midnitesun64
Registered
So I own two GoPro cameras. I went diving in Fiji in 03/2011 and used a basic GoPro non HD with a wrist mount and standard factory curved housing.
Not the greatest video quality ever but it still is a pleasure for ME to watch and remember, I know that I am not a videographer and don't plan to publish to the world my videos, I do want good images though for my own enjoyment
Now I am going to Belize Mar of 2013 and own a GoPro HD Hero with LCD backpack from Craigslist for 100.00. I had to think long and hard about what I was willing to settle with. Obviously the learning curve with the GoPro is much smaller, I don't have the time to develop photographic skills and learn about white balance and F stops etc... so I decided to purchase a GoPro. Now with the GoPro you can certainly add enough accessories so that the price will quickly climb and you will find yourself in the neighborhood of more expensive cameras with good housing such as what Ikelite offers.
Deciding what you want now becomes of series of gives and takes...I was willing to give up some quality for ease of use, lower cost initially but I had to purchase other items to make the GoPro more suitable for underwater video. I decided on BackScatters tray and the flat lens housing with the flip up magic filter for color correction, I also avoided spending 500-800 dollars by renting a video light from BackScatter instead of buying. I am a new diver so I also wanted something I could become familiar with quickly so I wouldn't have to spend bottom time scrolling through menus etc... I am fully prepared to have video that will not look as good as what I have seen posted on this forum...that's okay for me and these sort of things need to be tossed around. With my GoPro, after diving, I can use one of the other various mounts and bring it on a zipline tour or riding ATV with the handle bar mount or helmet mounts. My point and shoots won't approach this kind of versatility but they have there place in my journeys too so I am not pitching them. I also have barely begun to discover all the ways to use my GoPro, if all is well, then I may upgrade to a better newer GoPro, but for now, being the amateur that I am, I am in a neighborhood where I can afford to live. As diving skills and opportunities increase I may end up a SLR. Just decide realistically what your skills are and your intent and what you can live with and without. Consider this, some cameras are slow, I have read reviews on certain cameras and discovered that a lot underwater specific cameras that are inexpensive will have slow shutter, meaning as you push the shutter button, you subject could swim out of the frame before the camera actually takes the picture. i am going to set my GoPro to video and use the light for upclose subjects-oh the horror of 2-3 hour video editing. Its all good though...Right! I am no expert, this is only opinion
Not the greatest video quality ever but it still is a pleasure for ME to watch and remember, I know that I am not a videographer and don't plan to publish to the world my videos, I do want good images though for my own enjoyment
Now I am going to Belize Mar of 2013 and own a GoPro HD Hero with LCD backpack from Craigslist for 100.00. I had to think long and hard about what I was willing to settle with. Obviously the learning curve with the GoPro is much smaller, I don't have the time to develop photographic skills and learn about white balance and F stops etc... so I decided to purchase a GoPro. Now with the GoPro you can certainly add enough accessories so that the price will quickly climb and you will find yourself in the neighborhood of more expensive cameras with good housing such as what Ikelite offers.
Deciding what you want now becomes of series of gives and takes...I was willing to give up some quality for ease of use, lower cost initially but I had to purchase other items to make the GoPro more suitable for underwater video. I decided on BackScatters tray and the flat lens housing with the flip up magic filter for color correction, I also avoided spending 500-800 dollars by renting a video light from BackScatter instead of buying. I am a new diver so I also wanted something I could become familiar with quickly so I wouldn't have to spend bottom time scrolling through menus etc... I am fully prepared to have video that will not look as good as what I have seen posted on this forum...that's okay for me and these sort of things need to be tossed around. With my GoPro, after diving, I can use one of the other various mounts and bring it on a zipline tour or riding ATV with the handle bar mount or helmet mounts. My point and shoots won't approach this kind of versatility but they have there place in my journeys too so I am not pitching them. I also have barely begun to discover all the ways to use my GoPro, if all is well, then I may upgrade to a better newer GoPro, but for now, being the amateur that I am, I am in a neighborhood where I can afford to live. As diving skills and opportunities increase I may end up a SLR. Just decide realistically what your skills are and your intent and what you can live with and without. Consider this, some cameras are slow, I have read reviews on certain cameras and discovered that a lot underwater specific cameras that are inexpensive will have slow shutter, meaning as you push the shutter button, you subject could swim out of the frame before the camera actually takes the picture. i am going to set my GoPro to video and use the light for upclose subjects-oh the horror of 2-3 hour video editing. Its all good though...Right! I am no expert, this is only opinion
