The GoPro Hero4 Black in my opinion is the best affordable 4K Action Camera. My all-time favorite and one of the best 4K action cameras out there. If you are an extreme sports or adventure enthusiast then you will certainly fall in love with this camera.

The GoPro Hero4 Black provides a good value per dollar spent. You get 4K ultra HD capabilities and great features for a reasonable price.

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I would like to share with you my personal experience with this camera, what are the pros and cons and what can you expect in terms of features and quality.

If you would like to see a comparison between the Hero4 black, silver and session then check out my article here.

Let’s Jump To The Review

Product: GoPro Hero4 Black

Cheapest Place To Buy: Amazon.com

My Rating: 10/10

The Hero4 Black was my first Hero4 series camera, then the silver and session followed. I was super excited to buy it while I waited for its release in 2014. What attracted me was the 4K capability and the powerful processor. I had planned for a kite surfing trip back then so it arrived just on time (1day before).

I was lucky to be able to try the 4K resolution in extreme and wet conditions. We had rain and strong winds for a couple of days and believe or not, the Black performed really well in these different conditions. The crisp 4K videos of the Hero4 Black cannot be compared with any other action camera.

Pros:

With a processor twice as fast as the Hero3, the Hero4 Black can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second! It’s one powerful small camera that is way better than other action cameras you find in the market.

This camera can also record at: 720p, 960p, 1080p, 1440p, 2.7K and it has many awesome features like time lapse and night lapse. One of my favorite video resolutions is the 1080p at 120fps, which means that you can zoom, pan and rotate during video editing and you can also playback full frame 24fps video that is slowed down 5times!

Another thing that I liked in this edition is the enhanced microphone, it is way better than the old Hero 3 models. You may still need to install an external microphone if you wish to have a really crisp sound but it was enough for me honestly.

The camera comes with a waterproof case housing (down to 40meters or 131feet), as well as a skeleton door for better audio when water protection is not needed. It’s the same package as the Hero3+ except that it doesn’t include the WiFi remote control. GoPro redesigned the remote control to take advantage of the new Hilight/settings button. So even though the old remote still works with the Hero4, you may need to get the new updated Smart Remote which includes this additional button. Another nice feature is the Quick Capture that lets you power on the camera and start recording with the press of a single button.

Here is a photo of a sunset in SriLanka taken with my Hero4 Black and edited with Snapseed mobile app.

gopro hero4 black

I always wanted to take night shots with my older GoPro which was really difficult since it wasn’t low light compatible. But this one here is a complete different story. It has two new modes: Night lapse and Night Photo. Both modes offer customizable exposure settings for up to 30 seconds on single and night lapse photos, you cannot imagine how cool is this feature if you like taking night lapses of the stars or even the milky way!

Another new cool feature is the auto low light mode. What this feature does is that it detects low light and then automatically regulates frame rates so you don’t have to change settings when you move between light and dark places. It will basically do the job for you.

What I also find extremely useful is Protune. It’s available for both photos and videos and lets you control exposure, ISO and color. You will only need to turn on protune in your camera settings. It’s an extremely useful feature for your post production work. One of protune’s advantages is the ability to synchronize frame rates between videos taken with different frame rates. Really cool option if you like advanced/more pro stuff.

hero4-black

Cons:

The black edition lacks a rear LCD screen, unlike the silver edition which has one built in. The good news is that you can still buy the LCD BacPac and attach it to the back of your Hero4 black, but I find it a bummer since the silver is around 100$ cheaper. But the silver can’t shoot 4K videos and has less powerful processor 😉

gopro LCD BacPac

The more powerful processor consumes more power so you may need to have extra batteries. So if you’re outdoors and planning to shoot for long hours then I strongly recommend getting 2 extra batteries (Wasabi has cheap high quality aftermarket batteries) OR a more powerful power source like the Brunton All day 2.0 battery.

One piece of advise I can give you is to always use the protective housing. My Hero4 Black broke to pieces after it fell from my hands because I decided to go hiking on rocky mountains without the protective case (smart!) 🙂

To conclude

The GoPro Hero4 Black is the best affordable 4K camera that includes many great features and provides amazing value for every dollar spent in case you’re thinking of investing in one. I did invest in one and I’m really happy with the quality. It may not be for everyone but if you want a fast 4K action camera then the Hero4 Black is your best choice.

Check the reviews and see for yourself!

Click here to read the reviews on Amazon

There you have it!

What do you guys think of the GoPro Hero4 Black? Are you planning on getting one ?
If you have a question then please let me know by leaving a comment in the comments section below 🙂