Underwater Bubble Blowin' Users Group

[Mark Thorpe]

Thanks for the kind words too. Patience, energy and an appreciation of the marine environment, all key elements once the diving has been mastered, to an extent as we are never masters of the Ocean. You will find your own pace and I'm sure you will know when you are ready.

Yes, I am sure Scarlet will be a very interesting package, just waiting to see what the form factor will be.

Cheers,
Mark.

[C.H.Haskell]

New ikelite UW home for HV20 just arrived, really nice build quality and easy to setup. I went with Ikelite mainly cause it was the least expensive ($900) pro housing on the market I could find.

Now that I think about it I feel I might need at least one light...maybe two. I really want the colors to pop. Any suggestions?

[Mark Thorpe]

I only use lights for Macro. Use the color corrective filters, wide angle and White Balance to sort out your wide colors. otherwise you end up with two small light dots in the middle of the shot when wide. Carry a light if you get a wet mate macro diopter, I think Ikelite have an outlet source for those. Also see if you can get the wide angle adapter lens, again from an Ikelite source.

Best,
Mark.

[C.H.Haskell]

Thanks for the heads up, sounds like...go for lights on the ECU but not necessary for going wide. As far as the wet mate goes, are you talking about something like this?

http://reefphoto.com/index.php?main_...&cPath=117_118

I also see the woody's but I only have what is available in 67mm thread...at least these macro diopters seem less expensive. The Ikelite wide seems reasonable at 275ish. I can already tell its the lights that might push my targeted budget but all in all so far so good.

[Mark Thorpe]

Those diopters are single element, fixed to the front of the cam inside the housing before the dive. That means you will be governed for the dive to those lens parameters. There should be a wet mate diopter somewhere, one that can be placed in front of the Wide lens when a Macro op arises and then taken away when you want to revert wide. Most housings now have an internal diopter flip filter for just that scenario. Same with water color filters, as they are orange in color for blue water and shouldn't be used in conjunction with lights as in doing so will render the image orange.

Single element diopters give rise to greater instances of chromatic aberration but are duly economic. To avoid this I would suggest Century Optics Achromatic Diopters (multi element diopters) which run around $475 for the +3.5 and $450 for the +2. I would use either one of these and many times I would also stack these (the greater magnification diopter on the camera first) whilst shooting for "The Majesty of Muck".

Lights can be found to suit most budgets from a few hundred bucks to thousands.

Cheers,
Mark.

[J.D. Frey]

"Majesty of Muck"...a great title for an even better film Mark, well done mate. The Z1 really performed well, I can only imagine how it must have been to watch on the big screen. Your UW work it quite impressive, I have much to learn before I could ever think about taking RED below the surface. You really managed to wrap up a picture lock with in a very reasonable schedule, I assume your were trying to meet the demands of a particular festivals entry? Good luck with the picture, and congrats on its recognition.

Side note...As I have been researching a small UW video solution, I cant help to think about the UW SCARLET...a compact high end underwater unit. I am sure the housing folks will be keen on the development of the Scarlet.

maybe Scarlet will have that new ion repellent technology it's supposedly a fairly mature idea. don't know how far down it'll go though, maybe good enough for snorkeling?

[Mark Thorpe]

Now that would be cool. Don't think the housing manufacturers would be happy though!!

[Ken Corben]

Arrgh!

Damn NDA's.

If only I could post images and info from the current GibCor co-production project that is financed and finalized for shooting RED 4K underwater you guys would be jumping up and down like me and saying, "Holy Batman Robin."

I can say that the RED ONE camera is about to go where no man has been before and that the results are going to be simply fracking amazing. My partners in crime and I are actively training with UW RED 4K camera systems in drysuits with shark suits and rebreathers in preparation for this historic event.

I knew when I was shooting Deadliest Job in the World that I was making ground breaking television. This is going to reset the bar.

Thanks for providing this tool Jim,

Sharky

I'll post more when allowed...Arrgh!

[Mark Thorpe]

Ken,
As of now I ban you from posting any future snippets of this same vein. Not only is it stressing for the reader, an affront to any adventurer but its just plain saddening to read that you guys are having just way too much fun.

Spare a thought for us guys having to put up with long empty hours on a boat having to battle over zealous Tiger Sharks, putting up with the contagious dry humor of south Africa with only the slimmest of chances at possibly getting a new angle on marine behavior.

Any more of this and I'll have no option but to ask the powers that be to ban any future postings. Sheesh.

Best to ya mate,
Mark.

[Mark Thorpe]

Coz mine's just fine. From yesterday.



and



Havin' fun.

Cheers,
Mark.