Underwater Bubble Blowers User Group Thread NEW

[Pawel Achtel]

... merely add additional items as evidence to disprove your knocking of dome ports...

I'm not sure how you can make such conclusion after I wrote: "...As far as I know, CinePort was and still remains the sharpest dome port commercially available. I shot with it for many years and I'm happy with its performance. Due to its large 6" radius, aggressive light trapping and precision, I believe it is the best dome port available...."

All of my favourite sequences were shot with a dome port!

How is this knocking the domes?

I (and Rudi) made more factual observation and that is related to the size. Dome ports worked well with small sensor size. This is because field curvature is constant for a given dome size and the larger the sensor, the larger the deterioration: exponentially larger! For this reason dome ports do not produce good optical performance with large sensors, unless you are prepared to make a 36" dome.

But, it was very revealing (to me at least) when I actually managed to quantify and measure this deterioration on the Epic sensor. Is this something I should ignore or worry about?

By presenting the MTF graphs and numbers, it is up to the individuals to make their own opinion whether they can accept such deterioration or not. There may be other factors and reasons influencing their decision, but fact is a fact. Nothing to do with knocking anything or having an opinion.

I don't think there is any other person on this forum that had a greater loss by retiring a dome port than I had.

I had a vested interest to promote a dome port (still have). I spent years on R&D and tens of thousands of dollars developing and refining dome ports and I believe I managed to achieve the best dome port in the world.
So, from an investment and business point of view I should be promoting dome ports.

However this would be contrary to the factual evidence that I sought, obtained and openly shared here. Ultimately, as a scientist, I'm driven by the facts and, albeit not made by me, I found that Nikon Nikonos lenses performed far better with S35mm sensor than the best dome port I could create. I measured how much better and I was impressed.

From the MTF figures above you could clearly see that when shooting f/5.6 through a dome port the contrast reaches 0% MTF at less than half of the Nyquist frequency limit for the sensor. And this is not even on the far edge or fully open aperture, where things go to "complete mush".

You can try to "disprove my knocking of dome ports" all you want, but the factual and measurable evidence speaks for itself: As much as you and I would like the domes to perform well with large Epic sensor (we all have invested in different domes) the facts seem to contradict our desires.

Of course, it doesn't mean that you can't work with this limitation or produce inspiring images, which is completely different subject.

 

[Tom Hamilton]

I think I'm gonna commission a new men's fragrance and send some out to certain deserving individuals. 'Pont Brulant' pour Homme the cap would be a cleverly designed dome port replication of a Nikonos 15mm Fisheye. Ahhh the wafts of slowly roasting hardwoods with a cheeky nuance of lighter fluids. A welcomed break indeed from the slight aromatic suggestion of ruminant gastric acids and freshly laid fecal arrangements that seem to emanate so repetitively when certain keyboards are employed.

Crikey Mate! That was inspired!

In Germany, you might have to market it as "Brennende Brücke", or in Haitian Creole, "Boule Pon". I think the Catalan version works best though, very suggestive to the English-speaker's ear; "Crema de Pont"

BTW - flying off to Cancun in the morning (yep, hurricane and all) to have a shot - pun intended - at the "big spotty fish" off of Isla Mujeres. I just hope the weather lies down in the next couple of days and the sharks are still hanging around.
Wish me luck on some "Epic" footage...
Peace

Today and tomorrow is going to be a rough ride into Cancun, should be clear by Thursday though, hopefully the hurricane hasn't churned up the underwater viz too badly.

 

[Russ Campbell]

Just included Pawel in my ignore list, so hopefully reading this thread will be enjoyable again. Maybe others should try it as well.

 

[Rudi Herbert]

Rudi,

Were they prompt in honoring the warranty, short turnaround times?

Thanks

I bought them through Leisure Pro in New York, a very big retailer, which is a precaution I always take when buying gear from new companies whose warranty trustworthiness is not clear yet. Leisure Pro replaced them both times, not very promptly but within 8 days or so, and given their buying volumes and how eager vendors are to be on their good grace, I'm sure warranties were honored, but personally, I couldn't tell you. It is a great little gadget, it just needs a bit of a sturdier latch mechanism I think.

 

[Will Keir]

Johnny, post the MOVING images. I've seen a lot of frame grabs on this forum and honestly, none of them look that great as a still image alone. The seahorse of Pawel wasn't that interesting and as a still frame this image has little wow factor. The fact that you even got an image in pure darkness is outstanding on it's own from one adventure to another. Looking forward more from all of you.

but this is up to the audience when viewing the MOVING image.

[/URL] RED 18-50 PL by RedCineUnderwater, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Will Keir]

For dome ports if you are also trying split shots in and out of water a surf photography secret is to rub a freshly cut raw potato slice on the dome. Something to do with the starch makes the water instantly run off leaving no droplets.

Cheers,
Mark.

Mark, THANK YOU.

The potato juice worked like a charm, and it works on flat ports (GoPro diving housing) too. Not only does the potato slice rubbed on the lens work on UW housings but it works great for my mask. First day of the whole summer I dove fog free. You the man!

Now I am wondering if the potato juice has to be from fresh cut or can I juice a few potato's and bottle up the juice?

 

[Tom Hamilton]

I bought them through Leisure Pro in New York, a very big retailer, which is a precaution I always take when buying gear from new companies whose warranty trustworthiness is not clear yet. Leisure Pro replaced them both times, not very promptly but within 8 days or so, and given their buying volumes and how eager vendors are to be on their good grace, I'm sure warranties were honored, but personally, I couldn't tell you. It is a great little gadget, it just needs a bit of a sturdier latch mechanism I think.

Thanks Rudi, will follow your lead and order from Liesure Pro. Cheers.

Hmmm, bottled potato juice, could be on to something there Will. Market it as 'Deep Juice X', for edge to edge mask sharpness. Makes a great between-dive thirst quencher too. Available in five flavors, BBQ, Salt & Vinegar...(ok I'll stop now...)

 

[Will Keir]

hahaha.

I've used Liesure Pro in the past too, they did some price matching, lowered shipping. On the sales end they are great, no experience with returns.

Thanks Rudi, will follow your lead and order from Liesure Pro. Cheers.

Hmmm, bottled potato juice, could be on to something there Will. Market it as 'Deep Juice X', for edge to edge mask sharpness. Makes a great between-dive thirst quencher too. Available in five flavors, BBQ, Salt & Vinegar...(ok I'll stop now...)

 

[Ross Isaacs]

I added some top side go-pro shots to my little making of Coral Sea 3D Expedition promo....

https://vimeo.com/46557239

 

[Mark_Thorpe]

Hey Will, no worries. Glad you had a fog free experience. The Potato trick came about after a trip to a 'McDonalds' and a quick breakfast of fries before hitting the water, I'm a reformed man now. Spitting on the dome revealed a change in water attitudes on the dome so I kinda reverse engineered the spit and came up with spud juice. Trying the raw spud juice worked a charm.

Tom, I creased when I read your post, too funny. I was thinking of an anti fog product like 'SpudIt' or something but 'Deep Spud X' has a ring to it. I'll try not to trash other anti-fogging products out there in the marketing....

Russ, good point. Will be following suit.

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[Mark_Thorpe]

I added some top side go-pro shots to my little making of Coral Sea 3D Expedition promo....

https://vimeo.com/46557239

Hey Ross, that rig looks so manageable underwater, great job on the construction.

 

[Tom Hamilton]

Very nice Ross, any chance of mounting an anaglyph clip so we can all put on our glasses and see the 3D?

 

[Ross Isaacs]

Hey Ross, that rig looks so manageable underwater, great job on the construction.

Yes Mark once in the water Deep Atom is very trim. John Ellerbrock, Bob Cranston and the team at Gates should take full credit for this marvel with plenty of input from Evergreen and myself.

 

[Johnny Friday]

Johnny, post the MOVING images. I've seen a lot of frame grabs on this forum and honestly, none of them look that great as a still image alone. The seahorse of Pawel wasn't that interesting and as a still frame this image has little wow factor. The fact that you even got an image in pure darkness is outstanding on it's own from one adventure to another. Looking forward more from all of you.

Correct Will, point of posting was this: if you go to the link you can download or click on the image for a full size jpg to see the "DETAIL" of all the small items in the frame grab. THAT was the actual point of posting the image...so you can see at 1:1 that in fact that a land lens behind port can produce an image to HD and not SD as suggested. I have no MTF gear--nor do i know what it is nor will i spend time finding out what it is....I'll do as i always do which is blow the image up 1:1 and then evaluate. Which from many pages on this thread I'll be that is what 99.9% of us do and a producer director as well.

 

[Johnny Friday]

Here is a grab from the western division side of the world of Gates DPA rig. As pointed out...in water trimmed up it's a beauty to operate and very easy as for one cameraman to move through the water.

[/url] Tokina 11-16 PL by RedCineUnderwater, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Johnny Friday]

Just included Pawel in my ignore list, so hopefully reading this thread will be enjoyable again. Maybe others should try it as well.

Russ, does this mean you never see posts from users on your "ignore" list or does it just mean you cannot receive messages from them?
....And, how is the little lady now? what is she, 5 or 6 now? AND, where are you guys now? still Joburg? if so, what part?
Best to you guys...

 

[Ross Isaacs]

How do you guys show the images here all I have been able to do is attach an image and it comes up as a thumb?

 

[Mark_Thorpe]

How do you guys show the images here all I have been able to do is attach an image and it comes up as a thumb?

Hi Ross, You will need an account with a service such as Flickr or Photobucket (I prefer the latter). Upload an image and then simply copy the IMG Code that shows automatically when you ghost over the Photobucket image in your Album view. Simply paste that into your message and hey presto:

Something I shot on a recent beach ramble.
Cheers,
Mark.

 

[Ross Isaacs]

Thanks Mark
It seems there must be another way as lots of guys post images directly into their messages without the thumb. Great image on the beach!!

 

[Pawel Achtel]

Ross, you can attach a picture and then "Copy Shortcut" and paste it into URL offered by "Insert Picture" button in the advanced reply. Hope it helps.