Which GoPro Model

[Bill Oigarden]

I am thinking about buying GoPro Hero 4. Black or Silver? I will use both underwater and top side. Suggestions please.

[FW]

I am thinking about buying GoPro Hero 4. Black or Silver? I will use both underwater and top side. Suggestions please.

The Major difference is the resolution. They don't do a very good job publishing low light sensitivity numbers. Both Black, and Silver claim "auto low light setting". The Black has 4X the resolution, but few systems can display that, yet.

[syntaxerrorsix]

I have an original and the Hero 3 Black. Aside from the resolution I like the ability to view footage via Wifi to my phone or tablet after the dive.

Both need a lot of light to make up for the small sensor.

[Aotus]

The Major difference is the resolution. They don't do a very good job publishing low light sensitivity numbers. Both Black, and Silver claim "auto low light setting". The Black has 4X the resolution, but few systems can display that, yet.

Even the Hero3+ Black had the "low light" setting...it just means it slows the frame rate to lengthen exposure time. Not really mindblowing. Also, the new bottom of the line $130 model, the "Hero" has that setting. The silver and black 4 have a bigger sensor and some kind of voodoo that makes them perform better in low light than what the slower frame rate can do...so they say. The black is supposed to be awesome at low light. "professional grade" low light footage they say. I don't know, and won't know from experience, because I'd rather buy a deco bottle and reg for that price.

i think the answer is, buy the highest one that you can afford without getting in too much trouble with your significant other.

[rddvet]

I had the silver and thought the video was great. I never bought into the hype I've seen on cdf that the black makes a huge difference


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[MichelleC]

I recently decided to bite the bullet and purchase a gopro. My research led me to the Hero 4 Silver. The light sensor for the 4 black and silver seem to be the same, therefore they should have the same low light performance.

Major difference between the 4 Black and 4 Silver: Black has 4K 30fps (silver has 4K 15 fps max) and Silver has built in touch screen back. Silver also has better battery life at the same recording settings.

I also looked at the 3+ Black, which has specs very similar to the 4 Silver. I hope/expect the 3+ price to drop but at the time there was only a $50 difference between the two.

[mwenner]

They're all good..., for applied purpose. I just spent 10 days in the Carribean using the Black 3+ and was amazed by the quality of stills or video. Naturally I had plenty of day light, but ran plenty of tests in rather dark swim thoughs, canyons, deeper trench work and noted I had to experiment with settings, resolution mostly, and the usual camera learning techniques. In caves, they're all going to depend on plenty of light, which is in equal cost to that of the camera. So, it's getting all the right tools, apps, and software going, as it worked flawlessly for me, with small learning curves. The wide angle lens on all work will get tiring.

[John L.]

I have a Hero 2, and I mistakenly bought the underwater dive housing for the Hero 3. Does anyone want to trade a flat lens Hero 2 housing for it?

[Bill Oigarden]

Thank you everyone for the input. Went with the GoPro 4 Black. I have been setting it up the last few days and practicing. I am very pleased. My computer and laptop are 2007 vintage. I guess it is now time to upgrade my computer to keep up with the GoPro technology. So round 2. Any suggestions on the best computer to use to edit and produce the GoPro videos?

[syntaxerrorsix]

Thank you everyone for the input. Went with the GoPro 4 Black. I have been setting it up the last few days and practicing. I am very pleased. My computer and laptop are 2007 vintage. I guess it is now time to upgrade my computer to keep up with the GoPro technology. So round 2. Any suggestions on the best computer to use to edit and produce the GoPro videos?

You could scrap your OS and go with something lighter like a Linux flavor and max out your RAM. My machine still has a 3.5 floppy drive in it Between Gimp and Kdenlive I've not needed anything more powerful.