GoPro 3D Hero System: Surf Gear Review

The Good

• Ummmm....3D!!!! Amazing 3D video and images!

The Not So Good

• No 4D? Kidding...I really have nothing negative to share, this unit is unreal!

No B.S. Review

We have been working with GoPro for years now and I am consistently blown away with their products and advancements and contributions to innovation and technology.  Their step into the High Definition world skyrocketed them to the top of the P.O.V. and action sports markets; all while pushing the limits of what is possible and bringing an affordable and quality video option to the masses.  Our recent reviews on their battery bac pack and LCD screen modules certainly enhanced their HD Hero systems even more, allowing them to now compete with the highest end HD production camera and video systems.  The newest edition to the GoPro family is truly mind blowing and they have once again exceeded our expectations!  I’m pleased to introduce you to the 3D Hero System…

The 3D system is surprisingly simple to use considering the advanced end product you get.  It requires 2 HD GoPro units which are placed in the custom housing they provide with the kit.  One camera is inserted right side up, while the other is added to the case upside down next to the other camera already in place.  A sync cable completes the union between the two units allowing them to communicate and act as one.  Each camera must be turned on individually but a single shutter button located on top operates both cameras.  Each camera captures the footage on their individual SD cards. When you are done filming or shooting pics you simply upload the content to GoPro’s free editing platform, CineForm Studio.  It is very user friendly and simple drag and drop features make organizing and transferring files a breeze.  There are a few tutorials online as well for all of you that don’t like to read instructions!!! (http://www.youtube.com/user/GoProTutorials).  Once you have completed your video editing you can save or upload you movies directly to Youtube, Vimeo, etc.!  You can still watch your footage in 2D High Definition if you choose and there are multiple setting for 3D options which include the traditional red/blue anaglyph as well as compatibility for all of the new 3D TVs!

Test day brought healthy 4-5 ft surf with some pretty clean conditions.  The 3D unit did feel a bit heavier on the nose of the board than I was used to but it still wasn’t’ enough to inhibit any performance.  It snapped into my pre-existing board and helmet mounts and the footage we collected is just priceless!  The functions were very similar to the single housing and very easy to operate.  We opted to use the red/blue anaglyph display when editing and I noticed the 3D effect had the most impact with shots that offer lots of depth and scale.  Duck dives, impact zone/ foamballs shots, and of course barrels all look amazing and help illustrate how dramatic things really are out there.  However, because things happen so fast when on a wave, I found that slowing down the footage playback speed greatly helps with the overall effect and quality.  Everyone that saw the rig and footage was blown away and immediately wanted to know how to get one.

Overall I have to give the GoPro 3D Hero System an A+ rating and I honestly don’t know how they’re going to out do themselves on this one!  I can only speculate that this is going to take film, surf, and the entire action sports market to a new level and bring a perspective to the masses never captured before!  The 3D Hero system is only $99!  However it does require two HD Heros which could run you around $250 each.  But for $600 dollars I still do not know of any other camera on the market that can come close to offering this much horsepower and flexibility as the Go Pro 3D!  Check out the 3D Hero and GoPro’s entire line up of cameras and accessories at: http://gopro.com/hd-hero-accessories/3d-hero-system/.  As always, thanks for reading and be sure to tell a friend…  – Shaper

User Rating

(6 votes, average: 4.17 out of 5)

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