Waterproof Video/camera

[Humbugged]

Anyone have any recent experience with any of these models.

Used to have an Exacti, think its a sony and it was very good, until it leaked one day....but it was the very first of these little waterproof video cameras, so it lasted about 3 years. One would think they are much better now.

Will get exacti again if not find anything better.....but I think I saw one for circa 17h baht, kinda exy.

Also if anyone knows good place to buy them, went to Fortune and their selection of waterproof was quite poor.

[samuijimmy]

I am surprised no one has answered anything here...

I had a Sony (DS W 220) with a "water proof" case to fit it... as expensive as each other... The camera like yours got wet, actually just damp.... just from sweat inside the case. Sony only made the camera, for one year.... ( and changed all the buttons to fit the case on next model...

I don't do Sony any thing any more!!! Crap service from Sony in BKK too.

I know have a cheap point and shoot Fuji, (for doing stuff in wet conditions) but I know the problem there is the catch can easily be opened underwater.... and it's finished!! I really just brought it for Songkran, last year... images not the greatest!

I wonder about Go Pro... ? (not that cheap either). One member here has some fabulous aerial shots, but I have heard good under water (perhaps different model? )

Sorry don't know where to suggest buying in BKK... to me cameras are some thing you need to "touchy feel" to buy, ..... so not sure finding something online is a option... ?

Hope that helps a little!

[Humbugged]

A friend in Oz has the gopro for underwater videos...very good.

I dont like the Fuji.

Shall keep looking.

[AleG]

The GoPro, if it doesn't have a flat port, as in the diving housing, is rubbish for underwater use. Only the center of the image is somewhat in focus and the rest gets more and more blurred towards the edge of the frame. So if you plant to get one for underwater use make sure to either get an after market flat port replacement or buy the diving housing.

I have recently bought a Sony NEX 5N and a Meike brand underwater housing for it, the housing was relatively cheap, about 4000 Baht if I remember correctly, the video it shoots is fantastic, much better than the GoPro even with the flat port.

Actually you can see the difference by yourself, here's a video I did with clips from both a GoPro Hero2 and the Sony NEX 5N. On the clips from the GoPro you can see the lens hood I made on the corners, whereas the footage from the NEX 5N doesn't have anything so you can see which is which. (The video thumbnail is from a GoPro clip)

[samuijimmy]

Wow!! ... good video, but certainly having the corners showing with the Go Pro would be very annoying! I almost brought one in Singapore, last February, glad I held off !!!

Thought the colour quality was good, even at full screen on Thunderbolt display...

I have heard one needs a "red lens" for great underwater colour, is that true?

Also out of curiosity did you buy in Thailand ? , that would / might help the OP!

That cheap Fuji I have has the lens in wrong place, too easy to get my big finger over the edge !!! ..... I certainly would not recommend it ~!!!

Edited December 16, 2012 by astral
No need for long quote

[AleG]

The corners are from the lens hood/protector I made, I think it was a bit loose, sticking out too much so that's why it's visible. The normal GoPro housing doesn't have this hood so there's nothing to cause vignetting. However, as I said, the normal housing is bad for underwater use; the dive housing is much better and there won't be vignetting either.

A red filter works on blue water, for green water you need an orange filter... you see, it's not very precise to get the colours right. The best would be to use the new firmware for the Hero2 (I don't know about the new Hero3) that allows you to use a RAW kind of video format where you can adjust the white balance after shooting. But last time I checked there are some serious bugs in that firmware so I'm holding back until they sort them out.

Edited December 16, 2012 by astral
No need for long quote

[rene123]

I have a Nikon AW100 that I adore. I hardly ever use my SLR anymore. The AW100 is waterproof and the video has been excellent. I've put video from it on a 60 inch TV screen and it is as sharp as any movie I've rented. I had it draped over my neck while riding my motorbike in traffic and ran it for 26 minutes straight. There wasn't a glitch. I've taken it down to 20 feet below the surface while swimming and no problems. The close up is amazing and will focus as close as I can get the lens to the subject. With a proper sound system I think you could make marketable movies with it. I had been thinking of buying a GoPro video camera for my motorbike, but after seeing what the AW100 does I've changed my mind.

[Humbugged]

I bought the Panasonic HXWA10.

Happy with it thus far, put it through it paces, but having trouble watching the video on PC, I downloaded them straight to the PC without using the software provided, then realised it a special software just for viewing videos from this camera, which seems a tad inconvenient.

Anyone know a way around it....the files come out as normal mp4 files, but cannot play properly with any player I have...vlc, windows, quick, winamp....not clear and stops and starts.

Anyone ???