I am interested to understand where people go from here
What are you considering as next step after go pro?
- Thread starter Interceptor121
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Ministryofgiraffes
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I went Nikon Z7 with nauticam housing, Sea&Sea strobes, retra LSD snoot. 2x keldan 8x lights. 
OP
wow big step surely amazing prospect!I went Nikon Z7 with nauticam housing, Sea&Sea strobes, retra LSD snoot. 2x keldan 8x lights.
Johnoly
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Ministryofgiraffes
Contributor
I have to say that i'm absolutely loving it...Off to Cayman on the aggressor in May, then a few weeks in Bonaire in August and later the Galapagos with Alex Mustard..I might try and squeak in another cheeky trip to Scocorro as well next year..
One way or another i'm going to make sure i don't regret the 'investment'
I used a GoPro Hero 3+ and a pair of 1500 lumen lights for around two years when I was first learning to dive and shoot underwater video. It was a great little camera for landscapes as well as fish and people portraits. As I became more interested in macro subjects, I purchased a Macromate Mini but I found it to be very difficult to use due to the fixed focal length and narrow depth of field.
I badly wanted to upgrade but I could not afford a DSLR or mirrorless setup at the time. So, I e-bayed a camcorder rig using a Sony CX580 in an Ikelite housing. Although I was still shooting 1080p, I found the image quality to be much improved and the larger rig with in-camera stabilization provided much smoother footage. The ability to zoom also allowed me to go semi-macro on larger subjects.
After a year, I stepped up to a Panasonic LX100 in an Ikelite housing. This was a huge improvement in image quality with the ability to shoot 4K video on a mirrorless sensor. Over time, I added various wet lenses and a pair of 8000 lumen video lights. I have also added numerous floats to dial in the buoyancy of the rig and a homemade quadropod. I am on my second year with this rig and I have still not outgrown it.
As my abilities continue to improve, I will eventually move up to an interchangeable lens MFT system. In order to manage cost, I may look to buy a used GH5 setup when an obvious successor is announced and housed. I am very keen to shoot 4K60fps output to 24fps with Cinelike profiles and much higher bitrates than the LX100 offers. Here's hoping for a GH6 announcement in 2019!
N.B. I still carry a GoPro Hero 7 Black for above water shots, like goofing around on the dive boat, when the LX100 is housed. I also have several other models (4 Black, 5 Session, etc.) that I use for other activities such as mountain biking and downhill skiing. I am a huge fan of these little guys!
I badly wanted to upgrade but I could not afford a DSLR or mirrorless setup at the time. So, I e-bayed a camcorder rig using a Sony CX580 in an Ikelite housing. Although I was still shooting 1080p, I found the image quality to be much improved and the larger rig with in-camera stabilization provided much smoother footage. The ability to zoom also allowed me to go semi-macro on larger subjects.
After a year, I stepped up to a Panasonic LX100 in an Ikelite housing. This was a huge improvement in image quality with the ability to shoot 4K video on a mirrorless sensor. Over time, I added various wet lenses and a pair of 8000 lumen video lights. I have also added numerous floats to dial in the buoyancy of the rig and a homemade quadropod. I am on my second year with this rig and I have still not outgrown it.
As my abilities continue to improve, I will eventually move up to an interchangeable lens MFT system. In order to manage cost, I may look to buy a used GH5 setup when an obvious successor is announced and housed. I am very keen to shoot 4K60fps output to 24fps with Cinelike profiles and much higher bitrates than the LX100 offers. Here's hoping for a GH6 announcement in 2019!
N.B. I still carry a GoPro Hero 7 Black for above water shots, like goofing around on the dive boat, when the LX100 is housed. I also have several other models (4 Black, 5 Session, etc.) that I use for other activities such as mountain biking and downhill skiing. I am a huge fan of these little guys!
What about the Sony TG-5 as an option.
The Red Epic Dragon 8K is a nicer option if I could afford it.
The Red Epic Dragon 8K is a nicer option if I could afford it.
mattleach
Contributor
I jumped up to an Olympus TG-4 with tray and strobe. Still mount the GoPro on the cold shoe of the Olympus housing for the best of both worlds (photo and video)
I should have mentioned that my wife jumped up to a TG-4 as well. She is more of a stills shooter and was getting frustrated by the extreme wide angle of the GoPro. The TG-4 has been a great choice for her. Coupled with a YS-03 flash, it takes nice portraits and the microscope mode is insane. I frequently borrow it for night snorkelling and shooting critters in our lagoon.
In2theabyss
Contributor
I spend enough in this hobby of ours lol. As much as I love photography thats another huge investment...maybe later in life but for now just the ol gopro
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