daemn42 | Hero3+ Black - Out of Focus from the factory @daemn42 | Uploaded October 2013 | Updated October 2024, 20 hours ago.
Update 10/22/2013 I've refocused my Hero3+, and now it's on par with the Hero3.
Details here: rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=26431859&postcount=446
Note: Be sure to switch to 1080p HD to see the details in this vid.
Update 10/12/2013
Example Hero3+ Black FPV vid with high detail and high motion in good light. YT wasn't up to the task of playing it, so it's over on Vimeo. Can download the raw video from there as it came from the camera.
vimeo.com/76786258
Honestly, it'd be hard to be unhappy with that.
Update 10/11/2013
Check out this comparison video. Tell me which segment 1st, or 2nd, represents the Hero3+ and which the Hero3. Which one has better exposure?
youtube.com/watch?v=pl49fWZOOGM
Update 10/10/2013
No, I did not get my files backwards. I've repeated this test about a dozen times and I've been *extremely* careful to keep the files from each camera straight. If at any moment I'm not 100% sure, I repeat the test again. I know at least one of the other review videos got their images backwards.
Update 10/9/2013: Some representatives of GoPro are claiming that this is intentional.
GoPro had announced that they improved near distance focus, so that video with the camera pointed back at yourself would be better. They didn't announce that the rest of the world beyond 2m would be out of focus but now some GoPro reps are saying that's as it should be. If true then I think they whiffed this one completely. They think everyone does selfies and nothing more.
10/8/2013
Others recently discovered a serious problem with the new GoPro Hero3+ Black image quality.
It is most noticeable in full frame 12MP still images, but you can see differences in 4K and 1080p video frames as well. The video resolutions use pixel binning so they mask the problem a bit, but it appears to either be optically out of focus or are showing over-compression. The problem is more noticeable in high detail brightly lit areas (trees, ground, roof, wall textures), and less visible in darker or shadowed areas.
The Hero3+ also shows increased levels of contrast over the Hero3, which can lead to shadows turning black, and highlights blown out to white.
Many people have started reporting the same IQ issue, especially noticeable with 12MP stills.
Discussions (including confirmation from GoPro)and many more examples of the problem here
goprouser.freeforums.org/difference-in-focal-range-sharpness-hero3-blk-vs-plus-t14637-40.html
and rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2011658
Update 10/22/2013 I've refocused my Hero3+, and now it's on par with the Hero3.
Details here: rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=26431859&postcount=446
Note: Be sure to switch to 1080p HD to see the details in this vid.
Update 10/12/2013
Example Hero3+ Black FPV vid with high detail and high motion in good light. YT wasn't up to the task of playing it, so it's over on Vimeo. Can download the raw video from there as it came from the camera.
vimeo.com/76786258
Honestly, it'd be hard to be unhappy with that.
Update 10/11/2013
Check out this comparison video. Tell me which segment 1st, or 2nd, represents the Hero3+ and which the Hero3. Which one has better exposure?
youtube.com/watch?v=pl49fWZOOGM
Update 10/10/2013
No, I did not get my files backwards. I've repeated this test about a dozen times and I've been *extremely* careful to keep the files from each camera straight. If at any moment I'm not 100% sure, I repeat the test again. I know at least one of the other review videos got their images backwards.
Update 10/9/2013: Some representatives of GoPro are claiming that this is intentional.
GoPro had announced that they improved near distance focus, so that video with the camera pointed back at yourself would be better. They didn't announce that the rest of the world beyond 2m would be out of focus but now some GoPro reps are saying that's as it should be. If true then I think they whiffed this one completely. They think everyone does selfies and nothing more.
10/8/2013
Others recently discovered a serious problem with the new GoPro Hero3+ Black image quality.
It is most noticeable in full frame 12MP still images, but you can see differences in 4K and 1080p video frames as well. The video resolutions use pixel binning so they mask the problem a bit, but it appears to either be optically out of focus or are showing over-compression. The problem is more noticeable in high detail brightly lit areas (trees, ground, roof, wall textures), and less visible in darker or shadowed areas.
The Hero3+ also shows increased levels of contrast over the Hero3, which can lead to shadows turning black, and highlights blown out to white.
Many people have started reporting the same IQ issue, especially noticeable with 12MP stills.
Discussions (including confirmation from GoPro)and many more examples of the problem here
goprouser.freeforums.org/difference-in-focal-range-sharpness-hero3-blk-vs-plus-t14637-40.html
and rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2011658
