Go pro case

[bagpuss]

Hi,
Does anyone use a go pro to film underground (not helmet or chest mounted) if so what do you use the protect the camera? There's various case options such as a silicone case or plastic waterproof case. Can't afford the genuine waterproof case but there's lots of knock off cheaper versions, wondered how easy it is to use the camera when it's in the case..
Thanks in advance!

 

[cfmwh]

Hi,
Does anyone use a go pro to film underground (not helmet or chest mounted) if so what do you use the protect the camera? There's various case options such as a silicone case or plastic waterproof case. Can't afford the genuine waterproof case but there's lots of knock off cheaper versions, wondered how easy it is to use the camera when it's in the case..
Thanks in advance!

I have the GoPro waterproof housing. It protects the camera really well, but there are two drawbacks that come to mind:

Instead of being able to control the camera using the rear touchscreen, you have to navigate functions by co-ordinated button pressing.

Perhaps more of a ball-ache than that is the reduced volume of audio recording. It makes even quite loud sounds fairly quiet on playback.

Personally, the camera needs protecting so the above are a small price to pay.

It'll be interesting to see comments from anyone else with generic housings or home-cobbled affairs.

 

[MendipScoutCaver]

I have a GoPro 8 and use the official waterproof housing to protect the camera. The case does a good job of protecting the lens and body from dents and scratches. I set up the camera before the trip and then only have to switch it on when I want to record video or change to take a picture. So I only need to use the buttons and not the touch screen.

You can also use an open back panel on the case, which would allow use of the touchscreen and I think better sound recording, but I prefer more protection and only need to use the buttons.

I've just replaced my case as one of the two plastic legs for attachments cracked, but it hadn't yet fallen off as the other one was still ok. I managed to get a new one cheaper through Amazon Warehouse (must have been a return as packaging unopened). I had the original case for almost 4 years and it has held up well.

A cheaper option may be the Rollecage which has hard plastic for the lens but silicone body. This case uses the metal legs of the camera itself so would be more robust then the case plastic ones. Though this case would still protect the lens, the silicone body gives less protection from bangs so you may end up with dents!

If you happen to have a GoPro 8 the official website has a sale on for the waterproof case £33 rather than £55, and Rollcage £18 rather than £30. Though it says £12 delivery so perhaps not such a great deal unless you are looking to pick up some other bits and hit the threshold for free delivery. Amazon has the rollecage for £25.

They used to offer free GoPro subscription for a few months when you purchased a new camera, I used this to buy my original case for half price.

At the end of the day a waterproof case is much cheaper than having to buy a new camera!

 

[Bob Cromer]

Hi,
Does anyone use a go pro to film underground (not helmet or chest mounted) if so what do you use the protect the camera? There's various case options such as a silicone case or plastic waterproof case. Can't afford the genuine waterproof case but there's lots of knock off cheaper versions, wondered how easy it is to use the camera when it's in the case..
Thanks in advance!

I use and old hero 3 black edition on a climbers clip stick occasionally, useful on digs to help see if worthwhile or not. The last case I bought wasn't an official go pro one, it's completely waterproof and does the job, the only issue is the Bluetooth button on the left is a bit sensitive so can switch itself on and drain the ageing battery quite quickly, earlier this year proved very useful to determine the length of a sump,

 

[bagpuss]

Thanks so much for all the really detailed responses everyone. Annoyingly it doesn't look like they do a Roll Cage for the 9 which I have, so looks like I'll need to get a waterproof case to give it any sort of protection. Do you have any of your videos you've made online @MendipScoutCaver ? Would be interested to hear the audio quality..

 

[snebbit]

Not sure whether this helps but attached is a GoPro in a cheap knock-off waterproof housing being poked into a dig, you can hear the digger panting excitedly still I can't find any more examples to hand on this PC but I've used the cheap housing for years and never really found much of an issue with it muting sound. More of an issue was the awkward button presses - the action on the housing's buttons sometimes didn't hit the button underneath so you have to double check it's done the thing you wanted to do. It's certainly lasted years longer than the official GoPro one whose clasp broke after a year or so.

 

[Cosmo Smallpiece]

They can be awkward to button press while mounted on helmets etc. I got a cheap wrist strap remote control. It eats into the battery time a little (I imagine). But I enjoy having the visual display to prove whether it's on photo or movie setting, and if it's still rolling.