Sneak Peek: GoPro HERO3 camera unveiled

The latest GoPro camera, the HERO3, unveiled today, is a “lighter, faster, higher-res” camera with built-in WiFi. It is just 20mm thick, or about 30 percent smaller than the existing GoPro camera.

The HERO3 comes in three versions, including a top-end Black Edition capable of capturing video at resolutions usually reserved for larger, cinematic cameras. (Video can be captured at 1440p 48fps, 1080p 60 fps, and 720p 120 fps.)

It can take still 12-megapixel photos at a rate of 30 photos per second. Built-in WiFi lets you stream footage to a phone or tablet for preview as well as control camera functions on an app.

Notes the company, “Slow-motion aficionados and industry professionals will love the HERO3. . . [for its] 1080p-60, 720p-120, WVGA-240, 960p-100 and 1440p-48 video modes.”

A new lens promises “improved sharpness and less distortion” with user-selectable ultra-wide, medium and narrow field-of-views.

The audio features were redesigned, with better pickup for “capturing the subtle, natural sounds of voice and music,” the company notes.

The Black Edition HERO3 will cost $399. There will be two other editions with varying video resolutions, including an entry-level White Edition that costs $199 and a Silver Edition at $299.

You can order the cameras now on GoPro.com.