Need a REAL Underwater Video Camera - GoPro Hero2 Failed!

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thanks for the reality check. looks like I DO have to coin up (which i will). underwater is definitely a different game.

as for artificial lighting. that is out of the question. i am not interested in taking closeup. most of my targets will be 20'+ away. must rely on natural lighting.

i need a camera that is designed to produce clear crisp video in low lighting. (a compact camera will be a bonus)



please do keep those 1st hand experiences/recommendation coming. which camera and hopefully with a youtube video example? thanks.

How about this : GoPro Video Lighting System ?

I used it to 56 m in Truk Lagoon, inside and outside wrecks. Performed beautifully.
 
You are looking for UW video footage to look as good as topside ?

Here ya go. One of my favorite UW videographers, Rafa Herrero Massieu. He uses a Panasonic HVX201, Gates Housing, Fathom super wide angle port. Probably around $10k-$15k for his system. You can add $15k worth of lights to the GoPro, video ain't gonna look like this.

[vimeo]17282983[/vimeo]
 
Wouldn't the Sony NEX-5N be an upgrade from the gopro without breaking the bank too much? There's an underwater housing for only $120

There's also the Panasonic lumix series or GH2
 
Video cameras are entirely dependent on all of the above mentioned variables. $10,000 cameras would have same exact limitations that $300 cameras would.

A halfway decent camera starts at $400 and goes up. 90% of video footage quality comes from the person who understands concepts of videography and camera limitations.

i am with you 100%. i have watched way way too many underwater videos from different setups ranging from $100 to $30000. they all have the same limitations. just not enough lighting for crisp clear subjects at a distance.

given ron scuba's example on post #22.
at the 4:00 mark. it is crisp and sharp. depth is just below the surface.
at the 4:25 mark. depth is about 20'+. you all can clearly see what I am talking about. subjects becomes grainy.

looks like i am gonna stick with the gopro hero2 and simply not video on less than perfect day.



btw. does that $30,000 Canon C300 and Gates Housing comes with a full time job? what a nice camera.

again, thank you all for commenting.
 
A halfway decent camera starts at $400 and goes up. 90% of video footage quality comes from the person who understands concepts of videography and camera limitations.

It's not the arrow that hits the target but the Indian, it's not the camera that takes the picture but the diver.
 
Uavaj, There's a lot of great options out there for what you're looking for. As someone stated before anything with the CMOS sensor will handle low light better.

I shoot a lot of video with my Canon 7D DSLR, but Panasonic and Sony also make great little cameras for around $1000.00 that will do well.

Also our housings start at $949.00 so you wouldn't have to spend a ton to get the shots you're hoping for. Check out some you tube footage under Equinox Housings it should help you out some.
 
Check out my signature and visit my youtube channel. Look for Boynton videos. There is like 6-7 there. All filmed with my Bonica camera.

Mind that I am NOT a professional videographer and that I do NOT use lights when filming. All I have is daylight and my red lense filter. Videos shown depict same reef system +- 1 mile at 60ft deep. All footage was taped in 720p 60fps. My camera can do 1080 30fps but it does not work good on drift dives so I film lakes, caverns and non drift dives using those settings.

In my videos you can clearly see effect of day light and overcast and thermaclines. I have been filming since 2008 and came to terms with limitations. Now do not get me wrong... it WOULD be nice to be able to afford a better camera... but err... My videos are mainly shared on youtube which cramps and dilutes video footage anyways so I will just have to use what I have.

I do not have dedicated camera lights (but I do have 2 250 lumens flashlights attached to camera) but it would be nice to own a pair just to own them. I also would like to have a wide angle lense but err... it would totally suck to have to constantly screw it in and out. Both lights and lens cost way too much for me to "buy to try" so for past few years I use my camera as it comes in the package and it has been halfway decent.
 
i am with you 100%. i have watched way way too many underwater videos from different setups ranging from $100 to $30000. they all have the same limitations. just not enough lighting for crisp clear subjects at a distance.

given ron scuba's example on post #22.
at the 4:00 mark. it is crisp and sharp. depth is just below the surface.
at the 4:25 mark. depth is about 20'+. you all can clearly see what I am talking about. subjects becomes grainy.

looks like i am gonna stick with the gopro hero2 and simply not video on less than perfect day.



btw. does that $30,000 Canon C300 and Gates Housing comes with a full time job? what a nice camera.

again, thank you all for commenting.

Curious, are you shooting for personal fun/hobby or is this part of some profit making business venture or a mixture ? All the UW video you have watched, you have not found something that impressed you or met your requirements ? I am kind of surprised. There is some real high quality stuff out there. UW is not topside. Filming a subject 20 ft. away at depth through water will never be as clear as air.

Also wondering what your videos will be viewed on. Is this mainly for internet, computer, HDTV, projection ? You will notice bigger differences between cameras when viewed on bigger screens. One thing for sure, you should not use internet video for critical evaluation. Videos are compressed for the internet and never look as good as the original.

Most of the pricing people are listing is for new equipment. There is some pretty good stuff on the used market.
 
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The Dungeness Crab of Kayak Point - YouTube

I took this underwater video simply by sending my GoPro Hero2 down to about 50ft in pretty dark water and it seemed to shoot nice clear video, not the greatest visibility but clear video. I have noticed that when I play lower light videos from my gopro on windows media player they show up grainy. But when I edit them and save them for viwing in 1080p on windows live movie maker and then watch them or upload them to youtube they come out much clearer. But, of course, you get what you pay for. Honestly I feel like I can get good quality video with the gopro that is only slightly lower quality than a good DSLR for WAY cheaper. That's mostly going by what I've seen others shoot and post with different cameras.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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