Instruction Manual for GoPro's Underwater Videography for Novices
GoPro cameras are popular choices for capturing underwater footage, offering a unique perspective of the marine world. Here's a guide on how to set up your GoPro for the best underwater video results.
Essential Accessories
To ensure your GoPro can withstand the underwater environment and capture vibrant, clear footage, consider the following accessories:
- Protective Housing: A waterproof case designed for your specific GoPro model is essential to protect your camera. For example, the GoPro Hero protective housing is sturdy but somewhat tricky to open and close.
- Color-Correcting Filters: These enhance underwater colors lost due to water filtration. Use a red filter for blue water, magenta for green water, and a snorkel filter for shallow water to boost vibrancy and realism in your footage.
- Dome Port Lens: Particularly useful for half underwater/half above water shots, dome ports like the Telesin Dome Port Lens improve wide-angle shots by correcting underwater distortion.
- Lighting: Underwater lights are crucial to restore colors and visibility. A versatile option is the OrcaTorch D710V, offering white, red (to detect critters without startling), and UV light for fluorescence photography.
- Mounting Accessories: Depending on your shooting style, you may want extension poles, tripod adapters, or floating grips to stabilize and position your GoPro underwater effectively.
Camera Settings
For underwater videos, the recommended settings for the GoPro HERO7 or HERO8 are 1080 resolution, 60 FPS, Lens WIDE, Hypersmooth Image Stabilization, ISO 400, Sharpness High, Color on GoPro, Auto White Balance, and turning "Screensaver" and "Auto Off" to Never.
It's important to note that filters are not recommended with underwater lights or in shallow water with plenty of natural sunlight, as it will result in a pinkish tone and unnatural look.
Best Practices
- Keep in mind that your camera needs to be very steady for a long period of time for time-lapse video. Make sure your GoPro is secured tightly and is in a place where nothing can move or bump into your camera.
- The faster your scene is moving, the lower the number you want to use for the time-lapse interval. The slower your scene is moving, the higher the number you want to use.
- For underwater photos, the recommended settings for the GoPro HERO7 or HERO8 are RAW File, Lens WIDE, Color GoPro, Auto White Balance, ISO 100-1600 (depending on if you have lights), Sharpness High.
- It is recommended to use a fully charged battery for every dive.
- In between dives, if the battery is getting low, it can be plugged in during the surface interval.
- The GoPro App connects the device with the GoPro and allows the camera to update the latest firmware.
Additional Tips
- Confirm compatibility of all accessories with your GoPro model to avoid issues, as newer models might require new versions of accessories.
- Carry a large memory card for ample storage during extended underwater sessions.
- If you desire more control over color correction in post-production editing software, experiment with the ProTune options and change the color to "Flat."
- Spare batteries can be purchased and swapped out after each dive.
- 1080 resolution is the default setting and is easier to edit and suitable for social media networks.
- GoPro Hero cameras can be charged by inserting the battery and connecting to a USB plug via the supplied USB-C cable.
- The Hero4 or Hero3 are not waterproof and require a dive housing to protect them from water.
- Filters are not needed on GoPro Hero6 Black, GoPro Hero7 Black or GoPro Hero 8 Black.
- Using red or magenta filters in underwater video can bring more color and contrast to the scene. Red filters are for blue water, magenta for green water.
- Higher frame rates like 120 and 240 are available for fast action events or slow-motion effects, but produce larger file sizes and may be difficult to play back on a computer.
- For underwater use, the Hero 7 or 8 offer 4K in both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, with the 16:9 aspect ratio and hypersmooth image stabilization recommended.
In summary, the best underwater video setup with a GoPro combines a model-specific protective housing, color filters, quality underwater lighting, and appropriate mounts (such as dome ports and grips) to capture vibrant, clear, and stable footage below the surface.
- A protective housing for your GoPro model is essential to protect your camera during underwater trips.
- Color-correcting filters can enhance underwater colors lost due to water filtration, using a red filter for blue water, magenta for green water, and a snorkel filter for shallow water.
- Dome port lenses are useful for half underwater/half above water shots, improving wide-angle shots by correcting underwater distortion.
- Underwater lights are crucial to restore colors and visibility, such as the OrcaTorch D710V, offering different light colors for various purposes.
- Various mounting accessories are available depending on your shooting style, helping to stabilize and position your GoPro underwater effectively.
- To capture vibrant, clear underwater footage, set the camera for 1080 resolution, 60 FPS, Lens WIDE, Hypersmooth Image Stabilization, ISO 400, Sharpness High, Color on GoPro, Auto White Balance, and "Screensaver" and "Auto Off" to Never.
- For underwater photos, set the camera for RAW File, Lens WIDE, Color GoPro, Auto White Balance, ISO 100-1600, and Sharpness High.
- It's recommended to use a fully charged battery for every dive, and it can be plugged in during the surface interval if it's getting low.
- Disconnect the GoPro from the GoPro App to avoid firmware updates while diving.
- Spare batteries can be purchased and swapped out after each dive for extended underwater sessions.
- Utilize ProTune options in post-production editing software for more control over color correction.
- Avoid using filters on GoPro Hero6 Black, GoPro Hero7 Black, and GoPro Hero 8 Black, as these models are already equipped with advanced underwater capabilities.
