Upgrading to Hero 3 Black at DVinfo.net

Alan Maughan · March 5th, 2013, 06:39 AM

Guys,

I currently have a Hero 2 and am considering the upgrade to HD3 Black for a number of reasons but Im reading so many bad reviews about locking up and the WiFi packing in.

Are they really this bad and should I trade up or stay put for now until things are sorted?

Thanks

Alan

Alan Maughan · March 7th, 2013, 05:05 AM

144 views and nobody has an opinion?

Damian Heffernan · March 7th, 2013, 06:18 AM

only had my black for a couple of days. No freezes or crashes so far. Out of the box I went to the website to download any software updates but it said it was already on the latest version. I haven't used protune yet. The wifi seems ok, chews the battery though.

Tom Roper · March 7th, 2013, 09:47 AM

I've exchanged 2 already. Number 3 is going back for exchange from the factory. They've all worked, but the freezing problem is widespread.

Erick Munari · March 7th, 2013, 10:58 AM

I got one last week, used a couple of times, it froze when it was plugged to the computer while charging. I had to take the battery off, then it worked. Haven't used much yet since then.

Alan Maughan · March 8th, 2013, 02:30 AM

I cant say the comments so far have inspired me to make a purchase - how can GoPro get things so wrong and not resolve these issues quickly????

Crazy.

Dean Sensui · March 8th, 2013, 03:43 AM

I bought one the other week. So far so good. Took it out on the boat yesterday to do some test shots and it worked just fine.

Battery life is a bit weird. I was able to get it to run continuously for 4.5 hours with a second battery. But now I'm just getting 2.5 hours. Same batteries. No extensive charge cycles.

I know WiFi can shorten battery life. But the endurance tests were conducted with WiFi turned off.

Eugen Oprina · March 9th, 2013, 12:23 PM

I have two Blacks and use them with protune and 2,7 K.
Used them on three jobs and didn't fail so far.
I used them both with RC remote and Iphone app.
I use them with the additional battery. I never charge from computer.
Charging the additional battery attached to the camera doesn't work I have to charge it separately.
The three jobs where on car races and winter olympic sports.

Les Wilson · April 16th, 2013, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Sensui

...Battery life is a bit weird. I was able to get it to run continuously for 4.5 hours with a second battery. But now I'm just getting 2.5 hours. Same batteries. No extensive charge cycles....

I see the battery pack is getting thrashed on the GoPro website reviews. I realize the freezing was firmware but has the battery life settled down? I would think the battery pac easier to make fast battery changes. You OK with just swapping batteries?

Michael Sims · April 25th, 2013, 02:27 PM

I've had my Hero 3 for two days and its locked up twice. Had to remove the battery both times to fix it. I updated the firmware today. Hopefully, no more lock ups.

Bryce Comer · April 25th, 2013, 08:42 PM

I haven't had a single lock up since updating the software. Only done a couple of hours with it since updating but so far so good.
Bryce

Chris Sgaraglino · April 25th, 2013, 09:25 PM

I have 2 Blacks, 2 HD2 and HD1 - I only mention this because I use all three and there are differences. However - sticking to the question, I have only had one lockup issue in a month. Battery life sucks, but what I learned is that the Backpacks that I have for the HD & HD2 work on the 3 as well as the LCD.

I use the Battery BackPac when I am using the WiFi and I have yet to run out of battery during a shoot.

The only real issue I have is with Adobe CS6 - when I am shooting 120fps - adobe only recognizes 60fps - so the audio is twice as fast. If audio is nit needed - then your good.

Most everything I shoot is action sports - so I have not experienced with the higher resolutions yet.

John Forsythe · April 26th, 2013, 06:51 AM

I had a mystery lock up the other day when getting data off and charging. I'm pretty sure though I have damaged mine with excessive heating due to filming in a glass studio. I cannot afford a camera that I can use different lenses with so getting up close and personal to a subject that is radiating hundreds of degrees of heat probably is not doing it any favors. I film at 2k@30fps

My theory about the freezing is excessive heat build up. My camera will shut off when after filming glass blowing. I put it in a freezer for about 10mins and it starts back up again.

I had no problems with the camera locking up while it was mounted to my canoe this past winter filming numerous whitewater runs. Just battery life issues that seem better in the glass studio.

My perception is that the small form factor makes the gopro3 excessively vulnerable to huge temperature issues.

Soon I am going to modify a water proof case to let me connect a solar panel to it. I am going to do a timelapse until the memory card is filled or the camera shuts off. I imagine it will freeze because of the higher late spring temperatures.

Rob Morse · April 26th, 2013, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Sgaraglino

The only real issue I have is with Adobe CS6 - when I am shooting 120fps - adobe only recognizes 60fps - so the audio is twice as fast. If audio is nit needed - then your good.

Have you tried right clicking on the clip in the project panel, click on modify, then interpret footage and then where it says assume frame rate, change the frame rate to 120. I've never tried it, just an idea.

Rob Morse · April 26th, 2013, 10:07 AM

I've only used my Hero 3 on 2 projects but had no issues at all.

March 5th, 2013, 06:39 AM	#1
Alan Maughan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wylam Posts: 46	Upgrading to Hero 3 Black Guys, I currently have a Hero 2 and am considering the upgrade to HD3 Black for a number of reasons but Im reading so many bad reviews about locking up and the WiFi packing in. Are they really this bad and should I trade up or stay put for now until things are sorted? Thanks Alan

March 7th, 2013, 05:05 AM	#2
Alan Maughan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wylam Posts: 46	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black 144 views and nobody has an opinion?

March 7th, 2013, 06:18 AM	#3
Damian Heffernan Major Player Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: c Australia Posts: 234	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black only had my black for a couple of days. No freezes or crashes so far. Out of the box I went to the website to download any software updates but it said it was already on the latest version. I haven't used protune yet. The wifi seems ok, chews the battery though. __________________ http://onarafilms.com/ http://gentlespirit.com.au/

March 7th, 2013, 09:47 AM	#4
Tom Roper Trustee Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 1,891	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I've exchanged 2 already. Number 3 is going back for exchange from the factory. They've all worked, but the freezing problem is widespread.

March 7th, 2013, 10:58 AM	#5
Erick Munari Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Posts: 161	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I got one last week, used a couple of times, it froze when it was plugged to the computer while charging. I had to take the battery off, then it worked. Haven't used much yet since then.

March 8th, 2013, 02:30 AM	#6
Alan Maughan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wylam Posts: 46	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I cant say the comments so far have inspired me to make a purchase - how can GoPro get things so wrong and not resolve these issues quickly???? Crazy.

March 8th, 2013, 03:43 AM	#7
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I bought one the other week. So far so good. Took it out on the boat yesterday to do some test shots and it worked just fine. Battery life is a bit weird. I was able to get it to run continuously for 4.5 hours with a second battery. But now I'm just getting 2.5 hours. Same batteries. No extensive charge cycles. I know WiFi can shorten battery life. But the endurance tests were conducted with WiFi turned off. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

March 9th, 2013, 12:23 PM	#8
Eugen Oprina Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bucharest Romania Posts: 221	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I have two Blacks and use them with protune and 2,7 K. Used them on three jobs and didn't fail so far. I used them both with RC remote and Iphone app. I use them with the additional battery. I never charge from computer. Charging the additional battery attached to the camera doesn't work I have to charge it separately. The three jobs where on car races and winter olympic sports.

April 25th, 2013, 02:27 PM	#10
Michael Sims Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 102	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I've had my Hero 3 for two days and its locked up twice. Had to remove the battery both times to fix it. I updated the firmware today. Hopefully, no more lock ups.

April 25th, 2013, 08:42 PM	#11
Bryce Comer Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rossland, British Columbia Posts: 1,024	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I haven't had a single lock up since updating the software. Only done a couple of hours with it since updating but so far so good. Bryce __________________ There's never enough hours in the day!

April 25th, 2013, 09:25 PM	#12
Chris Sgaraglino Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 237	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I have 2 Blacks, 2 HD2 and HD1 - I only mention this because I use all three and there are differences. However - sticking to the question, I have only had one lockup issue in a month. Battery life sucks, but what I learned is that the Backpacks that I have for the HD & HD2 work on the 3 as well as the LCD. I use the Battery BackPac when I am using the WiFi and I have yet to run out of battery during a shoot. The only real issue I have is with Adobe CS6 - when I am shooting 120fps - adobe only recognizes 60fps - so the audio is twice as fast. If audio is nit needed - then your good. Most everything I shoot is action sports - so I have not experienced with the higher resolutions yet. __________________ Chris Sgaraglino The Outdoor Life Blog \| Widow Creek Photography

April 26th, 2013, 06:51 AM	#13
John Forsythe New Boot Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Richmond, Va, Usa Posts: 20	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I had a mystery lock up the other day when getting data off and charging. I'm pretty sure though I have damaged mine with excessive heating due to filming in a glass studio. I cannot afford a camera that I can use different lenses with so getting up close and personal to a subject that is radiating hundreds of degrees of heat probably is not doing it any favors. I film at 2k@30fps My theory about the freezing is excessive heat build up. My camera will shut off when after filming glass blowing. I put it in a freezer for about 10mins and it starts back up again. I had no problems with the camera locking up while it was mounted to my canoe this past winter filming numerous whitewater runs. Just battery life issues that seem better in the glass studio. My perception is that the small form factor makes the gopro3 excessively vulnerable to huge temperature issues. Soon I am going to modify a water proof case to let me connect a solar panel to it. I am going to do a timelapse until the memory card is filled or the camera shuts off. I imagine it will freeze because of the higher late spring temperatures.

April 26th, 2013, 10:07 AM	#15
Rob Morse Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 427	Re: Upgrading to Hero 3 Black I've only used my Hero 3 on 2 projects but had no issues at all.