A Gopro is usually the first choice for the beginner diver. Its inexpensive and shoots great videos, most people have one at home.
The next level up would be a high-end compact, cameras such as the Canon G7X Mark III or the Sony RX100 VII.
These cameras are highly popular among underwater photographers and are a significant upgrade compared to a GoPro.
Another option would be a smartphone housing. Phones like the iPhone 14 or Samsung Galaxy S22 have an incredible camera with better sensors than Gopro, very sophisticated image processing and a huge screen.
The first and most important difference is that a GoPro cannot trigger underwater strobes since it doesn’t have a built-in flash.
A good compact camera can use the pop-up flash to trigger and sync an external strobe, which is the best way to light up photos underwater and bring back the lost colors.
In addition, optics are much better on these cameras, and they allow zooming in for close-up and macro shots, as well as adding wet lenses which expand the camera’s capabilities on the wide or macro end.
Last but not least, image quality is significantly better, with a high quality 1″ sensor and advanced graphic processors which produce excellent colors, sharp and crisp details and better results overall.
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