Dear divers and underwater filmers,
I would like to hear your opinions on my following thoughts.
Currently, I deal with the question if I should switch from the Sony RX 100 V to the
GoPro Hero Black 7 - or not.
I guess, many people would tell me that the Sony would win "hands down" this race.
But is it really true? Here are my thoughts and experiences:
Over a period of, roundabout, 3-4 years, I was quite happy with the GoPro Hero 4 Silver.
I filmed just diving videos with it. Nothing else. But I also experienced (at least) two issues
that motivated me to search for an alternative: The tiny, tiny screen and the low light performance
that caused quite often grainy footage, especially when diving around 90ft (or deeper) or during cloudy weather conditions. For 70% of the time, I film bigger stuff in bigger distances, so lamps wouldn't help in those situations (for the other 30% I often use my two lamps).
Many people told me to go the next step and chose a Sony RX 100V that had a 1" image sensor as well a quite big screen. So, I ordered the new equipment. But with the new equipment, new problems came:
With the GoPro, I used the "medium" FOV 90% of the time. For the RX, I needed a wide angle, and
finally I bought an Inon UWL-H100. This lens did an amazing job. But, on the one hand, it was quite
"heavy" and on the other hand, I had to unscrew it on each dive to remove all the bubbles.
So, on every dive I risked to lose this expensive piece of gear.
But - by far - my biggest concern with the RX 100 V is the white balance. On the GoPro, I was quite
happy with ProTune Raw as well the "native" white balance.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I realized that the Sony offered similar settings just for the
photographers but not for the videographers. Yes, this was my mistake that I didn't figured it out before I bought the camera. I can't blame anyone for this, but it still results in problems.
I can't believe, Sony offered a custom white balance for videographers. I know, there exist a complicated workaround (8 single steps and the disregard of one error message) to aply the custom white balance on video, but this is so complicated, that it is ridiculous in my eyes. Experimenting with fixed color temperatures resulted in not so good videos, so I stayed with the underwater white balance. This setting gave me quite good results, but the problem is, that the white balance can shift during a single shot - and so the colors adjust during filming.
The next problem I had with the combination of camera and wide angle lens was, that my lamps didn't light up the entire image anymore, due to the different angle. In combination with the auto white balance, the center of the image looks ok now and the surrounding areas stay green and blue. So, I need to buy two new (expensive) lamps.
To sum up my pro's and con's of the Sony RX 100 V:
Pro's:
- Bigger sensor and therefore better low light performance
- Bigger screen
- Pretty well working image stabilization
Con's:
- Now RAW video
- No custom white balance or "native" setting
- wide angle lens needed (with risk of loosing it during each dive)
- New lamps needed
- Generally: More expensive (wide angle, housing, new lamps)
Compared to the Go Pro 4:
Pro's:
- ProTune RAW
- Native white balance
- Cheap and easy
Con's:
- Low light performance
- Tiny screen
- No image stabilization
But that was the Gro Pro Hero 4 Silver! Now, we're living in the age of the Hero 7 black.
I was pretty impressed by the "hypersmooth" image stabilization. And the screen is also bigger.
The remaining issue would be the low light performance. Is it better than the performance of the
hero 4 silver? And how is it, compared to the Sony?
Now, I have a big descision to make:
- Stay with the Sony, buy two expensive lamps and deal with the other issues (especially the white balance thing)
or
- buy the hero 7 black for a price lower than the two lamps, even with the super suit and a bunch of
batteries
What is your opinition? I would like to hear it.
Thank you very much!!
I would like to hear your opinions on my following thoughts.
Currently, I deal with the question if I should switch from the Sony RX 100 V to the
GoPro Hero Black 7 - or not.
I guess, many people would tell me that the Sony would win "hands down" this race.
But is it really true? Here are my thoughts and experiences:
Over a period of, roundabout, 3-4 years, I was quite happy with the GoPro Hero 4 Silver.
I filmed just diving videos with it. Nothing else. But I also experienced (at least) two issues
that motivated me to search for an alternative: The tiny, tiny screen and the low light performance
that caused quite often grainy footage, especially when diving around 90ft (or deeper) or during cloudy weather conditions. For 70% of the time, I film bigger stuff in bigger distances, so lamps wouldn't help in those situations (for the other 30% I often use my two lamps).
Many people told me to go the next step and chose a Sony RX 100V that had a 1" image sensor as well a quite big screen. So, I ordered the new equipment. But with the new equipment, new problems came:
With the GoPro, I used the "medium" FOV 90% of the time. For the RX, I needed a wide angle, and
finally I bought an Inon UWL-H100. This lens did an amazing job. But, on the one hand, it was quite
"heavy" and on the other hand, I had to unscrew it on each dive to remove all the bubbles.
So, on every dive I risked to lose this expensive piece of gear.
But - by far - my biggest concern with the RX 100 V is the white balance. On the GoPro, I was quite
happy with ProTune Raw as well the "native" white balance.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I realized that the Sony offered similar settings just for the
photographers but not for the videographers. Yes, this was my mistake that I didn't figured it out before I bought the camera. I can't blame anyone for this, but it still results in problems.
I can't believe, Sony offered a custom white balance for videographers. I know, there exist a complicated workaround (8 single steps and the disregard of one error message) to aply the custom white balance on video, but this is so complicated, that it is ridiculous in my eyes. Experimenting with fixed color temperatures resulted in not so good videos, so I stayed with the underwater white balance. This setting gave me quite good results, but the problem is, that the white balance can shift during a single shot - and so the colors adjust during filming.
The next problem I had with the combination of camera and wide angle lens was, that my lamps didn't light up the entire image anymore, due to the different angle. In combination with the auto white balance, the center of the image looks ok now and the surrounding areas stay green and blue. So, I need to buy two new (expensive) lamps.
To sum up my pro's and con's of the Sony RX 100 V:
Pro's:
- Bigger sensor and therefore better low light performance
- Bigger screen
- Pretty well working image stabilization
Con's:
- Now RAW video
- No custom white balance or "native" setting
- wide angle lens needed (with risk of loosing it during each dive)
- New lamps needed
- Generally: More expensive (wide angle, housing, new lamps)
Compared to the Go Pro 4:
Pro's:
- ProTune RAW
- Native white balance
- Cheap and easy
Con's:
- Low light performance
- Tiny screen
- No image stabilization
But that was the Gro Pro Hero 4 Silver! Now, we're living in the age of the Hero 7 black.
I was pretty impressed by the "hypersmooth" image stabilization. And the screen is also bigger.
The remaining issue would be the low light performance. Is it better than the performance of the
hero 4 silver? And how is it, compared to the Sony?
Now, I have a big descision to make:
- Stay with the Sony, buy two expensive lamps and deal with the other issues (especially the white balance thing)
or
- buy the hero 7 black for a price lower than the two lamps, even with the super suit and a bunch of
batteries
What is your opinition? I would like to hear it.
Thank you very much!!