Scuba Divers...Photography question

Yeah, I noticed Mike Reed (RIP) used to use a GoPro...I was thinking of the new Hero 5 Black...but I know there's better out there...I'm just looking for something to document my trips...have something of a memory saved....

I have an old GoPro 2. Does good for me but I'd like to hear some opinions on how much better the 5 is. Is it worth upgrading?

I actually caught one of them and threw it on the dock. The workers were none too pleased but every patron at the springs thought it was the best

I have a Nikon D300s in an ikelite housing, twin DS161 strobes with a GoPro mounted on top next to a SOLA 800 focus light. I have found that in very clear water with good ambient light the stills from my GoPro are as good as most of my camera's pics.

My girlfriend uses a tray mounted GoPro with twin SOLA video lights and the FLIP3 lens set. She gets decent video, but the lighting is uneven. The flip lenses are cool, but they're more of good at a few things and great at nothing.

There are a few P&S underwater cameras out there that do a very good job. Sealife makes one.

If you are truly wanting to get into underwater photography, nothing can beat a camera with slaved strobes. Maybe look around ebay for a housing. Just like your SLR, the key is to have good lenses and good ports. Housings and SLR bodies will come and go.

My advice: Take your time with the camera decision. Get a GoPro to play with. Keep diving and nail your buoyancy control down. This is critical if you ever go full-housing setup. You won't capture anything if you're too busy fighting to maintain position.

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Yeah, Sealife has had mixed reviews

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It's why I never bought one myself, but I've seen Cindy (Harry's Dive Shop)take pics that blew everything away when we were in the Philippines. It really comes down to the photographer, just like land photography. A good DSLR system will run you over $10k easily so at the Sealife price it may be worth it. Good luck.

I use a GoPro. I have some nice footage from the Maldives if you want to see it.

The Sealife reviews I had the problems with was the failures...not the quality. I've seen average to great reviews on picture quality..it was service after the sale and failures that caused catastrophic loss of the camera that have caused me to hit the pause button on that camera.

I wish Ikelite would make housings for older cameras too...but it seems like they make a run of housings..and when they're gone, they're gone. Kinda like a limited run of alcohol.

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I wish Ikelite would make housings for older cameras too...but it seems like they make a run of housings..and when they're gone, they're gone

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Welcome to the digital photography age. DSLR/Mirrorless bodies change annually. So goes the housings. It will cost me thousands of dollars when my D300s finally retires. New body means new housing. The same applies to point-and-shoots. $$$$$$

As to your comment on failures. I won't comment on the company, but the slightest lapse in maintaining an UW system can earn you a flood. I'm talking a hair on an o-ring, even fine dust. Forget to rinse after a saltwater dive and salt crystals start forming. Even better, drop your camera system in the mask rinse bucket. Many defoggers will eat o-rings over time. If someone floods a system due to not paying attention, that is on the user, not the manufacturer. It happens all the time.

There is no system, including GoPro that is 100% failure-proof if you don't maintain it correctly. If you get a GoPro, remember to store the underwater case open. The o-ring compresses if stored closed and will leak eventually (not as big a deal now that the 5's are waterproof). At it's price point, compared to a full system, it's almost disposable if you're OT rich. I still have my 2, 3 and 4 units.

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Those eels will scare the shite out of you when the make a sudden charge at your face.

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They do have an attitude. Had one attack one of my fins like a terminator last year at Vortex. Students thought it was hilarious.