Here is my video review of the new GoPro Hero 3.
I compare the video and audio quality to the Hero 2.
I also include some important info on the protune feature and camera freezing.

GoPro Hero3 vs Hero2 Comparison Review - YouTube

That's great! The on screen talent is a keeper.

The lens distortion looks improved. I guess the Protune idea has become more difficult to bring to life than they initially thought. I imagine they will get it together though. I will be getting a Hero 3 Black as it is quite a tool. Thanks for posting.

"Black Edition is much better and would be an unfair comparison."

Well I sure hope so, that's the one I want to see!

Well you gave me a moment of hope with the vid, just got my HERO3: Black Edition yesterday. Did the update as the card in the box directs users to do and was ready to play, except I wasn't. Lots of freezes. At times would be stuck on record, other times it would seem to be recording but than randomly stop. Files appear to be corrupted, on the lcd it says something like "File Not Supported" on each of the thumbnails. Files dont play playback and aren't even seen in GoPro CineForm Studio.

As you mentioned that ProTune was the culprit, which I did indeed have turned on, I disabled and tried again. Same issues. I've also tried putting it in picture mode and after pressing the button had the camera icon turn red as if recording but stay that way and freeze. Only option is to remove the battery.

Additionally after one of theses incidents the card will become corrupt, the unit will say that there's no SD though there is. Removing and replacing has no affect. If plugging the camera into USB, Windows will pop up saying that the card needs to be formatted. If you say okay after a moment it will tell you that it can't format the card. The only option I've found that works is to remove the card, put it in the adapter, plug that directly into my computer and than I can format it. Once formatted and placed back into the Hero 3 the card will be recognized. I should mention that the card I have is the same they offer on their site, the SanDisk 64GB Ultra microSDXC (Class 10)

Essentially at present the HERO3: Black Edition I received is inoperable and unusable. Whether this is a single case or a larger problem I'm unsure. Regardless more than a little frustrated and deeply disappointed.

Nice job on the vid though.

- Ray

What is the method for upgrading the Hero 3... I can't get the software to see the Hero 3...

thanks

I don't believe that GoPro CineForm Studio works with the GoPro 3 yet, at least it doesn't show up in mine either.

As for updating there should have been a card in your box with the addy, its just Product Updates Support (http://gopro.com/update)

- Ray

Sorry I wasn't completely clear in my video... the protune firmware causes freezing regardless of whether you use protune or not. So basically hero3 is SOL until a proper firmware fix is available. Hero 2 users with the protune firmware are also SOL unless they revert their firmware to pre-protune firmware.

The reliable firmware for hero2 is about 15mb in size and the protune firmware is 50mb in size. Clearly that is a lot more lines of source code and I am certain there is a bug inside the protune firmwares... both hero2 and 3.

Gotcha, well that makes sense, as I did the update before playing with the Black I'm guessing since yours is working that ProTune was in the update and not when shipped? Grrrr ... kinda groveling since the first card in the package said it needed to be updated so go to ...

And I'm knocking on wood as I type this but so far no problems running ProTune on my Hero 2.

-Ray

My hero3 came with the protune firmware and it has already exhibited the freezing. I believe the current firmware update for hero3 doesnt yet fix the problem.

I was able to reverse the firmware on my hero2 to a non-protune version and it works perfectly.

You can shoot with the hero3, but it is very annoying with the occassional freezing.

I am very surprised that gopro released the hero3 with bad firmware ... they must have known of the issue. Or worse, they didn't know of the issue and didnt do any testing? That's equally hard to believe.

If they were smart, they would make the non-protune firmware available for those that don't need protune, because I'd rather not have the freezing problem and let people know that they are working on the problem.

Without more information, I can only conclude that gopro is being greedy and not very concerned about their customers.

Thanks for the info guys. I was about to order a Hero3 Black but will put that on hold now until this is resolved by GoPro. I will also watch how they handle this situation before deciding. I hope this gets resolved for you guys soon.

I've updated my GoPro Hero 2 to the latest firmware and activated ProTune.

I've used it on two paying jobs so far and no freezing or other problems. On one I ran it non-stop for about 20 minutes and on the other for about an hour. Just so you know - I had other cams covering so it wasn't life or death whether the GoPro worked or not. 1080 25T setting. Sandisk 32gb class 10 45mb/s card.

One thing I wasn't expecting: the files were broken down into about 2gb / 7.5 minutes per files. Not sure why that would be. But it is an advantage to me because it means I do not have to trim off the start and end of much larger files before backing up.

I also use it with the ipad app and the 3rd party RemoteGo android app.

I'm intending to use Neat Video in Vegas Pro to reduce any excessive noise introduced by virtue of ProTune (nb ProTune switches off in-camera effects such as noise reduction). I suspect that this may then rival the Hero 3. The free software from ProTune - Cineform Studio - has a preset to get you back to what your files might have looked like had you not used ProTune.

Pete

Ah, so it looks like some are having issues and others not. Wonder what is going on?

After I updated my hero2 to the protune firmware... it worked for quite a long while without freezing, but it did eventually succumb to the problem. I am using a sandisk class 10 card and tried the reformatting and other ideas to no avail. I am confident the firmware is to blame.

Andy, wish I had an answer! As I said the ProTune update has not affected my Hero 2 (yet) but the HERO3: Black Edition is borderline bricked. After three days I have yet to be able to successfully take, save, or transfer one single shot/clip. In my searching I have found many posts from users experiencing issues with the HERO3: Black Edition but in my recollection I have not seen a single post or reply from anyone who's received one that says "Mine is working fine." as is usual in those kind of threads. That's not to say that there aren't any out there that are working just fine, only that I haven't seen anyone that says theirs is.

- Ray

I updated my Hero2 to the protune firmware, and have not encountered any issues.

Well, ok, one small issue. I started to get the SD card not recognized/formatted problem.

Easily solved. Panasonic makes an SD Card Format Utility. I have used it in the past to resolve mysterious SD card 'problems'. It has ALWAYS worked and it's FREE.

SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card Formatting Software | Download | SD Memory Card | Digital AV | Consumer Products | Support | Panasonic Global (http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/sd/download/index.html)

A very useful tool everyone should have on thier computer.

The only other issue I 'may' be seeing, is reduced battery life using protune. Anyone else notice that?

Looking forward to getting a Hero3, but maybe I will hold off until January.

I didn't initially see any freezing, but after enough use, I am confident you eventually will.

The reduced battery life when using protune is not surprising when you consider the increased data rate of the video write to the card.

Please let me know in a few weeks if you still haven't seen the freezing problem.

Here is a video explanation of the problem as I understand it...
GoPro Hero3 Freezing Fix & Hero2 - YouTube

Thanks Alan and everybody. I had a good read around on the GoPro forums out there on the web last night and it seems like the issue explained in the video above is a very big issue for many. Sure, I know many people only post on forums 'when they have a problem' but for sure I'm now not going to buy a Hero 3 Black until I've read of a GoPro firmware fix that's proven by customers subsequently having Hero 3 cameras (and 2s!) that no longer freeze.

Hero 3 Black features in the specs sound great - but the last thing I need is unreliable gear that I can't trust 100%.

Has there been no official announcement from gopro regarding this issue? Can't believe they where not aware about something this obvious. Maybe they should take an example from BMC, they at least give very detailed inside info about their sensor issues and what they are doing to fix the problem, that's creating trust.

I was thinking of getting a gopro 3 as well but sure will wait long enough until it's confirmed that the problem is solved.

Well said Noa... that is my feeling exactly.
There is some hope that the latest firmware has fixed the problem, but only time will tell.
I too am surprised that gopro is not communicating and setting a level of trust.

This is disappointing. I've waited to update my Hero2 firmware because I was concerned about the bitrate and the camera's ability to handle it without issues such as overheating. After waiting 6 months since the NAB announcement for its "summer" release and it has bugs. Aye...

I love the new optics on the 3 and the detail is much better, but like others say I need this to always work since the GoPro is basically a set it and forget it camera. Mine is always mounted to something so I can't worry about whether or not its actually recording an uncorrupted file.

Hopefully GoPro sorts this out soon.

The official Android app is now available on Google Play via GoPro's site :- )

Not for Hero 3 as yet but it works with my Hero 2.

Pete

Ha! Yup, mine is constantly freezing up and I have to remove the battery to get it to work again. Total bummer! I would actually not even mind to try to learn to perform ‘color correction’ with the Protune files, but the combination of issues makes me consider rolling mine back too. I certainly wouldn’t depend on it like it is for anything very important.

My initial testing suggests that the freezing bug may have been fixed in the hero3's latest firmware, but time will tell. But, the latest firmware for the hero2 has the freeze bug and the only way to fix it is to revert to an earlier firmware. I post how to do that on my site Panofish Blog (http://panofish.net/)

The official Android app is now available on Google Play via GoPro's site :- )

Not for Hero 3 as yet but it works with my Hero 2.

Pete

I downloaded it on my phone and other then being about to turn my Hero2 on and off nothing else works for me. No preview other than a black screen and freezing with "goPro is not responding" messages. Very disappointing to say the least.

Is that on a Hero2 ?? Have you updated the firmware etc, etc?? Mine certainly works fine and previews fine too on my Huawei Andriod phone ...Might be worth a try to turn Protune off and see if that is causing the problem??

Chris

ProTunes is turned off and I have the latest firmware. Yes to Hero2. Works fine on my iPad but not my Droid Razr. Just wish there was not a three second delay on the preview on the iPad.

I installed the latest firmware (available Nov 12, 2012) for the Hero3 and so far I am not able to replicate the freezing problem. When it starts in auto-on mode... there is a noticeable pause in the blinking of the led and the timer count, but it doesn't freeze.

The latest firmware for the Hero2 will cause freezing and the only solution is to wait on a firmware update that fixes the Hero2 or reverse your firmware to an earlier reliable version. I post that process and the firmware on my site at Panofish Blog (http://www.panofish.net)

I noticed on my Hero 2 that it stops recording after a few minutes with ProTune turned "on". Battery still has power remaining.

With ProTune turned "off" it will record until the battery is exhausted.

Hi Dean

That might be firmware?? I shot a wedding with Protune on and the camera ran for around 45 minutes (the card was full !!!) However the footage didn't seem any different at all so I reverted to the next wedding with Protune off and the footage was much the same ..in both instances it never stopped recording. Now, when I fitted the WiFi Remote the camera ran for exactly 13 seconds and froze ..with or without Protune so they replaced the complete kit and now it's fine!!

Sounds definately like a software bug to me!!

Chris

After I updated my hero2 to the protune firmware... it worked for quite a long while without freezing, but it did eventually succumb to the problem. I am using a sandisk class 10 card and tried the reformatting and other ideas to no avail. I am confident the firmware is to blame.

Oops, I spoke too soon, my hero3 with the newest firmware from Nov 12. version HD3.02.00,95 DID NOT fix the random freezing at start of recording. I am still experiencing this random freezing which is sympomatically the same as my hero2 freezing until I reverted the firmware to the pre-protune version of the firmware.

So mine is en route back to GoPro, their tech support were really nice but their primary theory that it was the memory I had bought. The memory I purchased was the same as they have on their site but was bought through Amazon. As they asked I'll point out that it was from Amazon and not a random seller. I had two 64 gig cards that were bought at different times. Regardless, as I couldn't get it to work with either of them felt it was best to send it back now and get a new unit as I wasn't getting anywhere with the first one. Crossing my fingers that somehow I just got a bad one of the bunch. We'll see.

- Ray

Thanks for the info Raymond.

Did you have to repackage the camera and accessories in the original packaging or did you just send the camera? Did they have you try resetting the camera (which involves holding the shutter button down continuously while doing a sequence of steps)?

Resetting never came up in my conversation with tech support. Only had to send back the body, was specifically told to make sure to remove and hold onto the battery and memory. Thank God I didn't have to repackage it cuz I couldn't put it back they way they sent it to save my life!

- Ray

Hi Dean

Now, when I fitted the WiFi Remote the camera ran for exactly 13 seconds and froze ..with or without Protune so they replaced the complete kit and now it's fine!!

Sounds definately like a software bug to me!!

Chris

Chris,
I think you may be onto something here. I just bought a Wi-Fi Remote and BacPac for my Hero2.

Yesteday, I used both together for about three hours in video mode only. The Hero2 would constantly lockup up at different times. Only solution was to remove the battery. This occurred at least three times. I thought it might be an issue of resolution, so I tried different resolutions (720P, 960, 1080P). At different resolutions the same freezing occurred.

Today, I am using the Hero2 sans (without) the BacPac and Remote purely by starting/stopping the video from the Hero2 chassis. So far, I've recorded three videos:
1) one at 720P/60 for 35 minutes that I manually stopped at the 35 minute mark, just to make sure the camera wasn't locked up as I experienced yesterday. Protune on.
2) one at 720P/60 that is 1hr 10m long that I manually stopped at the 1hr 10m minute mark. Protune off.
3) one at 1080P/30 that is about 1hr long that stopped automatically after my 32GB SDHC card finally filled up. Protune on.

During these tests I had the Hero2 body plugged in to USB wall power.

So I definetly think the bug that exists is triggered by a bad interaction with the wireless functionality.
scott

Seems the NTSC ones are playing up?

Seems the NTSC ones are playing up?AFAIK there is only one model & they are all switchable between NTSC & PAL.