shokwaav

There's a typo in the table in the first post, there's no 8k 60p available in open gate mode. Hopefully an admin can fix it.

Since it's a completely new form factor and new sensor, new wet lenses are probably needed.

Not that interested in the 8k resolutions, but I'm annoyed there doesn't appear to be middle resolutions between 4k and 8k. It would have been great to have something like the previous 5.3k or 6k in open gate with 60fps as an option.

Started a new topic here.

https://www.dpreview.com/news/1520681145/gopro-mission-series-announcement-mount

50MP Type-1 (128mm²) sensor with a Quad Bayer design

Relevant diving related specs:

Category-Leading Runtimes and Thermal Performance are made possible by the new ultra-power-efficient GP3 processor, advanced hardware optimizations, and the higher-capacity, fast-charging Enduro 2 Battery. The MISSION 1 Series of cameras deliver 5+ hours of recording at 1080p301 and 3+ hours of recording at 4K30 on a single charge.

Category-Leading Bitrates, Color Depth and Control for Professionals: Dial up the bitrate to a stunning 240Mbps and capture HLG-HDR, 10-Bit Color with GP-Log2, and Timecode Sync for multi-camera shoots, or maximize quality while minimizing file size with GP3’s new advanced encoder.

New Lens Design, Bigger Rear Display and Redesigned Buttons make the MISSION 1 Series easier to use in all use cases. Design improvements include an updated lens design with a category-widest 159° native field of view (FOV); a new OLED rear display which is 14% larger than previous flagship GoPro cameras; taller, chunkier raised buttons for easier use with gloves on; and a removable lens hood to reduce glare and lens flare for clearer images.

Updated Design Increases Waterproofness to 66ft (20m): MISSION 1 and MISSION 1 PRO are waterproof to 66ft (20m) right out of the box without the need for housing, making them the best imaging solution for divers.

Protective Housing: When your mission calls for it, the protective housing will keep your MISSION 1 or MISSION 1 PRO camera waterproof down to 196ft (60m). The built-in mounting fingers allow you to capture content both horizontally and vertically. MISSION 1 and MISSION 1 PRO are waterproof to 66ft (20m) without a housing, while MISSION 1 PRO ILS is weatherproof.

https://www.dpreview.com/news/1520681145/gopro-mission-series-announcement-mount

1 inch sensor!

Protective Housing: When your mission calls for it, the protective housing will keep your MISSION 1 or MISSION 1 PRO camera waterproof down to 196ft (60m). The built-in mounting fingers allow you to capture content both horizontally and vertically. MISSION 1 and MISSION 1 PRO are waterproof to 66ft (20m) without a housing, while MISSION 1 PRO ILS is weatherproof.

During my Palau trip last year, I did a few days with Fish n Fins and the next week on a liveaboard. We went to similar sites, but we only went to Peleliu on the liveaboard. Fish n Fins does do Peleliu trips, but they need a certain number of guests and an additional fee.

Unfortunately even though we did go to Peleliu, the liveaboard dive masters weren't too familiar with the site so there wasn't as much to see compared to the more popular sites we went to like Blue Corner and German Channel.

The new lightweight lens doesn’t change much compared to its predecessor, but it is faster and better able to keep up with Sony’s latest and greatest cameras. For example, while an unlikely match for a Sony a9 III flagship camera, the new FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II supports AF/AE tracking at up to 120 frames per second.

Optically, nothing has changed with the new lens. It still features nine elements arranged across eight groups, including a single ED element and a trio of aspherical lenses. The lens still has the same seven-bladed aperture diaphragm as well.

From petapixel: https://petapixel.com/2025/12/02/sony-upgrades-its-compact-28-70mm-f-3-5-5-6-zoom-to-shoot-at-120-fps/

https://store.dji.com/hk-en/product/osmo-action-6

DJI continuing their rapid annual refresh cycle, but this does seem quite interesting.

• Variable aperture (f/2 - 4), Focus Range (at aperture f/4.0): 0.2 m to ∞

• 1/1.1 square sensor

• Up to 4k 120fps in 4:3 ratio

• 10 bit D-Log M

• 50GB internal storage

• Max video rate 120 Mbps

Unfortunately it seems f/2 is only available in specific recording modes...

7 hours ago, Architeuthis said:

(the "Air" versions are quite spartanic with just a single USB-C slot

I think all the MBAs have 2 usb c ports.

MAX2 ($499, September 30): the successor to GoPro MAX, and third generation of consumer 360 cameras, MAX2 apexes on multiple fronts with quality, and introduces ease of use considerations that make capturing 360 footage more approachable than ever.  

MAX2: what's new?

• Smaller, lower-profile design, and a 10% larger touchscreen

• TRUE 8K resolution - No AI, upscaling, counting redundant pixels in the stitch, or unusable black pixels at the edges.  Measuring the numbers where they actually matter, True 8K brings unprecedented real 8k resolution to users, with actual 4k punch-outs in overcapture.

• 360 degree 3X Slow-mo at 4k-100, 2x at 5.6k-60, and realtime True 8k-30.

• 4k-60 Single lens video capabilities

• 5 Digital Lenses - Max Hyperview, Max SuperView, Ultra wide, Wide, and Linear

• 29MP 360 Photos

• 10-Bit color, GP-Log with LUTs, and Davinci Resolve plug-ins!

• Optically Integrated but replaceable glass lenses - no more stress about choosing either image quality or lens security… you get both.

• Cutting edge, 6-microphone, 360 audio with dynamic audio features, AND bluetooth wireless device audio capability

• All-day Battery life with a new 1960mAh Enduro battery

• Deep labs support - a huge range of advanced capabilities, including 300Mbps bitrate, 100GB chapters, and technical assessment modes if you want to see and evaluate the "True 8K" difference for yourself.

• GPS built-in

• Multiple mounting options - Fast, clean, and secure!  Classic “fingers”, ¼-20 simplicity, and magnetic quick-mounting.  The choice is yours.

• The classics you’ve come to know and love from GoPro, in the world of True 8K 360

  • Timewarp Video

  • Night Lapse, including Night Effects (star trails, etc))

  • Timelapse

  • New Interval photos (time and night) up to 29MP

  • New Burst Photos at 29MP

  • New Night Photos up to 29MP

• Flexible easy capture modes that limit the editing required, but still enable the reframing of the shot in post by storing the perspective like metadata

  • POV Mode - front facing POV, ready to go, but still re-framable later

  • Selfie Mode - Focused on you, just hold the camera out and the rest is handled for you.  Again, still re-frameable if you weren’t the coolest thing in the shot!

• Over 35 Compatible mounts and accessories direct from GoPro, including many new pole options specifically designed for MAX2’s capabilities!

• Editing Support in Quik featuring new AI capabilities for tracking objects, POV settings for quick perspectives, and MotionFrame- use your phone to “film” the shot within your original clip.  There’s a lot to unpack on this one!

Unfortunately no dive case available at the moment. However, would be interesting to see whether the increased resolution yields a benefit underwater, or whether the larger sensor sizes of the DJI Osmo360 would work out better for underwater videography. I've always been a big fan of GoPro because of the ability to tune their settings with the LABS firmware. Insta360 and DJI cameras have always been quite limited in terms of controlling the underlying settings.

Dai from 39ers is really cool. He seems to go to the Keramas quite regularly based on his instagram posts.

Most Japanese dive operators are quite camera friendly because underwater photography is a big part of the culture there.

3 hours ago, Chris Ross said:

nice shots, my MFO arrives soon, agree the shore dive exits can get a little rough at times. Didn't know you were in town, are you visiting or based here?

Just visiting, but couldn't resist getting a few dives in!

2 hours ago, Davide DB said:

Chris, do you have the 45mm to test it? 😈

@shokwaav how is the weight and trim while using it? Does it need a float?

Thanks

I actually think it's a bit positive, I had a full set of floats on the 90mm flat port for the first day of diving and it kept pointing upwards, then I took a few off and it was still trying to point upwards. Unfortunately I didn't have time to test it in the bathtub before I went on this trip, so I don't have a more accurate measurement.

A few other shots of different sized subjects. The MFO-3 was quite enjoyable to use. However, I plan on 3D printing out a bumper ring to protect the lens from bumps and scratches. I've already acquired a lot of dents on the side of the lens from the rough exits in Sydney's dive sites. Luckily the glass seems to have gotten off scratch free.

Separate post because I reached the file size limit.

A weedy seadragon at The Steps, Kurnell, Sydney. Shot with the MFO-3. I think it's a perfect lens for this size of subject. Tracking worked well with the A7CR, and I was able to track the eyes of the seadragon with the animal autofocus. There were a few times when it decided to focus on some of the particulates in the water, but it was rare.

1/100, f9, ISO200.

Sony a7CR, Sony 90mm Macro, MFO-3, 2x Backscatter HF-1 strobes

Processed in Lightroom, Backscatter removal with BackscatterXTerminator

12 minutes ago, Christian K said:

Question Dave, do you use the hard plastic protection cap for the lens when you go in the water? I’m used to a neoprene cover on my domes but none is available for the wwl-c afaik? Or do you ”strip” before you jump in?

I have a pair of Tech shorts that can fit the hard cap. Lesson learned after I lost one underwater. Some people on this forum have drilled a hole through the cap to attach a bungee or bolt snap.

6 hours ago, Marcomaniac said:

Hi Shokwaav,

until the comming Wednesday I dove with my YS-D3 DOU strobes from Sea&Sea and designed and printed my own snoot. It has a bayonet connection like the original diffusers and a holder attached to the arm. And I printed a small diffusor for the snoot with transparent PLA.

It can be tricky, to aim. But! You can align the Snoot inline with your lens and make several testshots. Then you get a feeling for the perfect distance and can use it throughout the dive.

I got this trick from one of Alex Mustards videos.

And in a couple of days, I will make the same for my new Backscatter HF-1s.

I'll make it from PETG, which is not so hygroscopic like PLA and also more sturdy.

If you like, we can exchange our projects.

The small yellow "thing" is made with a TG-6 and this snoot on the Sea&Sea strobe.

That looks great! I designed a simple snoot for the HF-1, but I haven't had the chance to try them out underwater.

How Ryo Minemizu captures the hidden wonders of the ocean at night

Some great photos and information about his setup.

Naturally, there's the gear component to consider as well. Minemizu uses Nauticam housing and the Canon EOS R5 with the EF-EOS R converter. For lenses, he sticks with the EF-S 35mm F2.8 Macro IS STM and EF-S 60mm F2.8 Macro USM lenses. He's opted for APS-C lenses because the equivalent focal lengths are ideal for his subject matter, especially the 35mm lens. He says he's eagerly awaiting an "RF-mount standard macro lens that fully takes advantage of a full-frame sensor’s capabilities," however.

When it is time to light up a subject, Minemizu relies on five lights: two Marelux Apollo III 2.0 strobes for ultra-high-speed flash photography, two RGBlue (Super Natural Color) lights with high color rendering for use as target lights and for video recording in the dark ocean, and one INON LE-250 light used to illuminate subjects that exhibit phototaxis (when an organism moves in response to light). He uses the maximum flash sync speed to freeze movement, since the tiny creatures are constantly in motion. But it's not a set it and forget it situation. "Both the exposure and flash intensity are manually adjusted on site to suit the transparency of each subject," he explains.

41 minutes ago, dentrock said:

Second point: I opened up a 36125 N85 port by approx 0.5mm to fit a Samyang 12mm. I used a cheap rotary sanding attachment in a drill press (has flip up bits of sanding paper, so good for sanding inside a tube). I packed the inside of the dome first with a rag. When finished, wash the dome carefully. Don't wipe with tissues!

I'm considering doing either this, or taking apart the lens and removing the focus ring. Not sure which would be the easier solution!

18 minutes ago, Lewis88 said:

Could you use the N85-N120 adapter, and the Zen DP100 dome? So you can put the dome on after the lens gets put on from the front with the camera in the housing.

I'm actually on a N100 system, but I'm using the N85 4"wide angle port as Nauticam no longer make it in the N100 version.

On even further inspection, there's I think the focus ring is just a bit too wide, and there's also a small bump on the lens which is preventing the lens from going in.

You can see the little nub just underneath the label about the minimum focus distance.

My #36137 N85 4"wide angle dome port finally came in and big disappointment for Sony shooters - the 50mm macro can't fit in the N85 opening. Annoyingly, that's quite a bit of money down the drain.

EDIT: actually on closer inspection, I only need maybe less than a millimeter extra diameter for it to fit.... I'm wondering if I could widen it with something like a dremel...

I've never heard of this dive site in Okinawa! Do many dive operators do this dive? I'll have to come back soon.

22 minutes ago, bghazzal said:

as a sidenote this YouTube Short format you posted in is unreadable on my laptop (Firefox) - I get this massive long display which takes ages to load and can't display properly even zooming out.

This is what it looks like zoomed out fully:

Wonder if other non-phonies are in the same boat?

Can't therefore comment on the vid/camera results, though I would have liked to see what it looked like!

cheers

I have the same issue, I believe it's due to the Shorts format.

1 hour ago, RomiK said:

but then it's like anything from 3m on is not sharp either.

I think once you get past 3m, you're limited by resolution. I thought about getting a 360 camera for B-roll, but decided against it because the quality of footage you get is nowhere near an action camera.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DK_xxybR0oS/

3 hours ago, TmxDiver said:

https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/venus-optics-announced-the-worlds-first-zoom-fisheye-lens-laowa-8-15mm-f-2-8-ff/

Unfortunately it's only manual focus.

19 minutes ago, jjmochi said:

I've now discovered that every time I run backscatter xterminator, PS turns a 80mb ARW file into a 1.3GB TIF file! Surely that can't be right? How large are your tif files?

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61105226

This can help explain why .TIFF files are so large. Simply put, they are uncompressed.