What will I be disappointed with a GoPro 3?

[fdarden]

For comparison here is video I shot with the HERO3 Black edition. What they are saying about battery life is true, however generally speaking it will survive a single dive. The LCD Backpack of course makes it worse. There is a 3rd party battery solution available for the HERO3 from Wasabi. I recommend that as well. I have had major issues with the LCD backpack locking up my camera, but GoPro is working to resolve these issues and have been very good about it so far. The LCD Backpack introduces significant heat, so fogging in the winter can be a problem. Also, you must have a red filter solution of course for anything shot above say 100 ft or so. On that note, I strongly recommend against a plastic red filter. Instead get the SRP BLURFIX3 Adapter, and their URPro CYAN 55 MM lens.

This video was shot without lights in the afternoon in about 70' of water. It was shot using the HERO3 Black Edition, and the SRP URPro glass filter.
Turtle has killer Buoyancy control - YouTube

 

[Interceptor121]

On that note, I strongly recommend against a plastic red filter. Instead get the SRP BLURFIX3 Adapter, and their URPro CYAN 55 MM lens.

This video was shot without lights in the afternoon in about 70' of water. It was shot using the HERO3 Black Edition, and the SRP URPro glass filter.

Why would that be? UR/PRo produces glass filter for thread mounts and plastic push up sold through ikelite I have never heard of any quality differences also Plastic doesn't crack and I general is more in keeping with the action nature of the gopro

 

[Gombessa]

A gopro hero3 set up costs
...
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 think it all depends on what you want to do. It's pretty clear that the camera itself can be the lowest cost component in a video rig, and the more $$ you pile into housings, filters, trays and especially video lights, the more insignificant the cost of the camera, be it a $400 GoPro or $600 P&S + housing. If you're really looking to maximize video quality or manual controls, it's hard to beat a bigger sensor, faster lens, etc. But if you're looking for unprecedented ready-to-dive cost, tiny size/weight, and mounting/composition options, action cams like the GP are really hard to beat, and Marty and others show that you can still get some phenomenal improvement with some smart lighting/filter add-ons.

A few years ago, I put together an "inexpensive" video setup with a Flip Ultra HD. I basically wanted something wide and a housing good to >120ft, and it ended up being ~$600 (camera + housing + wide lens) in a fairly small package. All of that is now replaced with a H3B that's even wider view, better video quality, and tiny/neutral in the water, making it easy to mount on a variety of rigs. All I'm really giving up is the LCD, which IMO isn't a big deal if shooting in wide mode. For me, that's a huge win.

 

[Interceptor121]

Once you spend over 2000$ and have lights to use you have given up the ready to go as the lights for example are not just on and off
So once you pass the limit you may as well take onboard better set up
Bearing in mind that other than white balance video with a compact is the same as with a gopro

 

[poidog]

What about the Hero3 Silver? All the talk has been around the Black version, because it has the new processor, but will the Silver still deliver on ultra crisp HD shooting at 1080? I got the Silver and have been playing with it for a few days, but all the talk only focusing on the Black I'm worried about my purchase. I won't be out diving for at least another month, past the return policy.

 

[Gombessa]

Bearing in mind that other than white balance video with a compact is the same as with a gopro

I've never shot a dedicated video/DSLR rig underwater, so I don't have firsthand experience with what is missing from a full setup. But even PS has additional benefits including larger sensor size, faster lenses, zoom/macro capability, manual controls, optical image stabilization, higher ISO modes, etc.

Give all that, in my first few weeks with the Hero3, I agree that quality-wise, the GoPro is much more similar than lacking, and for me it's close to an ideal platform.

 

[Interceptor121]

Gopro hero3 silver is similar to hero2 hd
Actually hero2 has glass lens hero3 silver plastic a step back

 

[Marty Cerven]

What about the Hero3 Silver? All the talk has been around the Black version, because it has the new processor, but will the Silver still deliver on ultra crisp HD shooting at 1080? I got the Silver and have been playing with it for a few days, but all the talk only focusing on the Black I'm worried about my purchase. I won't be out diving for at least another month, past the return policy.

I haven't used or seen a silver, it is an updated hero2 as said above but smaller and with built in WiFi. If it has Cam Raw option within protune I think this would make it a worthwhile upgrade over the hero2 for underwater use as this is the one feature I find the biggest improvement over the hero2 in the 3 black. I also like the 1080p60 and 2.7k30 modes which arent in the 2 and silver but overall for underwater cam raw is the biggest advanced IMHO. I was skeptical at first but now that I have used it I wouldnt use any other WB option underwater unless by mistake or to show a comparison between the 2 which I intend to at some point.

Regular modes or auto white balance in the hero3 is pretty much the same as the 2 and infact this was probably the best in the hero1 for underwater which tends to do the best job in auto still against the 2 newer models I think in terms of WB. The hero2 and hero3 in auto tend to go green in lower light in auto without a filter very shallow, with a filter helps quite a bit for both but at depth or low vis even a filter is losing the battle against the green out video.

In very good light and vis the auto wb does ok with a filter mostly, still goes green without quickly but changes in lighting have big wb shifts too and you may struggle to get footage back shot in those modes. Overall the silver should perform similar to the hero2, with PT on it does also get quite a lot noisier then the 3 black and narrow mode in 1080p is not that great but the other 2 are pretty good. You can correct for the noise in post if needed as this is what the in cam noise reduction does anyway but just gives you control over it.

Battery life will also be better on the silver then black if thats a big concern to other but I am finding it just enough for my needs in the black.

Gopro hero3 silver is similar to hero2 hd
Actually hero2 has glass lens hero3 silver plastic a step back

Which lens is Plastic? the housing or camera lens? I havent seen a silver but would be shocked if it came with a plastic lens and the housing lens is glass as it will be the same housing as the black which is definitely glass 99.9999% sure at least.

 

[Interceptor121]

Marty the camera lens on the White and Silver edition 3 are plastic only the black is glass

On the hero 2 the camera lens was glass

I am not an advocate of load of manipulation in post processing the whole idea is that the gopro is easy to use if then you have to spend 10x the time you spend with another camera to do normal edits than it is not that much fun anymore

The hero2 takes fine entry level quality footage in the conditions that are suited for it, when you push it the camera shows its limits but then I think it is time to look at different options

 

[Marty Cerven]

I didnt know that about the silver and white lenses, strange choice I think if thats the case.

The post work is pretty simple to be honest and takes only a few more minutes to do, I will post a little tutorial of the workflow I use hopefully before I go away if I get around to it otherwise it will be next month some time. The advantage of this method is you just shoot underwater and do the adjustments in post, with the free gopro software with just a few clicks on the sliders is all it takes, you can push it further with more advanced software but having such simple post control over the image and WB using active metadata in cineform for free is really pretty handy.

Some people may be scared of it but I think its simple enough anyone could do it in no time, the end results are well worth it especially if your not diving in perfect conditions where the camera on its own really tends to struggle. We do get quite a bit of that here too so Im looking forward to some tropical diving soon lol.