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The Gentleman's Underwater Bubble Blower Thread

The REDMOTE connection troubles are the main reason I switched to * swear swear * Nauticam.
i've had those pesky freezes since day one (2 year ago now) and on every dive.
I simply had to reboot the camera 2, sometimes 3 times per dive.
that made me miss opportunities.
RED didn't have a solution at that time, nor did Gates.
I tried to assemble my own tethering, but didn't manage to do so.
So I switched to Nauticam which doesn't use REDMOTE.
For me that was a relief.
If you don't have REDMOTE issues or you can resolve them with a tether, I would not advise to swap brands though!
reminds me I still have to put my Gates for sale.... serious lacking time :-/
 
Johnny Friday said:
Well that's a quick and easy solution---albeit costly Michael.....Nauticam sure does a nice job with utilizing the side handle i must say.
Click to expand...
True Johnny, but there was was no alternative back then.
I was missing shots and getting very frustrated underwater by it.
that's no good nor safe :-/
I don't intend to start a comparison here as I am a strong believer every system has its pros and cons.
But what reliability and durability matters, Gates is simply unbeatable... period ;-)
and if you need a tethered topside DOP, Nauticam isn't even an option.
But the Nauticam has its pros too, the side handle being a huge one of them :-)
 
and if you need a tethered topside DOP, Nauticam isn't even an option.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all of the nice feedback Michael.

That is dated info, but this stuff hasn't really been advertised so it is perfectly forgivable. Topside SDI monitoring is available (45m cables & 30m extensions), as is ethernet (15 and 30m cables) which offers extensive topside functionality when paired with the amazing FoolControl.

Nauticam doesn't currently offer any remote FI+Z implementation with PL lenses. At least at the moment...
 
I haven't seen it mentioned here, but is anyone planning to attend Revolution Cinema Rental's Dynamic Range in Filmmaking Presentation this Saturday? Multirotors & Underwater gear, it doesn't get much cooler than that!

Matt Brown from Hydroflex will be doing a presentation about underwater systems on a professional set, and housings from Hydroflex and Nauticam will be on display for the gear touch & try segment.

I'm making a slight detour on the way to IBC to attend.
 
Ryan Canon said:
ethernet (15 an 30m cables) which offers extensive topside functionality when paired with the amazing FoolControl.
Click to expand...

I've never seen this fool control app. I presume it works only with DSLR electronic lenses.....and does it support any nikon/canon type lens (even if not supported by RED)? Very forward thinking....even if i don't have a use for something like this...but i really like how one can setup overlays and all camera settings and save them. I know RED has something in the works in its infancy.....and not nearly as nice as this layout.
 
Ryan Canon said:
Thanks for all of the nice feedback Michael.

That is dated info, but this stuff hasn't really been advertised so it is perfectly forgivable. Topside SDI monitoring is available (45m cables & 30m extensions), as is ethernet (15 and 30m cables) which offers extensive topside functionality when paired with the amazing FoolControl.

Nauticam doesn't currently offer any remote FI+Z implementation with PL lenses. At least at the moment...
Click to expand...
Glad to hear my knowledge is outdated, again Ryan :-)
it's such a rapidly evolving world, digital filmmaking.
hope to see you a bit longer next time!
 
I agree with Johnny Nuno I would get your redmote checked mine works 95+% of the time. But generally working on a job I don't change settings that much, I configure iris to the LCD (if using stills glass) plus use the other LCD buttons and the two assign buttons on the body and that covers most of it.

Regarding domes I have both acrylic and glass, glass for the situations you are having issues with and acrylic for rough and tumble jobs like big shark work
 
Foocontrol

Foocontrol

Not only did Mikael make a great product with foolcontrol, but his support is remarkable. I asked about specific features for an unusual production need, and voila! Implemented the next day. Wow.

J-
 
Hi Johnny and thanks for always being there to share you knowledge.

I understand and agree with all the points about the reflections on the dome port. However I would point out that I am not talking about reflections of the RED logo, printing on the lens (I had already done used the black marker to get rid of those), gears etc... Also I am not saying the reflections happen when I am shooting in to the sun.

What I do mean is a 180º semi circle that shows up in ANY shoot that I take that the sun is not behind me. As long as I am shooting with the sun over me or in front of me the semi circle ruins the image. For instance if a shark is circling me the shoot is ok when the sun is behind me - but if I follow its movement around me the semi circle appears immediately.

I have put bellow a couple of frame grabs as an example.

This problem is far worse in this dome than in any other I have used in my photo days from 4" mini domes, 6", 8" or 9" mega domes, acrylic, glass or with glass coating.

I just came from a shop where I bought a bunch of material to try out. To me it seems pretty straight forward that the problem is the big ledge (about 5mm-1cm) all around the dome interior, but I can be wrong. For some reason the dome does not fit on the port surface to surface and leaves a ledge all around the dome.

Will take some pics of the bricolage work and share results. However pretty bummed on having to find a DIY solution to solve it on such an amazing (and expensive ;-) housing.

All the best, Nuno

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qy792opkrdgz1e6/A004_C084_08128L.0000183.tif?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0q4e9e4f0oduf08/A004_C086_08128G.0000399.tif?dl=0
 
Hi Nuno,

I had a similar problem a while back, was shooting free divers descending/ascending, at certain very specific sun angles the light baffle would reflect back on the inside of the dome port, glass, AR coated, even though the baffle itself is a solid matt black. On the Rouge, the light baffle is removable via four screws, not sure about the Gates implementation. If you can, remove the baffle and block out any other light sources in the housing itself, may be worth a try.

Good luck,

T
 
Mission 31

Mission 31

Some of you may not have heard of Mission 31. For those who have please allow a brief description. Fabien Cousteau and two techs, Ryan Lapete and Mark "Otter" Hulsbeck spent 31 days over June/July 2014 in the Aquarius habitat of Key Largo, FL, the last remaining undersea laboratory in the world. Some of the bubble blowers live nearby and know her intimately, a few even came to her aid when her official support dwindled. Mission scientists (2) and camera people (1) switched at the mid point of the mission however, Fabien, Ryan, and Otter, remained to continue their 31 days. This was by no means the longest anyone has lived underwater, but it was the longest mission Aquarius ever hosted.

I was fortunate enough to be named DP on this project and spent the second half of the mission down below. As in any filmmaking endeavor, this was a collaboration, and I could not have done my part without the dedicated work of other individuals. First off, let me thank Tom Hamilton. Tom offered his time, his expertise, and equipment, when I was in a pinch. He did this when others, who shall remain nameless, would have raked the project over the coals in a time of need. Which is another point. But let me say that Tom nailed the shots that I asked him to get, everything else he got in the can was gravy.

Back to the second point. This project received unprecedented publicity (at least from what I could discern) and one might assume there was a large well paid team behind the scenes that made it all happen. The truth is that it was a very small core team that made this happen. Yes, Nokia and DOXA came through big time with the money but all that really paid for was the operation of the habitat. The majority of the tools we used were provided by our in-kind sponsors like Backscatter (our UW camera/light sponsor), Oceanic, Kirby Morgan, and Ford who provided us vehicles. They, among many others that I am remiss in mentioning, made it work.

Honestly I can't believe we pulled off what we did, despite the challenges many on the team worked their tails off without complaints. However, what really gets my goat, and the reason I write this posting (which, for anyone who knows me, is out of my character) are the people that talk about the project as if they knew what happened behind the scenes or the others take all the credit for the work that others spent months putting in motion.

So let me be clear. We got the shots. Unfortunately I cannot share much at this point, but if there is anything from the image perspective that is eventually deemed sub par, I am the one who is accountable. From the beginning, well beyond my time on location I have worked on this project, logistics to story to image. If anyone has something to say about the cinematography on the project, say it to me directly.

Enough of the rant. Here are some small frame grabs from the Epic (including Tom's Dragon) taken during the mission. Enjoy!
 

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Thanks very much for your support Matt.

What an amazing project, even better that it continues into its next phase. We are off to the Sudanese Red Sea shortly, just the other side of wildest Africa, the mid-continental rift of deep blue and turquoise ocean, sun splashed reefs, wedged between the vast Saharan and Arabian deserts. Fabien Cousteau will be filmed in the environs of his grandfather's original Conshelf II underwater habitat experiment, all set against the backdrop of some of the most incredible underwater vistas and visibilities, the unique marine flora and fauna present nowhere else on this planet of ours.

All captured with Jim's incredible Dragon, may fortune smile on us.

The proof is in the final piece, up on the big screen, for everyone out there to judge.

Based on what we have so far, and what we are about to do, this is going to be Epic my friend

T
 
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REDMOTE connection loss update

REDMOTE connection loss update

Thanks for the insight Jon,

I have followed the same solution. The Remote is now losing connection every single dive after about 45min of use (firmware updated for both Redmote and DSMC). However I assigned the User key 1 and 2 (left side lever on the DEEP Dragon) to iris and can now make basic adjustments to light change and save every dive. Not much of an issue now as I don´t change any other settings during the dive and the LCD buttons still work.

Also tried to follow Johnny´s advice and cover parts of the some with black velvet tissue but still no satisfactory results so far.

Thanks, Nuno.




Jon Shaw said:
I agree with Johnny Nuno I would get your redmote checked mine works 95+% of the time. But generally working on a job I don't change settings that much, I configure iris to the LCD (if using stills glass) plus use the other LCD buttons and the two assign buttons on the body and that covers most of it.

Regarding domes I have both acrylic and glass, glass for the situations you are having issues with and acrylic for rough and tumble jobs like big shark work
Click to expand...
 
Nuno, did you also go into menu settings via your touchscreen and "PAIR" your redmote to the camera?

as to the acrylic dome: i don't believe anyone gets "satisfactory" results shooting under those harsh conditions into sun or with sun low angle and shinning into the dome....again, the nature of acrylic domes....
 
Nuno Sá said:
snip:
The Remote is now losing connection every single dive after about 45min of use (firmware updated for both Redmote and DSMC). However I assigned the User key 1 and 2 (left side lever on the DEEP Dragon) to iris and can now make basic adjustments to light change and save every dive. Not much of an issue now as I don´t change any other settings during the dive and the LCD buttons still work.

Thanks, Nuno.
Click to expand...

:wink5::wink5: This is why - even though we designed, programmed and built some REDMOTE control boxes for our housings - in the end we set it aside as reliability wasn't there and once RED allowed us to program all six user buttons (two in front on camera and 4 on the LCD) that we can reach in the housing you were able to do most all you normally need to control on a dive. KISS (keep it simple and stupid) is still a very important principle in working underwater. The benefit is that our housings are not only less expensive, they just work because there isn't much to go wrong.
 
I have to agree with Michael the RedMote reliability is a huge concern. Nauticam's decision to utilise the side handel was very smart. For someone that came from the underwater stills world it has been a huge advantage being able to being able to set up the front wheel as my iris for EF lenses. I am also setting up different frame rates and frame sizes and assigning them to a preset and then mapping them to buttons 1-4 ot the top of the side handel. The ability to take a 9 or 10 inch dome on the front seems to be another major plus.
 
Dispelling rumors -- DEEP DRAGON Lens Change

Dispelling rumors -- DEEP DRAGON Lens Change

A friend and future Gates customer visited this past week. He expressed concern about a rumor that DEEP DRAGON lens changes take 30-45 minutes.

So we did a test. I placed a fully setup DEEP DRAGON in front of him and said 'Change the Lens'. How long do you think it took to remove the port, port extender, release lens gear drives, change a guide bar, remove lens, install new lens, realign LGD's, install PE, install Port?

7 minutes.

And this from a person that never handled a DEEP DRAGON prior. With experience, it's even faster. EF, F, PL lenses, doesn't matter. One process, one housing.

J-
 
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