GoPro HERO Session Waterproof Digital Action Camera

I use this camera for fishing, boating, and most often paintball. I've written the review below specifically regarding using this camera for recording tournament paintball:The GoPro Hero4 Session is the best action camera I've come across yet for paintball. I personally use the camera with a Grizzly Mounts Pole Mount ($20 on Amazon). The mount is similar to other pole mounts, but that it is made of a really tough rubber. This means it won't scratch your barrel and also doesn't crack when you tighten it down or take a dive. Definitely a recommended accessory for the Hero4 Session that is useful for paintball as well as limitless other activities. I've broken down the camera review into the features of the camera that make it an excellent option for paintball players.One-Touch OperationThe Hero4 Session is unique in the GoPro line in that it features one-touch operation. This means that the camera is powered off at all times unless the user is adjusting settings or recording. Simply press the record button, and after a couple second delay, the camera is powered up and begins to record. When finished, press the button again and the camera finishes recording and powers down. This has a couple of advantages on the paintball field.First, it allows a single battery to last an entire day for tournament paintball. The Hero4 Session's battery is rated for about 2 hours of recording, and does not drain when the camera is not recording since the unit powers itself off. By pressing the record button before the start of each point, and pressing it again after the flag is hung, a player's entire tournament worth of play can be captured on a single charge.The other advantage to the one-touch operation of the Hero4 Session is the simplicity of use. With previous GoPro models, the user would have to press and hold the power button, wait for the camera to power on, then cycle through the operation modes until “Video Recording” is selecting, and then finally press the record button. All of this is taken care of in one press of a button with the Hero4 Session, which is saves a ton of time while practicing, but is priceless during an XBall match where every second in the pits or walking out to the start box is precious. One touch of the button and within seconds you'll be recording.Size and DesignThe GoPro Hero4 Session is the smallest GoPro as of the time of its release. The shaved down dimensions are very noticeable when mounted on your barrel, especially if you choose to mount it upright, on top of the barrel. Previous GoPro cameras were significantly wider, which meant more of your vision was blocked when looking down the barrel while playing. The Hero4 Session is also narrow enough that it does not hit the ground when sliding and crawling with your marker sideways against the turf/grass. Maybe the most important aspect of its smaller size is the smaller target that the Session provides for your opponents.The Hero4 Session also features a centered lens in its design. In other GoPro models and many other action cameras, the lens is placed off-center on the camera. The Session's centered lens affords the camera an unobstructed view when snap shooting on both sides of a bunker, as well as viewing straight down the barrel instead of on a slight angle. The Session captures paint streams better than ever before because of this one easily overlooked feature.Automatic Image RotationThe GoPro Hero4 Session features Automatic Image Rotation. This means that when the camera begins a recording while it is upside-down, it will automatically correct the video to right-side-up. This saves quite a bit of time that would otherwise be spent manually rotating the videos in computer software or changing the camera's orientation settings on other action cameras. This is an important feature for when the camera is mounted hanging below the barrel, allowing the player better vision down their barrel from above.Exposed MicrophoneOne of the most important features of the GoPro Hero4 session are its exposed microphone and case-less waterproof features. Since the camera is waterproof and shockproof without a fully enclosed plastic shell, the microphone remains exposed to open air. This results in superior sound clarity that was never able to be captured with previous generation GoPro cameras. Instead of just the muffled sounds of the marker firing, the Session records the voice of the player behind the camera as well as his/her teammates on the field. This feature alone puts the Hero4 Session above other action cameras.Price PointThe GoPro Hero4 Session comes in at a price point of $199. Compared to the other cameras in the Hero4 line, it is the most affordable below the Silver at $399 and the Black and $499. At the lowest price point, this camera still packs in features that the others do not that are essential to recording first-person paintball.

What a wonderful little camera.If you're looking for a video camera with the following specs, you'll be happy:- Fits in your pocket- Battery lasts for days with frequent use- 1080p HD video- Waterproof- Decent sound qualityI've previously used the older HERO with the plastic enclosure on vacations, and loved it. The one without any video playback screen on it, btw. But having to muffle the sound with the enclosure, or not be waterproof, was the biggest downside. Now, with a smaller size, apparently more battery life, and apparently better video quality, I'm super happy I switched.I've used this so far on planes, at parties, in the ocean (shore waves/underwater), at amusement parks, on water rides at amusement parks, on the beach, and in a cave, and it worked great in all scenarios. Focus and exposure were wonderful in all experiences. Sounds were great, even underwater. In heavy wind the sound got a little distorted but it wasn't a wind tunnel sound like the older HERO was. I have done trips with 100-200 videos (average 30 seconds long each) in a week or two and only needed to charge it every few days.I do not take advantage of the phone remote control, though it's pretty neat. I don't edit video or pull photos out of videos, I just pull the sd card with the videos and watch them on other devices. I don't use any mount, I just keep it in a little sack (I use an old Oakley sunglass case because it's soft and has a drawstring) and hold it tight when I'm using it. One thing I would like is an ability to put a small strap on it, so I could use my Float Pro or something similar; there's no hole whatsoever (that I can find) to secure it to something. But, it's tiny enough to hold extremely securely.I also noticed that the videos, which are technically supposed to be nearly identical in quality to the older HERO, play better. I pull them into itunes and then watch them on my (older) appleTV and they stream and playback smoothly! The older HERO videos are choppy, not sure if it's a better codec or what, but this seems to be an improvement in this model.There is a minor rounding effect at the edges of the videos which cannot be avoided (that I know of). I was originally pretty unhappy to find this out but it's really minor given the other positive features.