Pro-quality capture. Touch-display convenience.
Capture your world in an all-new way with HERO4 Silver, the first-ever GoPro to feature a built-in touch display. Controlling the camera, framing shots and playing back content is now ultra convenient—just view, tap and swipe the screen. HERO4 Silver captures 1080p60 and 720p120 video with lifelike clarity, plus 12MP photos at a staggering 30 frames per second. New experience-enhancing features include HiLight Tag, which lets you mark key moments for easy playback, editing and sharing, and QuikCapture, which allows you to power on the camera and start recording with the press of a single button. Waterproof to 131 feet (40 meters), HERO4 Silver combines versatility and pro-quality capture with the convenience of a touch display.
Built-in touch display.
HERO4 Silver is the first-ever GoPro to feature an integrated touch display. Use it to preview photos and videos to frame your perfect shot. Play back content, and relive the moment instantly. Easily navigate camera menus and adjust settings—just tap and swipe the screen.
Professional video quality.
Featuring an enhanced sensor, HERO4 Silver boasts even better image quality than any of the best-selling GoPro cameras that came before it. Capture stunning 1080p60 video that’s sharper and more lifelike than ever. High-resolution, high frame rate 720p120 and 960p100 video delivers exceptionally smooth slow-motion playback of all your highlights. 4K and 2.7K video offers ultra high-resolution, cinema-quality capture.
Fast, powerful photo capture.
With 12 MP Burst photos at a blistering 30 frames per second, HERO4 Silver helps you capture the moments you don’t want to miss. Capture single photos, or choose Time Lapse mode to shoot photos automatically at set time intervals from 0.5 to 60 seconds—great for gear-mounted shots when the shutter button is out of reach. Night Photo and Night Lapse offer customizable exposure settings of up to 30 seconds for breathtaking images of the night sky and more.
New settings for after dark.
Capture the night sky in a whole new way. New Night Photo and Night Lapse modes offer customizable exposure settings of up to 30 seconds for single and Time Lapse photos. Whether you’re shooting the Milky Way or a campfire hangout, Night Photo and Night Lapse allow you to you capture ultra low-light scenes like never before.
Control, view and share with built-in Wi-Fi + Bluetooth.
HERO4 Silver features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allowing you to connect to the GoPro App, Smart Remote1 and more. The GoPro App transforms your phone or tablet into a live video remote for your camera, offering full control of all functions and settings, easy shot preview and playback, plus sharing via text, email, Facebook and more. The Smart Remote allows you to control multiple GoPro cameras from distances of up to 600 feet (180 meters).
HiLight Tag your best moments.
HiLight Tag, a new HERO4 feature, enables you to mark key moments while recording so you can quickly locate your best clips later for convenient playback, editing or sharing using the GoPro App or GoPro Studio. Just press the dedicated button on the camera or Smart Remote,1 or use the GoPro App to tag your highlights.
World’s most immersive video.
HERO4 Silver features SuperView, a GoPro-exclusive video mode that captures the world’s most immersive wide-angle perspective. It allows you to capture more of yourself and your surroundings in the shot—resulting in captivating, ultra engaging footage of every adventure.
Auto Low Light mode.
Let the camera do the thinking for you. Auto Low Light mode intelligently changes frame rates based on lighting conditions for optimal low-light performance, enabling you to move between bright and dark environments without having to adjust your camera settings.
QuikCapture convenience.
Be ready to capture the moment at a moment’s notice with new QuikCapture mode. It turns your GoPro into a one-button camera, allowing you to power on and start recording automatically with the press of a single button. Press once to record video, press and hold for two seconds to capture Time Lapse photos. Never worry again about missing an epic shot.
Impressive audio performance.
Featuring a powerful new audio system, HERO4 Silver captures clean, high fidelity sound. Its cutting-edge microphone delivers nearly 2x the dynamic range, while a best-in-class audio algorithm ensures your recordings sound smoother and more natural than ever.2 For added performance, the camera is compatible with a variety of external mics when using the optional 3.5 millimeter Mic Adapter.1
Protune, now for photo + video.
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.
Improved camera control.
HERO4 Silver features a new dedicated button that allows you to quickly access and adjust camera settings. Simplified menus make navigating settings more intuitive than ever.
GoPro App + software.
Expand your GoPro experience with the free GoPro App and GoPro Studio software. The GoPro App allows you to control your camera remotely using your phone or tablet, view and share your content and watch 'best of' videos on the GoPro Channel. Use GoPro Studio to create your own engaging GoPro-style videos to share with the world.
SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEWS –
1) Excellent upgrade from the Hero 3+ Black and a better value than the Hero 4 Black! - 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 Hero 3+ Black.
Watch this video to compare the Hero 4 Black to the Hero 3+ Black: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BacBT268-pQ&list=UUTs-d2DgyuJVRICivxe2Ktg
Then watch this video to compare the Hero 4 Black to the Hero 4 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 lens and it's definitely improved over the 3+ Black. Yes, the 4 Black can do 4K at 30 FPS while the 4 Silver can only do 2.7k at 30 FPS (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). This means you will also get (compared to the 3+ Black):
- 2x the WiFi Speed
- 2x the Dynamic Range for Audio Quality
- Bluetooth Capability
- Night Photo Mode
- Night Time Lapse Mode
- Quick Capture Mode
- Protune for Photos
- Simultaneous Video and Photo
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.
There is one minor bug to mention but it will probably be fixed in an update coming very soon to the firmware. The Night Photo mode should allow control of the shutter speed, but currently a lot of users including myself can only access the shutter speed mode when we turn on Protune. The problem is you should be able to access it outside of Protune since not everyone wants Protune for Night Photo. Hopefully this is fixed quickly with a firmware update but it seems to only be affecting some cameras and not all.
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.
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). 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 26 minutes out of the battery! That is pretty amazing as I did not expect that with the high brightness setting. I did the test again at 2.7k 30 FPS with brightness set to low and got 1 hour and 32 minutes. So it's up to you how important those 6 minutes are, but for me I'd rather have the full brightness.
Interestingly, I did the test with the LCD off with the same frame rate and got 1 hour and 35 minutes (I did this 3 times with the same result). This means the LCD draws very little power (which is good) but I feel 1 hour and 35 minutes is on the low side of what I should be getting without the LCD given that GoPro claims 1 hour and 50 minutes.
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 Hero 4 is 20 mAH less (1180 mAH in the Hero 3+ while 1160 in the Hero 4).
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.
Overall a great improvement and hopefully the minor bugs get fixed quickly, but 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!
By Knowledge on October 9, 2014
2) First Timer Happy With Purchase - (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.
By Jeffrey Gardner on October 5, 2014
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