Looks like the rumors of GoPro coming out with a Polaroid Cube killer were true. Yesterday, the company announced the latest camera in their Hero lineup–the cube shaped Hero4 Session . The smallest and lightest camera GoPro has produced to date, the Session comes complete in a simple, easy to use package. I expect this one to appeal more to the masses than the other Hero4 action cameras.
Taking a naming cue from the popular lower alcohol session beers, the Hero4 Session is 50% smaller and 40% lighter than the Hero4 Black and Silver cameras. The action camera itself is durable and waterproof down to 10 meters or 33 feet–this completely eliminates the need for a separate housing. A dual microphone system switches sound recording between microphones to reduce wind noise and deliver enhanced underwater sound capture. Supposedly the sound quality will be better on the Hero4 Session since they ditched the external waterproof housing which severely muffles any audio.
Instead of the standard three button controls you get on the other Hero4 cameras, the Session uses just one, making it much more simple to operate. A short press of the button powers the action camera on and begins capturing video (1080p30 out of the box), while a long button press powers the camera on and begins capturing time-lapse photos (0.5 second intervals out of the box). A second press of the button stops recording and powers off the camera. That’s it.
The Hero4 Session works with the GoPro App or Smart Remote via built-in Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. You can use the app or remote to easily adjust all the automatic camera settings like video resolution, frame rate, field of view and more.
The Hero4 Session captures 1080p60, 720p100, and 1440p30 video along with eight megapixel photos in Single, Burst (10 frames per second), and Time Lapse (0.5 to 60 seconds) modes. Other features include SuperView, Protune, and Auto Low Light recording modes.
Even though the Hero4 Session is smaller and simpler to use, it does not come cheap at $399.99 retail. The new action camera is compatible with existing GoPro mounts and will start shipping July 12.
