GoPro Settings

[spearmint]

Hi Guys

Ive got a Hero 2 and updated the software but in our usual 4m-5m viz on the Durban coast, everyting looks really greenish and fish that are only 4m's away are often not even visible when you play back the footage.

In super clean water at Vidal for example, its a different story. Does anyone have any advice on the best setting for our local conditions. I know that some guys have managed to get some great footage (Brod for exmple) but i also know that much of this footage was taken with expensive camera's in proper housings.

Maybe we could get a reference guide going here for the various models?

As i said my main concern here is in the low light, low viz stuff..

 

[Mariusvj]

Speak to Warrick ( spelt like that ) at Adtion Gear, fomerly Action Cameras they supply a little red filter and a flat lens for the gopro and he would know about the settings too.

Share what he tells you please.

 

[Mariusvj]

Speak to Warrick ( spelt like that ) at Action Gear, fomerly Action Cameras they supply a little red filter and a flat lens for the gopro and he would know about the settings too.

Share what he tells you please.

 

[spearmint]

Thanks! I already have the underwater housing with the flat lense etc... This is just for the actual best settings... :thankie

 

[landshark]

Hiya spearmint,

I also use the Hero2 and yes, unfortunately the low light performance isn't great.
A dive buddy of mine uses the new Hero3 black and I must say in really dark situations it's MUCH better than my Hero2.

In saying that much of the footage I get is usable and I recently bought some filters and they seem to make a markable difference.  

http://www.polarprofilters.com/product-category/snap-on-dive-filters/

Have a look here for recent dive I did at Cape Point to give you an idea of what the filter does. https://vimeo.com/68639072. I used the magneto filter in that specific movie.

You have to keep in mind that the video is heavily compressed for web usage however the colours still look much better than without the filter. Red Romans actually come out Red instead of brown. If you have a look at the last image in the first post here: http://www.boatfishing.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=77&t=251 it was shot without a filter you can hardly make out the Roman.

The only downside with this specific brand is the filter is plastic and after only a few dives I have already put an ugly scratch right in the middle of the lens. Also, as they snap on over the the flat lens, bubbles sometimes get trapped between the lens and the filter.

 

[Asher]

Nice Vid.
What FOV do you use? I find when I use the wide angle it is more forgiving when using the head mount, but it makes a 10kg Couta look like a sardine, also a huge Zambezi looks like a tadpole.
Another thing I have found is that the slower frame rate is better in low light conditions.

 

[landshark]

Thanks.

I use the standard 170[sup]o[/sup] FOV and agree, unless you are really up close it makes the fish seem small.

I've experimented with a gun mount, but find I miss too much action this way. I think the ideal is a combination of gun and head-mount, iow two cameras. Getting both perspectives will make for some great viewing.

 

[Asher]

Its nice to use different perspectives, it makes for more exciting video.
The downside of the gun mount is that you have to point a loaded gun at your subject, so when filming dolphins, turtles or your dive buddy it looks so wrong
I've seen a little pistol grip handle you can get, so you can hold the Gopro in your free hand, it seems to work nicely, but it's another piece of equipment to worry about/lose on your dive.