13Jan GoPro HD Hero Dive Housing – New Flat Lens?
(above) Possible GoPro Flat Lens Housing – Winter 2012
For years people have known that the stock GoPro Hero curved lens housing caused soft images underwater. We did a test not long ago showing how different a flat lens is compared to the stock GoPro (click here).
Several different companies addressed the problem with aftermarket flat lens kits, but where was GoPro’s answer all this time? Well earlier today, Michael wrote in and shared some information about a GoPro Hero ‘Dive Housing’. He’s including some images from the GoPro product manual. States it would be available in Winter of 2012, compatible with HD Hero and HD Hero 2 cameras, for an MSRP of $49.99. I couldn’t find any more information on the internet about this so far, looks like some exclusive stuff, spread the word. [Thanks Michael].
From the Manual
Dive Housing
Available Winter 2012The Flat Lens Housing provides maximum photo and video sharpness underwater in all resolutions.
The HD HERO’s standard housing features a curved lens to maximize a wider field of view above water while keeping the lens as small as possible. While brilliant for above water use, the curved lens reduces the sharpness of photos and videos when used underwater. The Flat Lens Housing features a large, flat, lens that capture sharp photos and video above and underwater in any resolution setting. Waterproof to 197ft/60m, the Flat Lens Housing is ideal for diving, snorkeling, and any underwater filming scenario.
The Flat Lens Housing is compatible with the HD HERO, HD HERO2, and all GoPro Mounts and Accessories.
Click image for Larger View of Product Manual
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January 13th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
“a product that won’t be available until almost a year from now.”
Its winter in NYC 2012 right now…
January 13th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
We are in winter 2012 right now. Winter started December 21th 2011 and goes until March 21th 2012.
January 13th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
A year seems like a long time when you already have it in a manual??
January 13th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
@Jayhas – Then I guess they could mean anytime soon, if you consider this still Winter of 2012 like others are saying. I don’t see why it would take a year to make something so simple, but the wording used is a bit confusing. Technically though I guess Winter runs through until February? So i’m wrong, I guess it will be out by next month…
January 13th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
If history is any indication, it will be six months after expected before it is announced that it is coming soon, plan on October.
January 13th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
They will lost summer 2012! That is bad marketing.
January 13th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
I purchased a flat housing lens from Mako Spearguns: http://www.makospearguns.com/product-p/mgphl.htm
I must say, it does very well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7qH5OIfbIM
It was a simple test but focus does well.
January 13th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
So they’ll correct a flaw in their product in almost a year? I thought small, cool companies were supposed to be able to be able to react quicker? At least that’s what the Interwebs all told me.
January 14th, 2012 at 9:10 am
@ William Haines ~ maybe GoPro is actually a subsidiary of Canon. Oh no, if that were true, it would be available 3 or 4 years from now … lol
January 14th, 2012 at 10:14 am
I have the Mako Spearguns flat lens as well and it works great. See for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6snmkpo5RM
January 14th, 2012 at 10:25 am
@cheetah – Here’s a good test we did with stock GoPro lens and the BlurFix Flat Lens kit http://cheesycam.com/gopro-underwater-blurfix-flat-lens-kit/
January 14th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
I saw that lens at the gopro CES booth!
January 15th, 2012 at 2:31 am
@Em – Its not a manual, CES product brochure.
Also, they said winter 2012 for their wifi kit thats coming out and it got a February release date. I expect this to as well.
January 16th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
well it’s a good thing it doesn’t block the lcd screen.
oh wait…
January 18th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
I saw this housing being shown by the GoPro people at DEMA (Dive Equipment Manufacturers Association) a few months ago (Nov 2011). They said at the time that it would available in Jan 2012 but when I wrote them recently and asked about it, they said they don’t know when it will be available or even when it will be preannounced on the website.
If you can’t wait, look at the “Blurfix” by Snakeriver Prototyping, available on the web at many sites. This lens adapter allows you to use filters, has it’s own desiccant and does not change the integrity of the original lens and case.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
@Mike – What you speak of is already on this website too http://cheesycam.com/gopro-underwater-blurfix-flat-lens-kit/
January 19th, 2012 at 7:30 am
@Emm –
Thanks, I’m sure it is. I just happened onto this website coming directly to this page from an outside referrance to the GoPro brand flat lens housing pictured above. I was impressed with the housing that the GoPro people were showing at DEMA but it looks as though we’ll have to wait a while to actually see it happen. Considering what the GoPro people told me recently, I’m surprised that there is any sort of manual with this item listed in it or that anyone actually has a copy.
I had only just learned about the Blurfix adapter in the hours before my last post and did not know just how much others knew about it. Apparently I’m rather late in learning about this. Always one of the last to know…oh well. :-\
Last thought, given what I know now about both the Blurfix and having seen & handled the GoPro housing they are planning to come out with at some point (which is a nice low-profile unit), I would prefer the Blurfix adapter for the ability to add filters.
January 21st, 2012 at 7:34 pm
I hope they give us the option to replace the flat lens ourselves. Looks like it uses the same enclosure.. just screws on.
Not sure I really need more enclosures lol.. Already have 2 normal, 1 skeleton and 1 3D.
January 24th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
As this guy says at the DEMA 2011, it will be out PROBLABLY at Q1 2012… that’s from January to March…
I hope they meet these deadline!!!!
January 24th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Sorry…. the video link: http://youtu.be/m583dFRFu18?t=2m53s
February 2nd, 2012 at 7:57 am
This new Case is very interesting, the price at the moment is 59 euros.
For the Blur fix you have to spend something like 79 euros plus you have to glue it on your case, with the result of damaging your old case…than you should buy a new case for other uses..
February 21st, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Have there been any updates on this? GoPro is simply not replying to my email inquiry about when we should see it? Winter is almost over…. I want this bad!
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:35 pm
There is no news on the gopro website, it seems that their next product rollout will be the wifi backpack and remote due to be released in April.
I think I might just bite the bullet and buy the backscatter case+flat lens. Which is about $100 more than the supposed gopro housing+flat lens.
But I don’t want to wait a year, I dive too much.
March 4th, 2012 at 8:08 am
My friend is a Rep for GoPro and he said to expect it by the end of March 2012. I already bought a Blurfix and couldn’t be happier. The GoPro fix looks cool but if you’re even slightly serious about video/photo, look into the Blurfix. The GoPro model has no filters that you can add to it above/below water and it’s the first square lens I’ve ever seen so good luck finding an aftermarket one for it somewhere. The Blurfix already has a few different options for filters (ground down for no vignetting) and you can use regular 55mm camera filters with it as well (not without causing vignetting). To be completely honest, GoPro is horribly slow and behind on making accessories for their own camera. Look at http://www.xsories.com and you’ll find loads of fun toys for your camera that I’m betting GoPro won’t be releasing any time soon.
March 8th, 2012 at 7:20 am
I really home this comes out before May when I start diving again. Really not keen on buying a crappy 3rd party one.
March 12th, 2012 at 4:40 am
Backscatter has also made a very nice flat port case. It has a glass lens and the ability to attach color filters.
At $120 I’d say its very overpriced.
March 12th, 2012 at 5:48 am
@David – The Backscatter one you mention seems to use cheap acrylic (proprietary) filters. I think I prefer the Blurfix over that since it uses common glass threaded filters.
March 13th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
@Emm
The blurfix looks nice, and your probably right about the filters but at $70 a piece I think only the most consummate professionals would care about glass vs plastic. The great thing about the gopro is professional quality without the super high prices.
I’m still holding out for GoPro’s own case which will probably do the job just fine.
March 14th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
There is a website that is taking pre-orders for the GoPro Underwater Housing…
Hopefully any day now it will be announced and go on sale.
March 24th, 2012 at 2:37 am
Any news? Should be any day now.
Seen a few website taking pre-ordes…
March 26th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
I want it NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 28th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Here we are at the end of March and no news.
They better be releasing it April 1st
April 2nd, 2012 at 7:39 am
Ugh, want this now! The fact that the square lense will not support add on filters shouldn’t be a big issue since you can proces the footage afterward and color correct then.
April 4th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Delayed until mid-April.
April 17th, 2012 at 5:42 am
any1 know when this is going to come on sale, im a keen spearfisherman in Australia and wanted to do some filming
so ive herd
’some’ aftermarket lens DO NOT fit the gopro2 perfectly as the gopro as a tinny bit larger, as a result some cases have leaked
im not installing a product on a $350 camera that says it does not garrantie the camera.
this is y I need the official gopro housing, just want it to hurry up and get on the shelf, then get its ass across the pacific to my local dive shop.
April 17th, 2012 at 7:56 am
@Sam G. – I’m here in Las Vegas NAB2012, and GoPro is showing it here. We’ll be doing an interview with them later.
April 17th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Looking forward to that Emm, thanks!
April 18th, 2012 at 9:43 am
@Emm my source says its now delayed until June, i hope you cant confirm this and its sooner, post the interview here please
April 18th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Just contacted Gopro –
“The Dive Housing will be available Spring-Summer 2012. The flat lens housing features a large, flat lens that captures sharp photos and video above and underwater in any resolution setting. Waterproof to 197ft/60m,.the flat lens housing is ideal for diving, snorkeling, and any underwater filming scenario. The Dive Housing is compatible with the HD HERO, HD HERO@, and all GoPro mounts and accessories”
April 18th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
It will be sold only as an accessory or also like “scuba edition” ? The best would be to have the edition with flat lens housing and wirst mount!
But best of all I need it before june!
April 19th, 2012 at 2:45 am
@Werner – If GoPros past behavior has shown anything is that pushing back the release date on this product is becoming a habit. I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Personally I was waiting for the GoPro flat lens case but now I am just gonna fork out the extra money for the Backscatter Flat Case which.
April 20th, 2012 at 1:48 am
Hello everybody,
Google directed me to this blog as I’m awaiting the GoPro underwater lense just as you do.
Right yesterday I was asking @GoPro about the lense an the reply was -mh, let’s call it- sparse: “GoPro Dive Housing coming very, very soon.”
Minutes later, another reply flew in (@jadidas91): “sorry but a June release is not soon at all”
Well, I’m really new to the GoPro Community, but this policy is really remembering me to Canon.
Remains to hope the best…
Regards,
Peter
April 20th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
@Emm
Hi Emm,
I take it when you are at NAB that GoPro did not have this unit for sale to anyone?
I am going to a SCUBA expo this weekend, I would assume GoPro would have a booth but I doubt they would have these cases for sale.
April 20th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
@Mike – Not available yet.
April 22nd, 2012 at 10:09 pm
‘dont hold your breath’ good one Timmy
let them have their extra time, gopro needs that time to get the product right and get the price low all for us! but i dont like how they can hold us up for a long time telling us ‘its next week”its next week’!
id rather they sell it as a separate piece as you want the other housing for above water as well.
i hope they keep the price kool for us aussies on the dive housing, we have a rrp of 400 for the gopro2 while u americans get it for 300 with an exchange rate favorable to us
cheers
Sam
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:30 am
Any updates on the release date?
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:39 am
@Cactus Farmer – NAB2012 they mentioned it still might be a few months.
April 27th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
I think GoPro screwed up a little. Its not like this blurry problem was discovered yesterday, and it could have been anticipated by anyone with a background in optics.
Also funny to considered that the CEO and creator of GoPro was a surfer.
Granted the SCUBA and snorkeling market is probably just a fraction of the /ski/surf/bike market but still they should have had the flatlens case out a year and a half ago.
May 8th, 2012 at 1:50 am
Another question: Will the underwater housing fit w/ the lcd backpack, too? I read often now, that the housing will be “compatible with the HD HERO, HD HERO2, and all GoPro mounts and accessories”, but in fact there must be sold two different housings, right?
May 8th, 2012 at 6:44 am
@Peter – When you buy the LCD, it comes with several housings. Check this out http://oliviatech.com/the-gopro-lcd-bacpac
May 10th, 2012 at 1:54 am
@Emm – Thanks for your reply. But I did not get it already.
Until now, I thought, GoPro will offer a complete new housing with a mounted flat lens!
When I have to use the several housings which came with my LCD, will I have to mount the flat lens myself? Or does GoPro only offer the flat lense, which I have to mount myself anyway?
May 10th, 2012 at 8:31 am
@Peter – There’s some information about this in our NAB coverage, and I believe it will be something you mount to your existing case. No filters available for color correction (at this time).
May 14th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Apparently there has been some new developments and this housing might be sold soon?
Can anyone substantiate this?
May 14th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
It’s out!!!
http://de.gopro.com/hd-hero-accessories/dive-housing//
May 23rd, 2012 at 12:19 am
So any videos used with it about?