GoPro HD Hero Naked Camera Review

Until the GoPro HD Hero2 (*Est. $300) came along, the original GoPro HD Hero Naked (*Est. $200) was the best rugged sports camera you could buy, according to experts. And dollar for dollar, it still is: Although it's not as advanced as the Hero2, the original Hero still outshines all other brands.

Ease of use: Less intuitive to use than the Hero2

Although critics have long praised the original GoPro Hero, it did have its drawbacks -- including its controls.

There's no viewfinder or view screen, so there's no way to know what you're shooting or to preview footage -- unless you spring for the add-on LCD BacPac (*Est. $80). The Hero's little on-board LCD screen shows camera commands, but only in indecipherable code, testers say. The new Hero2 shows plain-English commands, but you still have to pay extra for the LCD BacPac.

The Hero2 also gets four Record lights all over its body; the original Hero has one on the front. The Hero2 also gains two ports the Hero lacks: a mini HDMI port and a 3.5 mm jack for an external microphone.

Otherwise, the two are identical to use. They're both tiny and lightweight (3.3 ounces, or 5.9 ounces with the included waterproof housing), and they're both compatible with the same accessories and mounts. The Hero Naked comes with a couple of adhesive mounts, but you can buy a dozen other mounts from GoPro, like chest straps and roll bar mounts. GoPro's mounts use pivot screws that testers find hard to handle with icy or gloved fingers; other brands like Contour and Ion use easier slide-in mounts.

Performance: Sharper, steadier video than other brands

The original Hero Naked's full HD video quality looks slightly sharper and steadier in tests than rival cameras from Contour, including the similarly priced ContourRoam Camera (*Est. $185). But the new Hero2 is clearer and sharper yet, with more natural color and better performance in low light or changing light, critics agree.

"When comparing the video from the HD Hero 2 against its predecessor you'd be forgiven for thinking they were taken on different days -- the difference is that big," writes Scott Kennedy at CameraLabs.com. Thank the Hero2's bigger image sensor and sharper lens.

Both Hero cameras can shoot a wide-angle 170 degrees to capture as much action as possible -- but the original Hero can do it only in 960p or 720p. To get full 1080p HD, you have to step down to a 127-degree field of view (the Hero2 can shoot the full 170 degrees in full 1080p HD). Neither Hero camera has a zoom.

Both Hero cameras can shoot still photos – 5 megapixels and up to three photos per second with the Hero, or 11 megapixels and up to 10 photos per second with the Hero2. Both have on-board microphones that sound pretty muffled, reviews say. The Hero2 gets an external mic jack, but since you can't get to it without taking off the camera's protective case, experts say it's of little use.

Battery life for both is 2.5 hours, according to GoPro -- but reviews say that's optimistic. GoPro sells spare batteries for $20, or you can recharge in an hour with your own wall-socket USB charger or two hours with the included USB cable.

Durability: Waterproof and abuse-proof

The original Hero camera is just as hard to break as the Hero2 camera. It survives mountain biking, sailing, skiing, skateboarding, go-kart racing and more in test after test. In fact, Bruce Gain lost his original Hero at sea while surf-testing it for TomsGuide.com -- only to find it two hours later, washed up on the beach and "dry as a bone. The camera had also continued to film when under the water and took some amazing footage from about 6 to 8 feet below the surface." The secret is the included clear case, which is not only shockproof but also waterproof to 197 feet.

Contour charges $40 to $50 for a similar case -- and you have to take a Contour camera out of that case to turn it on or off, Gain points out. That's the last thing you want to do "when you are pounded by waves or are repeatedly drenched in ocean spray," he says.

Appearance: Tiny and lightweight, but not discreet

The Hero and Hero2 look identical -- and that's not necessarily a good thing, critics say.

Their boxy little shape is "polarizing to say the least," says Kennedy at CameraLabs.com. "If you've not seen one before you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a toy intended for pre-school photographers." That's not such a big deal if you're bolting it to your surfboard -- but strap the little toaster-shaped camera to your helmet and it looks awkward, testers say.

Contour cameras are slim, cylindrical and more discreet: "You hardly notice the thing's there," Men's Health tester Brian Deegan says after strapping a Contour camera to his helmet. Still, the Heros' footage looks so much better that reviewers say they prefer them, despite their clumsy shape.

The bottom line

Before GoPro launched its new HD Hero2, the original Hero camera had established itself in tests as the best tough sports camera on the market. Although the Hero2 surpasses the original Hero in the latest tests at CameraLabs.com and Engadget.com, the original GoPro HD Hero Naked -- for $100 less -- still outclasses all other brands and easily takes the title of Best Budget Sports Cam.