Be a Hero - GoPro HD Hero 2 review.

Last week, I came across something life-changing. Oh yes, and I am referring to my professional career as a film/video maker.

I came across the GoPro Hero. And no, that's not some superhero from a movie. It's actually better.

It's a camera. And the dudes that created this thing refer to it as 'the world's most versatile HD camera.'

It is fully wearable, mountable action camera. Wearable, waterproof, shockproof. It is targeted at adventure. And I'm talking MotoGP and V8 type adventure. If you've ever watched any type of sports championship or race on television, you'll know what I'm talking about. Those sweet, sweet camera angles. Top of the helmet, side of the helmet, from the cockpit, rear facing. And have you ever actually stopped and wondered how they get these angles?

Well, the GoPro Hero (and now in its second edition - the Hero 2) is capable of providing these angles. And more. Really, it is limited by your imagination (and by gravity, of course).

The GoPro Hero works by being mounted on different, well, mounts. There is tripod, helmet, head, handlebar and chest mounts, among others. Perhaps the most interesting of these is the suction cup mount, which features an industrial strength suction cup. I've heard that professionals have done tests with this, attaching it to the wing of a Boeing, and the camera remained firmly attached through the entire flight. In fact, I don't think they managed to pull it off for a while after the plane landed.  

So you can see how the GoPro Hero is intended for outdoorsy shots. It is used by base jumpers, skiers, surfers and many, many action-seekers. The Hero gives outstanding HD shots that would otherwise be impossible to get. It is the daredevil's camera.

Internally and externally, The GoPro Hero looks good. Hero 2 features full 1080p High Definition video on up to 120FPS.The lens is extremely wide-angle, with a full 170 degree field of view. The camera also features time-lapse options, fish-eye lens view and 10-shot-per-second bursts. Users have the option of integrating a full-colour LCD screen when they buy the cam to view their daredevil shots on the go. All of this, and the camera is so tiny that it can fit within your palm.

This camera might be a little pricey - especially if you're a poor student, much like myself. It sells between $300 and $400, and that's without all the mounts and accessories. But let me tell you, it is damn worth it. If you're a budding film-maker, amateur YouTube vlogger, insane daredevil or just like keeping a visual record of your life's adventures, then check out the Go Pro. No matter your religious background, the daredevil is present in everybody. It's just a matter of unleashing him.

-Dahlia