Has anyone mounted a SLR/mirrorless camera to a DPV? Not looking for small GoPro action camera options.

Curious what works well and how much filming/photographing was done with the camera still mounted to the DPV vs removing the camera from the DPV to shoot. Also considering building my own mount too.

On 4/3/2026 at 7:25 PM, brightnight said:

Has anyone mounted a SLR/mirrorless camera to a DPV? Not looking for small GoPro action camera options.

Curious what works well and how much filming/photographing was done with the camera still mounted to the DPV vs removing the camera from the DPV to shoot. Also considering building my own mount too.

Hi brightnight, we have this old thread.

You can do both. It depends on your subjects and dive scenarios.

Explain to me better what you had in mind. Video or photos? What use do you want to make of them?

I have a 3D printable mount that has been tested up to ASPC sized cameras, I'd be willing to share the CAD file so long as you don't commercialize it.

16 hours ago, Davide DB said:

Hi brightnight, we have this old thread.

You can do both. It depends on your subjects and dive scenarios.

Explain to me better what you had in mind. Video or photos? What use do you want to make of them?

Thanks for linking that thread, I'll be shooting photos. WHat mount are you using?

I'm working on a project where the my goal is to use the DPV to:

A) Locate specific fish species to photograph

B) Follow these fish and photograph them.

The two big challanges to this for me are:

1) I've used a DPV a handful of times (including a class) and a spent a lot more time in the water with the camera (but never used them together)

2) I'm not sure how much the fish will be swimming vs pausing or hanging out so I don't know how much time I'll have to potentially remove the camera from the DPV.

I tend to think I'll mostly shoot with the camera on the DPV but will have occasions where I will want to take the camera off to shoot, such as when the fish is relaxing on the bottom. Water will be 50F so will be using drysuit and dry gloves. I will be spending as much time as possible in the water with the DPV and DPV/camera over the next month to get as much time on them as possible before the project begins.

From my first look online this was the best looking image I could find but haven't been able to find a large swivel base plate like:

Edited yesterday at 03:59 PM1 day by brightnight

In my experience shooting stills with the camera forward is very challenging, although a monitor or possibly angled eyepiece would help.

The mount I designed has detents at 90 degree increments and has a toolless camera removal which works okay underwater.

Thanks for the info, I do have a monitor and love shooting with it so that's a plus. I liked the mount but wasn't sure if I'd be shooting forward or sideways. Sent you a PM for the mount files.

Edited yesterday at 05:38 PM1 day by brightnight

I use the following solution when it's needed: https://yellowdiving.eu/yellow-diving-home/yellow-diving-products/accessories/vm/

On 4/7/2026 at 5:38 PM, brightnight said:

Thanks for linking that thread, I'll be shooting photos. WHat mount are you using?

I'm working on a project where the my goal is to use the DPV to:

A) Locate specific fish species to photograph

B) Follow these fish and photograph them.

The two big challanges to this for me are:

1) I've used a DPV a handful of times (including a class) and a spent a lot more time in the water with the camera (but never used them together)

2) I'm not sure how much the fish will be swimming vs pausing or hanging out so I don't know how much time I'll have to potentially remove the camera from the DPV.

I tend to think I'll mostly shoot with the camera on the DPV but will have occasions where I will want to take the camera off to shoot, such as when the fish is relaxing on the bottom. Water will be 50F so will be using drysuit and dry gloves. I will be spending as much time as possible in the water with the DPV and DPV/camera over the next month to get as much time on them as possible before the project begins.

From my first look online this was the best looking image I could find but haven't been able to find a large swivel base plate like:

Same situation here: drysuit, dry gloves, and even rebreather and stages. Sorry in advance if I say things you already know.

I haven't re-read the old thread, but I remember some controversy 😉

The scooter is a very powerful tool, but I see it being used quite carelessly compared to other equipment, without giving it proper importance or understanding the dangers. I have witnessed several accidents caused by improper management of it.

I have used the DVP only for videos, although I have friends who also use it for photos but only wide-angle with a fisheye, and in that case, let's say you don't need to aim with precision. Still shooting wide, my friends orient the camera longitudinal to the scooter and hold the handles without detaching it from the scooter. But if you have to photograph a fish and frame it with precision, the best thing is to detach the camera. And here we come to the different types of mounts on the market that can make a difference.

• Rule #1: scooter and camera must be neutral or balanced individually. The scooter must be neutral or, better yet, slightly positive by a few grams. The camera, lights/strobes assembly must be practically neutral. In this way, if you detach the two things, both will stay right there without causing problems and the clipping and unclipping operations will be easier. Besides detaching the camera to take photos, also keep in mind a scenario where you have to remove it for an emergency or something else...
  

• Rule #2: This should come directly from using the scooter safely. If you let go of the scooter handle/controls because you are doing something else, you must never leave it to its own and you must always disconnect the power. All modern scooters have an ON/OFF knob. A scooter left free (and negative) causes huge damage to the surrounding environment and, via the tow cord, can get snagged on rocks, corals, and algae or simply to your gear in a part you can't reach! (Murphy's Law). A classic scenario in current is the cord or a piece of coral activating the trigger, causing the scooter to take off on its own without control, dragging you along. It sounds like science fiction, but I have seen it happen several times. Or, in an attempt to grab it, you accidentally pull the trigger while your hand is inside the propeller.

  Therefore, while doing other things, the scooter is turned off (#1) and clipped to yourself (#2). It could seems excessive but after few time it becomes muscle memory. This is why a double-ender is usually placed on a bungee on the nose and clipped to a D-ring within reach.

Following these two simple rules, now let's move on to the mounts.

Let's just say that all DPV mounts have one thing in common: they are crazy expensive!

For many years I used the cheapest one of all (the same linked by @Raph ) and I would recommend it to you provided that you never have to detach the camera from the mount. So that is not your case. The Yellow Diving mount consists of two parts that fit together perfectly but remain joined by three screws at 120°. If you don't tighten them, the camera can even rotate without detaching from the mount. Joining the two pieces in the water is not impossible but it's quite annoying. On the surface, if the sea is calm, it requires someone's help.

In recent years I have been using the Suex mount. It has the advantage that the insert fixed to the camera fits smoothly into the part on the scooter and has a quick-release mechanism that allows you, with a bit of practice, to do everything with one hand. With this mount, you can easily attach and detach the camera during the dive. It also has a safety screw that allows you to lock everything in place.

The Yellow Diving mount comes without holes for the camera (wise choice) The Suex has a single hole. I don't know about others. In any case, a single hole is absolutely no good. You need two. No matter how much you tighten it, it unscrews in an instant underwater.

ATM I don't have photos of my mount, Let me know if you need other info or photos.

Ciao

On 4/7/2026 at 10:37 AM, brightnight said:

Thanks for the info, I do have a monitor and love shooting with it so that's a plus. I liked the mount but wasn't sure if I'd be shooting forward or sideways. Sent you a PM for the mount files.

No DM arrived.

I'm considering a redesign using magnets.