When something is already amazing, finding ways to make it even better can make you feel like a poor teenager trying to piece together a silver monkey. The GoPro name has become nearly ubiquitous with action filmography for closing in on a decade now, and the miniscule HERO4 released in September of 2014 launched the dominant company even further. With the release of the HERO4 Session, the little brother of the original in more ways than one, GoPro has pieced together a camera with all of the elements facing the right direction to pave a way beyond its accomplished predesessor.
Hero Gets a Retcon
The first thing you'll notice with the new HERO4 Session in hand is its smaller form factor and different shape. The cube is a snug 1.5 inches on every side and weighs just shy of 2.5 ounces, meaning you could very well make an eyepatch from one and devote half of your vision to the digital world. The interface is limited, but you can circumvent that through using the GoPro App or remote.
Like any good hero, the camera focused on becoming stronger during its training sessions and is now waterproof up to a depth of ten meters (32.8084 feet) and much more durable, obliviating the need for a bulk-increasing case. A special membrane over the microphone allows it to regain sound recording within moments of leaving the water.
Specialty Isn't Without Its Downsides
Trimming down the new HERO4 produced a leaner and cleaner product, but there was a reason for the original choice of design. The most notable sacrifice in the name of miniaturization is support for filming in 4K resolution entirely and 720p at 240 frames per second. The battery is also built directly in the case, so the two hours of charge are all you get before needing to head back to the hideout.
Is the Session a Sidekick?
Given the fairly even trade of functionalities, deciding between the original HERO4 and the Session is all a matter of what the mission calls for. Treat the Session like a sidegrade that opens up the possibilities that are already presented by Black and Silver. In short, instead of a Batman and Robin relationship, it's more like a multiverse Batman compared to the original.
