GoPro Flat Lens – BlurFix with Color Filters and Stabilizer Tray
BlurFix provides a flat lens to correct the issue of soft images when shooting underwater (see an OTech comparison video HERE). Their color correcting filters correct the blue and green cast of underwater video. This color cast is due to reds and oranges in the color spectrum not being able to penetrate past water’s surface very well. In the test videos I shot in Maui, you can see the color correction with the BlurFix color filters applied. Note that the lens filters did fog up a bit since I did not use an anti-fog solution for them. BlurFix does provide moisture absorbing beads in their housing kit, but in some extreme cases where you’re in the water for extended periods of time and you’re taking your camera back and forth between different temperatures, I would suggest using an anti-fog liquid.
The Snake River Prototyping Stabilizer Tray provides steady shooting when underwater. I had fins on and was paddling a lot to stay under or just to track fish, this caused my body (and hands) to move around a lot. For this reason, underwater video can be difficult when you’re simply snorkeling. The stabilizer helped me steady my shots when shooting on a camera as small as the GoPro HERO 2. I also used a leash so I wouldn’t lose the tray or the camera.
*You can see in the video below what footage from a GoPro looks like not only without the color correcting filter but also minus the stabilizing tray.
GoPro Camera HD HERO2 Edition
The video really doesn’t make much of a case for it being a called a “stabilizer” tray.
Rick, I do see your point. I went ahead and embedded a video that gives a better idea of what underwater video can look like when you’re snorkeling or just shooting amature video. I did find it difficult to keep my arms steady when holding my breath, chasing fish and paddling with over-sized fins!
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Actually, the first video was a better example and a little more stable. Clearly it was their first trip out with the rig and I am sure subsequent trips had better results after watching the resulting videos. I give SRP major kudos for the pioneering work they have done making the GoPro usable underwater and their tray is an excellent design but it is really only for divers that have fully mastered diving and buoyancy and can thus focus on holding the rig steady about all three axes. For noobs, extension poles work best as they really only have to hold steady about one axis (i.e. spinning about long axis).
Did the upgrade for the GoPro Hero2 ever come out?