Waterproof camera choices

Fenlander · 19 October 2019, 09:57

Searching on the word camera I can't see any camera specific threads for the past couple of years so...

For the past few years we've used a Sony digicam for stills and HD video when boating. Good results as far as it goes but not waterproof so a right faff storing in a dry bag and getting out/putting away each photo/video. Also means it often can't be used for any time forward facing because of spray.

Now our use doesn't justify loads of cash so looking at value new... or used on Ebay. Not totally sure if a waterproof version of a conventional shape digicam or GoPro style is best. I do want it to be waterproof to a few feet not just splashproof.

One thing I notice is many of the GoPro style are fixed fish eye lenses and I'm not sure that is ideal??

Budget max £150 or so which would get the basic GoPro White new but need mounts etc on top... a used older but better model GoPro which will often come with some extra mounts etc... or a new GitUp way under budget… new Ricoh WG-M1... new or used Lumix FT-30. Just a few I've seen.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Brian · 19 October 2019, 11:08

Personally I would not go for a GoPro again. I have had several and they all tend to suffer from, not enough functionality to high prices.
I have used various "Chinese" branded stuff which costs nuts and gives just as good results imo.
I currently use one that has a rear viewing port (usefull for getting the angle right), with lots of functionality and is GoPro compatible so all my vast collection of bits and bobs fit.
Oh, and its wifi compatible and costs, new, £42.

Brian · 19 October 2019, 11:13

Dont really think its worth investing in one of these, do you C£2000 ish???

paulbrown22 · 19 October 2019, 12:48

I still use a GoPro Hero 3 Black as my main on-water video camera, with a non-waterproof Canon HF R606 for dry shots needing some zoom ability.

I think the fish eye lens is fine if you're mainly talking about video, but for still photos is a bit weird, and obviously has no zoom ability. I don't use it for stills at all any more, and take a proper Canon D-SLR with me on the main holidays, albeit for dry use only!

I love my GoPro having bought it new back in 2014 I think (and regretted not buying it sooner). It's produced some great footage, but agree with Brian - there's loads of cheaper options on the market now if I were buying a similar thing again.

I do often grab the GoPro as a very easy pocketable video camera, so I'd certainly suggest for ~£50 trying one of the cheaper versions and seeing how you get on with it.

PeteG · 19 October 2019, 16:19

I've also used a cheap Go-Pro 'copy' for both motorcycling and boating with pretty good video results, although never used it for stills. It came with about a dozen different holders/attachments and 2 different cases (one completely waterproof and one with slots in the side for better sound when not submerging completely). It connects with your smartphone so you can view the live video you're getting without trying to see through the tiny viewfinder on the camera itself. I tied a weight to the bottom of the case and a spool of fishing line to the top and lowered it overboard when out to sea in Gran Canaria once with pretty good results too. The make is Pictek / Piktec something like that. However, I'm quite easily pleased with video footage quality and also have never had anything really decent/expensive to compare it with.

PeteG · 19 October 2019, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteG

I've also used a cheap Go-Pro 'copy' for both motorcycling and boating with pretty good video results, ...... The make is Pictek / Piktec something like that.....

Actually, probably ignore all that. After spending half an hour looking at reviews & feedback for this make on Amazon I'd probably not recommend it. Maybe I've been lucky so far with mine.

jeffstevens763@g · 19 October 2019, 17:28

I did a bit of looking this year through all the good makes we use GoPro at work most days and are ok but there's just as good for a lot less I ended up with an ISAW for £70 including all the attachments water proof down to 30m

Fenlander · 19 October 2019, 18:19

It seems... if you accept GoPro are the standard for proper quality... that all the lesser names of that camera type get a bit of a hammering from a percentage of reviews on Amazon etc. Bit of pot luck I reckon.

What about the ultra wide angle most have... can you select different in the menu?

Pikey Dave · 19 October 2019, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Searching on the word camera I can't see any camera specific threads for the past couple of years so...

For the past few years we've used a Sony digicam for stills and HD video when boating. Good results as far as it goes but not waterproof so a right faff storing in a dry bag and getting out/putting away each photo/video. Also means it often can't be used for any time forward facing because of spray.

Now our use doesn't justify loads of cash so looking at value new... or used on Ebay. Not totally sure if a waterproof version of a conventional shape digicam or GoPro style is best. I do want it to be waterproof to a few feet not just splashproof.

One thing I notice is many of the GoPro style are fixed fish eye lenses and I'm not sure that is ideal??

Budget max £150 or so which would get the basic GoPro White new but need mounts etc on top... a used older but better model GoPro which will often come with some extra mounts etc... or a new GitUp way under budget… new Ricoh WG-M1... new or used Lumix FT-30. Just a few I've seen.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Look at the Olympus Tough range. I’ve had a 5 & now have a 6. Used both above & below water.

jeffstevens763@g · 19 October 2019, 19:03

https://youtu.be/QVZi0yIWL_w

ISAW footage for info

GuyC · 19 October 2019, 20:04

I just looked at Wexphoto and they have this to add to your list of options.

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/acme-v...wi-fi-1609879/

I'm sort of in the market for an action camera but I have a little voice in my head telling me to buy a drone!

Last Tango · 19 October 2019, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Searching on the word camera I can't see any camera specific threads for the past couple of years so...

For the past few years we've used a Sony digicam for stills and HD video when boating. Good results as far as it goes but not waterproof so a right faff storing in a dry bag and getting out/putting away each photo/video. Also means it often can't be used for any time forward facing because of spray.

Now our use doesn't justify loads of cash so looking at value new... or used on Ebay. Not totally sure if a waterproof version of a conventional shape digicam or GoPro style is best. I do want it to be waterproof to a few feet not just splashproof.

One thing I notice is many of the GoPro style are fixed fish eye lenses and I'm not sure that is ideal??

Budget max £150 or so which would get the basic GoPro White new but need mounts etc on top... a used older but better model GoPro which will often come with some extra mounts etc... or a new GitUp way under budget… new Ricoh WG-M1... new or used Lumix FT-30. Just a few I've seen.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

FYI

All the videos I've posted on here were done with a Gitup G2.

Most recent.. North West Coast of Skye "Nauticalmiles". The stills came from wife's phone. 👍

jeffstevens763@g · 19 October 2019, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyC

I just looked at Wexphoto and they have this to add to your list of options.

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/acme-v...wi-fi-1609879/

I'm sort of in the market for an action camera but I have a little voice in my head telling me to buy a drone!

Drones any good at swimming

pagick · 19 October 2019, 23:51

I used GoPro 7 black for this. It is waterproof with out housing and has very good stability software. It’s mounted an a 24” pole bolted to transom. This mounting would exaggerate the shake but the camera cancels that out pretty well. It also has settings to dial back the very wide angle view to something more normal.

https://youtu.be/DVyGSzEivRg

ENC_RIB · 20 October 2019, 03:07

Picked up an Olympus TG Tracker on sale for $149 earlier this year for use on a Caribbean sailing charter. Surprised that the Olympus TG Tracker delivered great video, as well as still shots. Use of underwater lense and underwater photo settings for still photography and videos on land helped to eliminate the fisheye effect. Very pleased with this palm sized waterproof (100ft) camera.

I had a Nikon W100 with me on the charter as well. Unfortunately this camera failed on day 3 with water inside the LCD. Prior to that it took rather good photos and videos. (I was told most likely the water in the Camera was condensation from the camera being charged in an air conditioned 72° cabin, then taken outdoors in 90° temperature and ultimately 80° water.) Amazon warranty on the Nikon W100 paid for new Nikon W300 waterproof camera. Pleased with the W300 to date. Camera has a better hand than the W100 and more functionality.

Picked up a GoPro 7 Black for use on a time lapse project, and have been happy with its video and time lapse settings, not a good still photography camera.

Of the there cameras, the Olympus TG Tracker has been a great waterproof action cam, with good hand, only negative is the small buttons. Has built-in WiFi for easy remote viewing and transfer of photos and videos to smartphones.

My go to camera for all photos / videos above and below the water is the Nikon W300. Has built-in WiFi for easy Remote viewing and transfer of photos and videos to smartphones.

The GoPro 7 Black is used selectively for action videos, mostly where a lightweight durable camera is needed. Has built-in WiFi for easy remote viewing and transfer of photos and videos to smartphones.

Pricing on the three:
Olympus TG Tracker - $149
Nikon W300 - $349
GoPro 7 Black - $399

jonp · 20 October 2019, 08:01

I've used all sorts underwater, flooded two canon 5d mk 2's flooded a few canon compacts, flooded two GoPro. This might sound bad but the truth is each have lasted 3-4 years before flooding, so not so bad. I've still got two sony rx 100 mo 2 in different housings going strong but as things break, die or flood I'm finding my replacements are becoming the much cheaper to replace GoPro's. I've been more than happy with the 7 black and notice a GoPro 8 popped onto the scene a little while back. I get my GoPro cameras from a local fishing tackle store that seems to be far cheaper than anywhere, under $500 with a genuine GoPro 40m housing and 32g card £250 on the exchange rate.

I'm able to pull frames from GoPro video at a high enough quality to sell to news papers and magazines, something that used to cost $$$$ in slr gear to get. My footage is used in tv tourism adverts and occasional tv shows.

boristhebold · 20 October 2019, 08:26

Ive had a few so called waterproof cameras over the years.

Do you really need a waterproof camera ? If its just for taking a few snaps and video then somelike like a Garmin VIRB is a good choice, I have had one for a few years, good mounting options, nice video etc.

Unless you want to take a camera underwater then lots of choices for a reasonable cost, mounting is an important consideration.

Having scuba dived in lots of places and used reasonable cost waterproof cameras which have a limited of so many meters the results are terrible. Unless you can spend several thousand on the camera and or camera housing and then several hundred if not a thousand or so more on a light / flash set up mounted to the camera then dont bother, it really is a specialist bit of kit that costs alot to get any decent results underwater.

Your best bet for a reasonble cost may be to get a weather proof action camera like the garmin virb and good mounts for video and then also buy some form of weather proof camera for still shots, but even then a weatherproof decent DSLR with lens is going to cost alot.

Fenlander · 20 October 2019, 10:58

Brilliant response thanks guys... helps make me think what I really need.

I want properly waterproof not just splash proof so I can, for example, have it in the pocket of my BA and not worry if I dipped in the water such as when I fell backwards over a submerged object at the slip a couple of outings ago.... or to have it mucking about in the surf at the beach... or just if we copped a sheet of water over it while filming under way. Its not that I want to film underwater in particular.

Unlike some of your RIB outings with a fixed cam running for much of the trip the videos I want to take are rarely more than 2-3 minutes long and I'm almost never solo so don't really need a mount system on the transom etc.

Ideally I only want to carry one camera for both these short videos and decent stills so the usual fixed ultra wide angle GoPro like action cams are probably not ideal with their distorted perspective more suited to video.... attractive that they are in gadget boy appeal.

Really want to keep to the £150 budget as this will be a second camera to my on-land camera which I'm also about to replace.

I've had a look at the Olympus Tough offerings on Ebay PD and in my budget they tend to be hard used or even declared faulty. The Lumix waterproof models are more affordable new and used.

Below two examples of when I might want to take an image... in both cases the existing non-waterproof camera had to be pulled from the dry bag... had to take the speed right off and turn the boat so the image was taken downwind or over the stern to stop spray risking ruining the camera. Even then sometimes spray droplets get on the telephoto elements which then needs a dry cloth finding to remove them before the camera is powered down. Complete faff and we don't bother with many photo opportunities because of this.

Brian · 20 October 2019, 11:03

Have you looked at waterproof camera/iphone cases for your existing kit?
Like:https://duxducisbox.com/products/und...waAlNvEALw_wcB

Or similar to suit..........?

Fenlander · 20 October 2019, 11:13

It's a good call but I don't like my iPhone for photography and I take it in a dry-box fully charged in case it's useable in an emergency.

Pouches and housings for my digicam tend to be quite bulky and near impossible to work the smaller buttons too.

Here on an old abandoned YouTube account of mine is an example of the short duration crew held digicam video I want to be able to take without fear of salt spray trashing the camera....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FO00b88Oj4