Still checking out this unusual, inexpensive camera for UW applications. The images are not that sharp underwater but the color saturation is good, also the visibility the camera "sees" seems to be substantially better than the diver sees (viz. was estimated at around 30 ft.). I was shooting with an Olympus 1030 at the same time that saw only about 30 ft. complete with a lot of unappealing suspended silt. Interesting stuff for a housed camera with video, still and intervalometer functions that goes for about $140. USD. If they could correct the domeport distortion, could be a remarkable UW camera.

Went out scooter free diving on the wreck of the Tracy over the weekend. Some clips follow:










The Tracy before it was sunk in 1998
From: Dixie Divers

I was hoping to get some input on the differential video image quality on the GoPro vs. an Olympus Stylus 1030 in the Olympus housing. I understand there is wide angle distortion lending the appearance of greater visibility with the GoPro (170 degree field of view). Still, if you start both videos to run simultaneously, I would swear you can see further along the deck aft of the pilot house by a fair margin in the GoPro images. White balance plays into this I suspect. My visual perspective on visibility and turbidity was close to the conditions depicted by the 1030 by the way. The 1030 is a backup for my normal video camera that is in the shop. Usually don't like the UW video quality at all out of the Olympus. A camera that "improves" visibility in available light? Ideas?



Olympus Stylus 1030 in Olympus housing


GoPro Wide

Thanks!
Rick

Certainly can't help with technique (shoot SLR) but admire your breath hold abilities... very nice.

I recently purchased a "scooter" is your camera hand held or attached?

It is a sit on top scooter so both hands are free. As a result, I usually hand hold one camera. During the free dives on the Tracy, I was carrying three cameras, one in each hand, on lanyards, and one in a chest mount. Aside from some minor excess multitasking at times, it wasn't that bad to manage all three. If I was using a normal tow configuration scooter, I would probably mount the camera on the scooter or on a helmet or something.

Thanks, been free diving for almost 40 years. Took all three FII free diving courses with Martin Stepanek over the last couple of years, learned a great deal more. His techniques add a lot to free diving, not only in capabilities but also in ease and critically in safety.

Scooter free diving can allow a lot of mobility in free diving. There are some hazards involved that are obvious in some cases (running out of power, collisions UW, staying too long into blackout territory, etc.) and not so obvious in others (like risk of type II DSC hits, in deep, short surface interval repetitive dives). We're still learning about it, although it has been around for a real long time. Some ideas about the practice appear at: http://forums.deeperblue.com/safety/72906-...n-too-soon.html