*** As of November 2011, GoPro has released the NEW HD Hero 2. The next generation of GoPro cameras are way ahead of its time, with the main feature being a better image sensor ranking 11 megapixels vs the 5 megapixels found in the HD Hero we’re reviewing.
The good news it that the price of the HD Hero has been reduced from $299.99, down to $239.99. Also, the HD Hero is now referred to as the “Original” whereas GoPro calls its next generation HD Hero 2 the “Professional”. You can read more about the GoPro HD Hero2 model, but sufficed to say, this original HD Hero remains a fantastic buy, let’s find out why. ***
GoPro HD Hero Reviews
GoPro is the leader of action sports mountable cameras and has pioneered a movement of sport action athletes capturing amazing footage of their adventures. The GoPro HD Hero was designed to 
provide adventure athletes a compact means to capture all their epic adventures in high definition without being bulky. The HD Hero enables you to record in full 1080p and four other HD modes for ultra slow high-definition playing that captures up to 60 frames-per-second! The GoPro HD also allows you to take 5-megapixels in a variety of burst modes. Whether you’re getting barreled, on the race track, carving some fresh power, or even filming a moving, you can use the GoPro HD Hero and the variety of mounts to capture all the action in many unique angles that other cameras are not capable of.
The compactness , high ease of use, and the ability of GoPro cameras to capture high definition scenes has made them not only popular among amateurs, but also by professional atheletes and filmmakers. Disney has even been using GoPro cameras for a recent pixar movie
The camera without its waterproof quick release housing is not waterproof, however once you place your GoProHD Hero in the included housing, it becomes not only waterproof, but shockproof and bombproof!
The camera optics have redifened what is capable in small cameras. With a fixed wide-angle lens and fixed focus, you get a super wide angle of view of 170º that allows you to capture what is infront of you and what is even around that you see in your peripheral vision.
With various kits available (Helmet, Motorsports, Surf, and Naked), along with several awesome accessories, the GoPro HD HERO system is hard to beat if you need to capture video in extreme conditions.
Check out individual GoPro HD Hero Reviews: