installed quick and easy, some people have found issues downloading the firmware but if your WI-FI signal is strong then you will be ok. Ive not had any issues with the App as of yet but time will tell. The touch screen is nice and clear and is easy to use once you familiarise yourself with the menu and settings.Not all features can be used in all resolutions, so get used to what does what such as frame rates and stabilisation etc.The voice commands work great and I have a strong Yorkshire accent but works fine for me. The camera can be triggered by other words, noises or voices, so turn voice commands off if you feel it may screw up youre footage.Battery life, There have been a lot of comments that the battery does not charge to 100%. I think this is only if you charge the battery using the USB cable while the battery is in the camera. I use the official Gopro external charger and this has given me 100% every time. As far as battery life, it all depends on the resolution you use. if you are shooting 4K at high frame rates then it will run out quicker than say 1080 at 25fps and fillming long sessions. Try to keep your clips at a sensible length and you will be ok. These cameras are meant for capturing the moment not for making an epic blockbuster movie.Audio quality. This has been the issue with ALL action cameras but it works well indoors. These type of cameras do not like wind, so the audio can sound boomy if you are outside in those conditions. If you want better audio, I would go the route others have taken by buying an external mic and the ridicules priced audio adaptor made by Gopro. Come on Gopro, what were you thinking about? We buy your cameras then you design the audio adaptor nearly as big as the camera itself. If you buy one then make sure the microphones 3.5mm jack is stereo type or it won't work. I use a Zoom H4n Handy recorder with a wind muff (Dead Cat) to record all my audio, then sync it in post in Final Cut.I recently bought a Legal wind muff and it does a great job of limiting the wind noise. All in all Im happy with the results. It is what it is and does what it does. If you decide to buy a Gopro Hero 7 Black I would buy an extra battery and the external charger. As far as accessories, don't buy the official items. They are overpriced while there are plenty of third party items on Amazon at really low prices.If you would like answers to any question you may have then contact me on here and IO will try and help.If you are not prepared to pay high prices for an action camera then don't buy the cheap £20 + budget ones. You will be disappointed. I can recommend the cameras by Akaso, such as the V50 Elite etc. It all depends what you want out of a camera. If you want the best results with all the whistles and bells then it will cost you more.

30.3.2019

I have to update this review because things have changed for the better.After going through various forums regarding gopro hero7 black issues (and the forums are full of them) time after time the compatibility of memory card was the first recommendation to check.And so I did just that.I was using a Samsung 64 Evo+ etc. memory card but the recommended memory card was Samsung Evo plus etc memory card.And now after using the appropriate memory card the camera seems to be working so much better.No overheating.No freezing.No swiping issues.No manually turning it on/off issues.And the battery life is as expected now.I fully charged it yesterday, within seconds it showed a drop to 98% (which alarmed me)but then it stabilised and after turning it off I kept returning at various points to turn it on and check the battery status and it had hardly moved at all (so unlike previous issue).I have just turned it on now (6am) and I still have 96% so I am now contacting Amazon Customer Services to cancel my return for a full refund.My daughter has handled it and she wants it now it works like it should.So that is good enough for me.Hopefully there will be no need for a further update.I hereby apologise for my error that caused this gopro hero7 black to get such a bad review.It would be good for a clearer heads up regarding the compatibility memory cards being vital when selecting this camera.The voice commands is still hit and miss but I expect that is due to accent and various other conditions.I have altered my rating score from the 1 star that I had previously gave it to a 4.75 (though no way of showing that score in the star graph).And I have left my previous review as it was in case anybody else out there has the same issues and had done what I had done.Hopefully my experience will either help someone to avoid the issues or to remedy their issues.PeaceI bought this gopro hero7 black for my daughter for her upcoming holiday.I was very excited for her after all of the praise that gopro get.But as soon as I had charged it and set it up I gave it a dummy run and I found several issues.It was soon very hot to the touch, the on/off action was very inconsistent, I couldn't get to swipe the screen to flip through the 3 modes, the picture kept freezing and the battery died within an hour !There are more little niggles but compared to these major ones they didn't really need to be given.For all of that money and the reputation they have I am so disappointed in this product.I am just glad that I found out before my daughter had taken it on holiday because that would have been a major disaster for her.A full refund is required and I will now have to scour for a decent alternative camera.

24.4.2019

I have used their action camera now for several years since the models that used a full size SD card.I also bought myself a Karma Drone which even now thanks to the low price still seem to sell (mainly in the USA).Thus my Hero 7 Black has been in the Karma Drone (at 400 feet) and in the Karma Grip (grip handle needs a firmware update to work with Hero 7 Black in the Gimbal).Note: When used in Karma Drone or the Karma Grip the Hero 7 Black stabilisation seems to be turned off I guess to avoid two systems both trying to make corrections.Now comes the first shortfall, still no undistorted 4K video - still the dreaded fish-eye effect which can make horizons (or even the edge of a railway station platform)

17.3.2019

We've had a GoPro Hero 5 for around a year, which has predominantly been used by the kids (e.g. messing around in the water on holiday, strapping it to a cricket helmet when batting to analyse technique, etc.). Whilst most phones and digital cameras now feature video mode, what sets the GoPro apart is 1) its small size, 2) the fact it's waterproof and 3) the vast array of accessories that means you can use it when undertaking all sorts of activities.There is minimal visible difference between this and the previous model and kudos to GoPro for not changing the design, which means that all of my existing accessories can be used with this newer model. In terms of the camera itself,

22.6.2019

I actually bought the Osmo Action before this, but ended up getting this because, on balance, you have more control over the image, and a few essential features, such as particular accessories (remote control, mic adapters and charging options). In my view, the image quality on outdoor shots is better than the Osmo Action, with fewer blown highlights. The Osmo is perhaps better for skin tones, and its front screen mark it out for blogging. The smartphone app is better for sharing or viewing films quickly than DJI's mimo app. The GoPro also has a useful live streaming option, which the Action lacks.Stabilisation is excellent, but the Osmo bests it, but the GoPro's mic audio sounds better to my ears.

21.2.2019

Used this camera a good few times now making YouTube videos, I had the GoPro hero 5 black before this one and I'm glad I upgraded to the GoPro hero 7 black, mostly for the stabilization and hyperlapse functions.The stabilization has really improved the smoothness of my videos, I'd say the sound quality and colour has too but not a great difference.Still like the hero 5 not good in windy conditions, picks wind noise up a lot and muddles sound when you are talking when it's windy.On a calm day the sound is ok, but not the best.It's easy to use and set up I prefer the lay out of the hero 5 though but maybe that's because I'm used to it more.Haven't taken many pics and mainly just use it for video,

12.12.2019

I’ve had Hero7 Black for well over a year now. It’s been with me on multiple holidays and is still my go to holiday camera of choice. There is hundreds of incredible photos I could share but I wanted to add this time lapse I took on the beach whilst star gazing. I’m no camera expert and simply put the GoPro in NIGHT LAPSE mode and it did all the work itself. I left it there whilst using a telescope and the result is what you can see. I also used the Official Fusion/Max grip tripod To keep the camera stable. Incredible!Ive seen other reviews and people moan about battery life. Yes if you are doing complicated or high quality video recording, you will need to take spare fully charged batteries to last a whole day of activities.

1.7.2019

I was a little sheepish about buying this camera due to all the most recent negative comments about how the GoPro freezes and poor battery life etc. I did however decide to take the plunge and bought the GoPro 7 black and to be honest I am really happy with it, I also bought the additional charger and a few more batteries and some other bits and pieces. What I found through searching on youtube is that in order to prevent issues such as the camera freezing is how you load the software onto the microSD. I guess the majority of people will have completed this process wirelessly however upon recommendations from a youtube clip it advices that you preload the software via you laptop or desktop machine using the card reader.

30.9.2018

Just tested the electronic stabalisation with a walk up and down my garden. One word. WOW!!! This is actually better than my Hero4 with a £260 gimbal !! Haven't tried the hyperlapse mode yet.Edit (14/10/18). Hyperlapse is incredible! Voice commands were poor and not understood. I have a Welsh accent and had to speak in Queens English for it to understand the commands. However, there is the option of English (Indian) and that worked perfectly fine with my accent :D ("Gew Prew" vs "Go Pro"). This could be useful for Scottish customers too.Still has 5 stars. I've only had one crash so far and that was plugging it into the PC with the USB cable and downloading the files to the GoPro app.

1.7.2019

I love this little camera. I bought it for my travels to Mexico as I was going hiking, zip lining and snorkeling. The quality is superb and the GoPro app makes editing, cutting and pasting clips together an absolute breeze.Definitely recommend going onto YouTube to configure the best settings for what you will be using the camera for.The only down point for the camera is the battery life. The GoPro batteries have around 2 hours worth of life before they need another charge. As the batteries are removable, you can purchase a few extras as they aren't too pricey, charge all of those and switch them out if you are planning on having the camera recording for longer than 2 hours.

7.8.2019

I bought this to replace my Hero 4 Session which I found the footage of to be a bit 'dated'... went all out as I had the chance to and have not regretted it.I only ever use it with the super suit for diving - and the footage is PHENOMENAL!The 'hypersmooth' makes for a gimbal like feeling, even when holding in the hand and the colour quality even at deeper water is amazing, a quick post production colour correction and its all back.The sharpness of the footage is insane.The only down side I would say, but its the conditions it is in - is where there has been lots of particles in the water it struggles to maintain focus on the intended object - I guess too busy trying to focus on the moving

22.7.2020

Had a GoPro Hero 5 Black for a few years, and loved it. Unfortunately it stopped working recently, first the beeps stopped then a few weeks later the screen went blank. I had considered getting the Hero 8 but I have four batteries that won't work in that model and don't see the point in upgrading those as well.So my new GoPro Hero 7 Black arrived yesterday and so far I'm impressed, the image stabilisation is very impressive with or without my Freevision gambal. Slow motion is great. Timewarp is brilliant. Not tried it at night yet nor underwater. I'm a little apprehensive about putting it underwater as there appears to be a slight gap when you close the battery door where the hinge is.

7.4.2019

I want to share my review of this camera. I first bought one which was a nightmare, similar experiences to other reviewers with screen constantly freezing - I just couldn’t get the thing to work and was terribly disappointed as the look and feel to it is superb.I decided to replace it and give it another go and it was the right choice. This time I took extra care to ensure I set it up properly i.e I inserted a suitable memory card before switching it on and made sure to update the firmware properly...something I wasn’t sure I’d done properly with the previous camera. This has clearly made the difference as I’ve not had one issue with this camera...absolutely superb and I’ve used it a fair few times for sports.I either had a faulty camera first time round or I hadn’t set it up properly.

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