I love action cameras, but GoPro's new merger means I'm canceling my Mission 1 pre-order —here's why

All three of the GoPro Mission 1 series of action cameras side by side over a dark studio background.

• GoPro has been acquired by private company Starman Optical, an optical photonics specialist
• Though describing the deal as a "merger", Starman has paid $285 million cash
• The merged company plans to leverage its IP across "defense, government, robotics and aerospace markets"

It's been no secret lately that the action camera maker GoPro has been in financial trouble. As such, the news that the company has been acquired might seem like cause for celebration for action camera fans — but once you start looking closer, things quickly appear a little less rosy. In fact, this news has convinced me to hold off on purchasing any of the Mission 1 cameras, which went up for pre-order this week.