Whether you’re planning to capture some swimming fun in the warm seasons or on vacation, or you like to capture rainy scenes, getting the right waterproof camera for the job will make a huge difference. Some just need a simple camera with pretty good quality shots just to capture the memory, and others may be looking for some more features.
The main reason to go with GoPro over another brand is the extremely wide range of accessories available, and the availability of those accessories. Pretty much every dive shop and beach-side hotel on Earth is going to sell a handful of GoPro items like batteries, cases and more.
If you don’t need the ultimate in video quality, frame rates or stabilization, the Hero7 Black will work just fine. The compact camera’s small size can fit just about anywhere, and it’s waterproof without a case to 33 feet (10 meters). This is plenty for things like surfing, pools, and probably snorkeling too unless you’ve got fins or can really hold your breath. For deeper dives, there’s that’s good down to 131 feet (40 meters).
Two other accessories I recommend for this waterproof underwater camera are the and the . The Handler floats with the camera attached, making it much harder to lose your GoPro. The Strap lets you have your hands free. Not ideal for continuous shooting, but for short clips and photos, just aim like Spidey. OK, maybe not exactly like Spidey.
For a step up in resolution, frame rate and image stabilization, the Hero 9 Black is only a bit more money than the Hero 7 Black. Like the 7, the Hero 9 is waterproof down to 33 feet on its own and has a protective underwater housing capable of going much deeper.
The accessories I like for the Hero 7 I like for the Hero9 as well, including the Handler handle and the Hand/Wrist Strap. GoPro isn’t the only name in action or waterproof cameras by any stretch, but it is the biggest. The ability to get an extra battery, get a different mount or case, just about anywhere, is a major selling point for this waterproof digital camera. For the sheer variety of photos and videos possible, a 360 camera is an even better option.
Light behaves differently the deeper you go. You lose reds, then oranges and eventually even greens. So depending on depth and a number of other factors, your underwater photos might end up rather monochromatic. The vibrant coral and fish photos you’ve probably seen on Instagram were likely taken with far more expensive cameras than we’ve covered, with elaborate and powerful lighting rigs. You can offset this a bit: This 600-lumen waterproof LED light from Light and Motion should work great for close-up photos and videos. It’s not going to light up a school of fish, but a fish for sure, and sometimes that’s all you need. It’s rated down to 60m/196ft.
There are a lot of options available under $100, but they’re either dimmer, have extensive bad reviews or both. Before you buy this, or any underwater camera light, check out the user photos so you know its capabilities. Then double-check that you’re able to attach the light to your camera mount. If you want more brightness, there’s likely a waterproof light for however high your budget can go.
Personally, this is my pick. A 360 camera lets you record everything all at once, then edit together the best parts when you get back to shore. It used to be that 360 cameras, with their two or more lenses and sensors, were just a weird niche to create spherical videos. They’re rarely used for that anymore. Now they’re just extremely versatile action cameras. Insta360 and GoPro, the two biggest names in the space, expect you to create traditional 1080p videos using the 360 footage you captured. Having used the One R’s predecessor, the One X, on several dives, it’s an easy way to make compelling, professional-looking videos. Easily too, since you don’t need to aim the camera. You’re capturing everything around you all the time. Later, you edit in smooth pans like from a turtle to your face’s reaction to the turtle. Or you can keep a fish centered in the shot while you swim around it, having never moved the camera.
It’s easier to show you what I mean. Here’s the raw spherical 360 video I took last year on a dive in Barbados. Using their app, I made this video, which shows only the interesting bits that could be integrated into a more traditional video/vlog, on Instagram, etc. All the camera pans are done in the app after the fact.
The GoPro Max, its 360 action cam, is good and can create some great videos right out of the box. The One R is far more adaptable to different situations. It’s modular, so you can swap out the dual-lens 360 module for a single-lens high-frame-rate 4K module, or even a high-quality 1-inch-sensor module for better low-light performance. The One R is waterproof to 16 feet/5 meters as long as you have it secured inside the included mounting bracket. To go deeper, there are three options. For the 360 mod, there’s a vertical case (shown above), although you’ll need the vertical battery to go with it. That’s good down to 98 feet (30 meters). There are cases good to 197 feet (60 meters) for both the wide-angle 4K and 1-inch sensor modules.
A more modern version of this camera is available now – the One RS — so some of these accessories for the R may need to be purchased pre-owned.
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