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Nikolausz

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Posts posted by Nikolausz

    When I started underwater image making more than 20 years ago the choice was easy. Equipment to take high quality photos was relatively affordable that time, compared to professional video cameras. I could afford buying the same films used by David Doubilet, and similar quality lenses, but a good digital camera was way beyond my budget. My photos were crap not because of the equipment I used but the potential was there. I had some friends involved in videography but the image quality they produced was just bad and mainly due to technical limitations. Photos from the 80s were good, still keep up today's standard, but  if you check some films from that era the quality was really bad (even from big production companies). My hobby was a bit on ice during the digital transition, although I bought a Sony A100 with ikelite housing, due to my growing family I had not that much time for travelling. I wanted to further simplify my system, so I switched to Sony NEX-5 in a cheap housing, when I realized the red button to take videos. First I was not hooked. It actually happened when I got a GoPro as a present and started to use it in local lakes, mainly as camera trap. 

    I think GoPro was very important milestone in underwater videography and it "democratized" underwater filmmaking. Such affordable camera with so much potential. Of course, most of the divers used these cameras completely wrong and tons of crap videos have been produced to torture other dive buddies, but the technology has improved (image stabilization, better WB, additional correction lenses etc.) and now it's easy to make OK small films. These cameras are still used by big TV production companies and many blue chips nature movies include footage from "cheap" action cameras.

    So today, in my opinion, it's cheaper to buy a capable video camera than a photo camera. Another important technology improvement was the headway of LED technology in video lights, which made those lamps also affordable. Meanwhile the underwater strobes for photography have not improved that much.

    I think, making good quality videos with story, narration, capturing behaviours etc. is still very challenging, while taking good photos is easier. I see many very good photos but not that many really good videos. 

    Image making for profit is difficult for both photo and video but some say video is more profitable.

    • Like 3

    ·

    Edited by Nikolausz

    13 hours ago, Nando Diver said:

    Gopro 13 VS insta360 Ace Pro 2 VS DJI Osmo Acrion  5 PRO vs Iphone 16pro Max 

     

    Part1 

    In the video the reviewer say : which of these cameras has the best natural image. 

     

    Part2 coming in few weeks 

     

     

    I wrote the following under Matthias Lebo's video, and this is my short opinion: "DJI has really bad corners (otherwise colours look good), iPhone is the most versatile and it has a bit more background separation, Insta clips straight out of the camera are the best, but GoPro is surprisingly good, when there is enough light (but I would use a default -0.5 correction)", which resonated well with the viewers of the channel.

    I would add here for more advanced users that due to the accessories and the GP Hero Labs, 10-Bit, and post processing options, GoPro is still a good option, but maybe not the best option. DJI, as a company, has the best potential to grow as the best small camera for content creators but the underwater issues are not properly addressed for advanced users. Somehow AcePro2 handles these issues better (especially the bad corners with underwater mode, compatibility with AOI lens), so if I should choose a new action camera, AcePro2 would be my choice. 

    Currently I use a GP Hero 12 and I don't feel the urge to upgrade, because the pure image quality increase is not that big. I still think that a GPHero 12 with an AOI UWL-03 has way better image quality than any of the new generation cameras without such correction lens. Low light issues I can address with external lights and some post processing. Just for curiosity I tried GP 12 during a night dive (it's usually not recommended) and the results were quite OK (still not comparable to my APS-C camera results):

     

     

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Posted

    I had an assignment last year to film freshwater underwater scenes for a nature movie "Ungezähmt - Im Fluss des Lebens". Mainly catfish behaviour, including hunting during the night.

    The equipment I used was a Sony A6400 with a SEL1018 (10-18 mm f4) lens with 2 video lights (weefine Smart Focus 6000). I managed to shoot enough material and the film was recently shown on DasErste (available on the mediathek from Germany (use VPN) : https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/erlebnis-erde/ungezaehmt-im-fluss-des-lebens/das-erste/Y3JpZDovL21kci5kZS9zZW5kdW5nLzI4MTA2MC8yMDI0MTAyMTIwMTUvZXJsZWJuaXMtZXJkZS0xNTI )

     

    I was not completely happy with the night results and I was thinking about potential improvements and even considered to switch to full-frame (A7S3 or FX3) but the upgrade cost would have been really high. Finally I addressed this with a fast APS-C prime lens (SEL11mm f1.8)  and I'm really happy with the results. It works perfectly with my current housing (Seafrogs) with 6 inch port. More than 2 F-stops gain (compared to the F4 zoom), sharp, fast AF and it's only around 500 euro. I'm surprised that it's not really discussed yet on waterpixel forums.

    You can see some examples on my YT channel:

     

     

     Has anybody else used this lens?

    • Like 3

    8 hours ago, brightnight said:

     

    Appreciate the suggestion, they don't have any in stock unfortunately. 

    You may try to search for INON UFL-G140SD, which is very similar to the AOI lens. Some even suggested that AOI copied Inon's optical formula (I don't know). It's more expensive though.

    • Like 1

    30 minutes ago, brightnight said:

     

     

    Thanks, that's what I'm looking for. I was planning on using a Digi-power pack for extended run time but every image I see of the AOI UWL 03 has it mounted on a GoPro underwater housingnull. Can I mount the lens directly to a Gopro without an underwater housing and do you know if there will be interferance issues with the Digi-power pack? I'll be in shallow water and want extended run time of the GoPro.

    image.png

    You need an underwater housing. I considered this option and the only reasonable solution I found was the combination of the following 2 items:

     https://www.panoceanphoto.com/t-housing-h10-power

     

    https://actionpro.de/produkt/adapter-fuer-inon-objektive-t-housing-h10-power/

     

    Another alternative is to buy a DJI Osmo Action 5 pro, that has a much better battery life.

    • Like 1

    3 hours ago, brightnight said:

     

    I completely agree. I'll only be shallow <20ft so won't need an extra dive case. The video I've seen have not been super sharp. GoPro does offer a "GoPro macro lens mod" which is waterproof but also states "1Macro Lens Mod is not intended for use under water", so the it must be pretty bad underwater. Still haven't found a good solution. 

    Have you considered the AOI UCL-03?

    https://www.aoi-uw.com/products/wet-lenses/aoi-ucl-03.html

    • Like 1

    The long battery life sounds really good. I would be happy with 3 hours 4K, so I don't have to think about some extra battery solutions for my GoPro.

    It seems to be compatible with the Action 4 housing, which means that AOI adapter and lenses are also available for Action 5 Pro

    • Like 1

    11 hours ago, Davide DB said:

    It seems a solid upgrade.

    The audio seems fantastic and the possib6to pair it directly with their external mics.

    Underwater video seems good. BTW sharks clip @13:35 isn't natural light but I think is an edit mistake.

     

    P.S. 

    And many kudos to the snorkelist 😁

     

    Number one rule for successful underwater youtube channel: you need a good looking snorkelist

    • Haha 1

    Posted

    While many of us may hoped 8K resolution from the newly announced action camera that is affordable for most of us, some professionals have already reached 18.7K with a custom made cine camera.

    https://petapixel.com/2024/08/26/gorgeous-underwater-whale-footage-shot-with-custom-18-7k-cine-camera/

    I would like to see a comparison with the new GoPro, but based on the posted videos, I'm not really impressed. Maybe the conditions were not so good or the camera operator was too far from the whales but I can't see the extra resolution (I watched at 4K)

    What do you think?

    My opinion is that due to the physical properties of the water it doesn't make sense to go beyond 4K with wide angle. More resolution might be useful for macro.

    • Like 1

    I will not upgrade.  I may buy another GP12. There is not much image quality improvement (if any). The new lenses are interesting but not really useful for underwater use. There is still no housing supporting Max Lens Mod. 

    The incompatibility issues (battery, new lenses) are very annoying. 

    • Like 3

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