BlurFix Flat Housing Lens for GoPro HERO
The GoPro is hands down one of the best cameras out there to use for underwater filming, extreme sports and everything else under the sun that you’d want to capture. From pictures to video, time lapse and now capable of 120 fps, the GoPro is an obvious must have. With the GoPro HD Hero 2, you now have more control over FOV (field of view) options so that you’re not stuck with the same super wide fisheye look. One thing we noticed is that as you narrow the field of view, the resolution degrades a bit. Our favorite setting which still remained sharp was at the 127 degree field of view.
When shooting underwater in the stock housing, the images captured by the GoPro can appear to be a bit soft. This is due to the convex curvature of the lens. The BlurFix by Snake River Prototyping provides a flat surface for light to enter in making the images captured much more sharp. This is most noticeable when viewing several feet away from the camera. Below are a few frame grabs from our video tests showing the stock GoPro HD housing underwater, and one with the BlurFix flat lens kit.
Stock GoPro HD Housing – click for larger view
BlurFix Flat Lens Housing – click for larger view
Snake River Prototyping also sells different colored filters that change the temperature of your footage. Below is an awesome example of what those filters look like in use underwater. You can also find more videos of the BlurFix in use on Snake River Prototyping’s Facebook page.
You can find the new GoPro HD Hero2 sports camera and the BlurFix Flat lens kit following the links below.
Blur Fix, Blurfix, filters, GoPro Hero, GoPro Hero2, HD, underwater camera, underwater housing
GoPro Camera HD HERO2 Edition
Great post, Olivia! I had no idea you could make such a significant improvement to the GoPro’s image quality with add-on attachements. Definitely considering making a purchase now. Thanks!
nice post, I want one now
The vignetting issue is more of a problem with some of the other flat lens fixes.The Blurfix is always vignette free in all modes except for very slight corner effect in 960P and photo mode of the HD1, also 960P and wide photo modes only in the HD2.
Some flat lens replacements that just replace the dome for a flat lens the same size are only vignette free in 1080p in the HD1 and will vignette in all wide modes of the HD2.
The comparison video shows the vignetting but I should have used a non black background to make this easier to see, the vignette just blends into the black background but you can still see the rounded edges fairly well in the video.
is the blurfix recommended for just underwater filming,
or is there an improvement for filming above water as well?
The BlurFix only improves the image quality of your subject underwater. Out of water it makes no difference and doesn’t effect your shots at all. Some have experienced some vignetting but I have not.
Great post. Significant more clarity with the BlurFix. When you said you “stuck” the BlurFix lens on the housing, how did you do that? Is it permanently glued on there or something? If it is a permanent application, are there circumstances where I wouldn’t want to use the BlurFix and in that case, maybe I need to have an extra stock housing for my GoPro Hero2? From some of your other videos it looks like you use the BlurFix most of the time on the GoPro… in water, out of water, etc… Is it something that you find sharpens most all of your GoPro footage? Thanks!
Thanks, Mike. You just screw the BlurFix onto the stock housing. The lens on the standard GoPro housing has a ring around it secured by tiny screws. You simply unscrew the convex lens and replace with the BlurFix flat lens. I use this housing all the time. In and out of water. Underwater, as you saw, it make s a HUGE difference in clarity. Out of water it makes no difference at all and doesn’t effect your shots. Some have experienced some vignetting but I have not. Hope that helps!
Mike, CHeesyCam actually did a video on the install! CLICK HERE to see it.. =)
Awesome. Perfect. Thanks. Between you and Emm, you two got me covered. Again. Happy Thanksgiving!
i Own Both Gopros Hero 1 & 2, & With Both of them i Get Massive vignette, it looks More like a Fisheye Lens, & BTW the Original Gopro housing Lens Reduces the Lens Wideness just a bit .. i Switcher the Original with a Flat Lens then added the Blurfix Just so i can add Filters .. if anyone knows how to fix this Problem Please Reply
Here’s one of the shot i took it i Cropped the sides a little. VIDEO HERE.
Hello, I’ve heard of this problem before and it seems to be camera or lens specific. I don’t know that there is a fix for it. On our GoPro Hero 1′s and 2′s we experienced no vignetting at all. There seems to be a tolerance in the part sizes somewhere.
I guess i Figured it out .. u see, the Modification i made with the housing Was the Problem .. i thought with a Flat lens i would get a better Field of View, well, i did.
i used the “Xsories” Flat lens to improve the Field of View .. and the “Blurfix” for Filters .. both of these items Don’t Mix together AT ALL, By Removing the “Xsories” Flat lens & Replacing it with the Gopro “Dome” will fix the Problem .. u will see Much Less vignetting on 960P Or Photo Mode, cause the Dome Narrows the Field of view by Almost 10 Degrees
How deep can the Blurfix go?
Greg, the BlurFix has been tested up to a depth of 130ft.
How can you experience vignetting in the 960p if the FOV angle is always the same in all resolutions?!
That is intriguing me!
thanks
Some may experience vignetting at a wider FOV with the BlurFix.
What is the monopod attachment that allowed you to submerge the GoPro right side up? I would like to shoot underwater in a swimming pool without having to invert the video later, but I haven’t seen that kind of adapter before.
TK, we used a painters pole with a Palo Alto adapter http://cheesycam.com/pc-palo-alto-adapter-available/
And then used a Friction Arm to articulate the GoPro. Heavy Duty PRO LED Video Light 11 Inch FMA-1 Magic Arm, with Variable Friction Adjustable Arm
Hello Olivia,
I scuba dive and free dive allot. I am trying to determine which underwater lens is better for diving before I buy. If anyone has tested these products plaese let me know which is more suitable, Thanks!
- GoPro Flat Lens BlurFix
- MAKO Flat GoPro Housing Lens
- GoPro Dive Housing
Kevin, I’ve used the BlurFix and the MAKO, however I’ve yet to test out the GoPro Dive Lens. Here are my thoughts: for underwater video and photography, introducing warm tones will improve the look of your images. Light penetrating water doesn’t translate oranges and reds. The BlurFix offers warm tone filters and this gives objects underwater a better look, in my opinion. Since the GoPro auto white balances, these filters really help. With the introduction of GoPro’s new firmware update, ProTune, this issue may have found a resolve. We shall see! But for now, my vote goes to the quality and control of BlurFix.
Hey Olivia,
Ok, awesome. Thanks for the the advice. I was reading about the different color filters. Another question I have is about the charger. Ive heard and read about the GoPro wall charger not being that effective. Is this true? If so, is there a better third party option on the market as for a wall charger?
I haven’t heard anything about the GoPro wall charger not working properly. I’ve read reviews on different 3rd party units out there and some seem to be quite mixed. Typically 3rd party products are not defective, however sometimes they are. It’s a bit of a gamble but my best guess is that you’ll be fine. Up to you, Kevin! A word of advice though.. read the reviews for each unit. I’ve noticed that the dirty cheap ones generally perform the worst.
Hi Olivia.
My girlfriend ofered me a gopro hd2 with the new dive housing flat lenses.
I wondering what´s best. What gives better quality video ?
The new dive housing or the BlurFix Lenses.
Thanks and by the way, great work
I’d go with the BlurFix.. only bc the ability to change out lens filters and such, better quality in my opinion. Have you visited their website? There is so much information there, I suggest you check the site before you buy.
Hey Olivia,
I’ve tried both the BlurFix and the GoPro Dive Housing and for what I use it for, filming swimmers with a telescoping pole from the pool deck, I much prefer the GoPro Dive Housing. It seems to have a wider field of view allowing me to keep the swimmer in the picture much easier. Since I’m filming in the blind it’s just what I was looking for and much less expensive.
@JW do you have a video showing test examples? Thanks
Hey Olivia,
Have you made any video comparing the BlurFix & the GoPro Dive Housing?
Thanks
@Georgie I have not made a video comparing the two.