Underwater Bubble Blowers User Group Thread NEW

[Frazier Nivens]

Congratulations on getting some great imaging..I'm certain it's looking just great, and you stirred up nothing just needed some good advise and suggestions. My Epic X has shot for hrs UW and never overheated or shut down.

Best to you with your shoot,
Frazier

 

[Pawel Achtel]

Pawel
I, I, I, Me, Me, Me..... Damn Brother...

Cool down and come back chilled!

Mauricio,

I'm cool and chilled, probably more so than others

When Michael Hastings comes in feeding everyone BS about my products with a big spoon, I feel obliged to at least correct his nonesense. He is an endless source of disinformation, disrespectful and antagonistic towards me in particular.

There are hundreds if not thousands of readers of this thread, most of them intimidated by a very small but vocal group on this forum and reluctant to post. Some of them writing me personal emails saying that their Aquavideo housings leak or that there are some other problems and that the manufacturer refuses to respond. They say that they made a mistake by purchasing Aquavideo products. It is sad to read those messages and difficult to respond respectfully to Michael Hastings's posts in particular that his sole aim appears to be bagging my products.

In my posts I tried not to address any of my products in any other way but correcting what Hastings has written about them to start with. Perhaps you should re-read the messages I was responding to. Stop Hastings bagging my products for no good reason and I will stop correcting him. Like Jim Jannard says: it is very easy to understand

It amazes me how emotional people get when someone offers different solution or explains the physics behind the shortcomings of the equipment that they use or sell and become personal in their posts.

 

[jim kozmik]

congrads to my fellow Canadians for bringing out a super epic/scarlett housing.

congrads to my fellow Canadians for bringing out a super epic/scarlett housing.

At this moment we do not have the full detailed specifications available, but the housing fully loaded with camera and battery will weigh in less than the Gates. As for the battery it will accepts all RED compatible V-Mount batteries (RED Brick, Switronix XP-L95RED etc)

Regards

Joe Bendahan
Sales & Markeitng GUY
Amphibico.

IT IS good to have AMPHIBICO BACK working with Aquatica to produce a great new Epic/Scarlett housing especially you guys are only a 4 hour drive away from my place.If I speak nicely to my wife and do all the farm chores for the next 20 years she might let me buy one..great job JOE from Amphibico.

 

[Frazier Nivens]

Mauricio,

I'm cool and chilled, probably more so than others

When Michael Hastings comes in feeding everyone BS about my products with a big spoon, I feel obliged to at least correct his nonesense. He is an endless source of disinformation, disrespectful and antagonistic towards me in particular.

There are hundreds if not thousands of readers of this thread, most of them intimidated by a very small but vocal group on this forum and reluctant to post. Some of them writing me personal emails saying that their Aquavideo housings leak or that there are some other problems and that the manufacturer refuses to respond. They say that they made a mistake by purchasing Aquavideo products. It is sad to read those messages and difficult to respond respectfully to Michael Hastings's posts in particular that his sole aim appears to be bagging my products.

In my posts I tried not to address any of my products in any other way but correcting what Hastings has written about them to start with. Perhaps you should re-read the messages I was responding to. Stop Hastings bagging my products for no good reason and I will stop correcting him. Like Jim Jannard says: it is very easy to understand

It amazes me how emotional people get when someone offers different solution or explains the physics behind the shortcomings of the equipment that they use or sell and become personal in their posts.

I am personally tired of hearing you continually using Reduser forum to market and promote how your housing is the only housing that will allow for great imaging. You answer every post with how everything else is inferior to your product. Other housings from Aquavideo, Gates, Amphibico are just as capable of fantastic imaging underwater as yours. I've seen imaging from John, Ron, Johnny and others that is visually stunning, sharp and all shot with housings other than yours. I have only seen some brief footage of your Sea Dragon, not much else, I would honestly like to see more DeepX footage but all I hear about mostly is charts and tests.

Your personal attack on Michael Hastings I found rude and unnecessary.

Frazier

 

[Pawel Achtel]

In my view charts are the only objective way to measure, assess or compare optical performance. This is how professionals do it, this is how scientists do it and this is how I do it.

It is also my opinion that assessing picture quality or optical performance of 4k content by looking at a low resolution YouTube video clip is complete and utter waste of time and the only thing it can show is the incompetnence of the person making the assessment.

You may have a different opinion, and I respect that, and disagree with it at the same time.

I have not seen any measurable or comparable results or even full 5k frame grabs from you or others. So, let me throw your comment back at you: if, as you say, you have a sharp picture taken with a dome, I would be delighted to see it in it's full glory, at 5k and read all about it. Anything aiding at substantiating as to why you think it is sharp would be helpful too.

The fact is that all other manufacturers and operators refused to publish any objective, measurable or comparable optical performance of their underwater optics, yet some seem to be very vocal about it spreading flood of misinformation, which is unfortunate.

In respect to my experiences with Aquavideo, namely receiving complaints from dissatisfied Aquavideo customers, you are confusing true and factual information with a personal attack. I made a judgement that this information was not only factual, true and correct but also served in the best interest of the community. So, why not to share it for the benefit of others?

It may be received as "rude" to some with an agenda or vested interest in Aquavideo, but I hope it was useful and helpful to others.

Edit: BTW, I didn't say that DeepX is the only housing able to produce sharp imags. "Sharp" is very subjective measure and different people have different understanding of it.

Insted, I make a factual, objective and verifyable statement that: DeepX is the first and only housing able to resolve 5k across the entire sensor. If you think this statement is incorrect, I'd be delighted to see any evidence of that and humbly withdraw my claim.

 

[Tom Hamilton]

HI Everyone,

I really appreciate all of the feedback and advice. It's encouraging to know that the Epic can withstand the heat! Also I intend to use some different lenses today to see if I can get a clear image. I know it is difficult to offer advice when you don't know what housing I am using. In any case I am doing more tests this morning and hoping to shoot the music video tomorrow.

I'll let you all know how I get on!

Cathal

Cathal

Excellent news Cathal, hope your music vid goes swimmingly. Sorry about the gender mix-up, I do find Irish names not only fascinating, but lyrical in a very musically appealing way. Must be part of the luck o' the Irish.

Re different lenses, make sure to check minimum focus distance for each; because of the virtual image, close-focus capability is essential. If you have a Canon EF 8-15, highly recommend it. Push out to 12mm to avoid 5K sensor vignetting, same as the Tokine 11-16.

Cheers

 

[Frazier Nivens]

In my view charts are the only objective way to measure, assess or compare optical performance. This is how professionals do it, this is how scientists do it and this is how I do it.

It is also my opinion that assessing picture quality or optical performance of 4k content by looking at a low resolution YouTube video clip is complete and utter waste of time and the only thing it can show is the incompetnence of the person making the assessment.

You may have a different opinion, and I respect that, and disagree with it at the same time.

I have not seen any measurable or comparable results or even full 5k frame grabs from you or others. So, let me throw your comment back at you: if, as you say, you have a sharp picture taken with a dome, I would be delighted to see it in it's full glory, at 5k and read all about it. Anything aiding at substantiating as to why you think it is sharp would be helpful too.

The fact is that all other manufacturers and operators refused to publish any objective, measurable or comparable optical performance of their underwater optics, yet some seem to be very vocal about it spreading flood of misinformation, which is unfortunate.

In respect to my experiences with Aquavideo, namely receiving complaints from dissatisfied Aquavideo customers, you are confusing true and factual information with a personal attack. I made a judgement that this information was not only factual, true and correct but also served in the best interest of the community. So, why not to share it for the benefit of others?

It may be received as "rude" to some with an agenda or vested interest in Aquavideo, but I hope it was useful and helpful to others.

Edit: BTW, I didn't say that DeepX is the only housing able to produce sharp imags. "Sharp" is very subjective measure and different people have different understanding of it.

Insted, I make a factual, objective and verifyable statement that: DeepX is the first and only housing able to resolve 5k across the entire sensor. If you think this statement is incorrect, I'd be delighted to see any evidence of that and humbly withdraw my claim.

Why not share it with others? It's called common courtesy.

As soon as I return from a trip in a few weeks I will post some high res moving imaging of mine. And some hi res frame grabs to compare with your nice Sea Dragon shot you have and a couple high res 5k frame grabs from a pool shoot we did earlier this year. No charts, only images you can visually look at and enjoy. I enjoy shooting them, I hope that you will too.

Best to you,
Frazier

 

[Pawel Achtel]

Good to hear, Frazier. Nothing inspires me more than beautiful underwater pictures. Good luck with your trip.

 

[Mark_Thorpe]

Mauricio,

I'm cool and chilled, probably more so than others

When Michael Hastings comes in feeding everyone BS about my products with a big spoon, I feel obliged to at least correct his nonesense. He is an endless source of disinformation, disrespectful and antagonistic towards me in particular.

There are hundreds if not thousands of readers of this thread, most of them intimidated by a very small but vocal group on this forum and reluctant to post. Some of them writing me personal emails saying that their Aquavideo housings leak or that there are some other problems and that the manufacturer refuses to respond. They say that they made a mistake by purchasing Aquavideo products. It is sad to read those messages and difficult to respond respectfully to Michael Hastings's posts in particular that his sole aim appears to be bagging my products.

In my posts I tried not to address any of my products in any other way but correcting what Hastings has written about them to start with. Perhaps you should re-read the messages I was responding to. Stop Hastings bagging my products for no good reason and I will stop correcting him. Like Jim Jannard says: it is very easy to understand

It amazes me how emotional people get when someone offers different solution or explains the physics behind the shortcomings of the equipment that they use or sell and become personal in their posts.

Sick and tired of your tirades. You've cornered the market in Cold War Russian Hardware Aesthetic housings I'll give you that, and that's just me offering an opinion on the shortcomings of equipment you use or sell. You hang on the 'credits' of a small film you made donkeys years ago and as yet use every response to every thread to tout your 'revolutionary' and reworked Nikonos bastardizations.

Give it a rest, there's a whole community here, not just one increasingly alienating individual, who all want to get on and share what should be an amazing adventure. It now goes without saying that anyone who posts here is in line for some form of slating from you as to why what they are doing or using is wrong. You're obviously a very intelligent guy but please use that intelligence to look at bettering this community in a tone that is both welcoming and professional.

It's bloody tiring at best.

:rant:

 

[Pawel Achtel]

I developed my housings for their optical performance, reliability, strength, simplicity, weight and size. They are designed for professional use.
I understand and accept that you may have different criteria, Mark, and your opinion is greatly appreciated.

Now, if you are tired hearing about my housings, then stop posting messages about them.

 

[Mark_Thorpe]

I developed my housings for their optical performance, reliability, strength, simplicity, weight and size. They are designed for professional use.
I understand and accept that you may have different criteria, Mark, and your opinion is greatly appreciated.

Now, if you are tired hearing about my housings, then stop posting messages about them.

I'm not tired of hearing about your housings, I'm sure its a cool product but you don't have to ram it down everyone's throats in response to every thread. I, and I know others are, am sick to death with your attitude and tone, as if every other product out there is inferior to yours. Professionalism is projected by those who can accept other products and that these other products, over yours, may suit their needs better.

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

Mark, I wouldn't sell you any of my products, so I don't know how am I ramming it down into your throat.

I totally accept that you have different needs. And it is great that we have choices. Thank god for the completion!

I never said that competitive products are inferior to mine as this depends on individual needs and it seems clear that other products would meet your needs better. I only clarified incorrect suggestions that other housings may produce sharper images, or are lighter or smaller, which they are not.

Hardly ramming anything into anyone's throat, just stating (or correcting) factual information.

Edit: The best way to avoid reading about my products is to stop writing about them. Very easy to understand. BTW, I have tried to initiate other discussions, like very interesting and unexpected results of flat port testing that I performed on weekend and published the results here, but there didn't seem to be any follow up.

 

[Mark_Thorpe]

Edit: The best way to avoid reading about my products is to stop writing about them. Very easy to understand. BTW, I have tried to initiate other discussions, like very interesting and unexpected results of flat port testing that I performed on weekend and published the results here, but there didn't seem to be any follow up.

I'd hazard a guess and suggest that people have no desire to interact with your postings given your inexhaustible displays of being always so quick to dismiss other opinions.
Either way I've had my say. Many people here feel the same way, food for thought maybe.

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

I fully respect and accept other opinions, including yours. These are, by definition, subjective and everyone is entitled to have one (including me).

What I'm quick to shoot down is false, misleading or incorrect factual information and this may be the source of your frustration (and mine too).

In case this is not clear, below are some examples of incorrect information (aka BS) that I do not consider opinions:

...for some reason Pawel seems obsessed with constantly dissing the PVC...allowing much easier handling of buoyancy issues for underwater shooting, when you use lighting systems or other add ons, and of course is lighter weight for travel which is an important consideration these days...

Here is the official press release from Amphibico.
...

? Most compact available in the industry

...I don't want to be a dick and send Jarred an email questioning whether approval of a Nikonos/epic mount is possible...

 

[Rudi Herbert]

Pawel,

I think it is time to put on your detective hat, and detect, go back and look at the thread, posts, discern patterns, get a feel for the general tone of things since you announced your housing. Does it not feel odd that you've been butting heads with SO many people, not all of whom are direct competition or bashers of your system? I have not said a word about your housing, except that it is not an original idea by any means, something you would have to agree with if you look at the fact that we were discussing the use of Nikonos lenses years ago here. But everybody has wished you success, and except for pointing out that the FOV on the Nikonos 15mm lens is far from the wide we've grown accustomed to, which is TRUE, nobody has put Deep X down in any way. You even posted a photo with John Ellerbrock, where he took the time to extend you a welcome. And if I'm not mistaken, Mike Hastings even paid you some money for the right to use some of your gears design, when he could just as easily ripped the idea and claim it as his. People could have been hostile and disrespectful, but they have not been.

Yet, by CONSTANTLY hammering on the virtues of your system, and doing it in a way where it is "the only" solution that accomplishes worthy images, and by endlessly expounding on the flaws of the very principles upon which all other systems are built, you've started an open war on anybody else. Did you not think that every time you say things like:"...no other system can accomplish this or that..." that the makers of those other systems have no choice but to defend their products? You've left them with no choice, and make no mistake, it was you who started the trashing, you'd be delusional to think otherwise.

If you're right in your assessment, in a short time from now, Deep X should become the de-facto system in the industry, and your sales should do the talking, fattening your pocket while others' deflate. So why not wait until that day comes, and take solace in your ascension to the top, instead of continuously make life miserable for most people on this thread? Actions speak louder than words. I, for one, would endeavor to flood the web with videos from your system, since that seems to strike a far more meaningful chord with people than resolution charts. Why not spend time diving and shooting instead of preaching on this forum? I known John Ellerbrock is in the Bahamas right now doing just that, and Mike Hastings has been shooting TV series in the Florida Keys, why not do the same? You need to take a deep breath and relax, or you'll continue to turn this thread into the Actel Sermon of True instead of bubble blowers...

 

[Tom Hamilton]

I honestly do think there is a place, albeit a very specific one, for Pawel's rig.

But, I am truly dismayed, that this thread has degenerated into an insult fest, so opposite of what we are all trying to accomplish here.

The roster of u/w shooters here present, include Emmy guys, respected film fest winners, National Geographic folks, BBC shooters who have documented, at great personal risk, the farthest reaches of our planet, from the deepest tropical seas to the frozen Antarctic wastes, folks who have won international accolades for their work. Immensely well deserved, it goes without saying. We all know who those names are.

As a very little guy here, I am greatly honored to be in this conversation, if only as a bystander in a peripheral kind of way.

Pawel, please join the club, the one represented by this thread, the one that extends the greatest of respect and honor to those shooters who have accomplished astonishingly big things. They are the heroes here.

The great unwashed out there, those who glibly benefit from this work, those who fork out dollars for the experience of the theatrical thrill, haven't the first idea what it takes to get these shots.

There is honor, courage, and personal sacrifice in this profession, please acknowledge that, as you are able.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

I have no other interest but to further the underwater cinematography and offer tools that have not been previously available to underwater film makers.

I'm proud to have the first and only underwater housing that unlocks the full potential of 4k digital cinema camera and beyond. I'm also proud that those very same housings are the smallest in the industry (and at the same time contradict statements made by Amphibico and Aquavideo, which I belive are false).

I'm amazed how correction of false (factual) information related to or directed at my products could be confused with "hammering on the virtues of my system". Stop posting incorrect information and I will stop correcting it. A very simle thing to understand.

I'm amazed at the antagonism and personal attacks (albeit from a small group of people) that it has generated, seemingly protecting their own turf. I'm not interested in mediocrity.

I'm interested in 4k, 5k and 6k underwater cinematography that delivers breathtaking images.

I don't think DeepX will ever become the mainstream system, but I do believe it will separate men from the boys. It already has. At the end of the day the images speak for themselves.

... and Mike Hastings has been shooting TV series in the Florida Keys, why not do the same? ....

While this can explain why I'm receiving complaints from disappointed Aquavideo customers, how do you know what I'm doing? Why is it your business? You and others make all sorts of (incorrect) assumptions in regards to me and then cry like a little princess when they are shot down.

If you want to get attention of professional community, post images, charts or whatever taken with your new underwater optics. You may gain some credibility. I'm not the subject here.

Respect is a two way street.

 

[Mark_Thorpe]

Respect is a two way street.

But some have a One Way Street approach! Respect starts with respect.

 

[Mauricio Handler]

I have come to the conclusion, that Pawel is genetically incapable of being civil on this forum!

Pawel- Please open / start another thread on another section of Reduser.net
All that want to hear from you and about you and your products can follow you there.
I read this forum every morning over nice cup of coffee which I desperately want to
begin to enjoy again!

I come here for enlightenment, inspiration and to feel connected to a much larger picture.
Our profession makes many us at times loners so this forum is my way to stay connected- albeit electronically.

Tone it down, mellow out or simple say nothing for a while please..... let this forum find new topics to discuss.
Please - do not respond to this note from me at all.

I would like to see footage now - from all of us... .stories, techniques, ideas, etc.
Lets get back on track and lets keep the camaraderie.

Best from a beautiful morning in Maine!

 

[David Nardini]

Interesting to read '... the first and only underwater housing that unlocks the full potential of 4k digital cinema camera and beyond ...'

Here is the rig I use that has the same optical benefits : PL mount 15mm Nikonos lens & Epic-x.

One thing I will agree with ... the resulting quality is very (very) nice.

Happy bubbling ...