New at UW video and I probably got all the wrong equipment. Should I just buy a Go Pro?

I took this video with the following equipment:

- A Sony Nex-5t mirrorless interchangeable lens camera

- A Sigma 30mm f/2.8 lens

- A Meikon Waterproof 18-55mm case for Nex-5R (this *mostly* fits my camera - well enough to use, anyway)

- A SeaLife SeaDragon 600 dive light (attaches to the case)

I am freediving.

When I bought the camera, I didn't think I'd be doing many underwater videos. Now I'm much more interested in doing so, but I think I've got the wrong equipment.

To make my videos better, I think I'd need a couple of things:

- A way to stabilize the case underwater

- A wider angle lens

Should I just throw in the towel on this set up and get a Go Pro? Or should I buy more accessories for my case (some kind of handle set up to stabilize it) and camera (a wider angle lens)?

Considering the amount you're waving the camera around it wouldn't matter much what camera you got, or if you have a platform for it, the video will still be pretty much unusable. Try instead to work really hard on keeping the camera still, even as you move about while swimming and turning. Keep the rate at which you pan, tilt or change position of the camera as slow as possible and as steady as possible! Otherwise the image will be blurry and you almost get nauseous from watching it.

You can make a platform quite easily yourself, worst case just rubber-band some aluminum tube underneath the housing across so you get a wider grip on it. And if you manage to bend the ends of the tube upwards you have handles in a more ergonomic way as well without it costing a lot. Worth a try at least.

You also notice that the autofocus struggles, no wonder by the rate the camera is yanked around in, but it might help to use manual focus. Getting a wide lens and setting the focus manually to infinity will get rid of any problems like autofocus hunting.

A GoPro is a super nice camera, which is unbelievably easy to use and it produces decent results. But I believe the NEX-5 is a much better and more capable camera than the GoPro. If you invest some time into learning the camera and some techniques for capturing video underwater, which you should do with a GoPro also, you will soon see some improved results I'm sure

Here is an example on how cheap and easy you could make a platform for stabilisation;

DIY Tray from electrical parts

Pictures

Good luck!