GoPro HD lighting advice please.

[Rynds1 0]

My family has been asking me what its like to scuba dive for some time now, and some one suggested I buy a GoPro camera. I really liked that idea. I was planning on buying one of the HD GoPro's, and was going to use it on some ship wreck dives this summer. I was wondering if I could get watchable video without any lighting. I think some of the dives are in the great lakes, which is not always the clearest water. I just need some advice from anyone who has any experience with GoPros, or diving in the Great Lakes. Any reply would be appreciated, thanks.

 

Evan.

Edited June 7, 2012 by Rynds1

[Pete L 48]

Hi Evan,

If you are trying to shoot a wreck then you will need some serious lights. If it is shallow enough & clear water then a red filter would be fine. If the water is very dirty & dark then i would say yes to a set of lights.

There are a heap of different brands but you will need a set with a wide angle to cover the gopros wide lens.

Cheers Pete.

[Ferg42 13]

I agree with Pete. While the video from the GoPro is pretty good in clear shallow water with good sunlight, it quickly falls apart as the light drops. I've had passable images from them inside a wreck with a couple of 4000lumen lights, but even then a little Sony AVCHD camcorder produced a much cleaner image.

Given the bulk and cost of the lights, if it's mainly wrecks in poor viz you want to shoot, you might want to consider a different camera.

Edited June 8, 2012 by Ferg42

[Rynds1 0]

I agree with Pete. While the video from the GoPro is pretty good in clear shallow water with good sunlight, it quickly falls apart as the light drops. I've had passable images from them inside a wreck with a couple of 4000lumen lights, but even then a little Sony AVCHD camcorder produced a much cleaner image.

Given the bulk and cost of the lights, if it's mainly wrecks in poor viz you want to shoot, you might want to consider a different camera.

Alright that makes sense. What other cameras would you reccomend for what I am doing? My budget is not huge, id say somewhere between $100-200? Thanks for the reply.

[Pete L 48]

I don't think you would even buy a basic gopro for that money would you Evan?

Unfortunately $200 won't get you much to shoot video with.

Maybe try & find a second hand gopro & then save up for a good set of video lights. They come up for sale on the classifieds section occasionally so keep an eye on there.

Cheers Pete.