Olympus XZ-2

[krame]

The op is coming from a gopro and looking at something under $1,000 judging at the options he mentions. For you $3,500 is entry level for him seems not.

Nailed it.

I dive in crappy water, I'm only one that watches my video, so I'm not going to spend thousands of dollars on a hobby of a hobby.

I'm even considering getting a used nex-5n with a meikon case, all for less than the price of a new Gopro.

I hear so much about the terrible macro and wide angle capabilities, but I have no idea what everyone's idea of bad really is.

Could someone with a RX100II, take as close of a picture of a quarter and post it? I don't need a true 1:1 macro, but I would like a decent close up. Maybe I don't need the extras.

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[Interceptor121]

I would think a Panasonic LX7 with wetmate would cover 95% of your shooting situations maybe 100%
The out of the box close up performance of this camera is incredible check this out
Underwater Video Tips: Using 24mm Compact Cameras | Interceptor121 Underwater Photo & Video Blog
Sony RX100 ? Tips for Underwater Video Part 7 ? Macro Shots | Interceptor121 Underwater Photo & Video Blog
The RX100 without close up lens has a fairly wide capture area of 76x51 mm vs 29x19mm for the LX7. So the LX7 achieves macro out of the box (not practical as you need to be on top of the subject) so the RX100 out of the box is good for potraits but even a nudibranch looks tiny

 

[fbk]

Coming from a GoPro to LX7 I totally agree with the above. The LX7 in Nauticam housing with wetmate is a brilliant package for $1500. My previous camera was an XZ1 that I still have, great little camera for stills but video is utterly useless. Presumably the XZ2 is a bit better for video (it can't be any worse) but it won't come close to the LX7.

 

[krame]

Any thoughts on the Sony nex 5n with the 18-55 kit lens?

I'm all but sold on the Lx7, but if the Nex platform can still provide comparable video, it's a cheaper option yet.

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[Interceptor121]

18-55 lens means 27mm equivalent to 82.5 behind a flat port those become 35-110
so you will be quite far from your subjects and if you dive in poor visibility that means trouble
You would need a wetmate anyway but then you are left with a lens that is not wide enough and not good for macro

 

[krame]

Answers that. Lx7 it is.

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[Interceptor121]

Some reading for you

Panasonic LX7 | Interceptor121 Underwater Photo & Video Blog

 

[Foxtrot16]

Says who?

Me - these 'entry level cameras' are just that. They are made as still cameras with video capability but the real focus is on the still side of things.

And yes they do have great video but you have to determine what you want the video for - it you were doing a professional shoot then you may find the capabilities are a bit limited and having read what the Op has stated later on that it is only his viewing then these type of cameras would be almost ideal - not perfect - but would do the job.

TBH - in my opinion he would probably be better off sticking with the latest Go Pro Hero 3 as the capabilities of that camera are just as good - yes there are limitations - but you need to learn how to use the available equipment for the task at hand and spending money on something that might not do the job to his expectations is foolish.

I also saw an advert for the Contour 2 the other day - not sure if it is new or not - but it might also be worth looking at.

Karl

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Having used the GoPro and currently in the process of upgrading to an LX7, IMO if your just interested in simple wide angle video shooting with an extremely compact action camera then the GoPro can be suitable as an affordable solution. If you want to do more than just plain wide angle video, then the GoPro is simply not going to cut it. Additionally, the GoPros photo capability is mediocre at best. It's because of these limitations that I choose, with the help of Interceptor121, to step up to an compact camera based setup.

 

[fbk]

Additional considerations that influenced me to move from GoPro to compact were much better battery life, better LCD that you can use for more than 5 mins without killing the batteries, no need for red filters, zoom and macro capability, exposure and WB control, image stabilization, great still images, etc etc... you get all that out of the box in a camera that costs the same or less than a gopro. You do have to buy a housing but cost vs performance of the upgrade is well worth it UNLESS all you want to do is shoot wide angle video with a tiny set-and-forget camera, at which the Gopro clearly excels. Horses for courses.