All About Action Cameras

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Scuba Diving Accessories for your GoPro

Scuba diving is a wonderful activity. There is just something about exploring and seeing a whole new different world from yours once you go underwater. Thus, it is just natural if you want to capture these new scenes if you are a great fan of this hobby. Action cameras are a good way of giving you this option. With the technology of these gadgets improving and their price tags dropping, the world of videography is just within your reach now.

While these cameras are specifically designed for situations like these, there are accessories that you can get this gadget to make its function all the more better. Below are just three accessories that you can add to popular action camera brand, GoPro.

BlurFix Lens for GoPro HD

GoPro is considered as one of the leaders in the industry of action cameras. They can be used in almost every sport imaginable from cycling to wakeboaring. It is particularly known for taking perfect footages in great detail.

This brand carries a model specifically for water activities. It is called the GoPro HD Hero2 Surf Edition which is also perfect for scuba diving use. This gadget is already a good one in its own right but adding a BlurFix lens to its makes it all the more a good unit for those looking for HD underwater photography. This type of lens is a professional-quality underwater lens that offers good footage clarity and can be used up to a depth of 40 meters. It can also be used with different camera filters such as FLD, polarizing, and UV. Moreover, this special lens also doesn’t fog and can even be used above surface without vignetting.

Dive Housing for GoPro

Dive housing is very important for action cameras used underwater. The dive housing unit for GoPro looks like a large, glass flat lens which improves the sharpness of taking underwater footage. If you have GoPro with 1080p recording quality, then this means that you will be able to take full advantage of this level. Moreover, using this housing lets you take your action camera up to 60m in depth. You can also take in different resolutions without worrying about vignetting after all.

Filters

Filters are another very important thing if you are planning to take your action camera underwater. Since the color below surface is different than normal sceneries, you need something to balance out the contrast.

One of the most commonly used filters is the red filters. They work by filtering out blues so that more red will be added to the photo. There is also what is called the magic filters which work by letting more red light into the camera’s sensor. They basically cut back 1 to 1 ½ stops of light and gives brighter photos. They are best used when taking footage of large reefs, wrecks, and schools of fishes which are usually hard to take with light strobes. Using them also removes the possibility of backscattering. When using your action cameras with filters, however, you are still required to take the subject with the sun behind you. 

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Upgrade your Action Camera with Varifocal Lenses

An action camera wouldn’t be complete without its lenses. It serves as both their eyes and heart. Besides from buying accessories to upgrade this gadget, using different types of lenses for different uses is also a good idea. The varifocal lens is a good example.

For beginners, varifocal lenses are those built with movable elements that allow a user to change its focal length. For example, if a lens of this type is said to have 3.5-8mm or 6.5-52mm, it means that its focal length can be adjusted up to these specified ranges. Unlike other types of lenses, however, varifocal lenses are more expensive because they give more freedom to its users. For one, its aperture can already be adjusted on the fly. This means that the possibility of errors is smaller and that the user can make changes to the recording at a later date.

These lenses also come in a variety of apertures. The most common ones are the 2.8-12mm lens, 3.5-8mm lens, 6-60mm lens, and 5-100mm lens. When the number of the aperture is larger, the larger the image that will be caught by the camera will be. The larger the image, the greater its detail will also be. This applies in opposite to small apertures which provide wider views but less detail. Keep in mind though that there is always a downside to whatever aperture one needs. If you choose a large aperture for the more pronounced detail that it provides, note that you will get less of the field of view. If you choose the small aperture for a wider field of view, then you will end up getting less detail of your subject.

These are very important things that you have to consider for varifocal lenses used on action cameras. Generally, varifocal lenses are used on security cameras. However, they are also good options if you are looking for a good macro lens for your action camera. Now it may seem weird for us to suggest you to buy a lens that is almost as expensive as your camera itself. However, this type of lens can make your gadget more useful in its own way. One of the reasons why many people choose to buy action cameras is because they are easy to use and mobile enough to be placed almost anywhere. It can provide its users more options for different shooting scenarios.

For the case of varifocal lenses, it can make your camera be more useful if you need a gadget that is very mobile but doesn’t come with the distortion common to POV cameras. Of course, if you are conscious of the cost, you can still always go for macro lens for your gadget. The trick here now, however, is to just use the right mounts and accessories to improve your shooting options.

This is just one of the many options that you can try for your action camera. Remember that there are many ways that you can work around with your gadget. At the end of the day, however, the most important thing is still enjoying capturing your unforgettable action moments with it. 

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Upgrade your Action Camera's Audio Performance with these Tips!

In terms of action camera problems, low quality audio is probably one of those that top the complaint list of most users. Either the audio recorded picks up too much noise that are really unnecessary or the footage has too much static and noise that it is almost unbearable to listen to. Either way, it is a problem that plagues and frustrates most action camera users. 

Bad news is, there isn't an action camera model in the market right now that can actually claim to have a perfect audio system. The reason behind this is because majority of manufacturers prefer to focus all their energy in improving their cameras' video shooting quality instead. Sounds unfortunate? Well, the good news is that there are things a user can actually do to upgrade this problem on audio. 

Adding some accessories, for example, can improve the audio being recorded a couple of times over. One good example is the use of an extension cable. With its help, the user can position his camera normally and just place the cable near the source of the sound that he wants to record. Like in an auto racing event, the camera can still be mounted on the dashboard to catch all the action while the extension cable can be placed near the motor so that the sounds coming from it will be the only one recorded. 

The external microphone is another very popular add-on for action cameras because it gets sharper and clearer sounds from its surroundings. To use it, all the user has to do is to put it on the 3.5mm input jack on the camera. 

For wind noise problems, there are also special accessories that can be used to reduce them. Only problem is that these add-ons can be a little expensive for their kind with their price averaging around $30 and up. As a result, many action camera users tend to just do their makeshift sound reducer instead by putting over a strip of scotch tape, soft cloth, or padding on their camera's microphone. 

Now for those who do not want to take a risk and really want to get clear and smooth audios for their videos, the most suggested option is to just record the sound using an entirely different sound recorder. Just like when using an extension cable, the camera can just be mounted on its normal place while the sound recorder can be placed near the source of sound like the inside of the user's helmet for clear vocal commentary. Then after shooting, the audio will just be synced together with the footage taken. 

The problem on audio on action cameras are still a huge problem for these gadgets at present. However, with the help of these tips and a little bit of resourcefulness and creativity, this problem can be easily removed out of the way of those action camera enthusiasts. 

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Get Good Underwater Footages Using your Action Camera with these Tricks!

Underwater filming is a pretty tricky subject when it comes to action cameras. No matter how expensive or advanced the model you have is, you still won't have decent enough videos if you don't have any idea how to use any of them. Good news is you don't really need to be a pro just to get high quality videos of your underwater adventures. Here, we will share to you some tricks that can improve your skill in taking below surface footages. 

Accessories 101:

Lens

While other sports don't really require the use of action camera extras, underwater filming is a little different because there are certain add-ons that can improve your gadget's performance. Some examples are standard/flat lens and lens covers. Flat lens help in making the colors of your videos brighter while lens covers increase the focus and resolution of your camera. 

Filter

Filters are usually added into the standard housing of a camera. Since the colors underwater are different from above ground, red filters are usually used to even out the green and blue color bias of the below surface surroundings. Using a red filter will also make the water turn out lighter and the objects more vibrant in colors.

Housing

Different models of action cameras are all waterproof but can manage various underwater depths. For example, there is the Contour Roam 2 which can be used up to 3 feet underwater and the GoPro model which is more advanced with their 200 feet depth maximum.  Before going underwater shooting, check if the maximum depth level of your camera can accommodate your planned underwater activity first. If not, get a housing that can protect it from pressure and leaking. 

Get Underwater Videos like a Pro:

• Film with the sun always behind you. This will serve as your natural underwater lighting source. If you want to take silhouette footages then you just do the opposite and film with the sun in front of you instead.

• Close-ups require the auto-focus setting while medium shots and long shots need the manual focus.

• If you subject is far, you can make its colors more vibrant by simply shooting it with corals as foregrounds. 

• Keep steady as much as you can. One of the most common mistakes in underwater filming is that the person ‘jogs’ or creates too much movement by swimming and taking record at the same time. To correct this, try to float while the record button is pushed on. 

You don’t need a special set of skills or even lessons just to take good videos with your handy action camera. Just follow and apply these tips and you can get videos worthy of being called professional. 

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How to Care for Your Action Camera Properly? Learn it Now!

Besides from you getting all worn and tired after a rugged day of doing your favorite high energy sport or hobby, there is also another thing that gets the same abuse as your action camera. This is the reason why it is very essential that you know how to take care of it properly. Good maintenance will not only let your enjoy its good performance long-term, you will also be extending its shelf life as well. 

Here, we share to you some tricks and secrets that can keep your gadget at its best state. 

1. Clean it straight after using it. You can cause some problems to your camera's body and lens if you just leave it with water, sand, or soil still stuck on it. To start, just remove the camera's casing and rinse it off using tap water. 

2. If you don't want to sit around and wait for your casing to dry, you can do a neat little trick to speed up the process. First, get your case and shake off the water that you can manage. Next, get a hair blower, put it on its coolest control, and direct it to your casing at least a foot away to dry it. This is a better option that using a normal cloth to wipe the water off because there is a chance that you may scratch the surface if you rub too hard. 

3. For the lens, take them out as carefully as you can. Even the smallest of scratches can already lessen the video and photo quality of your camera so make sure that you handle it with care. To clean it, use only a lens cloth and zoom lens cleaning fluid. 

Now for an extra something you can do with your lens, get a Rain-X car windshield spray and spritz some on it if you want to prevent the bubbles from forming in front of your lens every time you use it underwater. You can even use this technique for the interior of your camera's casing as well if you want dirt to easily come off its surface. After spraying, just wipe off the liquid a little and let it dry. 

4. To clean your camera's body, grab again a camera lens cleaning fluid and a lint free cloth. When cleaning, always pour the solution on the cloth before using it and not directly on the camera's surface to prevent damage. 

5. Though not an actual part of the camera itself, the state of your camera bag is also very important for maintenance. You can still end up damaging your gadget if you keep it in a container that has abrasive materials inside it like sand. So before putting your camera back to its bag, make sure that you've already cleaned it well. 

With these tips, caring and maintaining your camera is much easier. Follow them to enjoy your gadget more!

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Action Camera Mounts for Various Action Sports

No matter how expensive or advanced the features of action cameras are, not knowing how to properly use them makes all the upgrades useless. Basically, one of the first rules of using an action camera properly is to know the best type of mount to be used together with it. The best type of mount, on the other hand, is dependent on a specific situation to which the camera will be used.

Here we will talk about the best type of mounts to be used for various action sports and other activities. 

1. Mountain Climbing- for this type of activity, helmet mounts are the ones usually used because their height and position can capture the best angle and width for the footage. These types of cameras are strapped on the front helmet mount and can also be sometimes extended to adopt what is called the "headlamp style" position. This angle allows the rider to shoot a self-portrait type of footage. 

People who have miniature bullet-style cameras, on the other hand, tend to use Velcro mounts which attach the gadget to the side of the helmet through a very strong adhesive pad and elasticated straps. This kind of mount enables the camera to be easily detached from the mount during short breaks in filming.

For those who do not wear a helmet, however, then a rollbar mount camera is the best option. This type attaches the gadget to the handlebars of the mountain bike. Though the angle that this position takes is a whole lot lower than a helmet-mounted camera can shoot, it enables the camera to be rotated so that the rider can still get the perfect angle when shooting. 

2. Snowboarding- again, helmet mounts are a favorite for this type of activity because of their flexibility to shoot both documentary and point-of-view type of shooting. Goggle mounts are also quite pretty popular because they allow the rider to shoot cool footages following the line of his eye movement. For those who do not like wearing any helmets and prefer wearing sunglasses over goggles, moreover, there are also the head strap mounts which are pretty much just like the helmet mounts except that the rider can strap them over a beanie or a hat. 

3. Motorsports- for riders who wear a full face helmet complete with visor, a curved adhesive mount is the best choice. People who do not want to get point-of-view footages, on the other hand, can also just mount their gadget on the dashboard of their vehicles to get smooth racing footage straight out of the windscreen. The camera can also even take the opposite angle to record the driver’s reactions and commentary. 

To get the most out of an action camera, it is important to know which type of mount should be used for a situation. Use this as a guide to start your way into being one of the best sports videographer in town.