Underwater shooting

[azmyth]

For a scene on May 26th I planned to shoot some underwater shots in a lighted pool. Its a college frat pool party.. (The scenery is going to be awesome.. if you get my drift). I was originally going to buy a underwater housing for my GH2, but a friend of mine who has connections with the discovery channel suggested we use a GoPro for those shots and just cut them together with the GH2 footage. He's shipping me one as we speak..

I've never used a GoPro before, and was just curious if this was a good idea, and would I be able to match the footage? I love the idea of not putting my GH2 under water (since its my main camera), but I want it to look good.

[Erik Bien]

I personally wouldn't stress over "matching" the footage to the rest of the scene: as an underwater
shot, it's already going to look pretty different. If you don't like the fisheye perspective, there are ways to "rectilinearize" the footage in post — not perfectly, but probably more than good enough for an underwater insert shot.

[azmyth]

fisheye?

[Daniel Rutter]

The GoPro has an extremely wide lens. Youtube is the place to go if you want samples of the footage.

[cgbier]

Yes, but don't forget that the fisheye will be less pronounced underwater.

[Almohada]

(The scenery is going to be awesome.. if you get my drift)

Can't wait to see some stills from that shoot...

[Bif]

Go for the GoPro and don't worry about matching color or about wide perspective. Just use it and enjoy. Also I don't know if I would go the extra $80 or so for the little LCD for the back of it. I've read reports those "go out" pretty frequently.

Do quick review on location with a laptop (after drying the GoPro off good before opening to get the card out), so you can "get back in the water" if something doesn't go right.

And later on, this is one of the best cams to attach to the outside of a moving vehicle. If you keep the edits "tight" no one pays attention to the perspective.

Bruce Foreman

[azmyth]

I'm not buying one, a friend is shipping his to me from Washington to use for the shoot. I should get it a few weeks early to play with.

[Almohada]

Doesn't it have rolling shutter? Maybe you can make a rig... Take a noodle and make it into a square then put the cam in thr middle. It will float and you'll have handles to stabilize

[HD-tography]

I own an extensive GoPro Hero2 kit, and TRUST ME you won't be happy with the footage using the stock underwater housing... its really blurry! Don't bother unless you're willing to shell out an extra $100 on a flat lens modification to the housing, personally I own the SnakeRiver Prototyping One (below) and it's the best on the market by far! (Here Is A Comparison)

BTW This is a well known problem that GoPro will address later this year with a "proper" underwater flat lens housing.

Snake River Prototyping – BlurFix GoPro HD

[HD-tography]

[cgbier]

Thanks for that tip, HD. I actually wanted to wave my credit card towards GoPro next payday. I think I better wait for the improved model.

Uhm, what's that UV filter for? UV is about the least issue you'll encounter under water

[HD-tography]

Thanks for that tip, HD. I actually wanted to wave my credit card towards GoPro next payday. I think I better wait for the improved model.

Uhm, what's that UV filter for? UV is about the least issue you'll encounter under water

Don't get me wrong... the HERO2 is absolutely INCREDIBLE! And the FOV (field of view) adjustments now available (1080p/30fps only) instantly lets you shoot with it "out of the fishbowl" so to speak.

However, underwater REQUIRES a flat lens housing to get a sharp image is all, and the flat lens underwater housing from GoPro will be released later this year... until then the SnakeRiver mod is your best bet... the UV filter is just the standard clear filter used to create a flat surface needed underwater (also modified by SnakeRiver, shaved down to reduce vignetting).

Above water this camera is an absolute dream (and the image is incredibly sharp), provided lighting is not an issue that is (EG: daylight/outdoors)... in low light it is much improved from the first HERO, but it still suffers from the added gain in low light as could expected with the sensor size.

[Almohada]

in low light it is much improved from the first HERO, but it still suffers from the added gain in low light as could expected with the sensor size.

Neat Video a Neat Hero. Would've pulled my eyeballs out if I hadn't used it on my project.

[Janke]

Uhm, what's that UV filter for?

Seems like you need something to cover the hole in the enclosure...

[azmyth]

Seems like you need something to cover the hole in the enclosure...

So what would you guys suggest? skip the underwater stuff?

[Almohada]

The noodle could be an underwater fig rig

[cgbier]

As you don't have to pay for the cam, give it at least a try. Who knows - maybe you get the shots of your lifetime.

[HD-tography]

As you don't have to pay for the cam, give it at least a try. Who knows - maybe you get the shots of your lifetime.

Actually if you have the LCD backpack waterproof housing, a bit of foam to prevent the camera from shaking around and potentially scuffing the lens, you can get apparently good results from turning the camera around backwards... this however means pressing record, placing in the housing backwards, and towel drying the camera every time you need to start/stop recording

See DIY GoPro Hero Flat Lens

[Bif]

OK...A cheap point 'n shoot in an inexpensive clone of the Ewa Marine vinyl underwater enclosure with a flat glass port. Don't try anything like that with your GH2.

Something like this for starters:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...roof_Case.html

And here's a version I would consider. One of the illustrations shows something with a Micro Four Thirds 14-42 "kit" lens on it inside. Also this tip for ordering the right size bag for the camera model you plan to use:

"To find the correct size DiCAPac bag, go to <google "DiCAPac Fitting Guide"> (which does not show all the sizes available) and click on your camera brand (eg. Sony, Panasonic, etc). The left column in the resulting web page has the DiCAPac bag model to order on amazon and the second column has the exact camera models it fits. Do not guess at the bag model based on the camera dimensions!"

http://www.amazon.com/DiCAPac-WP610-...lp_edpp_ttl_in

You can take up the search from here but I think one of those "bags" and a cheap point 'n shoot is the safest way to go.

Bruce Foreman

[azmyth]

any recommendations for cheap point and shoot cameras that shoot 1080p?

[HD-tography]

any recommendations for cheap point and shoot cameras that shoot 1080p?

At 24fps?

Probably your best money to feature/quality ratio is last year's Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS (Full HD 1920 x 1080 at 24 fps) $184.95 Free Shipping USA

or the even cheaper Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS (Full HD 1920 x 1080 at 24 fps) $133.95 Free Shipping USA

or you can step up to last year's Canon PowerShot SX230 HS (Full HD 1920 x 1080 at 24 fps) $269.00 Free Shipping USA

or this year's newer version Canon PowerShot SX260 HS (Full HD 1920 x 1080 at 24 fps) 299.99 Free Shipping USA

[Almohada]

any recommendations for cheap point and shoot cameras that shoot 1080p?

Sony NEX?