Underwater cameras

[Neeves]

This is the quality from a stg10 , Chinese, Go Pro clone.

I was checking the condition of Velox and the anode of our prop - I simply leant over the dinghy and went click, click, click


I was developing my bridle plate to use with snubbers (a bridle). I was checking a prototype bridle plate. You can note that the water is a bit murky and the chain 'disappears' into the murk. Fine for what I wanted but not so good for publication where everything is required to be crystal clear.



Checking performance of AF


AF is doing well but the AF on the sail drive and prop - not so good. This is Velox on the sail drive and PropSpeed on the prop, Jotun Sea Quantum Ultra on the hull.


This is a Fortress the depth is 5m, taken from a dinghy. The flukes are well buried but the stock protrudes to the right. You can see that the shank is also 'lifted' slightly and as the shank and flukes are at 30 degrees - this means the flukes are at about 20 degrees to the seabed - not ideal.



These are all quick snaps, click, click, click. They are not of publication quality but do allow you to check the anodes, see the lie of the shank of the Fortress and the stock slightly protruding.

If you want publication quality you need to pay more for your camera and take more time in preparing your 'take' or 'shoot'. If you simply want to check the AF or anodes, or that your anchor is set correctly (and the water is too cold or you are cautious of sharks) - then a cheap Go-Pro type is the way to go. If you drop it or it leaks - your loss is negligible.

You pays your money and gets what you pay for

If you want to know immediately what you were investigating then you need to down load there and then. Not difficult with a lap top or tablet..

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

Sorry - double post

J

 

[guydickinson]

Fascinating. Are you holding the camera with outstretched arms under the water or is it on the end of a stick of some kind. If on a stick can you delay the shutter for so many seconds so you can get the camera in position?

 

[PabloPicasso]

I have a 10 quid endoscope that plugged into the charging port on my phone. Downloaded a free app. It was great for anode checking underwater, but android upgrade seems to have stopped it working, unless anyone knows a fix.

 

[Neeves]

Fascinating. Are you holding the camera with outstretched arms under the water or is it on the end of a stick of some kind. If on a stick can you delay the shutter for so many seconds so you can get the camera in position?

The interesting shot is the second last one - taken roughly at the middle of the rudder (maybe 1metre forward of the hull transom) looking toward the bow - but you can see the prop, sail drive and keel. If the water is clear you get a reasonable idea of growth on the hull and then if you want the detail the other picture of the prop provides enough clarity to see the anodes. Not the clarity and detail your would get from a Stg200 camera (but who cares) - you know the anodes are fine and the hull clean. The Fortress image also shows how the anchor has scraped the thin weed cover off the seabed - so you get a very clear image of setting distance, the stock on the right stands out and you can see the shank is not parallel with the seabed - but slightly lifted (you can see its shadow). For Stg10 - I'm more than happy.

I just hold the camera in one hand with finger over the shutter (and a string round my wrist). I cannot delay the shutter - for Stg10 I'm pleased with what I get. I do get a lot of duff shots and I've learnt to take copious pictures - they are easy to delete. If I want close up - I zoom - and then get even more duff shots. The micro SD card, I bought a big one, cost almost as much as the camera (but I need it for the MFD) and using a 'convertor' I can use the micro in my Canon. The camera itself is about the size of an old fashioned match box and came with a waterproof housing. I use it in the housing all the time - so rain and splashing water is not a concern. I fudged up a clamp that fits on the hand rail on the cabin roof and have used the clone for video its fine - but I find video a bit boring - I prefer still shots (where you can sit and look at the detail), and script - but I'm a Luddite. I find its easy to miss nuances in vid, but then its easy to miss nuances in still. I have used both the clone and the Canon to take vid of my Boomerang - and I doubt you would tell what was taken with each camera. The Canon is infinitely more versatile but cost infinitely more (and is not waterproof). The Canon I treat with kid gloves the clone gets thrown about a lot. The clone looks cheap, feels cheap (its so light) - but it does the job.

Knowing what I know now - I'd buy another cheap Go-Pro clone as I could then set up both in different locations on the boat, rain or shine, switch on and leave to run (with large capacity micro SD cards) - and then show how snubbers etc actually work. Such video would be invaluable for those who find difficulty in getting to sleep . The clone was one of those irregular;ar offerings, as one gets from Aldi - it was a punt and a successful punt (as many such offerings are, punts you win some, lose some).

Jonathan

Ours is a no brand, or unknown brand - I had a current check - this sort of thing. Ours came with the water proof case, a variety of attachment devices, for a bike/ski helmet etc etc - though nothing for a yacht rail (I bodged something up for the rail and have since made a fitting for a winch that I cut from a solid lump of aluminium (just a square, winch handle key shape) with the appropriate threaded bolt).

Waterproof Video Recorder Action Camera 1080P Sports Helmet Camcorder DVRCam AU | eBay

If the price is in A$ the conversion is a convenient 2:1 or as near as makes no difference.

I'm a skinflint and I would not pay much more than indicated - at the price you don't worry about dropping it - which is just what you need when faffing about in a dinghy (or even diving). The key is the clarity of the water - not the resolution of the camera.

J

Further edit

If you wonder why so cheap - you can go to the source, well almost the source.

Alibaba list a number of action cameras

Sports Camera Go Pro Her 9 Motorcycle Helmet Slow Motion Aksiyon Kamerasi Hd 1080p Mini Camcorders Action Camera Video Full Hd - Buy Digital Vlogging Camcorder 48mp Stream Camera For Video 4k Full Hd Handycam Flycam Super Mini Camcorders Camara Go Pro Her 9,Sports Camera Go Pro Bicycle Motorcycle Helmet Fish Underwater Slow Motion Aksiyon Kamerasi Diving Gopro Camera 4k Hd 1080p,360 Action Sports 4k Camera Cheap Waterproof Bicycle Diving Aksiyon Kamerasi Camcorder Professional Video Underwater Product on Alibaba.com

Many of them are a similar spec to the ebay offering above and the MOQ for some is 10,000 units (but not many of us have 10,000 friends) and some even offer a MOQ on 1 unit - though postage on one unit might not merit the effort. If a number of you 'got together' in the UK, preferably local to each other, all needing an action camera - that might be the way to go.

If you delve into the information on Alibaba some of the suppliers whose names are commonly there somewhere will cut out Alibaba, (others are more loyal) and prices are then even lower.

They make a genuine Go Pro look expensive.

Take care, stay safe

Jonathan

 

[PCUK]

I'll take that as a No then!

 

[guydickinson]

Thanks everyone. Very useful advice. And for the offer PCUK - not often up that way, but thanks.

 

[Norman_E]

I have a cheap GoPro knock off by SJCAM which makes excellent films underwater.

Watch it full screen on You Tube to see the definition.