To Go Pro or not to GO Pro

[scubajunky17]

HI All,
I always do a couple of dive trips a year to some pretty cool places and though I have messed with a camera before and it kind of spoiled my diving I have been very impressed with the Go Pro and its ease of use.
So basically would the Go Pro be the one to get ? if so which version would be recommended ? if not which video camera would be a good alternative.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I think it has become the standard due to very good marketing. I did have one, the Hero2, laying in the bottom of Angelita, a cenote in the Yucatan. I am planning on getting the Hero3 black edition package. I'd be curious to learn what different setups people are using. I do shoot a G15 which does have very good video capability, but it is a pain to switch back and forth, and I'd like the GoPro for recording entire dives.

 

[hellhole]

The newer camera have a dedicated video button. Models like the g16 and rx100.

The Gopro is really easy to use. It's certainly IMO not buy and shoot, but it's no pain.

U will need the following to start after getting the Gopro.

Extra batteries - u need 2 more plus the one included in the gopro
External battery charger - this charges the extra batteries that u have. Leaving your Gopro free for shooting videos! That's what it's for.
Micro sd card - at least 1 recommended 64GB card. From Gopro recommended list.
A laptop - at least with 100GB free space. 64GB can take about 4 hours of video. 1 week of diving with 2 dives per day... Well... U do the math...
Filter And lights - by far the most important. Good filter and at least 1200k lights. It's not either or. It's filters and lights!
Others - LCD backpac. Mounts u use when diving. Etc
LCD is useful when diving. Esp if u are just starting. Then we have the choice of how u want to dive with the Gopro. Mount on head, mount on wrist, on a pole. Extendable. Non extendable.

Have fun...

 

[Mike]

If you want to document your dives, stick it on your head etc... then it's a great camera for that, hard to beat.

If you want to make videos and you have financial means to spend a little more and get a lot more, then no, too many limitations for me.

 

[scubajunky17]

Thanks, so which edition would you get ? Which filters and lights do I need ? do you have any links please ? thanks so much for helping out.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Black edition is best IMO. Better low light capability. As far as filters, there are quite a few to choose from depending on your budget.

SRP: Shop
Polar Pro: GoPro Accessories - Filters, Lenses, & Microphones | GoPro Camera Accessories
Backscatter: FLIP3.1 Underwater Color Correction System with DIVE Filter for GoPro Hero3 & Hero3+

Lights are optional. Only necessary in dark areas and/or with no filter. You would want to use a VIDEO light, not a regular torch.

 

[oneshotshooter]

go pro 3 + black. I now have 2, one I wear on a head strap ( add a bungee diy chin strap so I don't lose it) and the other I have on a custom prototype monopod! I love them!

 

[phoenix31tt]

I'm using GoPro Hero 3 + along with the srp tray arms and filters... with archon d11v lights... loving the results so far

 

[scubajunky17]

I would be doing mostly tropical diving so could get away with no lights. Is the black vastly superior to the white and silver models ? could the silver be a good compromise between the two ? I am into shooting video, not really into taking pictures, besides I can take stills from the video.
Thanks in advance

 

[Scubanoobi]

I have a GoPro H3 Black and a Canon G15 for underwater video, I've given up on the G15 simply because it's a pain to use (exposure/WB/Zoom/Focus/white card), I don't enjoy my dives nearly as much. The gopro you can stick on a pole, tray, head mount and it's one button to worry about.

If you can do colour correction in post and use Protune/Camraw with a filter you can get some pretty impressive results (youtube "Protune Camraw Scuba").

Also, they are pretty cheap to replace if you had a flooding (compared to a bigger system). I love mine.