Description

GoPro's HD Motorsports HERO is the world's highest performance 1080p HD on-board video and still photo camera. Professional quality 1080p, 960p and 720p HD resolutions record at 30 frames per second (60 fps in 720p). The HD Motorsports HERO easily mounts to any helmet, motorcycle, ATV, car, plane, jet ski, boat, snowmobile or other vehicle. The camera's quick-release mounting design makes it easy to re-position the camera around your vehicle for professional quality HD video from several angles. Record up to 2.5 hours on a single charge and up to 9 hours total on a 32GB SD card (not included). Included are mounts for two helmets and three vehicles, as well as a suction cup for maximum versatility and convenience. The housing is waterproof to 180' / 60m. GoPro's obsession with sound has conquered the wind. At 85 mph on a motorcycle, you'll enjoy the throaty sound of your motor, not the wind. Inside even the quietest street cars, hear the pull of your motor...not the drone of the wind and road. Included is a 1100mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts for up to 2.5 hours of constant recording. With optional accessories, you can also plug the camera into a wall outlet, cigarette lighter, or with any USB-compatible power adapter, wire it directly to your vehicle's electrical system. The battery will charge while you record. The camera can also shoot automatic 5MP photos at 2/5/10/30 and 60 second intervals during your drive or ride, hands free. Pre

Customer Reviews

 Best sports camera I've ever used - Sep 02, 2010

I am extremely happy with this camera. I use it on my GSXR-1000 in the twisty roads for great action HD video as well as mount it to my radio controlled sailplane for great HD video of the flying area. The picture quality is astounding and shake free. The video is eye watering on a plasma TV or wide screen projector during playback.

The kit is very complete with a large assortment of mounts. I'm surprised that there are so many mounts and that they don't try to charge extra for them in an "additional" kit. Supposedly the camera is waterproof to 180 feet and comes in a waterproof primary case (that can be removed).

Overall, I don't know how they can deliver so much product for so little cost, I am completely happy....get your own :)

 YOU know how the present this as the perfect camera that can do just about anything - Aug 30, 2010

They are not lying to you. ITS AWESOME! Worth every penny. The battery last for ever...but I would recommend buying another just in case. And as far as SD cards.. The Kingston level 4 card work perfect....just plug it in and it works...doesn't work well in really low light for obvious reasons ..but in normal light..wow, this camera is crisp, little vibration hitting roots with a mountain bike, amazing on a motor bike and...if you do pranks on people, this camera is awesome, it has stealth mode, no sound or blinking red light, its so small and picks up sound, last forever and you can edit the video right on you software that comes with most computers now... this camera can be used for time laps, just a normal camera, all kinds of video...i dont know....just...every once in a while...someone makes a product that is GREAT and this product rocks in every way, its water proof soooooo deep as well.

 HD Hero Camera - Aug 28, 2010

This is a really great camera, I was really impressed with the over load of different mounts and accessories it came with. I am however dissapointed in one fact. After trying to use this camera, I noticed that my mac wasn't giving me an option to import photos and videos, this is because the company fails to give you a memory card with your purcahse, which they eventually hit you up another 30 bucks afterwords.

 I take this thing everywhere! - Aug 26, 2010

What can I say about this product? It's incredible! 1080p at 30 and 720p at 60? Plus timelapses you can set at 2, 5, 10, 30, and 60 second intervals? This is a great camera to have in your bag. Plus it goes underwater! Possibilities are endless. Underwater timelapse anyone? Why yes please!

The menu is a little tricky to navigate since all you have is a tiny lcd on the front, but once you learn what means what, it's pretty simple... just a lot of button clicking!

I find myself buying more and more accessories for it to mount it to different things. Like the chest strap and bike mount.

Pure genius in a tiny little box!

 Incredible piece of equipment! - Aug 22, 2010

If you're into sports, extreme activities, flying, racing, running, or whatever involves action you must have this little camera. It's little and light but yet it records amazing quality video, with great sound. You can place it almost anywhere you want and it will for sure record thrilling videos.

I use it in my flight trainning for recording my flying experience.

 Great camera for motor sports - Aug 21, 2010

The HD quality is amazing. The suction cup mount is ridiculously sturdy @ 100+Mph. The sound quality is lacking. I've been trying to think of a way to cover the optional open back with some sort of foam to prevent sound, but haven' had any luck. Definitely a great camera if you're into tracking your car. I edit my video's with music anyway, so it's not THAT important to me, but others might see where it would be important. I'm going to have aftermarket exhaust eventually which should make the sound penetrate through the complete closed case better.

[...]

 Best thing to buy if your a motovlogger - Aug 15, 2010

Iv tried everything, Every kind of camera set up for my youtube videos. Im a motorcycle vlogger, I first started out with my iphone camera then i moved on to a HD camera but still they were nothing to this little guy. This camera is so easy to use and has such a good picture its crazy! the mounts on it are great! Just make sure that when u mount them that you are picking the right spot. Because after you put the mount were you want it, its never coming off. anyways i would say this camera and everything it comes with is a 5 star. Besides audio, the audio is ok. But then again who cares your not buying it for the audio your getting it for the picture. If you want to see it in action, feel free to check out my youtube page. [...]

 Reliable, small, light! - Aug 11, 2010

Used a GoProHD for a High Altitude Balloon Project. The little camera was sent up to 100.000 feet with no encasing (didn't want to risk fogging) and exposed to temperatures of -60ºC (-75F). It performed well and the video and audio quality was incredible.
We extended the battery life extracting wires from the case battery connectors and rigging the camera to 2 external NB-5L Canon Li-Ion 3.7v 1100 mAH batteries installed in parallel. We got an incredible 21GB of 720p/60 fps video , 2 hours 40m long. The files came in 30min, 4gb each, in h264 and AAC encoding, and haven't had any issues manipulating them with VLC on a Mac.

The camera worked extremely well and the video quality was amazing, including the audio (while there was audio to record).
See actual footage in the last seconds here:
[...].

We used it with the 32gb card recommended by GoPro which surprisingly is only class 4... but: whatever works! Kingston 32 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card SD4/32GB.

My only wishes for this camera are:
1) a better UI for the menu - I don't want a color LCD, extra buttons, or anything that would add weight or reduce the ruggedness of the camera, but the menu system is extremely slow AND laggy and thus hard to navigate. I hope the GoPro folks rethink the menu design in future versions.
2) a video mode or lens exchange system to make it less of a fisheye and thus be able to take pictures at with less barrel distortion. Something like 20mm (in 35mm equivalent) would be great.

Would recommend and would buy again.

 I really want to love this camera. - Jul 07, 2010

This is close to being a perfect example of a wearable/mountable POV camera. But unfortunately, close isn't quite good enough.

The pros:
Video is awesome, in all of the modes.
Stills are very good quality, the timelapse feature is fantastic.
It's waterproof.
The mounting options are (almost) limitless.

The cons:
It's awkward to set up. Menu is like something from 20 years ago.
Firmware issues have yet to be addressed by the manufacturer. This is inexcusable as the camera has been available for sale for nearly a year.
Audio is useless. They could have saved weight and cost by just not including a mic. The only instance where it even sort of works is when mounted right near a loudish sound you want to highlight, such as an engine.
There are too many instances where "Macgyvering" is required to get the desired result. The quick release mount rattles so you need to tape the base plate, the non waterproof back allows too much wind noise, so you need to tape over the openings, the shutter button rattles, so you need to tape over that. Moral of the story: BUY TAPE.
The support by the manufacturer is not quite adequate. I realize it's a small start up company, but for all the issues with the use of the camera and the handling/editing of the files, they really need to release some conclusive videos or articles to address these concerns.

People who might find this camera useful:
Auto racing enthusiasts
Mountain Bikers
Sailors
Hobbyist videographers looking for those unique shots

People who will likely be disappointed and frustrated by this camera:
Pretty much anyone who thinks they'll be using it as a camcorder.
People who aren't really tech savvy and/or have an older computer
People who don't like to tinker and engineer solutions to make it do what they want.

 Great, but not perfect. - Jun 18, 2010

Just got the camera last week and have managed to play with it in the pool. Once you get it set, its pretty darn simple to use. I'm very pleased with the video quality in the air. In water, the focusing seems a little soft. This is the sort of camera you turn on and leave on, so the ability to edit video is very important. The pluses of this system are the mounts are very good, the video captured in daylight has been very good, and the ability to get replacement lens, housings, and additional mounts is also great. Also, the system is cheap enough that you can take some risks with the camera and get some really fresh shots.

The largest minus this camera has is its lack of documentation. You would think a company that markets video equipment would have some videos on how to use their product, but they do not. No videos and the instructions are written on a massive sheet of paper that would be difficult to use in a breeze. Fortunately some users have created "how to" videos and you can see their stuff on Youtube.

This is my first couple of days video, I'll post an update in a while.

 A great product for the money - Jun 17, 2010

I bought the GoPro HD Motorsports HERO for track use in my race car after seeing them installed in several cars in the paddock this last year. Everyone I talked to liked them, and with a sub $300 price I figured it was worth a try. I installed it with the roll bar attachment option for a resent track day at Laguna Seca, and was very impressed by the picture quality. Set at 720p / 60fps, the video looked pretty darn close to in-car footage you see on a TV broadcast. The wide-angle lens showed the actions of the driver clearly as well as a nice view of the track. Colors are sharp and accurate, and the auto-focus worked very well. It's pretty easy to use once you get acustom to the simple two button operation with tiny LCD screen that only shows the settings. The case and mounting seem very sturdy, and battery life has been very good. If you purchase a 32gb card you'll have plenty of storage for a whole day at the track. My only two issues are that when you turn the unit back on to start a track session, you need to re-set the video settings to where you want it - it should just default to whatever your last setting was. Also, aiming the camera is a bit of a challenge since there is no viewfinder or LCD picture display. You kind of just point it straight out toward the windshield and hope for the best. Luckily with the wide angle lens, you would have to be pretty far out of line to not get a good viewing area. Personally, I'd give up a little size and pay an extra $50 for a small LCD screen on back for aiming. Overall, a pretty darn nice little camera for the money.

 Real HD in a small and light package - Jun 04, 2010

This little wonder works as specified. I use it to shoot full 1080 HD (1920x1080) video at 30 fps. Produces nice output. It is small and lightweight and the Motorsports package I ordered comes with lots of mounts. So far I have used the suction cup mount (on the side of my car) and the optional head strap. Both of which work fine.

Some issues worth noting:

* Even with the (recommended) open back, there is more wind noise while driving than I would like.

* There is no external microphone jack (in which case I would plug in a wind shielded mic)

* The icons on the front (for setting video vice still camera mode, etc.) are very small and hard to read.

* It does not come with any internal memory or an included SD card. So be sure to order some memory when you buy this video camera.

I have driven in the rain (with the closed housing back) and the case protects the camera just fine.

There is no video editing software included and Microsoft MovieMaker is a joke for editing video. So I purchased Pinnacle Studio HD (about $50) which is great for my editing needs (cutting down sequences, combining videos, adding titles, scene transitions, etc.).

 The best Video capture device for Movements - May 16, 2010

you will never find such a device that can be mounted any where whether you want to capture your car driving skills or any movement scenes .. the build is excellent and there are many accessories available

 perfect - May 01, 2010

I love it, it is perfect and the image quality is 10/10, but the audio is 8/10.
I recommend it buy this camera and don't west you money in something else.

 GoProHd Hero..Great little camera - Apr 16, 2010

The GoProHd Hero is a perfect camera for racing or just about any sport, the picture quality is great, the unit is small and the operation is quite simple. The case is rugged and waterproof and it has replacable lens protectors(optional). It comes with a variety of mounting options, however, i would like to see a ball head type mount for more versatility, it could easily be done using a rubber ball and metal clamp/set screw much like the omnimount speaker mounts. Other than that, this is a great little camera and i highly reccomend it to anyone who wants to video their racing/sports activities.

 Compared prices and then bought Motorsport - Apr 11, 2010

I dont need to tell you how awsome the GoPro HD Hero is. I really wanted it. I also wanted the suction cup to connect it to flat surfaces.

so i compared the price of the HD Hero Helmet + suction cup to the HD Hero Motorsport + Head strap (the vented helmet strap i didnt want) and found out, that it was cheaper to go with the Motorsport.

It seems everyone wants the Helmet, therefore there was a good deal on the Motorsport.

Just compare prices before you shop. And the suction cup is just awsome!

 Great for sports but not home video - Apr 08, 2010

We bought this camera hoping to use it for sports and home video. The video is absolutely beautiful. I love the wide angle shots. It's small and simple. I was actually sad to return it.

We returned it though because the sound, even w/o the waterproof covering, is not good. Very tinny sounding. You could hear what was being said but it was bad quality. It also concerned me that the lens, because it's a wide angle, protrudes from the casing, making it easier to scratch or fingerprint.

These may not be concerns for all customers but just an fyi.

 Dissapointed - Apr 02, 2010

Well, the camera works fine, but often I get corrupted videos that are unplayable, I have one of the reccomended SD CArds, then I haven't been able to use the camera for about 2 weeks because the latch broke, I've read in user forums that the latches are apparently defective or just too weak and they break often, so while the latch is broken forget about using your camera, on the website there is no way to purchase extra latches or even a replacement case, also no wrist mount is available for the HD GoPro. Also the firmware update that allows upside down filming hasn't come out yet and no sign of it anywhere.

 Small & Good Vid Quality - Apr 01, 2010

This Camera does a very good job for it's size and price. You can spend a lot more on a HD camera, but none will give you the bang for the buck. The Roll cage mount sold by Hero sucks. If you are looking for a great mount for your HD Hero see [...]. The mount sold by Hero is the old down-side to this product as it is plastic and gives horribe vibration when recording video.

 Doesn't work as expected and flawed design - Mar 27, 2010

The selling points of this particular camera, for me, are the 720p@60 and 1080p@30 video modes. The 720p@60 in particular (60 frames per second), is ideally suited for fast action. It also has the widest field of view. The 1080p@30 is an interesting alternative, for its higher resolution and less wide field of view.

Also critical to my purchasing, was that the battery would last over 2 hours, as I want to record, without intervention -- as that's not practical -- for about that long (up to 2 hours).

Unfortunately, I found out that the 720p@60 video mode crashes or stops recording after about 29 minutes! After spending (wasting) hours of my time, I found out on different forums, that this is a common -- I suspect universal -- problem with this camera. I believe I read it may also be a problem with the other 60 frames per second, lower resolution, mode as well.

There's some confusion because there are a _lot_ of complaints about problems with different SDHC cards. For example, there is one forum thread that lists cards that work (finding one that does is an issue), and others then contradict the list and post that they _don't_ work!

In my case, I'm using the SDHC card that is actually recommended and is used by GoPro. I've systematically tested the 720p@60 and 1080p@30 modes. The 1080p mode runs till the battery runs out. The 720p@30 does the same. But, the 720p@60 consistently crashes at 29 minutes +- a few seconds. It does so after it begins the 2nd video file. This is probably a problem with the camera design/firmware.

Beyond the above, there is another feature (the ability to select up or upside-down recording) that is supposed to be available in a firmware upgrade. There are no available firmware upgrades for this camera. Other's have been waiting and waiting and waiting for GoPro to release an upgrade and it's one of those any-day-now things. This is Spring and the camera has been out for a good while. So, who knows when or if there will be such an upgrade.

Bottom-line: I recommend to _not_ buy this camera until an actual firmware upgrade is released, and there are reports that it, at least, fixes the 720p@60 video mode recording problem. This is a POV action camera. It's a fundamental flaw that it can't record in its optimal video mode for more than 29 minutes without manual intervention.

Another complaint... the camera can only be mounted when it is in its water proof housing. This adds significantly to its weight and bulk (and awkward appearance). For some uses, the waterproof housing makes sense. For many other uses -- such as inside a car or cockpit or any non-wet or damaging environment -- it doesn't. The camera itself, without the housing, is small. But there's no way to mount it -- it doesn't even have the standard tripod screw opening that other cameras have. So, I'm scratching my head trying to figure out a way to use the camera without its housing (and protect the lens w/out the housing-- it doesn't even have a lens cap)... yet another problem to be solved.

 Good Luck! - Mar 26, 2010

I purchased the GoPro Wide a couple of years ago from Amazon. I decided to spend $300.00 for this upgrade. The picture quality is better then the original but no where near the Quality of Video Gopro ADVERTISES on their web site. "What software do they use???? None is provided!" The HD is not as compatible with windows software as the original. The file format states it is saved as an .mp4 file. This is untrue. Even the best software may have trouble converting this video to a file your "Windows" based computer will recognize. You will have a very hard time publishing this...unless you like the POS Apple Quick time Pro..which you will have to purchase seperately. I am only giving this negative review (although totaly true) Because GoPro has not addresed a simple E-mail. "Where is the option to change the camera orientation from upside down to right side up". Check their online manual. They "STATE" to go to their site if this is a problem. There is no solution on their web site and they would not address the issue via e-mail. I only found through a GOOGLE search that this function does not exist. For those of you whom state you were able to make contact with customer support. PROVIDE A PHONE NUMBER!!! since their web based site has none...and apparently they are selective on what complaints they respond to! (via E-Mail) Google this camera first and you will find hundreds of negative consumers who are unable to do anything more then watch their recorded videos on their computers...examples are skydiving, Auto racing, rc cars, motocross, mountain bike News Groups etc. You will see that all I have to say is true!

 GoPro HD - Mar 15, 2010

I got the this camera a few weeks ago and I am SO glad I did. I have had NO problems with it whatsoever. It is extremely durable, completely waterproof, and the video quality is fantastic.

Battery: I charged the camera ONCE when I got it and it lasted well over a week of playing around with. On a full charge, I was able to use it for an ENTIRE day of snowboarding and it barely used half of the battery.

Lens: Yes, it does fisheye a bit due to the wide angle lens, but I personally like the look and it makes so much more visible to the frame.

Mounts: Stuck one to a snowboard, one to my helmet and they haven't budged. The bolt it is tightened with just has to tight or the camera can rotate up or down. The suction mount is extremely strong and I bet it would hold at 100 mph.

SD Card: I have a SanDisk 16 GB Class 6, and it works great. For some reason, the camera doesn't show up as a drive when plugged into the computer via USB, but I use a card reader so it hasn't been a problem.

Navigation: This is about the only thing I could complain about. The waterproof case gives the buttons a bit more resistance, and as far as the unit itself, it navigates somewhat slowly (about 1.5 second response time after each button press). There are a ton of settings and options, though.

Resolutions: The only ones I have used are 720x1280p at 60 fps, which is LIQUID smooth, and 1920x1080p, which looks beautiful (the more lighting there is, the better. On a sunny day, the footage is GORGEOUS. However, is low light situations, you can encounter grain, so be sure there is ample lighting to ensure high quality.

Here is a snowboard video I made with it: [...]

Definitely worth the money, but I got mine for $[...], not $[...].

Highly recommended.

 Disappointed - Mar 05, 2010

I bought this camera to use on off-road single track rides and adventure races. It worked once on my road bicycle commute,but has not worked since then. Customer support has suggested changing battery types without any difference in performance. It just will not stay on in a bumpy environment. If you buy this camera hang on to your warranty and purchase documents do you can send it back. I have encountered other people on off-road rides who have expressed similar concerns. Amazon will not respond to my emails asking for assistance on a return and Go-Pro insists on documentation. Perhaps my experience is unique, but hang on to your purchase documents nevertheless.

 Extremely Disappointed Customer - Mar 04, 2010

I purchase a Go Pro HD Hero waterproof camera and have not been able to take any videos or pictures due to a defective camera. I was able to set the time and date, but as soon as I place the SD card into the slot, an error code "tEL" flashes on the LCD screen. That's as far as I get. I have tried everything from removing the battery, to resetting the camera and yet I still get the "tEL" code. I even tried using another SD card and that didn't work. I have sent numerous emails to GoPro and have not received a response. I have left a phone message and have not received a returned call. The GoPro customer service sucks to say the least. I am also getting the run-around on getting a refund of $299 that I spent on this camera. I am a very dissatisfied customer and I will not be ordering from AMAZON.com again if this problem is not resolved immediately.

 Great camera, poor customer service - Feb 25, 2010

The camera is great. It is waterproof, has a ton of features, and can be mounted just about anywhere.

Pros: 1. Bombproof
2. Great video
3. Battery lasts a long time
4. Tons of cool features (self time, interval pictures, multiple video modes)


Cons: 1. Directions say you can't mount it upside down and capture video, but the firmware update still isn't out
2. Tried to talk to customer support about firmware multiple times...no answer
3. Lens is a little too wide. It distorts a lot. I prefer the Vholdr lens.

I can't fault the camera too much because it takes great video and stills when there is plenty of light, and it's way tougher than the Vholdr.