GoPro Tips & Tricks HomepageGoPro Tips & Tricks

David Coleman Photography

  • Reviews & Tips
  • GoPro
  • Lightroom
  • Places
  • Photos
  • Comparison Reviews
  • GoPro Models
    • HERO9 Black
    • MAX
    • HERO8 Black
    • HERO7 Black
    • HERO7 Silver
    • HERO7 White
    • HERO (2018)
    • Fusion
    • HERO6 Black
    • HERO5 Black
    • HERO5 Session
    • HERO Session
    • HERO (2014)
    • HERO+ LCD
    • HERO4 Black
    • HERO4 Silver
    • HERO4 Session
    • HERO3+ Black
    • HERO3 Silver
  • GoPro Accessories
    • Memory Cards
    • Batteries & Charging
    • Housings & Cases
    • Filters
    • Mounts & Grips
    • Sound
    • Stabilizers
  • GoPro Tips & Tricks
    • Troubleshooting
    • Protune
    • Video
    • Photos
    • Timelapse
    • Apps

Backscatter Flip7 Underwater Filters for GoPro Cameras

If your underwater photos are coming out blue and with washed-out colors, a good option is to add an underwater filter. There are several approaches; Backscatter's Flip7 is unique and convenient.

GoPro HERO7 Black

GoPro HERO7 Black with the BackScatter Flip7 Dive filter. I took this shot in New Caledonia at a depth of around 10 meters / 33 feet.

By David Coleman | @havecamerawilltraveldc
Last updated about 2 months ago // Categories: Filters
Tags: GoPro HERO3+ Black, GoPro HERO4 Black, GoPro HERO4 Silver, GoPro HERO5 Black, GoPro HERO6 Black, GoPro HERO7 Black

Save $220 on GoPro HERO9 Bundle

GoPro is running a deal on the new HERO9 Black, their newest and best camera. It's a bundle that includes the HERO9 Black, a 1-year subscription to GoPro, a free extra battery, and a 64GB SD card. It's all for $349.98.

If you’ve ever tried taking photos or video underwater, particularly when you’re snorkeling or Scuba diving, the first challenge you run into is keeping your camera dry. With newer GoPros, that’s much less of an issue because they have the waterproof housing built in.

The second thing you run into is that the photos and video footage look washed out and all blue or gray. The problem gets worse the deeper you go. Rather than beautiful red and orange and yellow coral and fish, the versions that appear in your photos are shades of blue with other colors muted. That’s not something distinctive to GoPros–it’ll happen with all cameras that are color balanced for typical above-water shooting.1

That’s because the longer wavelengths of light don’t penetrate water as well as the shorter wavelengths of light. Put another way, the red and orange wavelengths get filtered out.

So if you want your underwater photos to look more “normal”, you have three options:

Take your own light. Taking your own underwater lighting, whether with strobes (flashes) or constant lights (video lights), can result in wonderfully rich photos. There aren’t any off-the-shelf options for firing strobes with GoPros underwater, so if you’re working with a GoPro, you’ll be looking at constant lights, often sold as video lights.

There are, however, several negatives and limitations to this. It adds several layers of complexity in shooting and gear. It adds expense. And it works far better for very close-range photography such as macro shots rather than wider shots further away, in part because many of the lights lack power and in part because you run into issues with bubbles or particles in the water that create a backscatter effect.

Edit in Post-processing. The color imbalance underwater isn’t strictly a color temperature issue, but adjusting the white balance in an image editing app gives a quick way to get better results. It’s also easy to do. But you’re still somewhat limited in the quality of the results because the process can’t recapture colors and light that the sensor never saw or that was outside of the sensor’s tonal range. It also works much better for RAW (.gpr) files than with JPG files. Another option with the HERO7 Black is to assign a manual white balance in the camera when you shoot, but that’s still not ideal.

Of course, there are other, more powerful ways to tinker with the color balance in image editing apps, such as boosting the red and orange, and they can give better results than using the white balance slider alone, but you still run into the problem of the inconvenience of needing to spend more time editing the photos and that you’re still limited by the colors that the sensor captured.

Shoot with an Underwater Filter. A third way to get better color in your underwater photos is to tackle the problem before the light hits the sensor. For this, you’d use an underwater filter. The most common ones are orange or red, but you can also get other specialist ones for different kinds and colors of water (green water or blue water, for instance).

Backscatter Flip7 Underwater Filter System

There are quite a few different underwater filter options available for GoPros. The simplest and cheapest are usually the ones that clip over the front of the lens port. With some of the older GoPros, you could also get thin films of colored gel that fit inside the waterproof housing between the lens and the housing’s lens port. It’s fiddly, but it works. But it also doesn’t make as much sense with newer models if you’re using the camera without a separate housing. Another option is to add a standard 55mm filter thread mount. That opens up a world of standard 55mm photography filters, but it doesn’t have the same convenience factor of the Flip7 system.

The Flip7 system from Backscatter uses a different approach. And it’s one I like. Rather than clip on or slot in, it uses, well, a flip method. It’s a combination of a frame bracket that clamps around the Super Suit’s lens port and then some swing doors that hold rigid colored gels. They’ve used this Flip system before; this is the latest version. (UPDATE: Since I originally wrote this new GoPros have come out. And Backscatter has released new versions of the Flip filter system for the [GoPro HERO8 Black and GoPro HERO9 Black](https://www.backscatter.com/brand/Backscatter/department/GoPro/product-category/Filters).)

Backscatter Flip7 Underwater Filter System for GoPro

Based in Monterey, California, Backscatter specializes in underwater photography and videography. They’ve designed their own underwater filter system for GoPros that they’ve called the Flip. I’ve been shooting with it on a HERO7 Black, but the compatibility is actually quite broad, and it will work with the housings for models going back to the HERO3.2

There are some advantages to this approach. For one, it’s very simple and convenient to switch between filters or move them out of the way entirely. With a simple flick, you can put a filter in place or move it out of the way for above-water shooting. So if you’re diving, you can also switch between filters designed for different depths (this again has to do with the wavelengths of light penetrating to those depths and isn’t anything do with water pressure as most depth-ratings are for camera equipment). So if you’re doing a reef dive that might start at 15 feet but then moves down to 40 feet as you move up and down or along a reef wall, you can very easily switch between the filters, even if you’re wearing dive gloves.

For another, you can swap out the filters depending on the water conditions. The folks at Backscatter have gone to a lot of effort to get just the right colors for the gels that give the best results in the widest range of uses. The gels themselves are rigid and very good quality.

The Filters

Shallow. The Shallow filter is designed for use at depths from 5 to 20 feet. So it’s the ideal one to use for snorkeling.

Dive. The next strongest is designed for use between 20 and 50 feet in bluewater conditions.

Deep. This deep orange/red filter is designed for depths below 50 feet.

GreenWater. Rather than red or orange, this one is strongly magenta and is designed for green water shooting. That’s something you’re more likely to encounter in cold regions.

NightSea. This is a highly specialized option designed to capture underwater fluorescent creatures when used in conjunction with a blue light.

55mm Filter Holder. In a nice touch, you can also get a standard 55mm filter holder to attach to one of the swing arms. That’s especially useful for adding a macro filter, but you could use it for any other standard 55mm filter you might want to use.

Attaching the Flip7 Filter System

There is an important consideration when using the Backscatter Flip7: it doesn’t attach directly onto the HERO7’s lens port. It attaches to the Super Suit dive housing’s lens port, so you’ll need one of those first. There are third-party aftermarket dive housings available, but not all of those will work for this.

The mounting frame them goes around the housing’s lens port and clamps into place using one of the supplied hex keys.

Backscatter Flip7 Underwater Filter System for GoPro

You can then screw on your choice of filters into place on each of the two swing arms. Each filter attaches with two small screws that use the other of the supplied hex keys. This process is a bit fiddly, and it’s very easy to drop and lose a screw, so it’s something you’ll ideally want to do before heading out on the water rather than trying to do on site on a rocking and busy dive boat. But once the system is assembled, you don’t need to mess with it again.

Backscatter Flip7 Underwater Filter System for GoPro

Once installed, it sits flush with the lens port. So you don’t need to worry about vignetting. You do inevitably lose some light through the filter, which can become an issue with the GoPro’s relatively poor high-ISO performance.

In Practice

Here are some quick side-by-side comparisons I took recently. This first one is without and with the Shallow filter.


[caption id="attachment_24448" align="aligncenter" width="678"]Backscatter Flip7 Underwater Filters Before and After This with the Shallow filter.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_24447" align="aligncenter" width="678"]BackScatter Flip7 Underwater Filters Before and After This with the Shallow filter.[/caption]

And here’s a combination shot that’s a good illustration of the effect.

Backscatter Flip7 Underwater Filters Before and After

This is with the filter not fully flipped down. I did this by accident, but it’s a useful illustration of the effect of the filter. In this case, it’s the Shallow filter.

Things Worth Knowing

There are a number of factors to consider in use.

You’ll need a Super Suit dive housing as a prerequisite. I’ve put together a separate guide on using that.

You wouldn’t normally use one of these filters for things like surfing or kayaking. They’re really designed for shooting through water.

It’s much easier to attach your choice of filters to the swing arms before heading out onto the water.

The swing-arms design is convenient, but in one respect it’s not ideal. And that is that if you have two filters attached, at least one of them is always going to be sticking out somewhat. So if you’re into a pocket or wetsuit to get your hands free for one of the thousand other things you need to do when getting ready to dive, it’s easy to catch the filters. I haven’t had any break–they’re sturdily built–but the potential is there and they do tend to catch on things. One option is, if you know you’re only going to need one filter, just to have that filter attached, and leave the other arm empty.

The Flip7 comes in a small neoprene pouch that’s a useful way to store everything. It includes a couple of small hex keys for locking the bracket in place and attaching the individual filters.

The filters are made of rigid and strong plastic, but they can and do scratch. But small scratches have much less impact on image quality when you’re shooting underwater and the filter is wet than they would in dry shooting. And at $20 each, they’re not exorbitantly priced if you need to replace one.

Where to Find Them

You can get the Flip7 system in various configurations, including single-filter and double-filter versions, directly from Backscatter.

And don’t forget that you’re going to need a Super Suit housing to mount it on.

GoPro AADIV-001 Super Suit with Dive Housing for HERO7 /HERO6 /HERO5 ,...
GoPro AADIV-001 Super Suit with Dive Housing for HERO7 /HERO6 /HERO5 ,...
  • Ultimate protection for your HERO6 Black or HERO5 Black during extreme outdoor activities and deep-water...
  • Waterproof to 196ft (60m)
Check Price on Amazon

Wrap Up

My main quibble with the design is related to it being a little cumbersome when not using it. When putting it in a pocket or stuffing down a wetsuit, for instance. And not everyone is going to want to invest in the expense of a Super Suit dive housing as well as the filter system. But aside from that, the Backscatter Flip7 is the best solution I’ve come across so far for adding dive filters to a GoPro and improving the color balance of underwater photos. Once set up, it’s an incredibly quick way to switch between filters for different depths or use no filter at all.

Other Alternatives

If you’re after a simpler approach of snap-on filters, I’d recommend these from PolarPro. They still require the Super Suit.


  1. Some waterproof cameras have a special underwater shooting mode that processes color correction in the camera. ↩
  2. I haven’t tested with the new GoPro Protective Housing for the HERO7 Silver and White, so you’ll need to check that first if you’re using those cameras. ↩

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2020-11-13 at 20:08. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

More GoPro Tips & Tricks:

  • Polar Pro Filters 300x200 - PolarPro's Neutral Density, Polarizer, and Macro Filters for the GoPro HERO4 Black & Silver
    PolarPro's Neutral Density, Polarizer, and Macro Filters for the GoPro HERO4 Black & Silver
  • Svalbard with a GoPro HERO5 Black
    Does GoPro Wifi Work Underwater?
  • GoPro HERO9 Black vs HERO8 Black
    GoPro Deals
  • superview vs wide fov 300x200 - What is GoPro SuperView?
    What is GoPro SuperView?
  • Protune Photo GoPro vs Flat 300x200 - GoPro Protune Photo Color: GoPro Color vs Flat
    GoPro Protune Photo Color: GoPro Color vs Flat
  • 20160529120504266 300x200 - Do GoPro Touchscreens Work Underwater?
    Do GoPro Touchscreens Work Underwater?
By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on November 25, 2020

Categories: Filters
Tags: GoPro HERO3+ Black, GoPro HERO4 Black, GoPro HERO4 Silver, GoPro HERO5 Black, GoPro HERO6 Black, GoPro HERO7 Black

I may earn a commission for purchases using links on this page. Learn more.

GoPro News & Deals

New Smart Remote GoPro will be announcing the new Smart Remote for the HERO9 Black on December 17, 2020. The HERO9 Black isn’t compatible with the previous version of the Smart Remote.

HERO8 Black firmware v2.0 now available. Enables webcam mode; enables Display Mod compatibility; expands HyperSmooth 2.0 High and Boost availability to more video settings; general bug fixes. Update through the mobile app or manually.

GoPro Launches New Live Streaming Service for GoPro PLUS. GoPro has launched their own live-streaming platform for PLUS subscribers. It’s a pretty bare-bones offering for now, with livestreams shared with a dedicated URL. This is alongside their efforts to make the HERO8 Black useful as a webcam when connected to a computer (via USB plug-in-play, not requiring the Media Mod accessory with HDMI out). New firmware adds that functionality for Mac users, and the Windows version is in Beta.

New GoPro Zeus Mini Video Light. GoPro has released released a new video LED light designed to complement their GoPro cameras. It’s tiny, waterproof, and has a built-in magnetic swiveling clip. It’s waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters), has four levels of brightness, and includes a diffuser to cool the color temperature to 5000K. GoPro claims that the built-in battery lasts up to 6 hours (presumably at the lowest brightness setting, although they don’t specify). It’s available now and priced at $69.99.

DJI Osmo Action firmware update adds live streaming. DJI has released a firmware update for the Osmo Action (v. 01.08.00.10) that adds live streaming support, so you can upload directly to platforms like Facebook and YouTube (it goes through the DJI Mimo mobile app). They’ve also improved the in-camera video stabilization. You can find the new firmware here.

New Underwater Housing for GoPro HERO8 Black from Isotta. Isotta, an Italian brand specializing in underwater housings, has announced a new high-quality underwater housing for the HERO8 Black. It’s an aluminum housing depth-rated to 650 feet (200 meters), has a one-handed open/close switch, double o-rings, and can be used with filters. There’s also a dual-handled tray to go along with it. And like all their housings, it’s in their distinctive red. Priced at $450, it’s only for those who need a highly specialized piece of underwater kit. It’s available for preorder from underwater specialists Backscatter.

Light Mod Now Shipping The Light Mod, one of the three new GoPro accessories, is now shipping. It’s a standalone light that is waterproof, rechargeable and compatible with all GoPro mounts. It was originally announced along with the HERO8 Black, but it hasn’t been available until now. It’s priced at $49.99, and you can find them at GoPro.com.

GoPro MAX Now Shipping. The new 360° camera, the MAX, is now shipping.

GoPro HERO8 Black and Max Unveiled. The new GoPro cameras and accessories have been unveiled. I have a rundown of the highlights of the HERO8 Black here.

DJI Osmo Action vs GoPro HERO7 Black. I’ve posted my detailed hands-on comparison of the Osmo Action and the HERO7 Black. There’s a lot similar between the models, but once you start digging down into the details there are differences that can help in choosing between them. And each has strengths the other doesn’t have. You can find my review here.

GoPro HyperSmooth vs DJI RockSteady. The new DJI Osmo Action also has built-in electronic stabilization to smooth out video. They’re calling it RockSteady (GoPro has HyperSmooth). I’ve been out testing them side-by-side. You can see the results here.

GoPro Deals page. I’ve put together a dedicated page on GoPro deals. So if you’re looking for cheap GoPro deals, check it out.

DJI Osmo action 4K Camera. Best known for their camera drones, DJI has released a new 4K action cam that’s taking direct aim at the GoPro HERO7 Black. It shoots up to 4K60 video and 12MP stills, includes electronic stabilization, has high-dynamic range video at 4K30, voice commands, a touchscreen on the back and another smaller live view screen on the front, and is waterproof down to 36 feet (11 meters). It’s priced at $349, and they’re now available at B&H Photo.

Comments

  1. David says

    June 24, 2020 at 8:37 am

    I haven’t been doing as much Scuba diving as I’d like lately, but my go-to resource for is BackScatter. They’re an underwater photography specialist store. I’ve been using their underwater filters and grips and found them to work very well. So I’d recommend taking a look at what they offer and suggest. They have gear, obviously, but they also have some very useful guide videos.

    Reply
  2. carlo says

    June 23, 2020 at 5:31 am

    hi there!Tnx for your precious tips!i got the flip 7 for my hero 7 black and i would like to know your favorite underwater setup for scuba diving!Tnx in advance
    Best Carlo

    Reply

Questions & Comments Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

About Me

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

I’ve owned and used every GoPro since the HD HERO and particularly like finding new and different ways to use them to capture photos, video, and time-lapse.

You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com.

Search My Images

Looking for travel stock photos or prints? I might be able to help. You can search my collection here:

If you already have a buyer account with Alamy and would prefer to use that, you can search my images directly here.

Get in Touch

Member

© 2009–2021 David Coleman · Have Camera Will Travel LLC · all rights reserved


Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
All images are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.


Privacy & Disclosure · Cookie Declaration · Disclaimer · Terms of Service · Copyright · Contact


GoPro, HERO, Session, Karma and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of GoPro, Inc.


XML Sitemap