GoPro 11 with Flip mount and +15 Macro Mate lens issue?

[BuoyantSea]

Hey All,

First post. Lurked for a while and decided to giant stride in. I hate to start with a question, but we can't solve this riddle.

I've been diving since 1993 and started shooting underwater macro 12 +/- years ago. I did point & shoot ~5 years before that. My wife got tired of seeing critters that I never saw or were too big for my 100 macro lens, so she bought a GoPro Hero 11 with tray, a Kraken video light, and backscatter flip mount, with +10 and +15 MacroMate lenses. We haven't been in the water with it yet, though in practicing around the yard and in areas of ambient light inside the house, what we've noticed is; with either of the +10 or +15 lenses flipped down in place, light artifacts show up in still shots and in video. It appears to be light coming through the housing, then reflecting on the backside of either lens. When she shoots through the housing only (non-magnified) no light artifacts show up. I will have her send me some examples, so it makes more sense.

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced similar issues. The folks at Backscatter are "working on it", but there's no solution so far.

We really want to get this solved before it contaminates otherwise decent videos/images of fun critters. We have trips coming up to Egypt and Palau that we really hope to capture quality shots of.

Thanks.

Jim

 

[BuoyantSea]

O.K., First is the +10 lens shot at the arm of the couch (busy, huh?). Notice the light spot in the upper left of the image. Without the lens flipped down, that spot doesn't occur.

Next, is the same shot with the +15 lens flipped down in place. What leads me to believe it is from a reflection through the housing frame (?) is note the curvature, which mirrors the shape of the housing. I believe the clear housing is allowing ambient light to flow through the clear plastic, then it illuminates the edge of the housing where there is a clear edge, sort of like a fiber optic cable.

Has anyone else experienced sililar issues AND more importantly, does it happen underwater? Thanks for your replies/ suggestions/ideas.

Jim

 

[ScottsdaleSteve]

I have a GoPro 11 in a GoPro-brand housing, and a Backscatter +15 flip. It's been on 3 dive trips with zero issues. The only thing I can think of is that you're testing above water, in air. While I understand the desire to test out of water, it's not a realistic scenario. I'm lucky enough to have a swimming pool that I used to practice getting the macro distance right, before heading out on my first trip with the +15. I used a golf ball as a subject and took videos with a ruler to measure the distance to the subject. Do you have a pool? Or access to one? You don't even have to be in it - just stick the camera a foot under and shoot something. I suspect your problems will go away when you use it underwater.

 

[BoltSnap]

Why not try it in your bathtub or any tub to check if this happens in water?

 

[BuoyantSea]

Thanks for the feedback. Sadly, no pool, though there is one at the health club my wife exercises at on rainy days. I'll suggest that she takes it along in her gym bag and give it a proper test. Gracias!

Jim

 

[BoltSnap]

Thanks for the feedback. Sadly, no pool, though there is one at the health club my wife exercises at on rainy days. I'll suggest that she takes it along in her gym bag and give it a proper test. Gracias!

Jim

Please report your results after you have done your experiment in water.

 

[BuoyantSea]

Please report your results after you have done your experiment in water.

10-4. I'm hoping it's just a matter of adding water to the mix.

Jim