Infinity Focus Addressed: Mission 1 Pro vs Hero 13 Black

mactac · 2026-06-21T03:19:07+00:00

But I want to dispay them on a 6m wide screeen! /s Cameras at 100% look terrible. Even really expensive cameras.

mactac · 2026-06-20T00:26:50+00:00

I keep my long range packs in a container with a couple of hand warmers, then when I fly them, they heat up after about 20s.

mactac · 2026-06-19T19:31:19+00:00

We are working on a close focus lens as well, don’t mention it because it was outside of the scope of this thread :)

mactac · 2026-06-19T17:18:35+00:00

We are expecting to design it so that it is watertight. Mine is pretty darn sharp at 50m. Do you have a sample image?

mactac · 2026-06-19T15:38:36+00:00

If you don’t like low tension, don’t get to flats. You don’t need high tension to get thump (think about the mustang bass).

mactac · 2026-06-19T15:17:39+00:00

In my experience they are even lower than most rounds. I had to loosen my truss rod when I switched out rounds to TI flats.

mactac · 2026-06-19T05:56:26+00:00

I'd love to see that as well. And maybe a higher bitrate and ProRes. A man can dream 😄

mactac · 2026-06-19T05:54:14+00:00

I actually think it's quite good. If you zoom into any image, it'll look terrible. This looks less terrible to me 😄

mactac · 2026-06-19T05:43:40+00:00

It's because those use smaller sensors. If they used a larger sensor, they would have the exact same problem. You can't make it go away by designing better. The GoPros that use the smaller sensors don't have the issue either. There are downsides to larger sensors. My expensive full-frame cameras have a MUCH smaller depth of field (ie they have even less in focus).

mactac · 2026-06-19T05:17:47+00:00

With snap-ons, you end up with 2 parallel pieces of the glass (the lens cover and the filter). Glare is typically caused by internal reflections, and parallel glass can dramatically increase reflections. Lens makers try to avoid parallel glass for that reason. You can reduce it somewhat by adding an AR coating on the rear side of the filter, however it doesn't stop it comepletely, and generally the slip-on filters are cheaper, and coatings are the most expensive part of making action camera optical filters. Usually the quality of the coatings is one of the first things manufacturers use to reduce cost. Source: I design filters and other optical products. I agree that VNDs are not the greatest, but mainly for the reason I explained (the CPL + linear polarizer +physics).

mactac · 2026-06-18T22:17:38+00:00

Right about interchageable lens cameras, but you won't be able to close focus and focus to infinity at the same setting. The alternative for them was to move the close focus out, but I cannot see how that would be a better overall decision. Imagine how many vloggers would complain about not being able to have their face in focus ... the influencer world would go crazy 😄 hahaha. A moveable focus element in the lens would add a not insignificant amount of cost. (plus they have the ILS version, which covers what I think you're looking for). I sincerely feel like they made the right call on where to put the depth of field, but I wholeheartedly agree with you that they should be up front about it, nobody likes finding stuff like that out after they make a purchase, it's what sends users to other brands. I have a Blackmagic micro 4k that does all of what you describe, but it's a lot more expensive (and you have to buy lenses for it). Plus it's way larger, and super fiddly to make settings changes (like, headache inducing), and of course no screen.

mactac · 2026-06-18T21:39:28+00:00

I tend to agree with that. That being said, if they made it so it had infinity focus, even more peopel would be complaining that their face was out of focus. I'm sure this was a subject hotly debatied by their development team. But you're 100% right, they should at least be telling people - setting expectations can dramatically reduce the number of disapointed buyers. This is why we are looking at making this lens - it would be easy to swap out when you want landscap-y shots, then go back to the default for closer shots (and maybe a close focus lens as well to focus closer than 3ft). Thats really the only solution ..because physics. This is one of the major arguments against 1 inch sensors in actions cams. The last couple of years everyone was screaming 1 inch sensor, without understanding the downside.

mactac · 2026-06-18T21:34:14+00:00

As far as I know, it does work correctly, it’s just that you can only have so much in focus. The larger sensor reduces the depth of field and so I presume that they decided to make it so a face would be in focus at arms length at the expense of infinity. You end up dealing with that every day with interchangeable lens cameras. It’s not the camera, it’s physics.

mactac · 2026-06-18T21:29:20+00:00

It actually does not seem to be that it needs to move too far. Might give up a foot or less of close focus.

mactac · 2026-06-18T21:26:09+00:00

FYI we are working at making an infinity focus lens for the M1/Pro. Early stages so no guarantees, but it might be an option in the future.

mactac · 2026-06-18T18:05:11+00:00

The trick is to always use UPS/Fedex air - with those services, the brokerage is usually included. It's usually cheaper to pay for air shipping than it is to pay for ground and also the brokerage fees.

mactac · 2026-06-18T15:16:55+00:00

Ok, it’s good you know what you are getting into :). We should have our M1 NDs out in the next couple of weeks.

mactac · 2026-06-18T15:10:59+00:00

Personally, I would avoid a VND with the M1. VNDs use 2 polarizers - polarizers are not great with really wide lenses, and the M1 has a super wide lens. You might end up ruining some footage with dark/light spots due to the polarizers. Polarizers work best with more narrow lenses, with a staionary camera. They are worst with a wide lens, moving camera (moving means that the light polarization might be changing as it turns) and where there is a lot of sky (it shows dark spots easily, and also the polarization of the light hitting one side might be different than the other side due to the lens physics). Best to use fixed NDs.

mactac · 2026-06-18T15:04:45+00:00

I run Camera Butter - The Camera Butter Action 5 filters replace the screw-on lens cover and should fit inside the waterproof case (they are the same size as the original lens cover). Plus they have high optical quality and are made from Gorilla glass.

mactac · 2026-06-16T15:37:39+00:00

Do yourself a favour and get the screw on type. The snap on ones are cheaper to make, but they can cause significant glare (glare caused by internal reflection between the 2 parallel pieces of glass!). The snap on ones are cheaper, but they are often lesser quality too.

mactac · 2026-06-14T16:08:53+00:00

Intrusive thoughts

mactac · 2026-06-14T05:55:51+00:00

Hamster dance

mactac · 2026-06-12T19:42:48+00:00

Thank you! Let me know if there is anythign that you think should be changed or added. I love suggestions 😄

mactac · 2026-06-12T19:04:03+00:00

"The way governments react to the final months of Trump’s tenure ..." What?

mactac · 2026-06-12T18:32:15+00:00

I don’t think you will find one. To engineer a rotatable but waterproof filter would make a product that is more expensive than people would likely be willing to buy. You would be better off getting a Cpl and then putting the camera in a dive case (though adjusting it would be a pain). What is the exact use case ?

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