GoPro cameras make a big splash

Have you seen the newest video cameras?

I was on vacation last summer enjoying a scuba diving trip and happened to notice a fellow diver with an interesting underwater camera mounted to a hand-held wand. Later above water, we talked about his new favorite device and how much he liked it. He was happy to introduce me to "GoPro".

The company, GoPro Inc. is full of innovative products for the action-minded camera buff. Capturing a video of the underwater landscape or a turtle swimming to the ocean surface or a mid-air ski jump is the very essence of sharing an adventure. The company and all of its products are sports minded and meant to be durable additions to your sports equipment bag.

They initially started as a device for athletes to document their sport. And the first version was a wrist mounted camera. Now the company has caught the attention of active consumers who want to capture and share their adventures too. Look for more GoPro product use by professional sports teams and media professionals as the market expands.

Products and accessories

The camera product selection starts at the low price point with a version called "HERO". The entry level cost is only $129.99 on the company website. And it has a rugged waterproof housing

At the higher price point is HERO4 at $499, so check all the camera features and high-resolution data across the entire product lineup. There is a great side-by-side comparison chart on the company website that will help you can review a detailed description of each camera.

Mounts and accessories

The extensive list of accessories includes dive housing (for scuba divers) plus filters and lens covers. Then the types of mounts include any and all the ways that you could possibly wear a camera, such as; hand grip, head strap, wrist, harness, tripod, helmet mounts, etc. Whenever you want to place a camera, they have a way to do it.

This makes it possible to take your camera everywhere you go (hence “go-pro”) from hand held wands to helmet mounted brackets.

Stock investment opportunity

For those who are looking for an adventure in your portfolio, let's review the company stock and recent history.

GoPro was founded by Nicholas Woodman and was incorporated as Woodman Inc.

It is headquartered in San Mateo CA and started doing business as GoPro in 2004

The company GoPro Inc. (NASDAQ ticker: GPRO) launched their stock as an IPO (initial public offering) back in June 2014 at $24 a share and the trading range quickly shot up to $98 a share in about three months time. The stock price tempered this past week (October 2014) on a market correction and recent news that the company founder Nick Woodman was gifting a large block of their holdings into a charity foundation named the Jill + Nick Woodman Foundation.

Other optimistic news, the company also announced this month that there were rolling out a merchandise offering with Best Buy, the world largest electronics retailer. This will be a great way to get more consumer recognition with the store displays and advertisements.

So stay tuned for the holiday gifting season or add one of the cameras to your wish list.

Before you shop for your new GoPro camera, start with the company website for a full comparison chart of the camera selections and accessories. Get acquainted with the full selection and features of each product.

If you are planning your gift giving for those active people on your list, there are some great ideas.

Here is a short list of where to find more information on the products.

GoPro.com

Best Buy

GoPro just announced as of October 3, 2014 that some 500 Best Buy retail stores will be rolling out the camera display. This offers a great way for consumer to get a hands-on shopping experience plus the convenience of local stores.

Amazon.com

see the link for product selection

Can't afford to buy the GoPro camera that you want, no problem, just enter the daily giveaway.

There is a daily giveaway on the GoPro.com website so you could win a camera just by entering the "Everything We Make" giveaway. It is a chance to win a free HERO3 camera plus a mount and accessory. To enter you must be over age 13, no purchase necessary and you can enter every day.

The list of past winners is provided on the GoPro website each day going all the way back to May of 2013.

The ease and convenience of having a durable video camera opens doors for more communication across all activities. It may be a beach trip and underwater adventure that sparks your interest in capturing that array of the ocean life or maybe it is a growing active family that is learning a new sport together.

Check the video below for a review of the company, its exciting history and products.

Enjoy the adventure.