GoPro diving set up w lights at DVinfo.net

Nick Clement · May 2nd, 2011, 04:14 PM

I'm looking to mount my GoPro (w the flat lens fix) onto a lighting set up to take scuba diving with me next month. I'm considering buying two of the Mini Q40 eLED

Amazon.com: Mini Q40 eLED Plus Dive Light Module Only: Home Improvement

to mount the gopro to. Does anyone have any experience with a set up like this? Is there a better option at a decent price out there? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Wayne Reimer · May 3rd, 2011, 08:57 AM

that looks like it would do the job fine. How are you planning on mounting the lights and the camera together?
Thinking WAAY back to my days of shooting stills U/W, I used a Nikonos system with long articulating arms for lighting ( seems to me they were 20 in. each). It was awkward on the surface, but great U/W. it let you get the lighting above the lens and angled in so that the beam patterns overlapped perfectly at about 3 feet. Probably overkill for the gopro.
I'm wondering if you couldn't cobble together a small PVC rig for it??

Dan Asseff · May 3rd, 2011, 07:50 PM

Nick,

You could try making holders out of loc-line. I made flag out of it. I did get it in black from one of my suppliers. modularhose.com - Loc-Line 1/2" ID System . If you have a aquarium store by you, they can get it for you.http://aquariumcenter.net/en/plumbin...g-c-13_14.html

Dan

Curt Talbot · May 4th, 2011, 07:49 AM

Nick, in addition to Dan and Wayne's ideas, you might want to think about modifying a Gorillapod to mount your lights and the camera. There are Gorillapod knockoffs available for very little money that just might work.

Be sure to post your results as we are all interested!

Curt

Ray Bell · May 4th, 2011, 08:28 AM

Most likely those lights are too small and will not put out the correct amount of light...

Here is a site that has some equipment for underwater shooting....

Ultralight Control Systems

Nick Clement · May 23rd, 2011, 03:40 PM

Thanks for all the great responses and suggestions, I really appreciate it.

Ray, I was afraid it wasn't going to be enough light. Maybe four instead of two Q40's would be enough?

Curt, I really like the Gorilla pod idea, I own one already so I'm going to look into these adapters to attach lights to it ... have you done a rig like this before? If so please tell me about it ... how you attached the lights etc

Dan, thanks for forwarding the links ... maybe with a combo of the gorilla pod, 4 Q40's a couple adapters from Ultralight Control Systems and/or the links you sent I might be in business ...

Wayne, I was going to try to connect the two Q40's with a something similar to the image below .... Its the set up we use with our Splash Cam: Seatrex High Definition Point of View Camera (at my day job) we've used this set up at 100ft while ice fishing and the 2 q40's seemed to give off enough light if the subject was close enough to the camera. I like your idea on the 20in arms, that seems like it would allow the lights to be farther spread out ... maybe I can accomplish this with Curt's Gorilla pod idea .... but I'm also interested in hearing about your PVC idea?

Curt Talbot · May 23rd, 2011, 06:24 PM

Sorry Nick, I haven't actually built a set. Attaching the lights might be a challenge. I am sure someone has some ideas!

Ben Fullerton · May 26th, 2011, 11:05 AM

Don't know if you've tried your rig yet, but my biggest concern would be that those light would put out a wide enough beam to cover the whole gopro field of view. Look like you might end up with light in the middle, and dark in the corners.

Ron Chau · May 27th, 2011, 02:55 PM

Exactly as Ben says.

The GoPro has a very wide angle coverage. If you want the lights to illuminate the full frame of the GoPro, you will need W/A beam lights, plus they will need to be very powerful. For a given power level of light: the more the beam is spread out, the less the beam will penetrate the water. For example, a 50 watt light with a 15 degree beam angle might illuminate a fish 15 feet away at night, but a 50 watt light with a 90 degree angle might only go to 5 feet.

If you are shooting daytime, you will need even more powerful lights because it needs to overpower the sunlight.

If you are shooting during the day, I recommend a pink filter.

Ann Bens · May 29th, 2011, 07:48 AM

Hi, which pink filter would that be?

Ron Chau · May 29th, 2011, 12:42 PM

Lee or Roscoe gel filter. They are very inexpensive. You can get a whole 20 x 20 inch sheet for $7. Cut out a small piece the size of a penny and drop it inside the GoPro housing.

Ivan Jasper · May 29th, 2011, 09:26 PM

Ron: How long ago was that? Was it the Caribbean? Seahorses are getting a lot harder to find with the insurgent lionfish cleaning them out.

Ron Chau · May 29th, 2011, 10:30 PM

Bonaire about a month ago. To be honest, I found the diving conditions disappointing. Reef and coral did not look healthy.

Ann Bens · May 30th, 2011, 04:58 PM

Thanks, but do you have a color number for the pink?

Ron Chau · May 30th, 2011, 08:36 PM

I think it was 790.

I believe both Lee and Roscoe give away or sell swatchbooks. Since the GoPro is so small, the swatchbook is a great way to experiment with filter colors to match your dive conditions.

Some stores give them away with purchases, other stores will sell them to you. Think I saw them going for $2-$4.

May 2nd, 2011, 04:14 PM	#1
Nick Clement New Boot Join Date: May 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 11	GoPro diving set up w lights I'm looking to mount my GoPro (w the flat lens fix) onto a lighting set up to take scuba diving with me next month. I'm considering buying two of the Mini Q40 eLED Amazon.com: Mini Q40 eLED Plus Dive Light Module Only: Home Improvement Amazon.com: Mini Q40 eLED Plus Dive Light Module Only: Home Improvement to mount the gopro to. Does anyone have any experience with a set up like this? Is there a better option at a decent price out there? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Nick Clement www.reelescapefilms.com

May 3rd, 2011, 08:57 AM	#2
Wayne Reimer Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 255	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights that looks like it would do the job fine. How are you planning on mounting the lights and the camera together? Thinking WAAY back to my days of shooting stills U/W, I used a Nikonos system with long articulating arms for lighting ( seems to me they were 20 in. each). It was awkward on the surface, but great U/W. it let you get the lighting above the lens and angled in so that the beam patterns overlapped perfectly at about 3 feet. Probably overkill for the gopro. I'm wondering if you couldn't cobble together a small PVC rig for it??

May 3rd, 2011, 07:50 PM	#3
Dan Asseff Major Player Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Port Orange Fl Posts: 317	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Nick, You could try making holders out of loc-line. I made flag out of it. I did get it in black from one of my suppliers. modularhose.com - Loc-Line 1/2" ID System . If you have a aquarium store by you, they can get it for you.http://aquariumcenter.net/en/plumbin...g-c-13_14.html Dan

May 4th, 2011, 07:49 AM	#4
Curt Talbot Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Regina, SK Canada Posts: 104 Images: 1	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Nick, in addition to Dan and Wayne's ideas, you might want to think about modifying a Gorillapod to mount your lights and the camera. There are Gorillapod knockoffs available for very little money that just might work. Be sure to post your results as we are all interested! Curt

May 4th, 2011, 08:28 AM	#5
Ray Bell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,414	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Most likely those lights are too small and will not put out the correct amount of light... Here is a site that has some equipment for underwater shooting.... Ultralight Control Systems

May 23rd, 2011, 03:40 PM	#6
Nick Clement New Boot Join Date: May 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 11	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Thanks for all the great responses and suggestions, I really appreciate it. Ray, I was afraid it wasn't going to be enough light. Maybe four instead of two Q40's would be enough? Curt, I really like the Gorilla pod idea, I own one already so I'm going to look into these adapters to attach lights to it ... have you done a rig like this before? If so please tell me about it ... how you attached the lights etc Dan, thanks for forwarding the links ... maybe with a combo of the gorilla pod, 4 Q40's a couple adapters from Ultralight Control Systems and/or the links you sent I might be in business ... Wayne, I was going to try to connect the two Q40's with a something similar to the image below .... Its the set up we use with our Splash Cam: Seatrex High Definition Point of View Camera (at my day job) we've used this set up at 100ft while ice fishing and the 2 q40's seemed to give off enough light if the subject was close enough to the camera. I like your idea on the 20in arms, that seems like it would allow the lights to be farther spread out ... maybe I can accomplish this with Curt's Gorilla pod idea .... but I'm also interested in hearing about your PVC idea? Attached Images __________________ Nick Clement www.reelescapefilms.com

May 23rd, 2011, 06:24 PM	#7
Curt Talbot Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Regina, SK Canada Posts: 104 Images: 1	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Sorry Nick, I haven't actually built a set. Attaching the lights might be a challenge. I am sure someone has some ideas!

May 26th, 2011, 11:05 AM	#8
Ben Fullerton Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 95	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Don't know if you've tried your rig yet, but my biggest concern would be that those light would put out a wide enough beam to cover the whole gopro field of view. Look like you might end up with light in the middle, and dark in the corners. __________________ Fullerton Images - Vimeo - FaceBook

May 27th, 2011, 02:55 PM	#9
Ron Chau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ny, ny Posts: 204	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Exactly as Ben says. The GoPro has a very wide angle coverage. If you want the lights to illuminate the full frame of the GoPro, you will need W/A beam lights, plus they will need to be very powerful. For a given power level of light: the more the beam is spread out, the less the beam will penetrate the water. For example, a 50 watt light with a 15 degree beam angle might illuminate a fish 15 feet away at night, but a 50 watt light with a 90 degree angle might only go to 5 feet. If you are shooting daytime, you will need even more powerful lights because it needs to overpower the sunlight. If you are shooting during the day, I recommend a pink filter. __________________ https://www.ronchauphoto.com/

May 29th, 2011, 07:48 AM	#10
Ann Bens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 710	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Hi, which pink filter would that be?

May 29th, 2011, 12:42 PM	#11
Ron Chau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ny, ny Posts: 204	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Lee or Roscoe gel filter. They are very inexpensive. You can get a whole 20 x 20 inch sheet for $7. Cut out a small piece the size of a penny and drop it inside the GoPro housing. GoPro Test 2 on Vimeo GoPro test on Vimeo __________________ https://www.ronchauphoto.com/

May 29th, 2011, 09:26 PM	#12
Ivan Jasper Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Billings MT Posts: 70	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Ron: How long ago was that? Was it the Caribbean? Seahorses are getting a lot harder to find with the insurgent lionfish cleaning them out. __________________ I'm Just Here For The Cookies.

May 29th, 2011, 10:30 PM	#13
Ron Chau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ny, ny Posts: 204	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Bonaire about a month ago. To be honest, I found the diving conditions disappointing. Reef and coral did not look healthy. __________________ https://www.ronchauphoto.com/

May 30th, 2011, 04:58 PM	#14
Ann Bens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 710	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights Thanks, but do you have a color number for the pink?

May 30th, 2011, 08:36 PM	#15
Ron Chau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ny, ny Posts: 204	Re: GoPro diving set up w lights I think it was 790. I believe both Lee and Roscoe give away or sell swatchbooks. Since the GoPro is so small, the swatchbook is a great way to experiment with filter colors to match your dive conditions. Some stores give them away with purchases, other stores will sell them to you. Think I saw them going for $2-$4. __________________ https://www.ronchauphoto.com/