GoPro's action cameras have always been great for capturing high-octane activities and were never averse to getting a good soaking. However, they always required a waterproof casing to ensure they lived to record another day. That's all changed with the new GoPro Hero4 Session that is waterproof to 10m without the requirement of a separate case.
That's not the only thing that's new. The Session is not only 50% smaller than the Hero4 Silver and Hero4 Black, but also 40% lighter. The size and weight have been shaved off with an all-new design unlike any GoPro that's come before it. The Session is now an adorable little cube rather than the rectangular design we've seen with GoPro's previous cameras. One of GoPro's representatives referred to the design as resembling Mike Wazowski from Pixar's Monster's Inc and must say the description is apt.
Its shape and design was built with some of GoPro's athletes in mind. For someone base jumping or rafting, the aerodynamics and weight distribution of a camera can make a big difference. The lighter weight and aerodynamics are something that will benefit everyone however, even if us average joes might not notice the reduction in quite such a pronounced way.
We had the opportunity to test out the Session at a GoPro event held in Austria and were able to put the diminutive action camera through its paces during a white water rafting session. This also gave us the chance to try out some returning features of the Hero4 range including the one-button controls that make it easy to capture footage.
With the camera turned off you can press the shutter button to instantly turn on the camera and begin recording. A beep will let you know it's started, which is handy if you can't see the camera such as when it's helmet-mounted. A second press will turn the camera off and save the footage. Thankfully, we had no problems recording footage in this way when the Session was mounted out of sight on our helmet as well as when mounted to the paddles during our rafting session.
However, we occasionally found it difficult to hear the confirmation beep, especially over the sound of the water. It would have been great if there was some sort of haptic feedback as well for added peace of mind as this is something we've seen from rival cameras such as the Ion Air Pro 3. The other slight issue is that it takes about three seconds for the camera to turn on and begin capturing video or images, which could potentially mean the moment is gone unless you plan ahead.
You can also long-press the shutter button for 3 seconds and the camera will begin capturing timelapse shots at set intervals. Still images are captured at 8-megapixel resolution. Both the recording resolution and timelapse intervals can be changed in the GoPro companion app that is available on iOS and Android. In terms of changing settings on the Session itself - there's not a lot you can do. There are only two buttons on the Session; the shutter button and a multi-function power button the rear, rather than the three you find on the Hero4, Hero4 Silver or Hero4 Black.
^Still image captured from GoPro Hero4 Session
There's no way to change settings such as resolution without the use of the companion app. There's not even the option to put the camera into a single-shot camera function from the Session itself. If you want to take a photo, your only option is to capture photos in a burst mode by holding down the shutter button. It's very strange that there's no way to at least toggle between video and camera modes. The Session's size and shape would make it a great way for capturing fleeting photos.
While the HTC Re was far from an amazing device, its ability to quickly capture fleeting moments was one of its strong points. Being able to use the Session in a similar way would have made it even more versatile and it's a shame that's not an option. It's hopefully something that could be added in with firmware. As it stands, the rudimentary menu system just provides a way to see what video resolution setting the camera is set to as well as putting the camera into pairing mode with the app or optional remote control. The pairing process with the apps has been made significantly more straightforward and thankfully the Session is also backwards compatible with GoPro's older smart remotes. The Session also uses Bluetooth low energy alongside Wi-Fi in order to maintain a connection with the app even when the camera is in standby.
The Session will sit below the top-of-the-range Hero4 Black and Hero4 Silver and doesn't match its bigger siblings for specifications. Not to say it's a slouch, especially considering its size. The Session is able to capture 1080p video at up to 60fps as well as 1440p at 30fps. GoPro says the latter's 4:3 aspect ration can make for more expansive and action-packed footage especially when vertical context really adds to the impact, such as with skydiving. There's also 720p at 100fps if you want to create dramatic slow-motion footage. The Session can capture video at up to 25Mbit/s, which again isn't as high as the Silver or Black.
With action footage the sound is often as important as the visuals. GoPro has made great strides with improving sound from the Session without needing an external microphone. With the loss of a separate waterproof housing, sound quality already improves as the casing often muffles the sound. Not only that, but GoPro has now integrated dual microphones into the Session - one on the front and one on the back. This allows the camera to dynamically switch between the two microphones, helping cut down on distracting sounds such as wind noise. During our rafting session the Session did a great job of picking up the sound of our instructor who was sat at the back of the raft even over the sound of the river.
Another drastic change, and one that might not make everyone happy, is that the battery is now integrated. This means there's no option to swap batteries out when in the field, which could potentially be a problem for those shooting for long periods. The better news, however, is that the Hero4 Session's battery life is improved over the Silver and Black. GoPro states the battery should last over 2 hours and in our time spent with the camera, this seemed accurate. We left the Session shooting throughout our near two-hour long rafting session and there was still a little bit of power left at the end. We were distinctly pleased to see that GoPro has opted for MicroUSB for charging finally, rather than Mini USB. This could potentially mean one less charging cable to carry around with you.
The Session is compatible with the entire range of GoPro mounts - and there are many of them for basically every occasion you can think of. We were able to try out most of them at the event and across the board the reduced size and weight meant it was incredibly comfortable to wear the Session. We barely felt it when head-mounted, whereas other cameras have proven unwieldy.
The Session's low-profile cubed shape also means it's simpler to mount the camera sideways. There's a new low-profile mount included in the box, which should also help with streamlining the camera when mounted to different surfaces. A new ball-joint is also included, which makes it easy to adjust the angle and direction of the camera just by tilting or spinning.
Footage from the Session during our rafting session was impressive. The footage was sharp and vibrant, and colours really popped. It's not quite at the level of the higher bit rate capable Silver or Black but we were still very happy with our captures from the rafting session. While the Session lacks image stabilisation, footage was also still very steady. In fairness, the weather and conditions allowed the Session to perform at its best, with bright blue skies and plenty of sunshine. Performance in low-light was more disappointing, however, where video was soft and noisy at 1440p.
^Rafting test footage - best viewed at 1440p
^Low-light test footage - best viewed at 1440p
A few minor niggles aside, we came away very impressed with the Session. The name GoPro chose for its new camera is certainly an indicator of who GoPro is targetting with the Session. For the professional athletes and videographers, they'll still likely be better opting for the Silver or Black for the professional features, higher specifications and replaceable batteries. But for the less demanding user, the 'sessionists', whether they're the occasional rafter, a musician or just someone on vacation, the Session is a great way to capture footage really simply. The new design is fantastic and fun and the convenience of no longer needing a waterproof case makes the Session considerably smaller than other Hero4 cameras for water-based activities.
The Session will have an MSRP of £329.99, which is admittedly a little expensive. We're hoping to see the Session available for less, much like how the Silver and Black were widely available below their MSRP. The Session will be available to order from July 12th. We'll be giving it even more thorough testing so be sure to come back for a full review very soon.
