GoPro Media Mod (HERO8 Black)

The GoPro Hero 8 Black never ceases to amaze me. This little camera has so much potential with so many features. I have had my GoPro Hero 8 Black for about a year and a half, and it is my daily use camera for our Kid's First-Person View videos. You can fully customize your video and photo settings. I mount our camera with the smallrig mount, chest mount and or a sticky mount on my helmet or rear fender of my scooter. The camera itself is housed in a rubberized coating for easier grip. It is waterproof, even though I use a waterproof case for that extra protection. Battery life is okay and could be better, but that all depends on your camera settings. Someone asked how it compares to an insta360. Insta360 makes great cameras, but in my opinion the GoPro lineup beats ... MoreThe GoPro Hero 8 Black never ceases to amaze me. This little camera has so much potential with so many features. I have had my GoPro Hero 8 Black for about a year and a half, and it is my daily use camera for our Kid's First-Person View videos. You can fully customize your video and photo settings. I mount our camera with the smallrig mount, chest mount and or a sticky mount on my helmet or rear fender of my scooter. The camera itself is housed in a rubberized coating for easier grip. It is waterproof, even though I use a waterproof case for that extra protection. Battery life is okay and could be better, but that all depends on your camera settings. Someone asked how it compares to an insta360. Insta360 makes great cameras, but in my opinion the GoPro lineup beats them hands down. Another question was about colors. Well, the GoPro Hero 8 Black only comes in the matte black rubberized coating color. You can purchase multicolored rubber cases for the camera as well.

A Bit Expensive, But Great for What it Does

The GoPro Hero8 doesn't come with all the included accessories (like waterproof case or suction cup mount) or extra batteries of its much less expensive brethren like the SunPak 4K, the Dragon Touch 4K, or the ALS Video Action Cam 4K. But what it does come with is nearly two decades of experience building small, easily-mountable action cameras that work well and in the most extreme environments, and give you great-looking genuine HD or UHD (depending on your needs) video footage, time-lapse, and stills for a modest price.No, it doesn't come with an included underwater housing because it doesn't need to - it's built to be waterproof for up to 10 meters, which is far enough for anybody other than deep-sea divers. It also doesn't come with a shock mount to absorb ... MoreThe GoPro Hero8 doesn't come with all the included accessories (like waterproof case or suction cup mount) or extra batteries of its much less expensive brethren like the SunPak 4K, the Dragon Touch 4K, or the ALS Video Action Cam 4K. But what it does come with is nearly two decades of experience building small, easily-mountable action cameras that work well and in the most extreme environments, and give you great-looking genuine HD or UHD (depending on your needs) video footage, time-lapse, and stills for a modest price.No, it doesn't come with an included underwater housing because it doesn't need to - it's built to be waterproof for up to 10 meters, which is far enough for anybody other than deep-sea divers. It also doesn't come with a shock mount to absorb shaky camera movements - because it has built-in Hypersmooth 2.0 image stabilization. It also doesn't come with a built-in external mic jack - because its built-in mic is pretty good for recording audio alongside video.The HERO8 comes with three lens settings - standard wide-angle, Superview which is essentially a fisheye lens, and Linear which is like the field of view you'd get with a fixed-focus lens. If you're not shooting in 4K, then you also have a digital zoom feature should you wish it.Like most Action Cams, the HERO8 uses MicroSD cards - unlike a lot of the less expensive ones, it can use cards of up to 256 GB of storage capacity. The battery, USB-C recharging port and card slot are hidden behind a fold-out panel that takes a little getting used to, but that also helps protect the most vulnerable parts of the camera from the elements.The teeth style of mounting with GoPro pioneered has become an industry standard for Action Cams - yes, it takes some getting used to as well, but it's a lot more durable than a standard tripod screw! Fortunately adapters to work with standard tripod designs are cheap and plentiful - though not included with the HERO8, sadly.If you need a cheap Action Cam that you can toss off a cliff and not worry if it's shattered to bit once it hits? The HERO8 may be a bit pricey for that. But if you want a small, capable camera that you can mount on your car's dashboard, on top of your helmet, or on your pet's harness (yes, that's really a thing!) and continue using more than once? the GoPro HERO8 is the camera you want to purchase.

Avoid

We bought this 2 years ago purely for family videos. I liked how tiny and unobtrusive it was to set up and bring around. We never used it for activities, sports, in water or anything, it literally sat in a drawer whenever not in use. On my Moms bday I noticed it wouldnt turn off for some reason despite setting it down gently and backing away, it would just spontaneously turn back on. I didnt have time to sit around watching it, so I left it on my desk. Later that day, tried charging it and turning it back on. Wouldnt charge anymore, wouldnt turn on. I was super mad i just went kaput for absolutely no reason.We called gopro and they didnt do anything about it bc it was beyond the 1 year warranty. What a garbage product, Im so upset I spent so much on something that ... MoreWe bought this 2 years ago purely for family videos. I liked how tiny and unobtrusive it was to set up and bring around. We never used it for activities, sports, in water or anything, it literally sat in a drawer whenever not in use. On my Moms bday I noticed it wouldnt turn off for some reason despite setting it down gently and backing away, it would just spontaneously turn back on. I didnt have time to sit around watching it, so I left it on my desk. Later that day, tried charging it and turning it back on. Wouldnt charge anymore, wouldnt turn on. I was super mad i just went kaput for absolutely no reason.We called gopro and they didnt do anything about it bc it was beyond the 1 year warranty. What a garbage product, Im so upset I spent so much on something that barely last 2 years with minimal use. I trusted the gopro name. Cant believe the company didnt/doesnt care how their products fare. Will never be a gopro customer again and will advise fam/friends/colleagues to stay away

Better than expected! Good quality

I love this camera! I've already ordered accessories for it. The GoPro is better than expected and in really good condition! The sound quality is really good as well and I don't think I even need a external mic. The only thing that wasn't listed is that one of the batteries melted a bit? You can see on the foil that the battery swelled and pushed the foil away. Sometimes it doesn't work or charge but that wasn't a big deal. Since it came with another one and a battery charger. I also like the case because I can keep everything in it together. The price was decent and I appreciate the seller. He also forgot to remove the SD card and there was one video of him testing it which was funny. I went ahead and deleted it. Anyway thanks again and I will put this to use!

Don't waste your money

Bought this camera in January of 2021. Believed it was worth the investment since the brand was well known, figured it would last a long time, and it had good reviews for the most part. Fast forward to June of 2022, a year and a half later, and the camera does not work. Plugged it in to charge one night, the next morning, the camera was completely dead. I've been on the phone with GoPro support multiple times, tried all trouble shooting options offered & nothing worked. They said it's a manufacturing defect, but can't replace the camera because it's outside the 1 year manufacturing warranty. They aren't willing to do anything to remedy the situation, so figured I'd warn people against this product. I understand we could have purchased a bigger warranty, but I ... MoreBought this camera in January of 2021. Believed it was worth the investment since the brand was well known, figured it would last a long time, and it had good reviews for the most part. Fast forward to June of 2022, a year and a half later, and the camera does not work. Plugged it in to charge one night, the next morning, the camera was completely dead. I've been on the phone with GoPro support multiple times, tried all trouble shooting options offered & nothing worked. They said it's a manufacturing defect, but can't replace the camera because it's outside the 1 year manufacturing warranty. They aren't willing to do anything to remedy the situation, so figured I'd warn people against this product. I understand we could have purchased a bigger warranty, but I stupidly assumed this product was a quality camera that would last a long time (considering the price $$). Turns out I was wrong. Do not waste your money on these cameras.

Good Upgrade for Me

This is a big step up from the Hero 6 that i have been using for the last few years. GoPro has released a new battery with the HERO8 Black. It's the same shape, size, and power rating as the HERO7 Black, HERO6 Black, and HERO5 Black. And, technically, you can put one of the older batteries inside the HERO8 Black and power the camera with all of the same features available.I can safely give it a solid 9/10 in my review.There are a few things that don’t make this action cam absolutely perfect though.To start with while I absolutely love the idea of the folding fingers, I’m still not 100% sure of their long-term durability.In the two weeks I’ve owned this camera it has frozen on me twice, both times during heavy use and after I end recording of a video. The ... MoreThis is a big step up from the Hero 6 that i have been using for the last few years. GoPro has released a new battery with the HERO8 Black. It's the same shape, size, and power rating as the HERO7 Black, HERO6 Black, and HERO5 Black. And, technically, you can put one of the older batteries inside the HERO8 Black and power the camera with all of the same features available.I can safely give it a solid 9/10 in my review.There are a few things that don’t make this action cam absolutely perfect though.To start with while I absolutely love the idea of the folding fingers, I’m still not 100% sure of their long-term durability.In the two weeks I’ve owned this camera it has frozen on me twice, both times during heavy use and after I end recording of a video. The video has always been saved to the SD card though, so that is good.Over all, it is an upgrade for me. I like it very much.

Lose your memories - and your mind

I had a Contour camera that stopped working properly and decided to "upgrade" to Gopro (which put Contour out of business, I presume). The Hero is a power-eating machine that eats batteries for breakfast. Picture quality is great - but you have no idea what mode your camera is in unless you are holding the camera - which defeats the entire purpose of having a Gopro. If I am going to hold a camera, the Gopro - which is small and has no attachment points of any kind - is a very poor choice. But once it is mounted, you can easily change from video to photo with the SAME BUTTON that you use to start the video! So you press the button and either you get a video or nothing (because the first press changed modes instead of starting the camera). then you press again and ... MoreI had a Contour camera that stopped working properly and decided to "upgrade" to Gopro (which put Contour out of business, I presume). The Hero is a power-eating machine that eats batteries for breakfast. Picture quality is great - but you have no idea what mode your camera is in unless you are holding the camera - which defeats the entire purpose of having a Gopro. If I am going to hold a camera, the Gopro - which is small and has no attachment points of any kind - is a very poor choice. But once it is mounted, you can easily change from video to photo with the SAME BUTTON that you use to start the video! So you press the button and either you get a video or nothing (because the first press changed modes instead of starting the camera). then you press again and instead of a video you get a photo. It's like Russian Roulette with your memories. Good luck getting the shots you want. I spent a day skiing with my new Hero 10 and the MOST IMPORTANT SHOT ended up in "Time Lapse Mode" - which is to say it is useless.Their desktop app crashes and they email me every day asking if it is somehow working even though they have offered NO SUGGESTIONS as to how to fix it except - you guessed it: "Try reinstalling the same software program (and leave us alone since you already bought the camera and we don't really care what you think)"Their tag line should be: Lose your memories - and your mind - with Hero 10.

Never to buy again!

I called around and I was told there were 3 units at Fourways Crossing. Got there to be told there were only 2 which were not in a saleable condition at all! I was advised and assisted kindly by the staff to order online (instore). Paid and waited for delivery. Delivery pretty much on time but the GoPro Hero8 Action camera would not work. It was a gift from company to say farewell to a retiring employee. She returned it to Fourways within a week, found they still haven't stocked new after my purchase. Voucher issued because she didn't have the card I used to purchase. Advised to proceed to Sandton. Went and bought - camera switched on instore and appeared to be working. Got home and tested the next day and no, it wasn't working. If you have read well, you'd notice ... MoreI called around and I was told there were 3 units at Fourways Crossing. Got there to be told there were only 2 which were not in a saleable condition at all! I was advised and assisted kindly by the staff to order online (instore). Paid and waited for delivery. Delivery pretty much on time but the GoPro Hero8 Action camera would not work. It was a gift from company to say farewell to a retiring employee. She returned it to Fourways within a week, found they still haven't stocked new after my purchase. Voucher issued because she didn't have the card I used to purchase. Advised to proceed to Sandton. Went and bought - camera switched on instore and appeared to be working. Got home and tested the next day and no, it wasn't working. If you have read well, you'd notice that there are 4 units mentioned in this content - not working! Struggled so much to get a refund because I'd never buy the brand again. Never. The one start on this review is because I couldn't submit zero starts!Thank you for the opportunity to rate. I wasn't even going to bother!

Piece of junk - The camera and Best Buy.

I bought this for a recent ski trip and found out it doesn't work at all in temperatures of about 20 F. They advertise these cameras to skiers all the time, and then you charge it up and get out on the slopes with it on a sunny powder day and it's completely dead. I should have read more reviews before buying this, but I thought GoPro was the gold standard in action cams, and that this was just an older model with lesser specifications than the new ones. Apparently they only fixed the cold problem with the Hero 11.GoPro is at fault here for marketing a camera to skiers that doesn't work in Winter, but I'm even more disappointed with Best Buy. They only offer a 15 day return period, so it you buy something a week before your trip and are then gone for 8-9 days, you ... MoreI bought this for a recent ski trip and found out it doesn't work at all in temperatures of about 20 F. They advertise these cameras to skiers all the time, and then you charge it up and get out on the slopes with it on a sunny powder day and it's completely dead. I should have read more reviews before buying this, but I thought GoPro was the gold standard in action cams, and that this was just an older model with lesser specifications than the new ones. Apparently they only fixed the cold problem with the Hero 11.GoPro is at fault here for marketing a camera to skiers that doesn't work in Winter, but I'm even more disappointed with Best Buy. They only offer a 15 day return period, so it you buy something a week before your trip and are then gone for 8-9 days, you get home and realize you can't even return it. Unfortunately, GoPro treats this as an issue to be worked around (by carrying the battery in an interior pocket and then reinstalling it in the camera before each use, while out in the cold), so they won't do anything about this under warranty. So now I'm stuck with this piece of junk and just memories of my ski days in Whistler.I strongly recommend shopping anywhere but Best Buy for your expensive mobile electronics.