GoPro Hero HD Camera

My surfer friend Shawn lights up when he regales us with stories about his latest acquisition, the GoPro Hero HD camera. And it’s no surprise: there’s nothing not to love, especially for a guy who likes to record his daily wave conquests. From the reasonable starting price of R2300 to the endless mounts for your car, bike, surfboard etc, this little gadget seems to have it all.

The Hero has a 170-degree field of vision, which is great for reducing the vibrations it will experience while riding down the side of a mountain or inside the barrel of a big wave. This also ensures that what you are shooting is well within the frame but unfortunately makes waves and jumps look a little less impressive.

The average recording times are as follows: 1080p: 12 min/GB; 960p: 14min/GB; 720p: 16min/GB @ 30 fps, 11min/GB @ 60 fps. It’s recommended that you use fast SDHC cards to save battery life. The camera takes an 1100Mah 3.7 Volt battery from which you can get 2.5 hours of battery life in normal climates. The HD camera’s hardy housing retains heat, making it usable in the cold, and it also keeps noise interference, like wind, to a minimum.

The Hero has several still modes, but chances are you won’t be making much use of these - not if you’re a proper action junkie, that is.