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?
