DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Help with choosing a camera

Started Jul 20, 2020 | Discussions
Johnfitz46 New Member • Posts: 2
Help with choosing a camera

I am conducting research on octopus in a lab at my school and am curious about what the optimal camera specs are for filming of this nature. If the camera is waterproof and mounted at the top of the tank what lens size would be appropriate to capture video the tank? I am thinking of using a 360 degree 12MP/4K camera (12 fps) with a 2.1 mm fixed lens. I am under the impression that cameras usually lose their clarity as the field of view increases so I am wondering if a 2.1 mm lens might be too small or if it is a good size since objects within the tank are relatively close to the camera.

kelpdiver Veteran Member • Posts: 5,564
Re: Help with choosing a camera

the distortion of a 360 degree camera may be annoying.   Consider a couple instead of one - one on top, one at bottom shooting towards the preferred corner?   Though I do wonder how to make a camera octopus proof.   They're notoriously crafty.

PHXAZCRAIG
PHXAZCRAIG Forum Pro • Posts: 19,651
Re: Help with choosing a camera

Hmm.  No idea on the actual specs, but I would think one or two Gopro's mounted securely should do the trick.   Gopros are pretty easy to find too.  Perhaps ask people you know if they have one sitting around in a drawer (like mine) you could practice with.  I think the lenses on all of them are pretty similar in focal length, and they are pretty wide.

Does the camera actually need to be inside the tank, or can it shoot through glass from farther away?  (Focal range question).

-- hide signature --

Phoenix Arizona Craig
www.cjcphoto.net
"In theory, practice and theory are the same. In practice, they're not."

 PHXAZCRAIG's gear list:PHXAZCRAIG's gear list
Nikon D80 Nikon D200 Nikon D300 Nikon D700 Nikon 1 V1 +45 more
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads