What will I be disappointed with a GoPro 3?

[Interceptor121]

We are saying the same thing. At the low end nobody beats a gopro however you cannot do miracles with it.
If you want the ability to shoot difference scenes and have better quality image you need to spend money.
So step one is the gopro that once you add all extras actually costs $550 for a hero2
The next step to do some macro is at more than double the price around $1200 for something like an Olympus TG-1 with an epoque 1000 lumens and a wide angle
An LX7 with two solas 1200 and a dome plus a wide costs $2600 with an ike housing
I am not sure how to measure the value of being able to shoot different things at higher quality and if that is worth more or less than $650 for some people it is not for others it is, it depends entirely on what kind of interests you have and how much money you have
However to say that something that is lower quality compares to something that is clearly better and is not worth spending the money because you don't have it or don't want to spend it does not mean that the two options are really comparable, this is highly subjective but again the question was what would I be disappointed with a gopro requires an honest assessment of that a gopro set up does better
I think backscatter who produce an housing and filter for the gopro have nailed it down

The GoPro is a great system for the novice shooter who wants to start taking video and pictures underwater, and doesn't want to fuss with settings or lugging a bulky system around...The Magic Filter can help restore color to your footage at depths of 5-30 feet, but below that, a light is essential equipment.
Pros
Most inexpensive underwater HD camera system on the market today
Wide angle lens a standard feature
Magic Filter restores color and contrast in the right conditions 5-30 feet


Cons
No manual controls
No ability to connect a strobe* not relevant to our purposes

Video quality not as good compared to higher end cameras, especially in low light

 

[Marty Cerven]

I think the Hero 3 black is much better underwater camera then the hero2, and this is $399 ready to dive. You can get the SRP Blurfix3 and URPro dome cyan filter for $77, sure a tray, lights and filters are also handy but these are an extra needed with whichever setup your going for above the camera, lens and housing costs, which is basically what I was getting at with price comparisons.

If your also talking about other cameras then I think its best comparing the latest or at least current models. If going the hero2 option you can pick up a cheap deal on them somewhere as they are run-out models but otherwise I think someone would be much better off getting the updated hero 3 silver at $299, that comes with a flat lens dive housing so no need to spend $550 on a hero2 setup. LX7 is $500 ikelite housing is $550 and that doesnt include a wide angle lens or a macro lens so without those it cant really do either. So you need to add them on to the cost and I could see why someone would go the $399 setup instead even without the better macro option.

Sure going higher end will give you better quality and Id love to be shooting high end cinema cameras underwater with 10,000 lumens but I cant justify the cost for a hobby or even afford it if I could lol, also the size would be very awkward to use underwater and not something you'd be taking down every dive just for a bit of fun which is what a hobby is meant to be.

The higher end compacts, DSLR's, camcorders all have their place and its great to have a choice but not everyone wants a larger setup or can afford it. People shooting video just as a hobby like me will get lots of enjoyment from a gopro and other smaller setups.

There are drawbacks to all systems but expectations should be also related to price, I think at $399 the hero3 black will go well beyond most peoples expectations at that price point. Other cameras at higher price points may just match expectations even though some of these mid end cameras are now also punching well above their weight. Some compacts and mirror-less setups are offering a challenge to camera's in the semi pro class from within the consumer segment. Technology is moving ahead and lower cost setups are catching up to the higher end cameras with obvious limitations but the top end hasn't got as much room to improve as the lower end does.

 

[Interceptor121]

Marty opportunities for improvement are for all ranges don't forget that cameras need optics not just CPU power
Horses for course they say one thing worries me about the Hero3 is the short battery life
To me something that can't do a double tank (not necessarily always on) is a no go and for this reason I still advice people to get an Hero2
Maybe somewhere else you can post your impressions on battery life but a single dive is a no go for me not just for the gopro but also for other set ups I never recommend cameras with CIPA rating less than 220 for video

 

[scuba andy]

Sony have brought out their version of the GP called sony action cam. It has got a scuba lens as an accessory. http://www.sony.co.uk/product/cac-other-accessories/aka-rd1

It has vid and photo quality to GP2, arguably similar quality to GP3 but has too much colour saturation (though some people actually like this). Its a lot cheaper than GP3. Sony have promised plenty of future support for it. Battery life is supposed to be incredible.


Check youtube for comparison videos between GP2, GP3 and Sony Action Cam. Loads of such vids. I checked a whole bunch and though most vid buffs reckon GP3 is better quality because of colour saturation, I decided on the action cam as I like the vastly improved battery time and to my eyes similar vid quality to GP3.

Check this out:
[video=youtube;wBHQ3l1GNCQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wBHQ3l1GNCQ[/video]

 

[Mike]

The only GoPro I would be considering purchasing is the Hero3 Black.

1) Some have brought up the battery life issue. Can anyone expand on this? This camera has a built in battery doesn't it? Is it not possible to buy a 2nd battery to change out between dives? I'm having a bad feeling of a vision of being in Bonaire doing a couple of 90 minute shore dives with a dead camera.

2) I'm pretty positive I will be purchasing some lights to use with the video camera, it almost sounds like the concensus is with the Gopro3 don't bother buying lights for it, is this correct? Why again would you not buy some nice powerful video lights to use with it?

3) How big is the next recommended camera system like the Panasonic with housing compared to the GoPro? I really just want to avoid a big Tundra case, I'm really a whiny girly man on this point, I'm just over it when it comes to hauling all this crap around on dive trips. I'm 10 years into diving and I still don't own a BCD of my own because I'm just phobic about hauling all this stuff.

 

[Interceptor121]

I have a GoPro Hero2 because of the battery life issue (my standards are if it does not do two dives don't bother) currently am not thinking of getting the Hero3
[youtubehq]P_rVF8PzMig[/youtubehq]
This fella has measured around 1h36 with a hero3 black versus 2h04 with a Hero2.
In CIPA terms Hero3 CIPA 192 Hero2 CIPA 248
If you add playing around with it and the additional draw of the LCD backpack you are looking at dropping another 40 so 150 for the Hero3 and 200 for the Hero2
For me CIPA 200 is the absolute minimum for a double tank
For Bonaire long shore dives you can replace the battery between dives so I do not think it will be an issue

With the conditions usually in Bonaire and the dives not to deep I would definitely get a filter but wouldn't bother buying lights

Get yourself a good tray like an ultralight double and two handles as the setup is so tiny is near to impossible to have stable footage on a pole or wrist

Have fun

 

[Marty Cerven]

The only GoPro I would be considering purchasing is the Hero3 Black.

1) Some have brought up the battery life issue. Can anyone expand on this? This camera has a built in battery doesn't it? Is it not possible to buy a 2nd battery to change out between dives? I'm having a bad feeling of a vision of being in Bonaire doing a couple of 90 minute shore dives with a dead camera.

Battery life is one of the main issues of the new 3 Black, the main drawback is that you can get a batt bacpac which allows you extended battery life but it cant be use at the same time as the LCD screen. If not going to use the LCD then the batt bacpac is a good option. These times below are constant recording times so you should be able to do a couple dives with that. If using the LCD screen a single 90 minute dive is about all your going to get out of one battery and thats what I have been doing lately.

I guess now that I mentioned these you need to price a batt bacpac or LCD into your total price so it will push up the price. I really dont see why they had to make the camera so tiny as a bigger battery I would have found more usefull then the thinner profile. The hero 3's with a bacpac are the same size as the hero1 or 2 with no bacpac.

Seeing as this is one of the main negatives of the 3 black I will repost my battery life tests here. If I get some more time I will try and add some more tests to this.

HD3b firmware HD3.03.01.09

no bacpac wifi off 2.7k30T PT ON cam raw video test 1h14m.25s 23.4GB

Batt Bacpac wifi off 2.7k30T PT ON cam raw video test 1h49m.43s 35.9GB

LCD bacpac wifi off 2.7k30T PT ON cam raw video test 0h56m.50s 17.9GB


Batt Bacpac wifi off 1080p30n pt off video+photo @ 5 sec 3h18m.27s 27.8GB + 2,379 photos 867MB

no bacpac wifi off 1080p30n pt off video+photo @ 5 sec 1h56m.32s 23.4GB + 1,377 photos 368MB

LCD bacpac wifi off 1080p30n pt off video+photo @5 sec 1h18m.55s 11.0GB + 944 photos 297MB

no bacpac WiFi On 1080p30w pt off video test 1h28m.44s 12.4GB

no bacpac wifi off 1080p30w pt off video test 1h33m.35s 13.1GB

no bacpac wifi off 1080p30Tw PT ON video test 1h31m.18s 22.3GB

Batt Bacpac WiFi On 1080p30w pt off video test 2h37m.35s 22.1GB


no bacpac wifi off 1080p60w pt off video test 1h10m.47s 14.8GB

no bacpac wifi off 1080p60m pt off video test 1h10m.59s 14.9GB

no bacpac wifi off 1080p60n pt off video test 1h22m.59s 17.9GB

2) I'm pretty positive I will be purchasing some lights to use with the video camera, it almost sounds like the concensus is with the Gopro3 don't bother buying lights for it, is this correct? Why again would you not buy some nice powerful video lights to use with it?

Lights are well worth it for night diving or close up shots, this I find combined with some close up filters to bring focus in closer to the camera works well. I have a pair of Sola 500 photo's which would be the minimum but 1200's are more useable for sure especially for daylight use. Not sure if you need that much light on a night dive as it will scare off fish too but its easy to reduce lumens if needed and go full power at other times. Ive not done a proper night dive with a hero3 yet, daylight savings means youd need to jump in close to 10pm for proper dark dives atm. Here is one at sunset with the 3 black and my lights.

Edges are a bit soft in parts as I had some fogging inside the housing on this dive at times but show what my lights do at near dark, it looks much brighter on the video then it was and when we came out it was pretty much dark but doesnt look it on the video.

[video=youtube;DjiUWNT_oqU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjiUWNT_oqU[/video]

 

[Mike]

Awesome battery info, thanks.

What are those fished called at 2:05 ?

I have to ask, but is that the sharpest video quality that the GoPro will produce? It just seems soft to me.

 

[flareside]

...This camera has a built in battery doesn't it? Is it not possible to buy a 2nd battery to change out between dives? I'm having a bad feeling of a vision of being in Bonaire doing a couple of 90 minute shore dives with a dead camera.

Yes, you can get additional batteries and stand alone chargers have finally come to market so charged batteries are not a problem. The issue is opening the case to change batteries between dives without allowing excess humidity inside. Not something that cannot be overcome but will require extra precautions to prevent fogging.

 

[Interceptor121]

You need a charged spare battery for each dive if you can't recharge
I have wasabi batteries and they do slightly better than original gopro however I don't have a heto3 to test I guess you can extrapolate though
Still it could go from 78 to max 85' and besides you don't have the camera on all the time
A gopro hero3 set up costs
Camera $399
LCD backpack $79
Ultralight double tray with handles $95
Srp Filter $77
Total $650
Plus additional batteries and memory cards the hero3 takes only MicroSD so all your camera cards can't be recycled this is another additional cost to be factored in
Additional sola 1200 plus DIY locline arms $1460
I would not even bother getting two sola 1200 for a gopro as for 650+1460=2110 very near to the same lights and a panasonic lx7 in ikelite housing with a dome ($2560) but also as the lx7 works better in low light you can downgrade to sola 800 and spend 2160
Would you buy a gopro with two sola 1200 for 2110 or a lumix lx7 with two sola 800 for the same price??? Uhm I think I know what I would do