New GoPro HD Hero2 Camera Announced

Yesterday, GoPro announced the successor to their popular HD Hero adventure cameras, the HD Hero2. With it’s new 2x sharper lens, the camera can capture crisp video at full HD resolutions up to 1080p, and the new image processor allows for 11 megapixel stills at 10 frames per second. You can also choose between three different fields of view: 90°, 127° and the ultra-wide 170°. GoPro have also improved the built-in display to show information and your settings in a more user friendly format.

As before, the camera will be available in three configurations: Outdoor, Motorsports and Surf. Alongside the new camera, they also announced the WiFi BacPac accessory, which allows you to stream your HD footage in real-time, very handy!

We’ll have more information about the local availability soon, but in the meantime, have a look at the awesome video embedded below – filmed entirely on the new HD Hero2. Press release available at the end of the post.

Press Release
GoPro® Launches HD HERO2® Camera
Announces Wi-Fi Remote Control and Video Streaming

2x More Powerful in Every Way, The HD HERO2 Democratizes Professional Image
Capture and Broadcast with Support for Remote Control and Live Video Streaming
from Virtually Anywhere to the Web

HALF MOON BAY, CA (October 24, 2011) – GoPro today announced the release of its new HD
HERO2® camera. Twice as powerful as GoPro’s original HD HERO camera, the HD HERO2 enables consumers and professionals to capture and broadcast their lives most exciting moments in professional quality 1080p HD video and 11 megapixel photos. The new HD HERO2 is now available at GoPro.com, specialty retailers around the world, and at Best Buy for MSRP $299.99.

Arguably the most versatile camera in the world thanks to its innovative mounting system, renowned durability and small form factor, the HD HERO2 surpasses its predecessor with several technology upgrades. The HD HERO2’s new processor delivers twice the processing power, taking full advantage of a new high performance 11 megapixel sensor that delivers more than twice the image detail along with professional low light performance. A totally redesigned wide-angle lens was required to take full advantage of the HD HERO2’s increased image processing, resulting in a lens thatʼs twice as sharp as the previous model. And with the arrival of GoPro’s new Wi-Fi BacPac™ and Wi-Fi Remote products slated for release this winter, the HD HERO2 will enable video remote control via the Wi-Fi Remote, smartphones and devices, tablets and computers as well as enabling live GoPro video broadcast from anywhere there is Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot.

Famous for its globally best-selling HD HERO line of wearable and gear mountable cameras, GoPro spared no expense developing the HD HERO2.GoPro created a new category of camera with the HD HERO back in 2009, and itʼs gone on to become one of the best selling video cameras in the world,” says Nicholas Woodman, GoProʼs founder and CEO. “With these big shoes to fill, we invested massively in engineering the HD HERO2 to be one of the greatest, most versatile cameras of all time. We think weʼve achieved our goal and weʼre very excited to see the content our customers around the world capture and share with their powerful new GoPros.”

2x as Powerful in Every Way:

The HD HERO2 benefits from a complete redesign that results in dramatically enhanced image
quality and ease-of-use:

List of HD HERO2 Feature Enhancements:

• Professional 11MP Sensor
• 2x Faster Image Processor
• 2X Sharper Glass Lens
• Professional Low Light Performance
• Full 170º, Medium 127º, Narrow 90º FOV in 1080p and 720p Video
• 120 fps WVGA, 60 fps 720p, 48 fps 960p, 30 fps 1080p Video
• Full 170º and Medium 127º FOV Photos
• 10 11MP Photos Per Second Burst
• 1 11MP Photo Every 0.5 Sec Timelapse Mode
• 3.5mm External Stereo Microphone Input
• Simple Language-based User Interface
• Compatible with Wi-Fi BacPac™ and Wi-Fi Remote™
– Long Range Remote Control of up to 50 GoPro Cameras per Wifi Remote
– Wi-Fi Video/Photo Preview, Playback and Control via GoPro App
– Live Streaming Video and Photos to the Web

Visit http://gopro.com/hd-hero2-cameras/ for more information on the HD HERO2, Wi-Fi
BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote products.

Upgraded Professional Photo Quality and Features

The HD HERO2ʼs photo capture performance has also been significantly upgraded. In addition to much improved low light performance, the HD HERO2 can capture up to ten 11 megapixel photos in a one second burst mode as well as automatic time-lapse photos with quick .5 second timing between photos. This dramatically increases the success-rate when attempting to capture magazine cover quality photos during fast action sports and activities.

Simplified User Interface

GoPro also placed a priority on redesigning the HD HERO2ʼs user interface for dead simple ease-of-use. The HD HERO2 features a totally new, straightforward language-based user interface that eliminates the need for instructions.

“The HD HERO2 is much, much easier to use than the original HD HERO. If you know how to use a traditional camera, you can use the HD HERO2 straight out of the box without instructions. This makes the HD HERO2 very powerful as an every day, easy to use consumer camera while retaining all of the features, modes and performance that has made GoPro the best selling small form factor HD camera to Hollywood,” said GoProʼs Director of Product Definition, Rudy Samuels.

Specialized Right Down to the Packaging

The HD HERO2 sells in three bundled-accessory configurations, each containing the necessary
mounts for particular genres of use or activity. The HD HERO2 is backwards compatible with all
existing GoPro mounts and accessories.

Via Engadget.