I just purchased the Hero 3+ Black Edition one month ago. When the Hero 4 came out I had to try it and I ended up returning my Hero 3+. Why did I get the Hero 4 Silver over the Hero 4 Black and the Hero 3+ Black?

Three Reasons:

1. The Hero 4 Black is $499 and does not come with an LCD (because of heat issues from 4k they could not put on an LCD).
So really if you bought an LCD BacPac for the Black edition, it would cost you a total of $579 compared to the $399 of the Silver. This is a $180 difference!

2. The two models BOTH have improved sharpness compared to the Hero3+ Black.
This video compares the sharpness of the Hero3+ Black, to the Hero4 Silver, and the Hero4 Black:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Y2iTSNy8g&list=UUTs-d2DgyuJVRICivxe2Ktg

Watch this video to compare the Hero4 Black to the Hero3+ Black:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BacBT268-pQ&list=UUTs-d2DgyuJVRICivxe2Ktg

Then watch this video to compare the Hero4 Black to the Hero4 Silver:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNazYkq4omY&list=UUTs-d2DgyuJVRICivxe2Ktg

As you can see the sharpness between the Hero 4 Black and the Silver is the SAME. They both have the same upgraded sensor/lens and it's definitely improved over the 3+ Black. Yes, the 4 Black can do 4k at 30 FPS, 2.7k48, and 1080p120 while the 4 Silver can only do 2.7k at 30 FPS, 1080p60 (it can do 4k 15 FPS but that is not really usable for most purposes). But to be honest, that is the only improvement and it is a $180 difference! At this moment I cannot justify 4k for that much of an additional increase. I am happy with what the 4 Silver offers AND I get an LCD which is extremely convenient.

3. Compare the battery life of the Hero 4 Black vs the Hero 4 Silver here:
http://gopro.com/support/articles/hero4-camera-battery-life

At 2.7k 30 FPS, the Black only lasts 1 hour and 10 minutes while the Silver lasts 1 hour and 50 minutes!! This is the SAME resolution. Why? Because the Black has a more powerful processor to handle the 4k, and this causes it to eat up more battery regardless of the frame rate.

Given these three reasons, I do not believe the Hero 4 Black is worth the cost. But the Hero 4 Silver is definitely a bargain and worthy of an upgrade from the 3+ Black edition. Don't forget in addition to the cost, the Hero 4 Silver has identical specs as the Hero 4 Black (except for 4k 30 FPS). This means you will also get (compared to the 3+ Black):

- Upgraded sensor with better ability to resolve detail
- 2x the WiFi Speed (less lag and faster transfer speeds)
- 2x the Dynamic Range for Audio Quality - watch this video comparing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqXVPyTCr-E&list=UUTs-d2DgyuJVRICivxe2Ktg
- Bluetooth Capability
- Night Photo Mode (and ability to control shutter speed)
- Night Time Lapse Mode (and ability to control shutter speed)
- Protune for Photos
- Auto white balance in Protune (enables higher bitrate while allowing for zero editing in post)
- LCD TouchScreen (Silver only)

All of these are the same upgrades on the Hero 4, so really you're trading $180 and the LCD screen on the Silver for 4k 30 FPS and decreased battery life on the Black edition. Each person may have their own opinion but I think this is a big problem for most users because the cost does not justify the upgrade.

I haven't had too much of a chance to test it out, but quick photos and videos showed it truly is sharper than the Hero 3+ Black edition. And given the video links I posted above, it is the same sharpness as the Hero 4 Black (unless you shoot in 4k of course). The touch screen is a GREAT addition and very responsive. It works like I would want it to so I am happy with that.

Battery Life with LCD

I also recently tested out the battery life with the LCD screen always on. The Hero 4 Silver comes with an auto-off of 1 minute and can be set at either 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, or always on. The LCD brightness can also be set at high, medium, and low. My first test was with the LCD always on, brightness set to high, recording 2.7k 30 FPS. I was able to get 1 hour and 40 minutes out of the battery! That is pretty amazing as I did not expect that with the high brightness setting. I then did a test with the LCD off with the same frame rate and got 1 hour and 45 minutes (I did this 3 times with the same result).

This means the LCD draws very little power (which is really really great)! For scuba diving, you will need the screen always on as you cannot activate it again once it turns off under water (unless you stop recording and record again but that can be annoying) and knowing it doesn't affect the battery significantly is a great plus. I also tested the Hero 3+ Black in 2.7k 30 and got 1 hour and 38 minutes so the battery life between the two cameras really is the same; even though the Hero4 is 20 mAH less it seems to give more battery life (1180 mAH in the Hero 3+ while 1160 in the Hero 4).

Battery BacPac

For those curious I also tested the new Battery BacPac (claims 15% increased battery life) and compared it to the older Hero 3+ Battery BacPac. I used the Hero 4 Silver and recorded at 2.7k 30 FPS with LCD off. I got 2 hours and 57 minutes with new Battery BacPac compared with 2 hours and 27 minutes with the older Battery BacPac! So improvement of about 30 minutes is not bad at all! This is more than 15% (it was 35% with my test)! GoPro claims the Hero 4 Silver should get 3 hours with the Battery BacPac with 2.7k 30 FPS so I definitely would consider that result accurate.

Conclusion

Overall a great improvement and the recent firmware update released on the 14th of October has fixed all the minor bugs that were out there. I would highly recommend getting this especially if you are upgrading from an older model like the Hero 2 and Hero 3. If you have the money it is worth the upgrade from the Hero 3+ especially for the LCD, the improved sharpness, night time lapse modes, and audio improvements. I think the double wifi speed and bluetooth connectivity are bonuses but I wouldn't upgrade just for those reasons alone but if you combine all the other benefits it's definitely worth the upgrade!

This is the first time I've ever had a high quality camera, so I will write from that perspective. I'm not going to compare it to prior models or break-down a comparison to other action cams. This review is just about the camera itself and how to possibly get the most of it.

First and foremost let me say that the quality of the video is absolutely stunning. I think GoPro cameras are mostly meant for video but even their snap shots can be quite amazing too. I have always liked photography but could never justify spending $600+ on a camera I probably wouldn't even use that often due to bulk and lenses. As a mountain biker, I've found myself craving to get some of the stuff I do on video. I've been wanting to get a GoPro for some time and have put it off until my birthday finally came around and my wife bought me the recently released Hero 4 Silver. I didn't order it on Amazon because I didn't want to wait 2 days to get it haha. We went to a local store and we almost bought the Hero3+ Silver edition but my wife convinced me to get the Hero4 instead and boy am I glad she did!

Let me say off the bat some of the problems I've experienced so far:

1. The battery life absolutely sucks. One battery is not enough to get you through almost any activity. I think it lasts even less time if its hot. You will need at minimum 3 batteries. I will be ordering a Wasabi dual battery charger with 2 extra batteries later today.

2. When uploading your vids and pics to the computer it will ask you if you want to clear the SD card. ALWAYS say no. I've lost pictures and videos that have failed to upload TWICE already. I have no way of knowing if it was due to the software not downloading it or if it just failed to record. So download everything, check to make sure it downloaded everything, and THEN delete afterwards.

3. A 16gb SD card will not be enough. You will need a minimum of 32gb and I would go ahead and just get the 64gb card to have some peace of mind. Also make sure you get a Class 10 SD card. GoPro has recommendations on their website. I have a SanDisk Extreme. It will improve the quality of your videos. Don't go cheap on the SD card, you will regret it.

4. One of the frustrating things about a brand new camera is that all the kinks are going to need to be worked out. GoPro releases some updates for this. So far some people have reported Wifi issues (though I have not had any). Its also difficult to figure out some things because they are new cameras and there is still not a lot of information out there yet. It took me an hour to figure out how to take time lapses. Basically you need to select burst mode and then hit the options button on the side of the camera. That little detail was nowhere to be found.

5. As a newbie camera owner I have come to realize that a lot of the GoPro success is due to amazing video editing. They include a software that makes the process easy enough to do some cool vids but you might end up hitting a wall at some point and yearn for some other editing (and more costly) software. I haven't hit that wall yet but I can see it happening. That being said you will not be able to get away with just buying the camera to get good shots. You will need a lot of accessories and there will be a learning curve to understanding what settings to use and where/how to mount and record. This will cost time and money but is actually a big part of the fun.

Some of the things I love about the Camera:

1. Timelapses are AWESOME and so easy to do. There is a lot of room for creativity with these.
2. Super easy to use once you learn the controls or download the app to remote control from your phone.
3. There is a video + photo mode. This is super cool because you can set the camera to take pics while its also recording video. You can end up with some really awesome photos like this.
4. I love how small and versatile this is. I plan to use this on all my vacations. Its not a burden at all. I also use it for my mountain biking.
5. My friend is a professional photographer and hates the distortion (fish eye effect) but I think its one of the things that makes this camera so versatile. You can capture so much!
6. The sound recording on this was a lot better than I expected.
7. There are tons of accessories to make this camera capable of doings A LOT.

Some advice:

1. Some GoPro (OEM/Official) mounts suck. So make sure you research and read reviews before you buy anything. Sometimes the aftermarket is better and sometimes it isn't.

2. Get a few mounts right away or you won't be able to enjoy the Hero4 the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

3. This bears repeating: Get some more batteries!!!

4. Watch GoPro videos and learn how people get good shots. Watch how they edit their vids to make them interesting. Then proceed to step 5.

5. GET CREATIVE. It is so much fun to try new shots and experiment with this camera. The shooting process and editing process should be FUN for you. Otherwise, you are spending money on a camera you will not use much. Save your money if you're not into that sort of thing.

6. Teach your significant other how to use it. It will make the story you show in your vids better when it comes from multiple perspectives.

You might be asking why is this review a 4 stars if I think its such a great camera. I would gladly give it 5 stars if it wasn't for some of the problems I mentioned above. I think if I didn't have missing/deleted vids and photos due to software/recording error I would have probably given it a 5 star despite some of the other minor issues. Overall, its a great freakin camera and I think for my intended purposes its almost perfect. If you want a convenient lightweight versatile camera for traveling and action/sports, this camera is a must buy. I will update this again after another month or two of use. Maybe by then the issue will be resolved and I will update to 5 stars. Hope this review helps!

UPDATE 12/10/2014:

Ok I've had some more time to use the camera and make some videos. Here is what I've learned:

It took me a day or two to learn to use the GoPro video editing software efficiently. The best way to learn to use the editing software is to search on Youtube for videos that show you. Its actually pretty easy and makes the process pretty painless. Depending on what computer you use, the software can be really slow when it comes to loading the videos and exporting them. Flux is a feature that smoothes the videos but takes even longer to export. It takes a long time on my computer and I have an intel core i7 (2.8ghz) with 8 gigs of ram. My graphics card is a somewhat low-end card. I'm not sure how much faster this would be on a Mac or a high-end computer, but you can probably still expect to leave the computer working while you walk away and do something else.
I think the average person will be very satisfied with the gopro software, because its very easy to use once you get the hang of it. Keep in mind that you should be excited about editing the videos. If watching film you've recorded and creating a story through some video editing is not something that appeals to you, don't buy any video camera because you will probably end up not using the footage and eventually not even the camera.

Another warning:
If you do enjoy all of the above, you will want ANOTHER camera. Once you realize you can get much cooler videos by getting different angles from multiple cameras, this hobby quickly becomes a bit of an obsession. Fortunately, you can buy the lower end model GoPros and just use the Hero 4 Silver for 4k videos or higher-quality shots. I will probably end up buying another GoPro camera in the near future.

Update 1/2/2014:

I had someone ask about the sound quality of the camera and whether an external microphone was needed. Here is my response:

It all depends on several things.

Do you plan on using the sound from your video? I'm assuming yes, but keep in mind many people usually play music over their vids.

What activity will you be doing? This matters because the sound quality improves depending on the type of back-cover you use. The completely water-proof one has the worst sound quality. The one that is completely open has the best sound quality. So if you're doing an activity where you expect some or a lot of water you may not be willing to use the open-back one. You may have to use the one that is soft for touchscreen but not submersible. This will affect the quality but it might still be "good enough".

How important is sound quality to you? An external mic is probably not necessary when you have the best possible set-up (see above). Then again, if you care a lot about sound quality or want semi-professional/professional quality, then a mic is almost certainly necessary. I know that the GoPro production team uses an external mic, so if you want to produce quality sound, you will probably have to get one.

Try out camera first with a few different set ups. Then decide if the sound quality meets your expectations. It exceeded mines when I played a volleyball game with some family. It was able to pick up my sisters voice clearly on the other side of the net, about 20 feet away. Thats good enough for me (at least for now) to not have to buy an external mic.

Update: 2/26/15
I figured out the problem with not being able to transfer all the pictures. I spoke with GoPro customer service and we were eventually able to narrow down the problem to my GoPro Cable. Since this is something that can probably happen to anyone (I had no way of knowing I had a bad cable), I recommend you always use an SD Card Adapter and upload your pictures that way. This fixed my issue. Changed my rating to 5 star due to customer service.

A lot of people ask themselves if it's worth to buy the GoPro 4 because the GoPro 3+ also seems to be a very good choice. I've had the GoPro 3+ and now I bought the GoPro 4 so in this review I'm going to help decide.

To start off with, the Menu system of the GoPro 4 is a lot easier and faster to navigate. Selecting menu options doesn't require scrolling then selecting then exiting to choose it. Also, a one touch "settings/tag" button replaces the Wi-Fi button which works great because you don't need to scroll through the menu to find it. The "Quick Capture" feature which allows one touch recording when the camera is OFF, is a great feature since it takes less than 2 seconds to begin recording. The LCD menu system is also much quicker and easier to navigate. Also very high frame rate at 4K/15 and 1080/60 which is incredible. WVGA/240 is still available which wasn't disclosed in the advertised specs that I read. The LCD for the GoPro 3+ works fine with the GoPro 4. The cameras are the same physical size therefore all GoPro3+ accessories work except for the battery. You can also look at the GoPro 3+ page to see some more differences: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3F0EIU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00F3F0EIU&linkCode=as2&tag=newcams-20&linkId=DUJPZ2WT4XFGJIDX

I recommend the GoPro 4 over the GoPro 3+ so spend the extra money if you want to capture near professional quality video with a camera which is and faster and easier to use.

(test videos below) I went into the store today to buy the Hero3+ Black edition and they were out of it. This was just released so I decided to get the Hero4 Silver Edition because it is basically a small upgrade to the Hero3+ Black (from what I could read). This is also my first GoPro and the first camera of any quality in a long time. I also purchased a 64gb Pixtor SanDisk Class U3 microsd card.

I'm really enjoying this product so far. Having never had a GoPro, the touchscreen seems like the only way you could control this camera. It seems like it would be difficult with buttons. It seems to respond very well. It times out as you are shooting video. At first, I didn't realize this and I thought the camera went off or it stopped shooting, but if you tap the screen the picture will come back. I'm sure this saves on a lot of battery.

It took me a little to get used to the Wide and SuperWide len, but I think I'm starting to get the optimal range for shooting. You have to be pretty close obviously to get good shots. You can put the camera in Medium or Narrow focus on some resolutions (around 720p is when you get the Narrow option), but I haven't played with it all that much.

Without the housing, the camera is tiny. The lens protrudes a bit so you will have to be careful carrying it around without a case. It feels solidly built. The hdmi and usb port is covered by a tiny piece of plastic that I'm no doubt going to lose. I will just have to be careful about where I set this little piece down.

So far I've shot two videos and edited them in the GoPro Studio software that I downloaded (free). I shot one in 1080p30fpsSuperWide (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LXZG4FhCVk) and I also shot one in 720p@100fps SUPERWIDE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBEpck_EeFc). I have no experience at all editing videos. It was rather easy. When you plug the camera in and have installed the GoPro Software, it will automatically ask to import your media and then give you an option to easily clear the camera memory. Here is a raw video shot with 720pWide@120fps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyrx3nu3oHs The point of the video is to show how easy it is to get everything in the frame. Try to do this with your phone and see how much of this would be caught on film.

The camera comes with three housing backs. One that is completely waterproof (no touchscreen), one that is waterproof only to 3meters but has touch capability, and then an open back for normal dry usage.

It comes with a side mount and a vertical mount. Be sure to save the bracket thing that the camera comes mounted on. You will find many uses for it. There are adhesive pads for curved or flat surfaces, but they only work once and I haven't needed to use them yet.

The QuickClip is a recommended accessory. It attaches to many things pretty securely. I also purchased the Chesty but seems a little expensive, and a friend who has a lot of experience said the head thing is better. He also highly recommended the suction cup (great for cars).

I was able to use the GoPro App a bit and I have to say that my functionality was limited because my tablet is a original Galaxy Tab 10.1 I was able to pair with the camera very easy and I could hit the record button on my tablet and the camera would start to record (neat!). I was not able to do the live preview or to preview my old videos (probably a memory issue on my tablet).

This product works really nice for me since I shoot mostly everything by hand and it's almost all animals that I'm trying to get adopted. It's easy to keep everything in the frame and the quality can make the difference sometimes in an animal catching someone's eye.

Update: I'm starting to learn a lot more about the camera and it's becoming more powerful for me. The time-lapse feature works really well and with the GoPro Studio software, it is really easy to make a video. You just select all the images and it will make a timelapse video automatically. Then when you convert it, you will be able to adjust the playback speed.

Spot Meter is used for shooting in dark areas into brighter areas. For example, in a dark room trying to shoot through a window that is bright outside. OFF you will see much of the room and the window will be a bright light. ON you will see darkness around the edges but you will see outside the window clearly.

Protunes gives you a lot of flexibility if you are an edit machine. The video is often more flat in color and there is less exposure, so you can adjust it later in editing software. From my research it seems that you should keep it OFF in most situations unless you plan on editing the color in software.

Low Light : still learning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlBk6tZAq0A It seems the trick is to use lower fps in a lot of low light situations. UPDATE: The low light feature will automatically do this for you. I can get pretty good footage in low light on 24fps.

AFTER USING FOR A MONTH OR SO: Battery life is for sure lacking. It's impossible to do long time-lapse photography without plugging it in. If you travel with this, you will for sure need backup batteries. I'm also finding that I rarely use the touch screen. I wish I had 1080p120fps, but I still couldn't justify paying another $100 for it. I've ended up getting the frame mount, a couple suction cup mounts, and making a few of my own mounts that have made the camera fun to use. I shot one video underwater and it worked great.

If you're like me when I was shopping for a GoPro, I had three main questions:

1. Is it worth upgrading from the 3 to the 4? Short answer: for certain features, if you need them. Long answer: see below.

2. Which version of the 4 should I get? Short: Are you a pro? Black. Otherwise, the HERO or 4 Silver.

3. What else do I need? Short: a good microSD (sometimes you can get it bundled with the camera!) Long: probably some extra batteries

==ONE==
If you're coming from a 3 or 3+ Black, the only upgrade that would make sense is the 4 Black (the 4 Silver is the performance equivalent of the old 3+ Black).

If you're coming from a 3 Silver or White, it /might/ be worth the upgrade if you have a good use case for the 4 Silver's new touch screen back. That being said, having used GoPros a fair amounta screen on the back really isn't as useful as it sounds. The reason you're using a GoPro to begin with is to stick it in a tough spot - where the back is almost always inaccessible. You aren't going to be adjusting your shot mid ski-slope or dirtbike-ride, after all.

==TWO==
If you do decide to upgrade (or this is your first GoPro), you have three good options BESIDES the 4 Silver:

The $130 barebones HERO: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NIYNUXO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NIYNUXO&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=6RGQWHRXFRZSLFPY

The $300 HERO3+ Silver: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3F0EIU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00F3F0EIU&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=74K5GFVCEONUONTG

The $500 HERO4 Black: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NIYNUF2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NIYNUF2&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=ETJT2IDPFGFYVA6W

The GoPro website has a huge spreadsheet comparing all their features but here's how I think about it:

If you're using the GoPro to just capture memories, save your money for the memories and get the HERO.

If you /think/ you're interested in using your GoPro to make more serious footage (but don't have any experience yet), pick the version of the Silver that best suites your budget. Note that the 4 Silver has a touchscreen back to help you frame your shots - that alone is worth the $100 if you can afford it.

And if you're already a heavy GoPro user (or filmmaker in general) with paying customers or past successes, get the Black. If you have a once in a lifetime trip approaching and deep pockets, you might also consider the Black - but, for a lot of people, there are more meaningful things you can do with that extra money :)

==THREE==
If you aren't going to be filming in 4K, you can get pretty much any decent memory card and you'll be fine. If you want to do 4K Protune on the Black, wellyou're going to want a fast one! I've been using this SanDisk without issue: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M55BS8G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00M55BS8G&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=UVLMTWAPOPKC6RT3

It also gobbles through batteries. I seem to get about an hour of battery life, and that's only filming about half the time. Thankfully, Wasabi once again has our back with a dual battery set w/charger for just $24: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OAAUZO2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00OAAUZO2&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=O67BCZ56CZ4ABYS2

Excellent piece of device..GoPro first timer. Happy to report that this camera gives you a whole lot of new perspectives which one could never have imagined to shoot before.. Check out my underwater / landscape images (screenshot from video footages) and decide for yourself. I am still at awe of the wide angle its capable of bringing into the frame..!!

I am still in the process of exploring the camera.. will come back to update the 5th star I have left behind for now.

I don't usually review products. But, when I do it's a special occasion and I try to elaborate as much as I can whether it be liking it or disliking it.

I ordered my GoPro and a bunch of other things last week - it delivered and I was excited! I ordered my dog Toby (a corgi) the fetch harness, strapped him up and ran him around my yard. LOVED IT! That was the first and last video that I could record with my GoPro.

I apparently have the only reported issue on the HEREO4 Silver or black at the moment, and that issue is that the camera itself fluctuates from a blueish purpleish haze to a dark green / distorted image. With or without an SD card in it, it'll just start freaking out. Video / animated gif of what it recorded (and continually would display) here : http://giphy.com/gifs/broken-gopro-hero4-TlK63EyZGMCjl2Gwyqc

We all get lemons sometimes. Sometimes it's with cars, sometimes it's with electronics products. I definitely got a lemon, and my walk away was "well I'll just get a replacement". I called up GoPro's customer service, and this is when it took a turn for the worst.

I got on the phone with a guy named "Jeremy" over at GoPro. It was a short usual phone call in regards to the issue I was experiencing. He thought it could have been the card, I described the entire issue and we told me he was going to "create a case number" and to "not use the Amazon return service" and that "GoPro's return system is a lot faster".
That was a blatant lie.

We got off the phone, I got an email with him at least, that the case was created, and I sent him "proof of the issue I was experiencing". Pictures of the device freaking out and most recently the video I linked above of it freaking out.

That was the last I heard from Jeremy. I've sent numerous emails to Jeremy and haven't heard a peep since.

Avoid GoPro's customer service like the plague.

What I should have done from the get-go is just simply use the Amazon Return service. Everyone should. It's painless and if you just want another device and not the refund, it's as simple as it could be. Plus, I ordered a "replacement" today and it's due for delivery tomorrow. Too cool! Hopefully my next one will work (I will update).

*Hopefully* I get a unit that doesn't die like the one I'm returning. I really think the GoPro's are great and am really excited to start messing around with it, especially with my deep sea dive next year.

I will update when I get the replacement.

*edit* Update 1/22/2015

I have since received the replacement from Amazon - Amazon's return service is (and has been in my experience) absolutely stellar. I had a replacement ready for me the following day. Let that sink in. One day delivery. It was amazing.

I got an email back from Jeremy saying he was sorry, and that I had the option of receiving a gift in return for the bad service (I think it was $20 or something). I opted for a lens protection kit they offer on their website. I got that actually within a week.

While I applaud their ability to try to right the wrong, and I'm seeing the mount of people who still have this issue, I cannot think but to assume that there is a huge quantity of effected GoPro 4 silver's effected with this issue. If you're experiencing this issue reply here.

If you're like me and got a one with a good screen (see screen issue reviews) -and- have the latest update installed - you should be in business, right? and then there's the Audio issue.

I don't write reviews often, but there is a (little?) elephant in the room that needs to be addressed and I do not see it mentioned enough in most reviews.

As mentioned by quite a few other reviewers (mostly 1-Star) - there is a chopping "helicopter-like" background sound when you shoot video with the Wifi On. I have tested and can confirm true.

Example from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsQgiUJnB2M
(*Note the number of comments on YouTube)

Does it matter? Well, if you want record video and use Wifi at the same time it does. I think anyone who wants to use the app. as a remote at some point and cares about audio-track quality should care about this issue. I could think of multiple applications where I would want a clean soundtrack while using my phone/tablet to control the camera remotely. Maybe for others, not so much.

To the best of my knowledge the Hero 3+ does not produce the same sound while shooting video with Wifi On. So what happened, GoPro?

From what I gather - seems like ALL cameras are affected to some degree. While some report very light sound, others like in the video show a more noticeable one. I can certainly notice it with my camera. I do not think I (and so many others) am missing something but please let me know if I am.

I would like to know if this issue will be (or even CAN be) fixed via a future update?

For me, this might be a deal breaker. Like many others, I made my purchase on Black Friday weekend. I am going to see what the response from GoPro is and decide if to return mine before the 30 days are up. I would rather wait until this issue is fixed in a later version. Sorry GoPro, I am a fan but at a $300++ price point, I deserve a perfectly working camera.

Still a solid 3-Star camera, but wanted it to be 5-Star so bad! Ski Season is almost in full swing.

Folks, Please H e l p By:

1. Using the comments below to chime in. Big questions are: Are truly all cameras affected? Did you check yours? -And- Deal-Breaker for you or Not?

And/ Or

2. Vote this review as `helpful' so it moves up and gets noticed- I'd love to get a response from GoPro on this issue!

I will update on top with any developments. Thx!

I've been hearing about the qualities of a GoPro for so long and although I am not an exceptionally active person myself, it seems that the GoPro is really reaching a wider audience these days so I took the plunge. I couldn't be happier!

I'll preface this review by saying it is my first GoPro & I've actually never handled one before so it is all new to me. I do enjoy photography and own a Sony NEX, Fujifilm Instax Mini, an old CyberShot point and shoot & a trusty iPhone Meaning I like to take lots of pictures, but I am not a professional by any means.

I chose to buy the Silver Edition over the Black primarily because of price and practicality. Black Edition retails for $499 while the Silver Edition is $399 - comparable to the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition price. Moreover, after reading a trusted review by Gizmodo, it seems that the Black Edition really excels for professional use and editing which does not pertain to me. Also, in Photo Features - the Black & Silver are exactly the same! You can check the GoPro website for detailed specs. Another selling point - this is the only GoPro with a touch screen on the back. More about that later.

My first thoughts: it is so small! Even with the housing (clear case) on the device, the GoPro fits into the palm of your hand. Take the housing off and you'd be amazed at how tiny of a device can pack so much punch. The size alone makes it a go-to addition to bring out with me for photos and it is quite easy to use because of the touch screen. You can take 12MP pictures compared to the iPhone 5/6 which comes in at 8MP. Also the wide angle lets you capture more.

The Silver Edition comes with a Standard Housing (waterproof up to 40m) already on it but also has two different housing doors that you swap out depending on your use: one that allows for touchscreen use but is only waterproof up to 10m (touchscreen not active underwater) and one that is for dry use and has an open window to access the touchscreen. You can operate the GoPro with or without any housing but housing allows you to mount it a pole or other accessories.

Now on to the touchscreen. From what I can tell, all other GoPro's have three standard buttons with various functions in each to let you navigate the GoPro. With the Hero 4 Silver Edition, the touchscreen mirrors the three button's functionality but with more detail (ie a description with the icon). You can navigate everything with the touchscreen from switching to video to photo and playback. I tried my hand at just using the three buttons to get my way around and it was a lot harder as the screen in front is smaller & I would have to recognize all the different symbols. In summation - having the touchscreen makes using the GoPro super easy. So glad I have this feature as a beginner to the GoPro world. & if I ever did switch to another GoPro without a screen, at least I am familiar with the buttons.

Physical features of buttons and screen aside, the settings & modes within the GoPro are really easy to navigate as well. I was intimidated thinking there would be a lot of unknown territory, but it was fine. You can (and should) download the phone app for the GoPro as well because you can navigate everything from there too. I prefer to review pictures on my phone since its bigger than the GoPro screen.

Other worthy mentions: in Photo Mode, you can only take wide angle pictures so all of your pictures will have a bit of a fish eye look. However in Video Mode, you can choose Wide Angle, Medium, or Narrow, depending on your resolution. I am really happy with my purchase and cannot wait to get out and use my GoPro more. If you've been on the fence about getting a GoPro or don't know which one, I recommend the Silver Edition for its price point and ease of use with the touchscreen. It's so small and has great quality, you can take it anywhere!

Superb camera.

Pros:
Image quality is stunning, especially if you use protune and have a background in video editing.
WVGA 240, 720p120, 960p100, 1080p60, 2.7k30(my favorite) plus 12MP stillsneed I say more?

Feature set is immense; capable of connecting to a smartphone and remote control, all of the mounting capabilities, and the sharp bright LCD display all add up to a user friendly experience.

Build quality; feels like a very solidly built piece of hardware especially when used with the housing. I have used it under water, dirt and mud covered, and dropped it from significant heights and it looks brand new.

Cons:
The only problem I've had is battery life, it'll film for a little under 2 hrs with 1080p30 enabled, and the screen turned off, which is lackluster. Luckily GoPro has a new and easier way to swap in a new battery vs the previous generations.