GoPro HD underwater blur fix

[hellhole]

What you notice is vignetting. It is present in all of the scenes. It is more or less noticeable depending on the nature of the scene and the intensity of the ambient light. The effect is most noticeable in the case of the Mako product.

The distorted corners can be cropped out in editing. I estimate that 20+% of the image is lost when cropping scenes shot with the Mako lens while about 5% of the image is lost when cropping Eye of Mine scenes.

Vignetting is reduced or absent when shooting in R5 16:9 letterbox format, but I do not use that setting for dive videos for two reasons. First, diving has a vertical as well as a horizontal component. R5 is primarily a horizontal format. Second, I find it too difficult to aim and center the subject in letterbox format compared to the standard R4 4:3 aspect ratio format.

See also my video comparing the Eye of Mine flat lens case with the standard GoPro supplied case: YouTube - Simultaneous Comparison: Watertight Camera Housings: GoPro vs. Eye of Mine

Here is the video I shot using the EoM case at 191.6 feet: YouTube - "Evil Trench" Deep Dive to 191.6 Feet (58.4m) Kadavu, Fiji

does changing from spot focus and center focus have effect to reduce/increase the vignetting? for both mako and eyeofmine ?

 

[Down2bizDiver]

I have the eyeofmine housing and seeing as there is only vignetting on R4 mode I dont understand why you would use that and crop it after.
Using r3 gives you 60/50fps with full widescreen 170fov and no need to crop it or r2 if you want 30/25fps, you could also use 720p modes sideways if you want a similar effect to r4 giving you 1280x720 shots that can be rotated in editing.

I have not tested R3 mode with flat lens case thus must rely on your conclusion that vignetting is absent in that mode. Both R2 and R3 are lower resolution than R4 (720p v. 960p). In addition, 60fps fills up the memory card much faster than 30fps and creates larger files with no particular advantage for my typical use. R5 is not acceptable to me for the reasons stated above. Thus R4 seems to me to be the preferred setting for diving.

 

[Down2bizDiver]

does changing from spot focus and center focus have effect to reduce/increase the vignetting? for both mako and eyeofmine ?

I'm not sure what you're asking. The GoPro Hero HD is a fixed focus camera.

 

[hellhole]

I'm not sure what you're asking. The GoPro Hero HD is a fixed focus camera.

sorry... i mean the exposure setting..

quoting the manual "CHOOSING EXPOSURE SETTING
Choose between Spot Meter and Center Weighted Average Meter exposure settings depending on the lighting
of your environment:"

reading about it more.. i think it does not really matter in this instance...

 

[Down2bizDiver]

Meter exposure settings ... i think it does not really matter in this instance...

I agree.

 

[Marty Cerven]

I have not tested R3 mode with flat lens case thus must rely on your conclusion that vignetting is absent in that mode. Both R2 and R3 are lower resolution than R4 (720p v. 960p). In addition, 60fps fills up the memory card much faster than 30fps and creates larger files with no particular advantage for my typical use. R5 is not acceptable to me for the reasons stated above. Thus R4 seems to me to be the preferred setting for diving.

File size does become an issue at R3 and R5 modes and I seem to be a footage hoarder I haven't deleted much which Ive shot so far, quickly on the way to filling up a 1tb drive with my gopro shots. I haven't really used R4 diving yet mainly due to the vignetting given even with the EOM housing.

Main reason I use R3 is that the footage seems to come out much smoother then R5 if you move the camera around much. But 60P isn't supported on any video sharing sites so its only good for viewing on a hdtv through USB but it does look very smooth in original format. Down-converting it to 30P still looks better then 1080p at 30P even r4 and r2 looks much less jittery then r5 imho as the gopro seems to struggle processing any fast movement in the full 1080P mode.

R4 is 1280x960 R2,R3 is 1280x720p and I prefer the stock widescreen format rather then the tall R4 mode which leaves black bars on the side of the video.

Here is some underwater footage using the EOM housing shot in R3 uncropped down-converted to 30P for YouTube.



Here is R5 I was very cautious to try and keep the cam still here this was actually my first test dive with my gopro.

 

[blurryfix]

Hey good news for all of you looking for a high quality fix for Go Pro. Our company plans on hitting the market with an anodized aluminum bolt on with high quality optic glass. The parts will be available late May early June. I was hoping to get some feedback on this topic and get an idea of how many to manufacture. I will post photos and more instructions on where to purchase soon but for now all I can say is it rocks and we can't wait to get it to you.

 

[TSwain]

Hey good news for all of you looking for a high quality fix for Go Pro. Our company plans on hitting the market with an anodized aluminum bolt on with high quality optic glass. The parts will be available late May early June. I was hoping to get some feedback on this topic and get an idea of how many to manufacture. I will post photos and more instructions on where to purchase soon but for now all I can say is it rocks and we can't wait to get it to you.

I may be interested in one. Do you know about how much it may cost and will it work in all modes? I shoot a lot in the 720p settings due to the wider angle view.
Thanks.

 

[pwscottiv]

Hey good news for all of you looking for a high quality fix for Go Pro. Our company plans on hitting the market with an anodized aluminum bolt on with high quality optic glass. The parts will be available late May early June. I was hoping to get some feedback on this topic and get an idea of how many to manufacture. I will post photos and more instructions on where to purchase soon but for now all I can say is it rocks and we can't wait to get it to you.

Let me know when you have these available for sale... I'll want 4 of them.

 

[blurryfix]

I sure will. We plan on releasing some info on it soon and should have them for sale within the next few weeks.