GoPro HD Hero2 Camcorder Review

Video Sharpness

We were surprised that the GoPro Hero2 managed a slightly less sharp image than its direct competition—the Contour+—especially when considering the Hero2 did better than the Contour in much of our other performance tests. In bright light, the Hero2 managed a horizontal sharpness of 600 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 575 lw/ph. These numbers are similar to what we see on some entry-level camcorders, but they are worse than the three models we used as comparisons in this review.

In GoPro's defense, the Hero2 did maintain its sharpness better in low light than the Contour+. Both camcorders had some serious problems with noise and artifacting in low light, but the Hero2 produced a better overall image when the lights were dim. So, if you're looking for a hands-free camcorder that records sharper video in various kinds of light, the Hero2 may be the better overall choice than the Contour+. More on how we test video sharpness.