GoPro Helmet Hero HD camera, first impressions

I haven’t used the camera yet, but I have unpacked it.

The video quality, from what I’ve seen online, is superb.

The camera is very compact and self-contained. That’s nice.

Accessories are available to attach it in a wide variety of ways to helmets, bicycles, a car windshield etc. etc.

But: the stock waterproof case encloses the microphone. A back with slots also is supplied but it must be installed by the user.

As another helmet camera user pointed out to me, there is advantage to a camera with a separate recorder that can be carried in a handlebar bag or waist pack, so you can check on what you are recording. You can only see what you are recording with the Helmet Hero with an accessory back and if you mount the camera in front of you.

The camera has only two buttons (in keeping with its having a waterproof shell), and a small LCD display of menu options, and so stepping through menus requires reference to user instructions, or memorization.

The lens of the camera’s protective shell protrudes farther than anything else on the front of the shell and so it is vulnerable. My humble helmetcamera,com “bullet” camera achieves wide-angle coverage while protecting the lens with an inexpensive slab of plastic. (The helmetcamera.com camera has other problems, though.)

The Helmet Hero camera is sold in a plastic display case which is not designed to transport the camera. Optional mounting hardware is supplied in a host of little polyethylene bags, each stapled shut. You’re on your own to assemble a transport case. Compare this again with the helmetcamera.com camera. which is supplied in a rugged, foam-lined, hinged transport case.

Several different copies of the user instructions are supplied with the Helmet Hero, and as they are folded, they all look the same, with the word “Instructions” in English. When I opened the one I brought with me on my first expedition, it turned out to be in Spanish. Good thing I read Spanish!

About jsallen

John S. Allen is the author or co-author of numerous publications about bicycling including Bicycling Street Smarts, which has been adopted as the bicycle driver's manual in several US states. He has been active with the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition since 1978 and served as a member of the board of Directors of the League of American Bicyclists from 2003 through 2009.
This entry was posted in Bicycling and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to GoPro Helmet Hero HD camera, first impressions

  1. I’ve been using it out of the box, and it’s great. Yes, there are only two buttons and the LCD display is small, but *there are only 2 buttons.* Basically, they’ve designed it to be usable while wearing snowboarding gloves or while surfing. It takes a little practice and reading glasses for me to get it to the right function, but once it’s clicking along, it takes great movies. There’s also a setting for shooting from inside car windows, but I haven’t tried it yet. They’re trouble desk responded in the promised time with good advice. I find the helmet mount produces better views than handlebar but I’m on a recumbent. If you do shoot anything, feel free to post on my blog tspinfo.blogspot.com if you think it’s safety-related.

  2. Bessy says:

    Quik Pod is a monopod made to be used with Go Pro and lets the user take his or her own photo. Check it out on http://www.facebook.com/quikpod

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.