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GoPro Unleashes New HD Hero 960 Today

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Most action sports fans are familiar at this point with the GoPro line of wearable camcorders due to their huge performance from such a small package. With the introduction of the HD Hero, GoPro gained world wide attention form the likes of Gizmodo, the New York Times, and Lucasfilm for creating such a  usable and high quality filming experience with no wires.

However, not everyone has 300 bones to drop on a camera, hence the introduction of the HD Hero 960.

Basically, take all the specs of the full HD Hero, but omit the full 1080p and 60 FPS 720p filming modes and you get the 960. You also lose the Hero Bus expansion port for the upcoming battery extension and LCD screen add-ons that will be coming in the near future. However, the price drops to a very tasty $179 and included nearly everything you need to get started short of an SD card.

Full camera specs after the break!

If you’re looking to document your next biking adventure, do it in style and show people that hilarious crash or insane downhill. After all, a picture’s worth a 1000 words, right? Check out the full line of cameras and accessories on GoPro’s website.

What’s Included:

  • 1 HD HERO 960 camera
  • 1 Rechargeable 1100 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery
  • 1 Waterproof Quick-Release Housing (180′ / 60m)
  • 1 Curved, 3Mâ„¢ Adhesive Mount
  • 1 Flat, 3Mâ„¢ Adhesive Mount
  • 1 Helmet Front Mount
  • 1 Headlamp-Style Head Strap
  • 1 Quick-Release Buckle
  • 1 USB Cable
  • 1 Component Video Cable (HDTV)
  • 1 Composite Video Cable + Audio Out Cable
  • Warranty: One Year

Camera Optics

  • Lens Type: Fixed Focus (2ft/.6m – ?), glass
  • Aperture: f/2.8 (high performance in low-light situations)
  • Angle of View: 170º ultra wide angle in WVGA, 720p, or 960p mode

Video

  • HD Video Resolution Modes: (subject to change, pending final firmware release)
    • 960p = 1280×960 pixels (4:3), 30 fps, 12 Mbit/s data rate
    • 720p = 1280×720 pixels (16:9), 30 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate
    • WVGA = 848×480 pixels (16:9), 60 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate
  • Sensor Type: 1/2.5″ HD CMOS, 2.2µm-sized pixels
  • Light Sensitivity: Super low-light sensitivity (>1.4 V/lux-sec)
  • Video Format: H.264 compression, saved as Windows- & Mac-compatible MPEG4 (.mp4) file
  • Exposure Control: Auto with user selectable center weighted average and spot metering settings
  • White Balance: Auto

Audio

  • Microphone: Built-in, mono with AGC (automatic gain control)
  • Audio Format: 48 kHz, AAC audio compression

Photo

  • Resolution: 5 megapixel
  • Capture Modes: Single shot, photo every 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 secs.; 3 photo burst; self-timer

Storage

  • Memory: SD card, up to 32GB capacity (SDHC)
  • Average recording times (using 32GB SD card):
    • 960p (30 fps): 5h 26m
    • 720p (30 fps): 8h 09m
    • WVGA (60 fps): 8h 09m

Camera Connectors & Cables

  • PC Connection: USB 2.0 (data connection and battery charging)
  • HDTV Out: HD NTSC & PAL (component cable incl.)
  • Audio Out: Combo 2.5mm jack with stereo audio and composite video out
  • PC Compatibility: Windows® Vista or Windows® 7; Mac OS® X 10.4.11 and later

Power & Battery

  • Battery Type: Rechargeable 1100 mAh lithium-ion
  • Battery Life: Approx. 2.5 hrs
  • Charging: via USB to computer or optional power adapter
  • Charge Time: 80% capacity after 1 hour with optional power adapter; or 2 hours with a computer’s USB port

Waterproof Camera Housing

  • Depth Rating: Up to 180 feet / 60 meters
  • Construction: Polycarbonate and stainless steel
  • Hardware: Stainless steel

Size & Weight

  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.6” x 2.4” x 1.2” (42mm x 60mm x 30mm)
  • Weight: 3.3oz (94g) incl. battery, 5.9oz (167g) incl. housing
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Varaxis
Varaxis
13 years ago

Not a bad deal. I didn’t use the 1080 setting again at all after testing it out on a ride on my GoProHD. My fav setting is r3, 720p 60 fps, which this doesn’t seem to have. It has WVGA though, which is probably going to be the go-to mode for high speed shots for uploading to YouTube or Vimeo.

Some of the features sets this apart from the other cams. The time lapse ability is really cool. The mounting options (ex. chest, wrist mount) and compact size make it easy to take it with you on all your trips. I actually like the fish eye wide angle, since it captures so much of the scenery and helps make up for not having a viewfinder built-in. I’m disappointed in it’s low-light performance though–the video looks really grainy and off-color (poor auto-white balance). At this price, it makes this a clear choice over ContourHD. I wouldn’t really compare it to Kodak Z-whatever, MinoHD, etc, since they’re not PoVs. If you just want a helmet cam and want the best possible quality and a decent 1080 mode, try looking at the DriftHD.

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