GoPro question

[diver dave1 23]

I know nothing of video work except for watching some great work on this site. Hoping for some guidance.

I am considering adding a GoPro 2 to my Nexus D90 housing to take video at times. Based on reading here, I would be getting a Blurfix lens and 2 color correction filters - for shallow and a bit deeper dives.

 

The first primary goal is video sailfish while snorkeling with them near Mexico. I would not be using any video lights, just the sun.

The vid's would be for showing folks back home what I was seeing, showing the local dive club on sharing night, etc.

I presume I can get a threaded ball into the bottom of the GoPro housing and ULCS clamp it to the D90 housing.

Since I would be near/at the surface for the sailfish, I was considering putting the GoPro on the bottom of the Nexus housing. The nexus has 3 threaded holes on the bottom. So the GoPro housing would be inverted.

 

I currently have no software for video work. I use Lightroom and Photoshop for still's. Looking to suggestions on free or very low priced software for putting portions together.

 

Any recommendations on this approach and equipment?

Anything I should read for learning?

[jcclink 8]

Look at the ULCS GoPro Cage system.

 

http://www.ulcs.com/

 

I use it to mount my GoPro on top of the left housing handle on my Nexus D300. Works great. Just have be careful where camera is pointed. My initial tendency was to aim a bit too high. LCD back really helps in this regard, but it drains the battery - about 60min vs 120min. Not sure how convenient it would be mounting on bottom of housing. The Cage is a lot stronger mount than using the twin plastic tabs on the bottom of the GoPro housing. Condensation may be more likely with the LCD back, as more heat is generated by the camera system.

Edited May 1, 2012 by jcclink

[peterbkk 110]

Any recommendations on this approach and equipment?

Anything I should read for learning?

 

Great book: High Definition Underwater Video by the aptly named Steven Fish. Can buy via www.fishtalespress.com

 

The main problem with the stuff I've seen shot on GoPro is stability. There is a tendency just to "point and shoot". End result: seasick audience.

 

My suggestion: mount it on your housing then practice in a swimming pool. Practice stable shooting. Practice tracking a subject. Be specially carefully of what pilots call the pitch axis as this is the hardest to get right with normal photo housings.

 

 

The GoPro needs LOTS of light. Should be OK near the surface on a sunny day.

 

The GoPro has a very wide-angle. Will need to mount it well forward to keep bits of the camera housing out of the image.

 

Regards

Peter

Edited May 1, 2012 by peterbkk

[Drew 0]

I know nothing of video work except for watching some great work on this site. Hoping for some guidance.

I am considering adding a GoPro 2 to my Nexus D90 housing to take video at times. Based on reading here, I would be getting a Blurfix lens and 2 color correction filters - for shallow and a bit deeper dives.

 

The first primary goal is video sailfish while snorkeling with them near Mexico. I would not be using any video lights, just the sun.

The vid's would be for showing folks back home what I was seeing, showing the local dive club on sharing night, etc.

I presume I can get a threaded ball into the bottom of the GoPro housing and ULCS clamp it to the D90 housing.

Since I would be near/at the surface for the sailfish, I was considering putting the GoPro on the bottom of the Nexus housing. The nexus has 3 threaded holes on the bottom. So the GoPro housing would be inverted.

 

I currently have no software for video work. I use Lightroom and Photoshop for still's. Looking to suggestions on free or very low priced software for putting portions together.

 

Any recommendations on this approach and equipment?

Anything I should read for learning?

 

The GPH2 is a nice little camera. I would attach the GP2 on top of the housing center hole (if there is one) with a float arm that extends to the edge of your dome shade. This can help a bit with balance issues, but it depends on your rig. I'd try to aim it so line of sight is parallel to your other camera. It also allows you to shoot clean video without getting your housing in the way.

As for GH2 settings: I would use (wide) @ 720p60fps for the sail fish. The resolution is less, but the motion of the attack will be smoother. 1080p30 is the 2nd choice setting. Wide mode will allow you to capture everything with a FOV of 120+°.

Remember GP2 aren't the most powerful sensors so try not to point right at the sun. Just keep it in good light and it does wonders!

[diver dave1 23]

Thanks for the comments so far. This is exactly the kind of info I need.

The Nexus has good place on the front of the housing for adding a ball, which I generally use for focus lights. Sounds like the right place to locate the GoPro on the sailfish snorkel. It would be quite close to the dome port and fairly easy to align it with my port shade. The plate that comes standard in that location is plastic but I replaced my with machined aluminum coated with galvanized paint. Provides better metal threads than the original plastic plate. There is no center hole present on top of the housing. I will have to figure something else out when diving with strobes + focus light.

 

Using (wide) @ 720p60fps is advice I really need since I really know nothing on this topic so far.

I checked the ULCS frame and that seems really interesting for use and I expect to get it. But now I have to decide...with or without the viewscreen. Would love to have it...want the longer running time without it. Its never quite easy, is it?

[Drew 0]

I wouldn't bother with the monitor. Once you line up the camera to the camera line of sight, it's pretty much the same thing as your DSLR viewfinder.

 

You can use a float arm from the handle, just tighten it down so it can't move easily and is actually resting on the dome hood. If you want to be sure, duct tape it to the dome port as well. Then it won't move. The most movement you'll get is when ingress into water, so get in the water and make sure it lines up.

[ChrigelKarrer 52]

I have the GoPro Hero 2 and have some remarks from my experience:

some of them you already know, some maybe not:

1° The GoPro Hero 2 is useless with the included housing, a flat lens IS required to get sharp images

I use sucessful the Snake River prototyping flat lens

2° The GPH2 is heating up too much and start to fog after 15 Minutes recording and blowing the housing with dried air from a scuba tank.

I use the camere here in Costa Rica with 26-30° Celsius warm water and she fog badly after about 15 Minutes of non-stop recording.

You will need to use the special dry bags/stripes and probably still switch it off when not recording, thats what i do as i can't get the dry packs here.

3° The camera have a automatic white balance and i found no way to switch it off or do it manually.

In the rather greenish water here in Costa Rica the automatic white balance change the color to a radioactive venomous green.

I will e back home end of May and use her in the clear blue mediterranean waters and post a update how she's going

In any case, the white balance should be fine on surface and shallow dives where the OP wanted to use the camera.

4° I tested the camera down to 102 ft and had no issues with the original housing and the Snake River prototyping flat lens.

The only thing o mention is that the latch become loose when the back door is squeezed shut from the water pressure but the locking

mechanism avoid that it snap open during ascending.

5° i would definitively buy the back monitor as the micro screen on the front is difficult to read and sometimes it happen to me to misinterpret

what's written and it helps to point the camera and too see what you are filming avoiding bad surprises after the dive.

Even of i mount the camera on my DSLR housing i would prefer that i see what i am filming

The back monitor maybe produces more heat making the fogging problem worst, but i am not sure about that.

6° I had some issues with charging the battery in the beginning and it seems that the problem was a weak USB port on my laptop,

after i used the 2A USB Charger for my Tablet the problem disappeared. It may be also that the battery needed a break in period?

 

I love this camera for it's size and i have it always with me to capture the encounters usually happening when i am diving without a camera

 

Chris

[Drew 0]

Chris, have you tried the green water filter? It does a decent job but limits depth due to noise.

[ChrigelKarrer 52]

Chris, have you tried the green water filter? It does a decent job but limits depth due to noise.

 

Drew,

no i did not as i don't have it but it as far ia i heard to work good if not deep or low light conditions.

Unfortunately the green water limit also viz so the quality is not very good.

Have a look here: http://youtu.be/vbKjBsAjdXY

I recorded this video a few days ago 100ft deep with good viz (30ft), no lights and no filter.

I just made a software color correction and a slight gain in contrast.

I am very excited to try the GoPro back home in Sardinia where the conditions are much much better than here in Costa Rica.

I am sure that the GoPro with lights can do nice pictures and i just bought 2 used mangrove 4000 lumen video lights, but my use

for this camera is a always with me camera, for better videos i will use my D7000 with the 2 mangrove lights.

Chris

[ATJ 1]

I have a GoPro mounted on my DSLR rig and that works quite well (when I remember to use it*). I have the LCD and after using it for a few months would definitely not consider or recommend not using the LCD. It is the only way to make sure you have it pointing in the right direction.

 

I have an Ikelite rig and I made a horizontal PVC "handle" that goes between the two grips for the housing. I've had this for some years which makes it easier to hand the housing to people on boats, etc. When I got the GoPro I just made an aluminium bracket that fits the PVC "handle" and allows me to adjust the height of the GoPro. In practice it is very easy to use.

 

* I say "when I remember" as often realise when it is too late that I could have used it. For example, on the weekend I spent nearly 40 minutes of a 60 minute dive swimming around with a 2m+ grey nurse shark trying to get still photos (which didn't turn out well because of all the particulate matter in the water). I could have taken some pretty good footage with the GoPro if I'd thought about it at the time.

[Pete L 48]

Don't feel bad andrew, hindsight is a wonderful thing....

Cheers Pete.