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Home: Inactive Forums: Underwater Video:
beginner cam/housing recommendations please!

buviman
New User

Oct 7, 2004, 2:43 AM

Post #1 of 11 (5342 views)
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beginner cam/housing recommendations please!	Can't Post

Hi all;

I would like to get some recommendations as to a good setup (camera, housing, lights) for someone moving from digital photo to digital video. Here are some parameters:

price: up to 3000 USD
digital stills: not necessary
3ccd: preferable
camera: small, but not necessarily smallest
format: DV
lenses: minimum Wide Angle, others 'nice to have'
lights: hmmm.. what can I get at this price range
uw mike: not necessary, 'nice to have'

hopefully this gives an idea...
I have been thinking of a sony (pc-109, pc-330) or maybe panasonic (gs-120);
I am not sure about mechanical vs. electrical controls - this in my next post.
also not sure about lights (HiD vs. others) - this in my third post

any and all info greatly appreciated!

bm

syam
Novice

Feb 17, 2005, 1:12 AM

Post #2 of 11 (4957 views)
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Re: [buviman] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi

I just purchased the Amphibico Invader for Sony DRC-HC1000 3CCD camcorder & tested them in Phuket last week. The results are excellent despite the fact that viz was really bad in all the dive sites i went to. The 3CCD camera plus the use of filter & manual white balance adjustments turns the greenish murky view into deep sea blue. In fact the video turns out a lot better than real life as we see during the dive.

Unfortunately the housings made by Gates & Amphibico for smaller cameras like the PC-330 or PC350 doesn't have the manual white balance adjustment which i find necessary. But the Amphibico comes with the 110 degree wide angle lens as standard at USD 1995 which makes the water looks great clear even in poor viz situation. The Gates on the other hand comes with a standard port but you can view the LCD screen with the housing.

I think the mechanical vs. electrical controls question is a non-issue since the electronic controls are very reliable nowadays, I personally have spoken to many videographers in my region (South East Asia) & they have not had any problem with it.

ronrosa
Novice

Feb 17, 2005, 3:50 PM

Post #3 of 11 (4942 views)
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Re: [syam] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

How does the Invader do manual white balance ? Is it mechanical, through the lanc ? I thought the Sony HC1000 only did white balance through the touch screen ?

syam
Novice

Feb 17, 2005, 11:51 PM

Post #4 of 11 (4927 views)
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Re: [ronrosa] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi ron

The Invader uses electronic control thru the LANC. The WB button on the right grip activates the WB adjustment electronically just like pressing One Push WB function on the touch screen. So even on land if i flip the red filter down & press the WB button, the red disappears & replced with natural colours.

One tip though, you must leave the camera in the ON position before closing th ehousing, despite the fact the manual says OFF. With this you have full access to the manual WB adjustment.

maxheadspace
Novice

Jun 18, 2005, 10:45 AM

Post #5 of 11 (4616 views)
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Re: [syam] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Greetings Syam!

How is the HC1000 performing now that you've had it a while? I bought an HC1000 and Ikelite housing, but was wondering about what I'm missing without white balance manual mode. Do you feel that pressing the white balance button while filming at depth is significantly better than the "automatic white balance" mode? Have you filmed underwater using automatic white balance to compare with the manual white balance setting? I figured the automatic mode was supposed to do the white balance thinking for you, and would adjust appropriately at depth.

Thanks Syam! Do you have more vids posted using your HC1000?

Max Sly

syam
Novice

Jun 19, 2005, 10:51 AM

Post #6 of 11 (4592 views)
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Re: [maxheadspace] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

hi max

the hc1000 withe amphibico invader housing is amazing. the combination between red filter & WB adjustment made the colours look brilliant no more dull green/blue tinge when shooting below 5m. and yes, the manual WB adjustment is critical coz the auto adjustment is not sensitive enough. in fact when i place the camera inside the housing i leave the setting at auto. when i press the WB on the housing the camera is actually forced to adjust the WB. in changing conditions like visibility, shadows, depth the colours on the video will look different & i adjust the WB often to get the best colour. if i leave it to the camera to do the auto WB, most of the time it doesn't do anything.

i've been busy putting the vids i shot on DVD for friends, i'll tell you when i update my website with clips from the HC1000.

tigerkai
New User

Jun 21, 2005, 7:04 AM

Post #7 of 11 (4534 views)
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Re: [syam] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

hi syam,newbie here!me from singapore n had just brought the HC1000 n still waiting for the invader housing to arrive.just a few Qs???how often u set the white balance when in the water?how u set the white balance using what as the background?hope u can enlight me.thks.
wyatt

syam
Novice

Jun 26, 2005, 11:01 PM

Post #8 of 11 (4468 views)
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Re: [tigerkai] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

hi wyatt

first thing to know about setting the WB, when you put the camera into the housing leave the setting at Auto Lock setting at ON. Then before closing the housing, turn ON the camera (not OFF as stated in the manual). Then u'll have access to the manual WB.

The first time u press the WB button the 2 lights on the right grip will blink for about 10 secs. Then u can use the WB adjustment. To test on land, u can flip down the red filter, then press the WB button. The red filter effect will dissappear, the colour will be adjusted to normal.

I adjust the WB everytime the colour looks a bit off in the viewfinder, if its a bit greenish or blueish, then just adjust the WB against something light coloured. U can use a slate, or just point to the white sand (if ur close to the bottom) or even use the palm of ur hand. The main point here is to adjust until ur happy with the colour. Another tip is to completely zoom out (i.e. widest angle) before u adjust the WB. Sometimes if ur in zoom position it will have trouble adjusting the WB.

I suggest u test the housing in a pool first before diving in the open sea. Get used to the weight & the controls. U also want to attach a strap to it so u can hook it to ur BC. There will be times when u need both hands under water.

I'll post some clips on my website soon, i'll update u when its done.

syam

syam
Novice

Jun 30, 2005, 10:27 AM

Post #9 of 11 (4404 views)
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Re: [syam] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

hi all

a short clip from the sony hc-1000 & amphibico invader is available at my website syamdive.com

click the che isa dive site to download the clip

rgds

syam

TRIG
Novice

Jul 3, 2005, 7:18 PM

Post #10 of 11 (4282 views)
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Re: [syam] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

syam
Thanks for the info on WB for the Sony HC-1000 with the Amphibico housing.
I have had this combo in the pool three times and White Star Quarry in Ohio once
so far. Our dive group is going to the Bahamas in two weeks ( 7/16-23/05 ) on the
Explorer I, and until now, had no idea how to do the WB, due to lack of info .Again
Thanks a lot.

Viewed your great video " Che Isa, Redang " and am wondering if you
were using available light or some video lights?

Also, below 5m, do you use the filter AND white balance, or separately?

TRIG
Things aren't always as they seem, or
maybe it just seems that way :)

(This post was edited by TRIG on Jul 3, 2005, 10:05 PM)

syam
Novice

Jul 4, 2005, 2:40 AM

Post #11 of 11 (4264 views)
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Re: [TRIG] beginner cam/housing recommendations please! [In reply to]	Can't Post

hi TRIG

you can read a proper review of Amphibico Invader in the article below, has more tips on WB usage.

http://www.digideep.com/articles_details.php?id=233_0_7_0_C

All the scenes in the clip were shot with available light, the HC-1000 performs very well in lowlight conditions. The false clown anemonefish was shot at depth of 18m with avg viz.

The WB should be used ALL the time with or without filter. Below 5m or as sunlight fades, use the WB with filter. Near the surface, especially in reef areas, I usually don't use the filter coz it adds a red tinge to the colour especially on white areas of the frame (like sand, silver coloured fish or the sun - for silhouttes shot). But continue adjusting the WB until ur happy with the colour.

Happy shooting in the Bahamas!

syam

(This post was edited by syam on Jul 5, 2005, 12:00 AM)