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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Element Technica Underwater Housing

C

Chris Burket

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Just wanted to post some photos of the Element Underwater housing. This is from its two week test in Monterey with underwater DP Chuck Davis. All reports said that it performed great. I mentioned this in an earlier post but here are some of the specs for those who are curious:

-setup for ultra primes
-start/stop control
-iris and focus control
-clear port for red monitor viewing
-dome port for taking lens
-machined aluminum housing for deep water use
-ergonomic handles
 
cripes!!! do these guys ever quit?!! makes me want to get certified for scuba!!
 
Let's not spread ourselves too thin guys. Don't forget about that promised 15mm universal mount.
 
SF Geek said:
Let's not spread ourselves too thin guys. Don't forget about that promised 15mm universal mount.
Click to expand...

You don't need that anymore. Check out the Shockmount with QR V-mount clamp and the QR clamp on the Aluminum back batteryplate. You could also use a topmount if you prefer...
 
I've got that 15mm universal mount all ready to send into production, but... I have about 4 people that really want one and outside of that, no one really seems that interested.

IMO, it makes the most sense to run 19mm with RED, even if you're in 15mm LaLa Land. I have the 15mm Arri base as part of my kit, just because it's come in handy here and there and I get occasional clients that must have 15mm, just because.

If you do have a 15mm setup in order to maintain compatibility with pre-existing gear, I feel for you. But there are some really good solutions to make 15mm accessories work or to make the 19mm gear work with 15mm. Florian lists a couple options, although a few are not available to order just yet. The ET top mount will work as a 15mm universal mount or bridge mount, but it's pretty expensive for that and a little thick. Although, with the low quantities of my mount I'm looking at producing, if I go through with it, mine won't really be any cheaper. In fact, I'm seriously thinking of suggesting people just buy the ET 15mm top mount and tap two 3/8" threaded holes in it. One centered on the mount and one offset by 17.25mm to be at the optical center of the mount when used on 15mm studio offset for lens supports, etc.. Zacuto makes their "Jeep", but I don't really care for it. It doesn't quite allow the 15mm rod located camera right to sit exactly where it needs to be... You see, in actuality that 15mm rod slightly overlaps the 19mm rod on that side of the camera if the spacing were accurate. But rods flex and this doesn't seem to be too big a problem in reality. The real problem is that the Jeep is not practical if you need to transition to or from 15mm via 19mm and also need to carry the weight of a larger mattebox or lens out in front of the Jeep.

Now look, I've gone way off-topic. ooops, sorry.


Also along the line of not enough demand for 15mm studio for RED setups, is a 15mm studio support arm for the RedRock mattebox. Sure, they could make one, it would be easy to make... But I bet there's only a dozen or so customers who will seriously pay for one and that's probably not enough to justify production.

Continuing to support legacy 15mm gear on RED is understandable if you already have made the prior investment into that gear. If you're an owner/operator who is buying all new gear to go along with RED, I seriously question a decision to go 15mm. But hey, Hollyweird works in strange ways and it seems that because a couple rental houses are slow to adopt 19mm, everyone else feels they should be too.
 
"I've got that 15mm universal mount all ready to send into production, but... I have about 4 people that really want one and outside of that, no one really seems that interested. "

Jeff
I send you Pm today.
Cheers
 
Nice Jeff...by the way incredible this RED SCUBA.
CONGRATS
 
Curious on the diameter of the element housing?

Curious on the diameter of the element housing?

Curious on the diameter and displacement of the element housing? Seems like with the rods and mountplate it must be significantly larger than the style we have been making for the RED which is 9" Outside diameter (actually less since we machine a significant amount away to get the flats) - which is pretty snug around a stripped down RED (battery and drive go directly behind camera on the mountplate.

Appears that the element might be 10" pipe (10.75 OD) which would add a lot of volume and therefore weight/displacement since volume goes up exponentially as you increase the diameter (pi times radius squared).

Displacement/Volume determines how much the housing has to weigh to be neutral or just barely sink in water. The displacement of our 9" size for the RED is just over 50 pounds, while it typically was over 80 pounds for the 10.75" size when we made them for the Betacams.

Not knocking the element version (their gearing is very slick and we used it on Ken Corben's housing - those are the gear knobs on the housing on the left). I'm not even sure if we compete at all - just trying to understand what else is out there so I can answer the question about differences when people ask.
 
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