Help deciding on Nikon 1 J4

[scubajoe123]

I'm a relatively new diver, but have been into photographer for 5-6 years(currently shooting a D7100).

I currently have a GoPro Hero, that I've used for snorkeling, but no lights, filters, etc..

I picked up a WP-N3 recently for around $70 new(couldn't help myself, given what underwater housings normally go for), with the original plan to find a used Nikon 1 J4 in the next couple of months.

My planned usage would be primarily on shallow reefs, with something like a 70/30 mix of video/pictures, and an occasional wreck dive.

Okay, so here are my questions:

1) How does the video performance of the Hero, Hero3+, Hero4 and J4 compare?
2) I noticed the flash sync speed on the J4 is only 1/60, that seems a little slow unless the fish are going to pose for me. Anyone have experience working with this?
3) Would I be better off dropping the WP-N3 housing and getting a hero3+ or hero4?

Anything else I should consider?

 

[grtday]

I am shooting the complete Nikon J-4 system with Nikon UW housing and Nikon strobe.
GREAT success and love the system....still and video are excellent.
If you want a faster sync, run the system in manual. I use aperture priority of F8...11 and the TTL on the Nikon and Sea and Sea YS-D02 and it works great. The Auto-ISO compensates and makes all shots perfectly exposed.

but I will revert back to DSLR. It just feels better to me.

 

[northernone]

I'll second his post.


It's kit lens low light performance is pretty bad (but beats a gopro 4 at least)

Perhaps the wide angle lens of the gopro will be missed, otherwise I find the j4 superior in every way.

I miss my dslr when underwater but haven't taken the plunge on one yet.

As a side note the waterproof rating is on the conservative side by a considerable margin.

Enjoy!

 

[Hitham]

If you want a faster sync, run the system in manual

Hello.. Do you mean u could get more than 1\60th sync speed ! if yes please let me know how