Spec Comparison: GoPro HERO LCD vs ZERO Action Cam

Earlier this week we reported on CAME-ZERO, a white-labeled action cam that went toe-to-toe with comparable GoPro cameras for almost half the cost.

Today, we’re taking a side-by-side look at the ZERO action cam and its competition.

The GoPro we’re pitting the ZERO against is the GoPro HERO LCD, a similarly-designed camera that features roughly the same specs and features at just under double the price point.

Below is a breakdown of the specs of each camera and their features:

Video

GoPro – 1080p (1920 x 1080) at 60, 50, 30 and 25 frames per second, 720p at 60, 50fps

ZERO – 1080p (1920 x 1080) at 60 and 30 frames per second, 720p at 120, 60 and 30fps

Stills (maximum resolution)

GoPro – 8MP (3264 x 2448) JPEG

ZERO – 16MP (4608 x 3456) JPEG

Optics:

GoPro: Ultra-wide, reduced distortion glass lens with a fixed f/2.8 aperture

ZERO – Ultra-wide, all glass lens with a fixed f/2.8 aperture

Display:

GoPro – Touchscreen (Unable to find specific dimensions and resolution – if you have one, feel free to measure it and send the info our way)

ZERO – 2” 720×240 LCD

Codec:

GoPro – H.264, MP4 file

ZERO – H.264, MOV file

Burst Mode (maximum rate):

GoPro – 10 frames per second for two seconds

ZERO – 10 frames per second for two seconds

Timelapse Mode:

GoPro – Time-lapse intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60 seconds

ZERO – Time-lapse intervals of 3, 5, 10, 30 and 60 seconds

Connectivity:

GoPro – WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity for remote control and live view.

ZERO – WiFi b/g/n connectivity for remote control and live view

Field of View:

GoPro – 170º SuperView (16:9) and 120º cropped view

ZERO – 166º (16:9)

Battery Life:

GoPro – 1160mAh, 2 hours when capturing 1080p footage without connectivity on.

ZERO – No specific timeframe is mentioned, but the battery is 1000mAh, roughly 10% less power than the GoPro, likely putting it at 1.5 hours of shooting at full 1080p (assuming the more quality controlled GoPro is a bit more efficient with its use of battery power)

Storage:

GoPro – Class 10 MicroSD up to 64GB

ZERO – Class 10 MicroSD up to 64GB

Conclusion

Specs alone don’t tell the whole story. Whereas the ZERO comes with a waterproof case, the GoPro HERO LCD has one built in, making for a much more secure fit and seal. Additionally, the GoPro offers more functionality in terms of wireless control and connectivity thanks to their growing suite of smartphone apps.

As an added bonus for the GoPro HERO LCD, you could include GoPro’s continuously solid reputation for being well-built and offering impressive image quality.

Price is the main differentiator here. If you don’t want to shell out $300 for the GoPro Hero LCD, the ZERO is a wonderful alternative with almost the exact same specs and feature set for only $158.

What are your thoughts? Is it worth almost twice the price for the name brand action cam? Or will the ZERO get the job done with half the hurt on your wallet?