Last Updated on January 13, 2019
Features
- 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at up to 120fps.
- 12MP Burst photos at 30 frames per second.
- New Night Photo and Night Lapse modes.
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- HiLight Tag your best moments.
- With SuperView™ and Time Lapse Video mode
- Protune™ for photo + video.
Introducing GoPro Hero4 Black
GoPro Hero4 Black Overview
In recent years, GoPro has shifted their focus on the professional camera market. However, this does not mean that the company has turned its back on extreme sports—they are just adding high-end cameras to their line-up to offer to consumers something that can capture footage that is worthy of broadcast. One of these models is the flagship, Hero4 Black, which is a small camera that is able to shoot in 4K.
GoPro’s Hero4 Black is already being used to shoot broadcast-quality footage of sports events, from the Tour de France to extreme sports that are sponsored by Red Bull. Aside from this, it is also seen being used for filmmaking, with its small size allowing cinematographers to easily shoot high-quality footage from difficult areas. What’s more, it is cheaply compared with other professional video equipment. So, if you are thinking about getting yourself a GoPro, you might want to consider the Hero4 Black as a choice.
Design & Features
Owners of the predecessors of the Hero4 Black, such as the Hero3/3+ Black, have noticed some little, but important, developments with the new camera, with the most cited being the new design of its battery compartment. No longer will it slide in the back, but will rather drop into the bottom, which makes swapping batteries out easier. However, you will no longer be able to use batteries from previous models as the new battery has also undergone a new design for the change.
Another key change of this new camera from GoPro is its set of buttons. While the layout remains the same, the previous Wi-Fi power button on its right side is replaced with a “Hilight Tag”, which makes going through hours of video to look for that one perfect moment easier.
When you are not recording, you can use the same button to access your settings menu. GoPro has improved its past models’ menus, which are quite disorganized, and made everything sensitive to which mode you are in, which means that if you are in video-capture mode, just press the settings button and you will only get setting options for video.
On the left side of the Hero4 Black, you will find a removable easy-to-lose cover that protects the Mini-USB and Micro-HDMI ports, as well as the microSD slot supporting cards up to 64GB. The Mini-USB port functions for transferring content off your microSD card and charging, but it can also be connected with an optional 3.5mm stereo mic cable to let you attach an external mic of studio-quality. Though this model does not have a built-in touchscreen, there is added a Hero port on its back, so you can still attach the company’s LCD Touch or the Battery BacPac.
As for the front activity lights, they have been moved from next to the lens to the side of the monochrome display, which definitely needs to be backlit.
The camera also comes with a waterproof housing that can withstand 40 meters of water depth, a skeleton door for better-quality audio when you need full water protection, 2 adhesive mounts, vertical and horizontal quick-release buckles that attach to the bottom of its housing and a 3-way pivot arm. Another additional accessory that comes with the package is a small locking plug that helps prevent the buckles from accidentally releasing from the mount from vibration or force.
Compared to what are included in its predecessor, the Hero3+ Black, the Hero4 Black is just similar with one exception—it does not include the GoPro Wi-Fi Smart Remote, which was redesigned to give way for the new HiLight/Settings button.
Pros and Cons
The Hero4 Black from GoPro delivers best-in-class videos at resolutions of up to 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 120fps. It is also compatible with a wide array of mounting options from the manufacturer and 3rd-party manufacturers.
On the other side of the coin, you would notice that its battery life is quite short, and because of the redesign, you will not be able to use older batteries from GoPro. Moreover, there is no option for in-camera digital image stabilization, and it still needs a housing to be resist water.
Final Thoughts
Before you consider getting the GoPro Hero4 Black, first ask yourself if you want to capture 4K videos or not. But if you are a working pro or someone who wants to future-proof your content, then this is your best choice of a GoPro camera. Though you are just a casual shooter, then it is still fine to go for this one to enjoy cutting-edge features and ensure quality of images and videos.
Weight
Camera: 3.1oz (89g)
Camera with housing: 5.4oz (152g)
Dimensions
Camera: 41.0mm height, 59.0mm width, 29.6mm depth
Camera with housing: 71.3mm height, 71.1mm width, 39.0mm depth
Video Mode
Video Resolutions
| Video Resolution | Frames Per Second (fps) NTSC/PAL | Field of View (FOV) | Screen Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4K | 30, 25, 24 | Ultra Wide | 3840x2160 |
| 4K SuperView | 24 | Ultra Wide | 3840x2160 |
| 2.7K | 601, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24 | Ultra Wide, Medium | 2704x1520 |
| 2.7K SuperView | 30, 25 | Ultra Wide | 2704x1520 |
| 2.7K 4:3 | 30, 25 | Ultra Wide | 2704x2028 |
| 1440p | 80, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24 | Ultra Wide | 1920x1440 |
| 1080p | 120, 90, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24 | Ultra Wide, Medium, Narrow2 | 1920x1080 |
| 1080p SuperView | 80, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24 | Ultra Wide | 1920x1080 |
| 960p | 120, 60, 50 | Ultra Wide | 1280x960 |
| 720p | 2401, 120, 60, 50, 30 , 25 | Ultra Wide, Medium, Narrow3 | 1280x720 |
| 720p SuperView | 120, 60, 50 | Ultra Wide | 1280x720 |
| WVGA | 240 | Ultra Wide | 848x480 |
Video Format
H.264 codec, .mp4 file format
Time Lapse Video1
Automatically creates video from frames captured at set intervals. Available only in 4K and 2.7K 4:3 resolutions.
Time Lapse Video Intervals
0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60 seconds
Video + Photo
Record video and capture Time Lapse photos at the same time. Available intervals are 5, 10, 30 and 60 seconds.
| Video Resolution | Video Frames per Second (fps) | Video FOV |
|---|---|---|
| 1440p | 25, 24 | Ultra Wide |
| 1080p | 30, 25, 24 | Ultra Wide, Medium, Narrow |
| 720p | 60, 50, 30, 25 | Ultra Wide, Medium, Narrow4 |
Looping
Record a continuous video loop that overwrites itself until you press the shutter button to stop it and save.
Advanced Video Capture Settings
SuperView™
SuperView video mode captures the world’s most immersive wide-angle perspective. It allows you to capture more of yourself and your surroundings in the shot, and it provides full widescreen playback.
SuperView Settings
| SuperView Mode | Video Resolution |
|---|---|
| 4K SuperView | 3840 x 2160 |
| 2.7K SuperView | 2704 x 1520 |
| 1080p SuperView | 1920 x 1080 |
| 720p SuperView | 1280 x 720 |
Auto Low Light
Auto Low Light mode automatically adjusts frame rates according to lighting conditions for enhanced low-light performance. Frame rates are adjusted in medium- and low-light conditions. Playback occurs at the selected resolution and frame rate.
Photo Mode
Photo Resolutions
| Resolution | Field of View (FOV) | Screen Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| 12MP (Default) | Wide | 4000 x 3000 |
| 7MP | Wide, Medium | 3000 x 2250 |
| 5MP | Medium | 2560 x 1920 |
Continuous Photo (up to 30 seconds)
Hold down the shutter button to continuously capture a series of photos until shutter button is released.
Continuous Interval
3 photos/1 second (Default)
5 photos/1 second
10 photos/1 second
Night Photo
Capture a single photo with a customizable exposure time of up to 30 seconds.
Shutter
Applies only to Night Photo and Night Lapse and determines the amount of time that the shutter is open.
| Shutter Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto (Default) | Up to 2 seconds |
| Fixed | 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 seconds |
Multi-Shot Mode
Photo Resolutions
| Resolution | Field of View (FOV) | Screen Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| 12MP (Default) | Wide | 4000 x 3000 |
| 7MP | Wide, Medium | 3000 x 2250 |
| 5MP | Medium | 2560 x 1920 |
Burst
Capture up to 30 photos per second.
Burst Rate
30 photos/1 second (Default), 30 photos/2 seconds, 30 photos/3 seconds, 30 photos/6 seconds1
10 photos/1 second, 10 photos/2 seconds, 10 photos/3 seconds
5 photos/1 second
3 photos/1 second
Time Lapse
Automatically capture a series of photos at timed intervals.
Time Lapse Photo Intervals
0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60 seconds
Night Lapse
Capture a series of photos at specific intervals and exposure times.
Night Lapse Photo Intervals
15, 20, 30 and 60 seconds
2, 5, 30 and 60 minutes
Shutter
Applies only to Night Photo and Night Lapse and determines the amount of time that the shutter is open.
| Shutter Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto (Default) | Up to 2 seconds |
| Fixed | 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 seconds |
Advanced Video and Photo Capture Settings
Protune™
Protune unlocks the camera’s full potential, delivering minimally compressed, cinema-caliber video optimized for professional productions, and advanced manual controls for photos and video. Flex your creativity with customizable settings for Color, ISO Limit, White Balance, Sharpness and Exposure—and enjoy the greatest degree of manual control available in a GoPro camera.
- Captures images with less compression, giving content creators higher quality for professional productions.
- Protune enables manual control of White Balance, Color, ISO Limit, Sharpness, Shutter and Exposure Value Compensation for advanced control and customization of your videos and photos.
- Protune is available for all video and photo resolutions.
Protune Settings
White Balance
Adjusts the overall color tone of videos and photos.
| White Balance Setting | Recommended Lighting Conditions |
|---|---|
| Auto (Default) | Automatically adjusts the color tone based on the environmental conditions |
| 3000K | Warm light (incandescent or sunrise/sunset lighting) |
| 5500K | Slightly cool light (cool fluorescent, average daylight) |
| 6500K | Cool light (overcast conditions) |
| Native | Industry standardized optimized color |
Color
Allows you to adjust the color profile of your video footage or photos.
| Color Setting | Resulting Color Profile |
|---|---|
| GoPro Color (Default) | GoPro color-corrected profile (same great color as when Protune is turned off) |
| Flat | Flat, neutral color profile that can be color-corrected to better match footage captured with other equipment, offering more flexibility in post-production |
ISO Limit
Adjusts the camera’s sensitivity in low-light environments, and creates a balance between brightness and resulting image noise. Image noise refers to the degree of graininess in the image.
Protune for Video ISO Limit
| Setting | Resulting Video Quality |
|---|---|
| 6400 | Brighter video in low light, highest image noise |
| 3200 | Brighter video in low light, increased image noise |
| 1600 (Default) | Moderately bright video in low light, moderate image noise |
| 800 | Darker video in low light, marginal image noise |
| 400 | Darker video in low light, minimum image noise |
Protune for Photo ISO Limit
| Setting | Resulting Photo Quality |
|---|---|
| 800 (Default) | Darker photo in very low light, increased image noise |
| 400 | Darker photo in low light, moderate image noise |
| 200 | Bright photo in indoor lighting, marginal image noise |
| 100 | Bright photo in outdoor daylight, minimal image noise |
Sharpness
Controls the sharpness of your video footage or photos.
| Sharpness Setting | Resulting Quality |
|---|---|
| High (Default) | Ultra sharp video or photo |
| Medium | Moderately sharp video or photo |
| Low | Softer video or photo that allows for more flexibility in post-production |
Exposure Value Compensation (EV COMP)
Affects the brightness of your video. Adjusting this setting can improve image quality when shooting in environments with contrasting lighting conditions.
| EV COMP Settings |
|---|
| -2.0 |
| -1.5 |
| -1.0 |
| -0.5 |
| 0 (Default) |
| +0.5 |
| +1.0 |
| +1.5 |
| +2.0 |
Spot Meter
Spot Meter is ideal for filming within a dark space with the camera pointed towards a brighter setting (such as filming the outdoors from within a car).
QuikCapture
With the press of a button, the camera automatically turns on and begins recording video or capturing Time Lapse photos.
Image Quality + Optics
- Ultra sharp image quality with all-glass lens
- Ultra wide-angle field of view with reduced distortion
Battery + Charging
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Rated at 1160mAH, 3.8V, 4.4Wh
Battery Life
The chart below indicates the approximate continuous recording time (hr:min) you can expect when shooting in various video modes using a fully charged battery.5
| With Wi-Fi Off | With Wi-Fi On + Using Wi-Fi Remote | With Wi-Fi On + Using GoPro App | With Wi-Fi Off + Using Battery BacPac™ | With Wi-Fi Off + Using LCD Touch BacPac™ | |
| Video Mode | Estimated Time | Estimated Time | Estimated Time | Estimated Time | Estimated Time |
| 4K 30fps | 1:05 | 0:55 | 0:50 | 2:00 | 0:50 |
| 2.7K 48fps | 1:05 | 1:00 | 0:55 | 2:10 | 0:55 |
| 2.7K 30fps (4:3) | 1:10 | 1:05 | 0:55 | 2:15 | 0:55 |
| 1080p 120fps | 1:10 | 1:05 | 1:00 | 2:20 | 0:55 |
| 1080p 60fps | 1:20 | 1:15 | 1:10 | 2:30 | 1:10 |
| 1080p 30fps SuperView | 1:30 | 1:20 | 1:15 | 2:45 | 1:15 |
| 720p 120fps | 1:50 | 1:40 | 1:30 | 3:00 | 1:20 |
Audio
- Format: 48kHz sampling rate, AAC compression
- Advanced AGC (automatic gain control) with multi-band compressor
- Internal Microphone:
- Mono
- Approximately 2x greater dynamic range (compared to the HERO3+ Black Edition)
- External Microphone:
- Stereo supported with 3.5mm microphone adapter (sold separately)
- High quality ADC (analog to digital converter) to support studio quality external microphones (compared to HERO4 Silver). See list of supported microphones.
Ports
Mini USB
- Charging
- Connecting to a computer for playback/file transfer/charging
- Supports 3.5mm stereo microphone via optional adapter (sold separately)
- Supports playback to composite TV via optional cable (sold separately)
Micro HDMI
- Supports playback to HDTV via optional cable (sold separately)
- HDMI playback is certified up to 1080p
microSD
- Memory card
Storage
- microSD memory card with a Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required. See list of recommended microSD cards
- Up to 64GB capacity supported
- Record times vary with resolutions and frame rates
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