First video from Cozumel with my GoPro Hero2

[robint]

I have edited the video from Day 1 of diving. I am never really satisfied with what I get on the first couple of days of any trip, but I think I did get to try out the GoPro and make some assessments.

[vimeo]40174042[/vimeo]


I used the Backscatter flat port housing, tray and arm, red filter outside of the wreck. I did edit the video, color correct some clips, darken some that were too harsh, etc. I use Pinnacle v12 software, not the GoPro software which I find too basic.

Things I did wrong: I did not get the monitor back and it hurt me the first day, missing some great stuff due to shooting too low and cutting the frame off. We had an eagle ray do his dance right in front of me, etc. ~sniff~ So on the first day I wasn't shooting level (must have attached it to the tray angled). Lesson learned for next trip.

Things I did right: The tray and arm were AWESOME. I loved being able to attach the rig to my BC for entering water and also climbing out on the ladder. No need to hand anything up while getting banged against the ladder. It also was comfy to hold, or if I didn't want to shoot, I could once again just hook on my BC and continue the dive. The tray and arm are very easy to hold topside, also, so I took MUCH more topside video as it didn't tire out my arm trying to hold.
The red filter was great to protect the flat port also... easy to attach once at depth, and keep on the lens on the boat just in case someone dropped something up against it on the camera table during the boat ride.
I think I shot plenty of video, but I also was able to enjoy all my dives without issues due to a big, bulky rig. Hopefully I got some great stuff on the shore dives, macro and closeups of fish that loved me hanging out with them.


back to editing.... I have 5 more days to go through.

robin

 

[quikcolin]

Awesome! Great job!

Question - what happens if you use the Magic Red Filter shallower than 40ft... does it affect the video? So only use the red filter sub 40ft?

 

[robint]

Awesome! Great job!

Question - what happens if you use the Magic Red Filter shallower than 40ft... does it affect the video? So only use the red filter sub 40ft?

I used the red filter any time deeper than 5' actually. I really think the GoPro needs it to sharpen the image.
I took it off inside the wreck, since it was so dark, and also took it off when I was down around 90' depth (on Part 2 video, should have it done tomorrow). If you watch the video inside the wreck, you can see it was clear and focused at all times, even in the dark. Really impressive!!

Overall, I am very pleased with the crispness and clarity I am getting in all my clips. The only clips I have viewed so far that look murky are those that the vis was murky!

robin

 

[RMAdventure]

Very cool video! I've heard that the GoPro isn't the best in low light, but it didn't seem to bad in your video. I was doing the first day of my pool training on March 31, I can't wait to get out and do some real diving like that!

 

[ronscuba]

Nice job Robin. Looks to me the GoPro2 is a nice improvement over the GoPro1 in low light. My GP1 has a lot of video noise at deep depths.

 

[RickyF]

Robin, thanks for the video. I love the Gopro. I am heading to Coz May 19th for two weeks. Hope my video's come out as good as yours. Did you buy the "monitor" that mounts to the back of the unit?

 

[decimal86]

hi robint,

thks for yr post. i am interested in getting one. could you post pictures of your rig? entire rig? how deep were you when you took these videos? cheers

 

[robint]

Robin, thanks for the video. I love the Gopro. I am heading to Coz May 19th for two weeks. Hope my video's come out as good as yours. Did you buy the "monitor" that mounts to the back of the unit?

No, I did not go with the monitor as I read here on SB that it drains the battery very quickly. I may buy it now that I have tried it without, and only turn it on when needed. I did buy 2 spare batteries and a wall charger so I can change the batteries out often (after 2 dives seemed to be right for me, but I only record when I see something good. I do not leave it running constantly underwater as it will only last 20+ minutes and fill up your memory card).

hi robint,

thks for yr post. i am interested in getting one. could you post pictures of your rig? entire rig? how deep were you when you took these videos? cheers

I have posted a photo of it here on SB in another thread. I will see if I can find it and repost.
My total investment was around $600.

found it:

I have the lens cap ($10 extra) on it in the photo. The red filter fits into little bungie clips on the front there when you are underwater.


robin

 

[flareside]

I do not leave it running constantly underwater as it will only last 20+ minutes and fill up your memory card....

An empty 16gb memory card and a fully charged battery will give you roughly two hours of video.

 

[robint]

An empty 16gb memory card and a fully charged battery will give you roughly two hours of video.

the key there is EMPTY memory card, and fully charged battery. There were a few other people at SCC last week using the GoPro. One guy flooded his the first day (took it in the water with the back that has holes, oops). The second guy would turn his on as soon as he jumped in the water, and let it run the whole dive. He had no monitor back, just swam around with it running. He was constantly running into the problem of it cutting off during the dives. We told him either his battery was done or the card was full (don't know what size he was using).

So... I have not used the monitor back as I don't have it. I have not seen it in action either. BUT from all the comments here on SB, I am guessing it will drain the battery twice as fast without it. I may be wrong. I may also buy one before my next trip and find out for myself.

robin