BeppePADI

I am in Tenerife now, diving with the Gopro M1P and Inon lenses. First impression very positive, still quite some testing to do but I am really impressed by the image quality, much more pleasant then the Ace Pro 2. These days the sea here is quite rough with quite some swell so visibility is not the best, especially till 20m but still I got some nice realistic clips which I will compose in the next days. As first, I wanted to test the G165II and I can say it is a good match with the M1P, nice close up, from 5 to 40cm approx (rough estimation). This is a first sample:

Well, there will be the dive case so I will get the X6 then. 👍

I do not have the same certainty. Beside the position of side buttons on that form factor, I am skeptical since the competition gave up on the diving with 360 cams. Proposing a diving case would give them a marked advantage but the question is if there is a real demand for it. Personally I was quite enthusiastic when I brought the X4 first time underwater, then I continued with the X5 but honestly now I am not sure if I will keep using a 360 cam when diving. I start to belive that normal cameras are better, especially when not diving in crystal clear, Caribbean style waters.

The first images of the new Insta360 X6 are coming up: NotebookcheckInsta360 X6 leaks as more compact 8K action cam with 360-...The Insta360 X6 appears to be almost ready for launch, as a major leak has revealed the action camera's more compact design, higher price, and what is likely its most significant upgrade ahead of itsConsidering this new form factor, I am not so sure if there will be a dive case for the X6. A dome of the size of the X5 dive case pro would be incompatible with the X6 side buttons. A smaller dome, allowing buttons access, would result in quite poor image quality. Of course, it would be possible to have buttons mechanisms which allow to locate them on the dive case in a different position, like in the camera housings, but that would very expensive. I would not exclude that Insta360 could drop the dive case for the X6, just like DJI and GoPro. I am very curious to see if the Insta360 engineers will come out with a smart solution for the X6 dive case.

Thank you, I quickly color graded in Premiere Pro and without blurring it, I see slight focus different between the front fishes and the ones in the back, but it is very gradual and I do not find it an issue. On the contrary, I think it makes the image quite appealing.

I have the GR140Pro and the G165II and my understanding, so far, is: No lens - focus between 50cm to 6m - perfect for general underwater landscape GR140 - focus between 15cm to 2,5m - perfect for walls/reefs wide sceneries G165II - no reference available but I expect something between close-up and macro. The question is how deep is its DOF. I hope for something like 10-60cm, anything less would not be for me. I will test the three configurations and see but in principle I like the idea of having some light softness outside the focus range because it directs the view on the subject. Maybe because I come from photography background, I have never been a fan of infinity focus, on the contrary, I always considered it as a defect. I believe the M1 has to be used differently than other action cams, paying more attention to focusing and framing, just like in photography, but that it not necessary a negative thing and I can understand that for someone it could be a problem. It is not easy to change the way we are used to do things. Of course, for now these are all theories, until I bring all below the surface and test them. One more week to go.

I am not sure I've understood the purpose of the blurry adjustment in post. Can you post also the clip with unadjusted blurry?

To be honest, I expect worst at that close distance. I will see with a close-up lens how it will be.

This looks like quite a close-up, if not even a macro. Did you use a wet lens or just the camera without any attached lens?

Maybe the GoPro Mission 1 Pro could be the answer? Not sure and I may not have enough experience to answer but for sure in two weeks I will be underwater with the M1P and a couple of Inon wet lens to test them and play around. Let's see what kind of footages I will bring back home, hopefully some cinematic look ones.

It seems that the new X6 is on the way: https://thenewcamera.com/insta360-x6-coming-to-usa-fcc-certification-confirmed-launch-window-tightens/ It will be interesting to see if there will be any improvement related to diving, either by new form factor/case or software.

Hi, how is the G165 performing? I got it for my new Mission 1 Pro because I was looking for a close up rather then a real macro but online I didn't find much info about that lens.

I just got the L10 as casual vacation camera with the idea to get the Nauticam housing, in a near future, to start with a bit more serious underwater photography. Till now I only used the TG-6, the Ace Pro2 and I will now use the GoPro Mission 1 Pro. So I am going to follow this threat to learn from you, since this level of housings/lenses is all now to me.

I fully agree that till today, the 360 cam are not ideal for the underwater use. I also have the X5 with both dive case, the normal and the Pro, but indeed none of them are really good. Actually the Pro, depending on the environment, could be even worst than the normal one due to much higher internal reflection on the dome, even if the images are more clear and sharper than with the normal one. To get the best out of them you have to handle them in a certain way, for instance by keeping the closure seam always aligned with the sun orientation, and excluding some portion of the 360 view when composing the video in post. My first time with the X5 and the Pro case, I didn't take into account the sun orientation but I was holding the camera thinking about framing and in fact, there are a lot of reflections. And I did minimize them in post, by careful framing otherwise it would have been much worst. In two weeks, I will be in Tenerife for a diving vacation and I will give it a last try to the X5 and the Pro case by trying to handle it properly and will see if it the end result will be more acceptable.

I got the Mission 1 Pro and the Inon lenses GR140 Pro and G165II. As ZD connection, I went for the Howshot because, as we know, Inon didn't release yet its own front mask for the Mission 1. But the one from Howshot is well build and it will serve the purpose well, at least until Inon will produce its own, later in the year. In two weeks, I am going to test the different setups but from what I've understood, the Mission 1 Pro seems to be very good without wet lenses, for the general shooting with underwater focus going from 50cm to 6m, which is the farthest you can go underwater anyway. Instead, the wide wet lens bring the focus closer to 10cm stopping at around 2m, maybe 2,5m, which it could create a nice cinematic look also underwater, when swimming close to reef and/or fishes. Since I am not into macro but close-up is the max I would go, I got the G165II but it seems I am the only one because I couldn't find anybody giving me a feedback on this lens. So I just have to wait two more weeks and see how this lens will perform with the Mission 1. I would expect to be somewhere in between a close-up and macro, considering what I heard about the Mission 1, so far.