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I Took GoPro’s $700 Mission 1 Pro Underwater

Bluewater Photo

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I took the new GoPro Mission 1 Pro underwater at the Catalina dive park in California to find out whether this $700 action camera is actually worth buying — and how it compares to a regular GoPro HERO in real-world diving conditions. We tested color, GoPro log profiles, 8K/60p recording, low light capability, stabilization and 4K/120p recording to see how useable this camera is for scuba divers.

Support our content and get your Mission 1 from Bluewater!
Mission 1 Pro: https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/g...
Mission 1: https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/g...
Mission 1 ILS (not compatible underwater): https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/g...

Recommended Accessories:
Bluewater Mission 1 GoPro Underwater Kit: https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/b...
Bluewater Mission 1 Advanced Kit: https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/b...
Underwater Housing for Mission 1: https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/g...

Jump to a section:
0:00 - Sample Underwater Video
0:37 - Introduction
3:15 - Mission vs Hero Cameras
7:45 - Sample Underwater Photos
9:25 - Color and Log Recording
11:01 - Open Gate Recording
12:19 - Underwater Housings and Accessories

Gear used
GoPro Mission 1 Pro: https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/g...
GoPro Mission 1 Housing: https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/g...
Bluewater 3000 Video Light: https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/b...
Kraken GoPro Tray: https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/k...

Learn more about underwater photography and video:
www.uwphotographyguide.com

Shop underwater camera gear:
www.bluewaterphotostore.com

Join us on one of our underwater photography workshops: www.bluewaterdivetravel.com

#GoPro #GoProMission1Pro #UnderwaterVideo #UnderwaterPhotography #ScubaDiving #ActionCamera

11 Comments

@paulmarks7185 2 months ago

Gopro should add the Mission 1’s improvements to the Hero like battery performance, fast quick capture, and low light performance. It’s still a great camera and I like the 8:7 aspect ratio.

@HappyDiveHappyLife 1 month ago

Hi, great video! I’d be really interested to know what camera settings you used like exposure compensation, iso, color profile (Balanced vs. Underwater), etc.
I tested the M1 Pro once in Amed, but since there’s no mount for the AOI lens yet same as your inon.I switched back to the 12. I’m not really happy with my footage with the M1 Pro so far and think it might be down to my settings.
I’d really appreciate it if you could share the settings.

@secretsofthelake1966 2 months ago

Thanks for your review, but I'm not convinced. All the features you mentioned are futile, because you can't get close to your subject, so the whole quality will be ruined (due to the column of water) and your sensor might record 8K but the real resolution will be just crap. Even your selected test shots are mainly not in focus or the colours are washed. I'm not convinced to upgrade from my GoPro Hero 12. Maybe it will be usable with an Inon or AOI adapted, but then you're beyond 1000 USD for a camera system with lots of compromises.

@shawn8048 1 month ago

Please clarify the focus distance performance (far and near)? Thanks!

@kongsit1111 3 weeks ago

There is too much talking versus underwater footage. Too much haze on underwater footage,sorry...

@JeremyHopes 2 months ago (edited)

Thanks very much for the video. I've been expectantly waiting for this camera - I do a fair bit of low light poor viz diving - it looked great on paper and was ready to plunk down what they asked but underwater every review I'm now seeing is showing a surprisingly narrow depth of field that can't be varied (fixed aperture, clearly no autofocus). While the intrinsic quality of footage looks good even on your selected clips the fish (garbaldi's ?) come in and out of focus Apparently external wet lenses make the situation worse. Unless GoPro can do something radical it looks like it's not going to be great for general underwater use... Looks like I'm staying with my 13 and waiting to see what the others can do on locking white balance etc going forward.

@mitchheijnens980 2 months ago

Looks terrible... focus is bad so lets hope that gopro makes an update to fix it . Focus close and far are bad only somewere in between its ok.

@somerandomprole 2 months ago

I would be reluctant to purchase anything from GoPro given the company’s current financial situation. The mission one may be too little too late. I hope the company survives, but I have my doubts given the current competition.

@lecolintube 2 months ago (edited)

Out of curiosity, like your student, do you have a GoPro Hero 13 to compare the same footage?
Would be really interested to see them side by side.

Thanks so much again.

@SvetoslavBonev 2 months ago

Honestly not sure where and how you saw the footage of the 13 and mission 1 comparable and similar in good light. Difference is night and day, the clarity and dynamic range incomparable… i always tried to shoot some small blue fishes in the Mediterranean with the hero 12,13, to no avail - it was impossible to capture them and see them in the footage. With the mission 1 is different story. So I guess this review is mostly characteristics dump with a few clips and photos of horrible quality. Half of the 240 fps footage was out of focus. I have several clips that put to shame your. Instead of doing mediocre job and claim some bold statements you should’ve made a real review of the camera and get to use it and know it better…

@lecolintube 2 months ago (edited)

0:23
I’m rooting for GoPro to succeed - but that close focusing distance…
Sometimes it’s about showcasing a camera (& lens) in its best light - so making sure you’re as close as possible - whilst still in focus - might just be about learning the camera (and directing the fish 🐟🐠😉 - or in being really selective in the edit).

Great vid, thank you.