What’s the best underwater camera?
There are lot’s of action cameras available to divers, so it is all but impossible to choose the “best underwater camera.” The most popular is the GoPro, followed by countless rivals like Intova, Sony and i don’t know how many others. It’s a very competitive space, so standing out is a real challenge for camera makers.
Consequently, it is difficult to get excited about yet another tiny underwater camera. Part of the problem is, no matter how good the sensor, and whatever fabulous features, underwater pictures and video will always have a blue or green cast unless you can add tons of artificial light.
Red filters can help, but the are a pain to deal with and they only correct for one color. They are also only optimal at one depth. It’s a compromise. It helps but it’s not really a solution.
Paralenz underwater camera is different
Last November, saw a new camera at DEMA in Las Vegas that I am very excited about. What makes Paralenz different is a pressure sensor that adjusts the balance of every color, based on your actual depth.
That’s the theory, at least, the underwater demo videos I’ve seen so far look awesome.
Not only that, the Paralenz underwater “camera” also logs your dives. Their app works a little like COSMIQ’s without the emphasis on social sharing. It is very cool to have your footage linked to exactly where you were at a given point during your dive.
So far, all this comes from my discussions at DEMA, and from reading. The truth is, I haven’t been able to get my hands on a Paralenz camera yet. So, take this as an introduction, not a review.
That said, I believe Paralenz is revolutionary in its approach to color correction, and an extremely high quality camera, with some amazing features.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to get one underwater soon. When I do, come back for the full review. If anyone reading this has actually gotten to take a Paralenz camera diving, please share your experience in the comments.