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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 :)

The Gentleman's Underwater Bubble Blower Thread

Hard at work in Sonora for the Grunion Run. But, it never happened this week. Did i mention we get to work in our underwear from time to time?

Hahaha! You and Bob are absolutely classic Johnny!!!
 
Pawels filter

Pawels filter

I asked the same question about how to buy, contact the company direct is the answer. They are $2230 U.S., I didn't buy one but have shooting with the H2O Olpf on every shoot in recent months. Really good results, can't post anything all NDA, however side by side with a well known German brand it looked a whole heap better..
 
I asked the same question about how to buy, contact the company direct is the answer. They are $2230 U.S., I didn't buy one but have shooting with the H2O Olpf on every shoot in recent months. Really good results, can't post anything all NDA, however side by side with a well known German brand it looked a whole heap better..

At those prices i don't know how he expects to sell any. Pawel's sales philosophy seems very strange, but i suppose if you own the company you can do as you please.
 
Report just in, the Red H2OLPF is rockin' the house in deep water, that from a very professional u/w crew recently arrived from a big Hawaii shoot.

NDA speaking, wish this stuff could be posted here, everyone knows how that goes, but recommend all y'all get yer hands on one quick as you are able.
 
I'm sure most all of the housing manfs can accommodate fisheye lenses & do. That said, you might look at using the Nikor 13mm fisheye with some of the sharpest looking edge to edge performance i have seen. It's not a lens you put behind a port, but instead it was designed for u/w use.

Johnny, thanks for the tip, I'll look into this one!

Hannes
 
Can anyone give me some advice on a medium range WA lens with good close focus? I am currently operating the RED Epic with the Tokina 10-17 for WA and Canon 16-35 for MWA but the 16-35 really doesn´t focus close enough to close the deal for some close focus marco stuff. I mainly need a Medium Wide Angle lens that I can use shooting in the Blue when working with pelagic sealife for closer and narrower shots than the Tokina 10-17 but that will still let me go wide enough for Whales, turtles, sharks etc.. if needed. Perhaps the Tokina 17-70?

Also looking for a lens with less distortion than the Tokina 10-17 for my main WA lens. Considering the Tokina 11-16, although I hear the canon 8-15 has considerably less distortion than the Tokina 10-17 and has a "almost" rectilinear look from 12 forward. Any thought on that?

All the best, Nuno Sá.
 
Can anyone give me some advice on a medium range WA lens with good close focus? I am currently operating the RED Epic with the Tokina 10-17 for WA and Canon 16-35 for MWA but the 16-35 really doesn´t focus close enough to close the deal for some close focus marco stuff. I mainly need a Medium Wide Angle lens that I can use shooting in the Blue when working with pelagic sealife for closer and narrower shots than the Tokina 10-17 but that will still let me go wide enough for Whales, turtles, sharks etc.. if needed. Perhaps the Tokina 17-70?

Also looking for a lens with less distortion than the Tokina 10-17 for my main WA lens. Considering the Tokina 11-16, although I hear the canon 8-15 has considerably less distortion than the Tokina 10-17 and has a "almost" rectilinear look from 12 forward. Any thought on that?

All the best, Nuno Sá.


It's expensive but the new Canon 11-24 is the new king of the hill for high quality, rectilinear super wide angle and close focuses to 11 inches (from the sensor plane so probably within just a few inches from the front of your port. 24mm may not be enough for your macro shots, but overall it is a pretty phenomenal range. It covers dragon 6K and future full frame sensors like vista vision red, as well.
 
Nuno: i'd suggest you keep it to fx lenses only. The Sigma is a DX lens. I know folks using it that love it, but it's not FX so depending what your shooting parameters are, you may have to zoom in to 19 to 20mm. The 8-15 canon is great. But if you are shooting any straight or rectangular object up close, you get some bend in the subject I think no matter the zoom range. But that's a go to WA lens. I like the Canon 17-40 fx lens for other work....but we all are looking for that perfect lens that just does not exist...say 14-80 range at close f\ocus would be nice for under a grand. But you have to choose your lenses wisely and those that you will actually use. For Macro, just get a marco lens.
My 2c.
 
I'm just about to head off for 30 days shooting the Sardine Run. Taking all the OLPF's as not sure how the new UW will react to the 'grey water' we had last year.

Most interestingly for you all, I'm taking the new Nauticam Rossa LT housing, which is frankly tiny. I have been testing it here in Lembeh for a few weeks using Paglink batteries, no heat issues shooting high frame rate for long period, and can even fit 2 paglink 96w/h batteries in there if you go for an external monitor.

I'm using a 'homemade' mount for the paglinks, but they are apparently going to make an official one which is going to be great.

I'll put a review up once i've finished packing all my crap!

SimonBuxtonID-150525-00038.jpg


SimonBuxtonID-150525-00027.jpg
 
Nice gear Simon. We have been seriously considering the LT housing it looks absolutely amazing. What are your dates for the Sardine Run and where are you staying. Morne will be there from the 27th and I am still undecided as to whether I am going to come up. Good luck
 
Same to you Jeffrey....by the way, where is that commercial located? It's web based yes? Any chance you know the URL ?
Maybe see you again in Mexico???

Johnny, your footage was amazing! Thanks again.
 
Here's a spectrum shot on a Dragon, STH OLPF. Notice how it demonstrates that blue is blue not purple.
You wouldn't happen to have a spectrum shot on an Epic M-X by any chance?
 
I'm just about to head off for 30 days shooting the Sardine Run. Taking all the OLPF's as not sure how the new UW will react to the 'grey water' we had last year.

Most interestingly for you all, I'm taking the new Nauticam Rossa LT housing, which is frankly tiny. I have been testing it here in Lembeh for a few weeks using Paglink batteries, no heat issues shooting high frame rate for long period, and can even fit 2 paglink 96w/h batteries in there if you go for an external monitor.

I'm using a 'homemade' mount for the paglinks, but they are apparently going to make an official one which is going to be great.

I'll put a review up once i've finished packing all my crap!

You need to control your G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), Simon! ;-)
 
Thanks Johnny, yes it seem the quest for the perfect lens is an endless one ;-) I might try a +1 or +2 diopter on the 16-35 to see if it improves the close focus issue for the medium wide shoots.

Would like to try the Tokina 11-16 out but would need a different PE beside the gears, so maybe stick with the 10-17 for now an live with the distortion.

All the best, Nuno
 
I've tested 11-24 f/4 in a Nauticam 230mm Dome:

http://www.nauticamusa.com/news/2015/5/29/canon-11-24-4l-usm-lens-support-testing

We have a 250mm optic that is used on the PL systems that don't focus as close, and I feared it would have to be employed here. It is a bit better than 230, but the results from 230 are pretty great, and the form factor is substantially better, making this the direction I'm recommending.


Also looking for a lens with less distortion than the Tokina 10-17 for my main WA lens. Considering the Tokina 11-16, although I hear the canon 8-15 has considerably less distortion than the Tokina 10-17 and has a "almost" rectilinear look from 12 forward. Any thought on that?

11-16 f/2.8 (and 11-20, its replacement) are Rectilinear. We have a GL Modded 11-20 paired with our Alexa mini kit (just needs a camera!), but the coverage issues would prevent me from using it on Dragon.

This is my favorite shot of Simon's housing, packed in a carry on legal ThinkTank Airport International:
1432765022940


The final housing weight is under 7kg, and neutral in water with 16-35 /2.8L, RedVolt XL, and a 180mm dome.

A complete system supporting 230mm dome, extensions for 8-15 /4L and 16-35/2.8L packs into a single pelican 1620 case weighing 48.6lbs (22kg). That is a pretty nice number if someone chose not to be burdened with the hassle of a carry on.
 
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