GoPro, riding the wave of a successful IPO, has three new cameras slated for release — highlighted by its lowest priced model yet, the entry level Hero for $129.The cameras will go on sale Sunday.
The top of the line Hero4 Black Edition promises twice the video resolution of the previous Hero3+ model, with full 4K video recording at 30 frames per second. While pushing the possibilities of video recording in a small package, GoPro is also raising its prices to its highest levels yet, at $499 for the Black Edition camera.
The middle model, the $399 Hero4 Silver Edition, has something GoPro fans have been clamoring for — an LCD preview screen to view footage. The Black Edition Hero 4 couldn’t include the LCD, GoPro says, because the higher performing 4K footage would heat up the camera and make it inoperable.
GoPro (GPRO) has become a favorite of action sports fans who use it to connect to surfboards, motorcycles and sky diving helmets for fast-moving footage that has found huge audiences online. Its YouTube channel has 2.2 million subscribers and nearly 600 million views.
Shares rallied 11% to $90.94 on the announcement.
Read more about GoPro’s surge since its IPO.
Along with the new cameras, GoPro made several structural changes to its body. The battery now goes at the bottom of the camera.
GoPro debuted its initial public stock offering this summer, and shares have surged.
GoPro founder Nick Woodman told Interllectual assembled for a preview of the new devices that the camera had changed people’s lives. “For the first time, we can share every moment of our lives,” he said. “That’s very powerful.”
To introduce new cameras to media, GoPro staged an event here, bringing reporters to a trampoline facility and on ride-alongs in go-karts to test out the Hero4 Silver and Black editions.
GoPro has a popular app for Apple and Android devices that compensates for the lack of a viewfinder on most of its models. With the app, you can compose the image on your mobile device, play it back, and download clips directly to the phone. There will be a delay of a few weeks until the software is updated to work with the new models, GoPro said.
