GoPro HD2 with Blurfix URPro swCY filter and the Tray by SRP vide

[Marty Cerven]

Here is a little edit I put together from yesterdays little test dive.

All shot in 1080p modes using the HD2 mostly wide but some medium in there too. This version has been graded with Magic Bullet colorista2 in Adobe premiere pro cs5.5 but I'm also uploading a raw colours version to show how the originals were fine, I just did this for effect more then anything and I'm not sure which version I prefer myself so Id like some feedback with which people like better once the other on is up.

[video=youtube;5FvomG5ADlw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FvomG5ADlw[/video]

Here is something else I tried this dive and that was my stupid mask mount lol, great angle but cant see straight ahead which is a little bit of a problem which is why Im looking to one side or the other rather then straight on.

Also vibration from the bubbles causes the video to wobble, its only attached by 2 rubber bands though so its not on very solidly.





The tray I used an extra arm to try and see if that would help giving options for one and 2 handed use easily, works ok but I still just prefer 2 handed use. I added some tubular foam to the tray to make it neutrally buoyant. I only used the mask cam for about 20min as it was very awkward to say the least but you will see some shots from both.

 

[The Chairman]

Nicely done. Thanks for sharing! That scar around the seal's neck looks horrid! Poor little guy.

 

[Marty Cerven]

Thanks NetDOC, I sent an email to Wildlife Victoria regarding the seal with a link to my video as it looks like the line is still atached to it.

They have already got back to me and said that they've passed on the info to a seal specialist at Melbourne Zoo and they will see if they can help the poor little thing. It does look rather distressed just tumbling through the water but I knew there was nothing I could do unfortuantly other then take some video and try get in touch with someone that can help. This seal has been living there for nearly a year and Ive filmed it a few times before when it was much happier and healthier.

Here is the original colours version, much more natural but a couple shots looked a little bland to me so I tried to fiddle with colours a little in the first version.



Vimeo original colours higher quality stream. Unfortunatly the sharpness will make the seal look even worse but after seeing this video the Wildlife Victoria people also saw how bad the seal looks and will be trying to help it out.

[video=vimeo;38545044]http://vimeo.com/38545044[/video]

 

[CajunDiva]

Nicely done. Thanks for sharing! That scar around the seal's neck looks horrid! Poor little guy.

I know, right??? I tuned in to see the video quality, but all I could think about was the seal's poor neck!

 

[irishtn]

Awesome as usual Marty. I agree about the poor seal too. Also, love Vimeo, huge difference.
Can't wait to get that tray. Do you still have the prototype?
I wonder how close the actual tray is in weight to yours?

 

[Marty Cerven]

Thanks irishtn

Im not sure of the weight difference of the proto against the final retail but I know the final version is a bit lighter.

The tray I have to get just slightly positive with a GoPro HD Hero2 and LCD backpack needed 2 extra foam tubes over the handles, I ended up putting them on the tray itself rather then the handles to see how that goes.

Vimeo is much better quality the YouTube but more people still use YouTube so I normally put my videos on both. For closest to original quality its best to view Vimeo and I also keep all my original videos there for download if anyone wants to see them in full quality.

 

[flspy]

Really, truly, excellent video. I want to put together a duplicate setup. I'm told I need a flat port (the Blurfix?) but i don't know why.
I was going to buy an expensive house for my HD cam but I could buy ten of these for the same price.

So please- help me get started with a good setup! Let me know what i need to put together. Thanks.

 

[irishtn]

GoPRo Hero2 + Blurfix + CY filter + LCD back(optional) + "The Tray".
Check out the following website: GoPro Flat Lens - BlurFix - GoPro Hero They will get you setup. They are members here too and post often.

PS. The reason the GoPRo needs a flat fix is the original lens is a bubble lens and does not focus accurately. Everything will look a little blurry. Lots of different options for aftermarket fix and there is talk of GoPRo releasing their own version but I decided to go with the Blurfix and could not be happier with my decision. Very good video as you can tell from Marty's vids. Check out his Vimeo page for more.

 

[scubadiver sparks]

Marty Cerven,

How long of a battery time are you getting on your Hero2 with the LCD turned on for the eniter time?

Thank you.

 

[Marty Cerven]

@flspy, irishtn has got my setup spot on there and the link he gave you is for Aquapro HD who is the US and Canada SRP distributor and they will be able to get you all the same gear Ive used.

There are a few other flat lens options but the Blurfix and URPro filters combination has worked great for me low vignette and very good quality underwater filters. The tray as can be seen in this video can produce very steady videos too even though I was following the seal and other creatures stability wasn't an issue and this was my smoothest footage so far.

This particular dive I went to try my mask mount and trays stability when neutrally buoyant, which is why the tray looks a little strange with the extra foam but getting the setup neutral makes it much smoother. I also tried a 3rd handle just to see how that works, the normal tray is just a 2 handled setup but its so versatile you can set it up in so many ways that it should be able to fit into anyone's needs.

@scubadiver sparks, this actual dive I drained my battery on the camera with LCD but I kept it always on and did a total dive time of just over 1:30 with 1:10 of recorded video. This would be typical as Id usually get 2 dives with LCD with normal dives around 45m without I can get 3 dives just under 2:30. On regular dives though I don't keep the LCD on all the time only when needed, seeing I only planned the one dive here I thought id do a battery test with it too and keep it going.