Best underwater video camera under $5000?

  • What is the best option for filming underwater for under $5000 (camera and housing)? This is for filming freediving spearfishing down to 90ft (30m) max, so I don't think lights are necessary. Nor is micro. Can be a camera or camcorder, whichever is better. Already have a Gopro HERO3+ black edition.

  • If I had a $5000 budget...I would upgrade to a Nikon D7100 and throw it in a Nauticam housing with a dome port and a 10-17mm lens. You could also do the same thing with a Canon but I already have all Nikon lenses so that's what I would go with.


    Another option that I may consider if I was only worried about shooting video would be a Black Magic Cinema Camera in a Nauticam Housing.





    For film production, the Black Magic Cinema is MUCH better than a normal DSLR.


    [VIMEO]49875510[/VIMEO]

    Edited 2 times, last by Hardline ().

  • Great review, there's a blackmagic on fleebay now for $1700.


    The Redone is a super cam as well but still @ 6k used plus the cost of a housing.


    Dan the guy I was trying to get a hold of is gone till next week.
    I'll let you know what he says Mon night.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

  • Which model, EF or MFT? I'm assuming EF because underwater you can't fiddle with focus so it can't be a manual lens?


    Does a domed port not create the same type of problem we used to have with the Gopro curved housing lens?


    In this vid they're using 10-17mm lens, why is 16mm better?


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPZHpcHAXY8

  • If my memory serves me the magnification of the 10-17 will be slightly higher than the 11-16 that frank recommended. The 11-16 will give you a wider angle and potentially allow more light in. From my understanding the EF vs MFT has more to do with which lenses you want to use. The EF uses the same attachment system as the Cannon EF lenses. If you already had cannon lenses (like I do) you would choose the EF. If not either would be available and you could pick the appropriate lens.


    Im really interested in this camera but the limited battery life is a problem. Frank do you know of anything in between the DMCC and the Gopro H3+ ? Im really looking for something with a battery life of around 5-6 hours. I like to film everything that happens because you never know what might happen underwater.

  • If my memory serves me the magnification of the 10-17 will be slightly higher than the 11-16 that frank recommended. The 11-16 will give you a wider angle and potentially allow more light in. From my understanding the EF vs MFT has more to do with which lenses you want to use. The EF uses the same attachment system as the Cannon EF lenses. If you already had cannon lenses (like I do) you would choose the EF. If not either would be available and you could pick the appropriate lens.


    Im really interested in this camera but the limited battery life is a problem. Frank do you know of anything in between the DMCC and the Gopro H3+ ? Im really looking for something with a battery life of around 5-6 hours. I like to film everything that happens because you never know what might happen underwater.


    Well for shallow stuff, I am going to be rigging my Nikon DSLR with an Outex cover and fisheye. Battery life on my Nikon can last all day shooting. You'll run out of memory before running out of battery. But my DSLR only shoots 1080p at 30FPS. But it's not bad to use that in conjunction with the GoPro.


    The Outex is around $250-300 and can go to 33F so it's suitable for shallow stuff.


    What I really love about the GoPro is the frame rates and what I really hate about the gopro is the battery life. Even with the battery bacpac..it still isnt that long. Plus Ive been having issues with the camera not functioning properly with the BacPac attached.


  • Yeah, go with the EF since you're def gonna want autofocus.


    The dome ports do not create the same blurry image like the orginal GoPro housing did.


    The lower the aperture number on the lens, the wider you can open the lens up thus allowing more light in.

  • Well for shallow stuff, I am going to be rigging my Nikon DSLR with an Outex cover and fisheye. Battery life on my Nikon can last all day shooting. You'll run out of memory before running out of battery. But my DSLR only shoots 1080p at 30FPS. But it's not bad to use that in conjunction with the GoPro.


    The Outex is around $250-300 and can go to 33F so it's suitable for shallow stuff.
    http://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2013/02/outex2.jpg


    What I really love about the GoPro is the frame rates and what I really hate about the gopro is the battery life. Even with the battery bacpac..it still isnt that long. Plus Ive been having issues with the camera not functioning properly with the BacPac attached.


    Ive always been scared of those "bag" type cases for my dslr. It just seems to easy to pop a hole in them. Have you used these before? Plus 30 feet limit is pretty shallow.

  • Ive always been scared of those "bag" type cases for my dslr. It just seems to easy to pop a hole in them. Have you used these before? Plus 30 feet limit is pretty shallow.


    Its not the same material as the conventional "bag type". Its more like dry-suit material from what I understand. Also, about the 90% of the shooting I do on a normal basis takes place in the top 15 feet of water. I wouldn't use it for scuba or deep stuff but for my normal shallow spots, surface shots, and boat/beach stuff, it seems perfect.


    Those Nauticam housings are heavy out of the water!


    Outex DSLR Housing Review: Extreme Adventure Protection! - YouTube

  • Pretty insightful replies. Have you thought about experimenting w the gopro Dan to determine what you like and don't. Might make your search easier if you know what characteristics you like or don't like

    i like to spear fish

  • I have the Outex bag for a camera, and it's leaking a bit time to time, and I'm scared of diving with it. Also the flat port is not optimal for wideangle lenses underwater, as the corners of the image get quite blurry. For pictures on the surface and just below it is ok as a waterproofing solution.

    Jussi Rovanpera
    AIDA Freediving Instructor
    Moalboal, Philippines

  • Judah, the kind of footage I'd like would take too long to get diving Miami, so I must do a trip. In this case I depend on other people and sea conditions. If everything goes right I don't want to be experimenting with cameras, I want the best results possible to get the shots I need in one time. I will use both cameras together, the Gopro head mounted and the other camera hand held.

  • Judah, the kind of footage I'd like would take too long to get diving Miami, so I must do a trip. In this case I depend on other people and sea conditions. If everything goes right I don't want to be experimenting with cameras, I want the best results possible to get the shots I need in one time. I will use both cameras together, the Gopro head mounted and the other camera hand held.


    Sounds like something interesting on the works

  • Just some promotional videos for Speardiver gear. If the footage is really good maybe a compilation for an inexpensive DVD featuring the gear. I really liked the Terra Australis video. I want to achieve the same quality, and think I can get much more action (local) because the guys I'll be filming are very experienced.


    [VIMEO]80171964[/VIMEO]

  • Judah, the kind of footage I'd like would take too long to get diving Miami, so I must do a trip. In this case I depend on other people and sea conditions. If everything goes right I don't want to be experimenting with cameras, I want the best results possible to get the shots I need in one time. I will use both cameras together, the Gopro head mounted and the other camera hand held.


    I understand that. That makes a lot of sense. The more shot vantage points the better the video always is.

    i like to spear fish

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