Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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

Looking to buy a used Gates Deep Dragon/Weapon or Nauticam DSMC1 housing. Does anyone have one they are looking to sell or know of anyone planning to sell?

Edit: No longer looking, purchased a Gates Deep Epic
 
Last edited:
Matt Inkpen said:
Looking to buy a used Gates Deep Dragon/Weapon or Nauticam DSMC1 housing. Does anyone have one they are looking to sell or know of anyone planning to sell?
Click to expand...

I have an NA-DCES housing with options and spare parts.
 
Depends on the client, location, length of shoot, difficulty/hazards, specialized dive equipment, lighting requirements, open circuit/CCR, etc etc, but $**** - ****/day plus expenses is a good place to start negotiating. These days airline excess bag fees being one of the more significant expenses, I won't charge up front for that, but present receipts after the fact, some airlines are reasonable, others are outrageous, hard to pin that one down. Don't know how you Oz guys put up with your airlines there.
 
What does location scouting look like for underwater cinematography?

I'm planning on pitching an underwater branded film for an island in the Caribbean which I've worked with before.
I know a couple of cool spots where there are sunken airplanes and ships.

But I also know that there's a variety of fishes on the island but not sure where they are at all times. How would you guys approach this in order to make for an efficient planning?

Is it also common to set a project price? (instead of dayrate)
 
But I also know that there's a variety of fishes on the island but not sure where they are at all times. How would you guys approach this in order to make for an efficient planning?

Unless your familiar with the dive sites, only way to do that is to dive them yourself and determine suitability. Talk to the locals. I try to build that into my pricing.

Is it also common to set a project price? (instead of dayrate)

Yes.
 
Mario Gonsalves said:
But I also know that there's a variety of fishes on the island but not sure where they are at all times. How would you guys approach this in order to make for an efficient planning?
Click to expand...

If you don't know the larger area, its wildlife, behavior and seasons; you have to –*at least – talk to knowledgable locals. Preferably hire one during the shooting days (and prep days).
If it's just "some fish" you want as negative space to a static subject (like wrecks), you could do it without the locals.
If it's a specific species you're after or a specific behavior; you'll need the local knowledge.

Talking alone won't be enough in the last scenario as many elder and fishermen will go "yah mahn, they're out there"... just because they saw it once in 40 years.

To give a perspective: I've been working for 4 years now on 1 particular behavioral sequence, without luck. And I know the area and subject very well.
Just to say: if you go through all expenses of logistics, rentals, etc... don't get frugal on a good local guide on your subject. (S)He might put you straight in front of it where else you might be "chasing tails" :)
Good luck with the shoot!
 
Michael,

Just a quick note to say "Hi".

I used to live on G Cayman from 1991 to 1995.
Worked for Catchy Church for a VERY short time then worked with Moke and Reid at
don fosters photo center.

Didn't know there was a fellow Red user living on the island!

Next time my wife and I visit we will have to look you up

Curtis
 
Mario Gonsalves said:
Regarding monitoring, how do you guys do that? Do you run a cable up to the boat?
Click to expand...

That depends on the requirements, dive-plan, topography, ocean and weather conditions etc...
You can go copper (SDI) up to 45 meter max. Fiber goes way beyond.
Both have pros and cons.
But keep in mind that the cable length needs to equate curvature (due to buoyancy and other), current and boat shifting into consideration.
Baseline: 45m of cable results in some action radius at 10m depth; but not much more.

If you want to go SDI over Fiber you should contact John Ellerbrock at Gates Underwater.
Cheers,
 
Curtis boggs said:
Just a quick note to say "Hi".
Click to expand...

Hi Curtis,

Nice to e-meet :)
Lots has changed in Cayman since '95. I've been here since 2008 and even in that time so much has changed.
Except for Cathy who is still running her business...
Think I get the "very" hint... ��
Cheers,
 
Michael Maes said:
Hi Curtis,

Nice to e-meet :)
Lots has changed in Cayman since '95. I've been here since 2008 and even in that time so much has changed.
Except for Cathy who is still running her business...
Think I get the "very" hint... ��
Cheers,
Click to expand...

:smilewinkgrin:Think I get that "very" hint too. I knew Jim pretty well, Cathy not so much. Showing my age a bit, but In 1983 Jim and Cathy Church were my first dive "celebrity" customers. Couldn't afford to give them a housing (although it would have been reasonable for PR purposes) so sold to them for half price. Jim wrote me a nice testimonial letter and stated that although my competitor (a long established company and the only real competition at that time) was willing to give them a housing, my AquaVideo housing was more functional.

In the late 80s early 90s used to go to Cayman a lot. A friend, Ann Flynn was working for the Tourism ministry and made a deal where we loaned them a housing for a camera/3/4" U-matic recorder in exchange for two free tickets a month on Cayman Airways.
 
Looking to buy a Gates RT-7 external monitor housing and 7" monitor (RED SKU 730-0007), pm me if anyone has these to offload, thanks.
 
Hi,

I've been chatting with Sean about this privately today, and really appreciate his help, but I think he's gone home from work now and i'm kinda stuck!

I may have found an issue with the recent firmware and the Nikon mount. I'm losing aperture control. I can still change aperture on the monitor but nothing happens on the lens, stuck at highest fstop. Before I updated my firmware I was having the issue if I turned off the camera (eg between dives) and didn't pull the battery from the camera, and only with older 'D' Style lenses. Now I have it on several lenses including newer G style lenses after going to 7.03. It could also just be that my Nikon mount is dying.

Would someone on latest firmware (7.03) here have access to the 70-180mm or 200mm nikon lenses to test the Nikon mount?

The same Nikon Mount has the issue on Helium 7.03 and Gemini 7.017 Firmware. The mount was updated to 7.03 on the Helium, but I can't find a way to see the firmware version on the accessories.

I guess i'm shooting at F/8 today!


EDIT: Thanks to Peter Lightowler doing a little check for me i was able to rule out firmware, so it's my lens mount. I think I must have bent something that is preventing the contacts from working properly. Time for a closer look! Thanks Pete!
 
Last edited:
Hi, have any of the Amphibico Rouge housing owners / shooters been using the DSMC2 cameras in their housings? If so, can you post any images of the modified camera tray and circuit board? How has your experience been with the DSMC2 in the housing?

Thanks.

Geoff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top