GoPro
HD Hero 2
 vs
GoPro HERO3
Black Edition

GoPro HERO3 Black Edition

72

  
GoPro HD Hero 2

63

  

Reasons to buy the GoPro HERO3 Black Edition

Movie format
 High resolution movies
4096 x 2160 @ 12fps
Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
5 mm
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Weight
 Light-weight
73 g
 
Runner-up

GoPro HD Hero 2

Reasons to buy the GoPro HD Hero 2

Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
8 mm
Size
 Really small
Compact 98x58x34 mm
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Weight
 Light-weight
98 g
 

differences

Advantages of the GoPro HD Hero 2
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Lowest price Cheaper $359.95 vs $514.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $155 cheaper (more than 30% less)
GoPro HD Hero 2 Learn more about
the GoPro HD Hero 2

Advantages of the GoPro Black Edition
Movie format Higher resolution movies 4096 x 2160 @ 12fps vs 1080p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution standard resolution video but at a lower frame rate
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Wide angle Better wide angle 5 mm vs 8 mm
Help
 Around 40% better wide angle
High-speed framerate Higher speed movies 240 fps vs 120 fps
Help
 2x higher fps
Weight Slightly lighter 73 g vs 98 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
GoPro HERO3 Black Edition Learn more about
the GoPro Black Edition
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent waterproof cameras, and ignoring price

GoPro HD Hero 2 GoPro HD Hero 2
63 vs 72
Explain scores
GoPro HERO3 Black Edition GoPro HERO3 Black Edition
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the GoPro HERO3 Black Edition.

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Wide angle Excellent wide angle Help
HD Hero 2:8 mm
Black Edition:5 mm
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Waterproof Waterproof Help
Great at the beach
Weight Light weight Help
HD Hero 2:98 g
Black Edition:73 g
Lowest price Very expensive Help
HD Hero 2:$359.95
Black Edition:$514.95
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent waterproof cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
High-speed framerate Very high speed movies Help
HD Hero 2:120 fps
Black Edition:240 fps
GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix AW100

Nikon Coolpix AW100

Waterproof

$221 - $260
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Weight Is slightly heavier
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Compare the Coolpix AW100 vs the HD Hero 2
Compare the Coolpix AW100 vs the HERO3 Black Edition
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-2 iHS

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-2 iHS

Waterproof

$346 - $379
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Weight Is slightly heavier
Wide angle Has a much narrower wide angle lens
Compare the Stylus Tough TG-2 iHS vs the HD Hero 2
Compare the Stylus Tough TG-2 iHS vs the HERO3 Black Edition
Nikon Coolpix AW110

Nikon Coolpix AW110

Waterproof

$313 - $327
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Weight Is slightly heavier
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Coolpix AW110 vs the HD Hero 2
Compare the Coolpix AW110 vs the HERO3 Black Edition
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Waterproof Is not waterproof
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the HD Hero 2
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the HERO3 Black Edition
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS

Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS

Waterproof
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Weight Is slightly heavier
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Optio WG-2 GPS vs the HD Hero 2
Compare the Optio WG-2 GPS vs the HERO3 Black Edition
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4

Panasonic Lumix TS4

Waterproof

$248 - $250
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the Lumix TS4 vs the HD Hero 2
Compare the Lumix TS4 vs the HERO3 Black Edition
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Waterproof Is not waterproof
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the HD Hero 2
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the HERO3 Black Edition

GoPro HD Hero 2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Much larger
Weight Much heavier
Compare the D7100 vs the HD Hero 2

GoPro HERO3 Black Edition Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the GoPro HERO3 Black Edition.

appearance

GoPro HD Hero 2 GoPro HERO3 Black Edition
GoPro HERO3 Black Edition
GoPro HERO3 Black Edition

discussion

Showing 6 comments

Avatar for inkredible Diz inkredible Diz (3:13 AM, April 15, 2013)
But you can attach external mic via usb to mic adapter
 
Avatar for Chris Ward Chris Ward (6:06 PM, March 10, 2013)
the hero 3 does have external mic capabilities, you just need to buy a $20 adapter from gopro! lol
 
Dave (7:12 PM, March 02, 2013)
gopro 3 has mic input but you need a adapter
 
omg (4:45 PM, February 05, 2013)
no gopro has built in flash, and the hero 3 has no mic input. :( i have both. hero 2 is awesome for external mics. hero 3's video quality is way good, but no external mic capability is a bummer.
 
Avatar for inkredible Diz inkredible Diz (3:59 AM, January 30, 2013)
and also I guess HERO3 has mic in :)
 
Avatar for Arian Rassoul Arian Rassoul (9:43 AM, December 12, 2012)
as far as i know the hero 2 has no built in flash :-)