GoPro HD Motorsports Hero

GoPro HD Motorsports Hero

Long ago when people wanted to capture the action of the epic rides they were taking, they had to fabricate mounts for their expensive and delicate camcorders. OK, maybe people didn't necessarily have to go this far, but it was never convenient because of the multiple components needed to record. GoPro revolutionized the helmet cam world with the original Hero, and GoPro's new HD Hero has taken the helmet cam industry to a whole new level. This tiny camera records some of the best video that I've ever seen come from a self-contained unit. The 1080p HD gives the highest-quality playback, but produces some of the largest recorded files I've ever made. With the camera constantly recording on its highest resolution, I was able to film just under an hour of continuous action. The company claims it should be able to record up to 2.5 hours on a single charge, so next time I plan to throw it on a charger before each use, hoping to get more mileage.

Aside from the awesome camera, in this package you also get a plethora of mounts that allow you to use the GoPro on virtually any surface. The motorsports kit comes with a waterproof case which allows you to record action in the wettest conditions, two curved and three flat adhesive mounts, a suction cup mount and a whole plethora of cables for charging or instant review on any TV with RCA jacks or HDTV cable. Basically, the kit comes with everything you'd need to instantly begin recording once you open the package except a 32-gigabyte SD memory card.

Using the camera right out of the box is very simple. Just give it a charge, throw it in the case and mount it to your helmet for some of the best quality video you've ever seen. When you begin playing with the different recording settings is when things can get tricky. Grab the owner's manual and start reading as you push the two buttons on the camera to dial in the recording resolution that you want. You also need to give it a quick run or two since there's no viewfinder so you must hook the camera up to your TV or computer to get playback and see if the camera angle is good. It's not painstakingly hard but can be inconvenient. I'll be happy for the day we have some kind of plug-in adapter to get real-time images for quick setup. Once dialed in, press the record button, listen for the beep and you know you'll be able to relive the action at the end of the day. -Eli Madero