Mastering GoPro for Immersive Underwater Videography for Newcomers
Capturing Stunning Underwater Videos with GoPro: A Comprehensive Guide
GoPro cameras have become a popular choice for capturing underwater footage, thanks to their robust design and versatile features. Here's a guide to help you make the most of your GoPro underwater adventures.
Waterproofing and Protection
The GoPro Hero5, Hero6, Hero7, and Hero8 are waterproof up to 33 feet, but for deeper dives, a protective housing is essential. This enclosure not only waterproofs the camera beyond its native depth rating but also allows attachment of other accessories like filters. However, it can be a bit cumbersome to open and close.
Underwater Color Correction Filters
To achieve vibrant and natural underwater colors, consider using color correction filters. Red filters are ideal for blue water, magenta for green water, and snorkel filters for shallow water. These filters attach to the protective housing.
Dome Port Lens
A dome port lens, such as the Telesin Dome Port, enables unique half-underwater, half-above-water shots, enhancing water footage versatility without needing additional accessories. It often comes with a floating hand grip for easy handling.
Extension Poles and Selfie Sticks
Waterproof extension poles increase reach and versatility for wide-angle or difficult perspectives while filming underwater, providing steady shots and better composition.
Stabilizing Mounts and Grips
Accessories like tray mounts, arms, goodman handles, and chest mounts stabilize the camera for smooth footage during underwater motion and allow hands-free shooting.
Power and Storage
Underwater filming can drain batteries quickly, so spare batteries and an external charger are highly recommended for extended shoots. Fast and reliable memory cards (such as SanDisk Extreme) ensure smooth recording of high-resolution video without interruption or lag.
Shooting Settings
For underwater use, 60 frames per second with a 16:9 aspect ratio and hypersmooth image stabilization is recommended. However, the 4:3 aspect ratio does not offer hypersmooth image stabilization, which is essential for underwater video.
If you're planning to record in higher resolutions like 2.7k or 4k, remember that a powerful computer and graphics card are needed for review and editing.
Care and Maintenance
Before each dive, ensure your GoPro's lens is clean by wiping the lens cover and the lens inside the dive housing. The white rubber O-ring on the back cover of the housing should be kept clean to prevent water leaking inside and flooding the camera.
Time-Lapse and Other Features
Time-lapse video is simple with the GoPro Hero4, Hero5, Hero6, Hero7, and Hero8. There is a time-lapse setting. The LCD screen can be kept at 100% brightness and "Auto Off" and "Screensaver" can be set to "Never" to ensure the screen is always on. The GoPro App can be downloaded on a portable device and connects the device with the GoPro, allowing the GoPro to update the latest firmware.
The TimeWarp video feature on the GoPro Hero7 and Hero8 allows for smooth, hand-held time-lapse video while moving around, although it's more effective on land than underwater.
Safety First
Remember, it's better for macro shots if the GoPro is 12 inches or further from the subject. For closer shots, the MacroMate Mini wet close-up lens for GoPro can be used. Also, if a battery is getting low during dives, it can be plugged in during the surface interval.
With these tips in mind, you're now equipped to capture stunning underwater footage with your GoPro. Happy diving!
- GoPro cameras, equipped for underwater adventures, offer a robust design and versatile features to capture stunning footage.
- The GoPro Hero5, Hero6, Hero7, and Hero8 are waterproof up to 33 feet, but for deeper dives, a protective housing is essential.
- Color correction filters, such as red filters for blue water, magenta for green water, and snorkel filters for shallow water, can be used to achieve vibrant and natural underwater colors.
- A dome port lens enables unique half-underwater, half-above-water shots for enhanced water footage versatility.
- Waterproof extension poles increase reach and versatility for better composition during underwater filming.
- Stabilizing mounts and grips, like tray mounts, arms, and goodman handles, provide smooth footage during underwater motion for hands-free shooting.
- For extended underwater shoots, spare batteries and an external charger are highly recommended to prevent battery drainage.
- Fast and reliable memory cards, such as SanDisk Extreme, ensure smooth recording of high-resolution video without interruption or lag.
- For optimal underwater video, 60 frames per second with 16:9 aspect ratio and hypersmooth image stabilization is recommended.
- If recording in higher resolutions like 2.7k or 4k, a powerful computer and graphics card are needed for review and editing.
- Before each dive, clean the GoPro's lens by wiping the lens cover and the lens inside the dive housing to ensure waterproof functionality.
- For macro shots, maintaining a distance of 12 inches or more from the subject or using a MacroMate Mini wet close-up lens can help capture detailed underwater critters like nudibranch or colorful reef inhabitants.
