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Underwater Bubble Blowers User Group Thread NEW

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David Nardini said:
I've put a small clip compilation (assorted conditions) @ http://vimeo.com/46390805 (output from RedCine-X > into FCP sequence)

I used to strip / repair Nik15s in my youth ... if you took one apart you will see they are quite a simple set up to re-house. I have never been too keen on the standard Nikonos mount & the 'jewellery' grade fittings they use(d) scare me - the PL mount is a good host ;-)

The 15mm dome port is mounted on a bayonet bulkhead (port) which when removed allows other lenses to operate (traditional dome ports etc) ... will post some stills in near future.

The 'which is best' debate ? I personally consider the 15mm as THE reference u/w lens, it will cover & behave @ 36mmx24mm coverage (as and when sensors will get there !); it's not bad for close-ups also ...

The Tokina 11-16 (+ similar) is certainly a fine lens, but it does vignette at 5k (@11)

At the end of the day, build or hire some kit and make up your own mind ... if you have the luxury, do a side by side test. Bottom line for me, I wanted something compact ... and with this rig I am there, with no compromise in quality; now it's down to the operator ...

Refinements continues ... HAPPY BUBBLING.

Cheers ... D
Click to expand...


Congratulations on the Nikonos conversion: very innovative and impressive work.

Totally agree with you about the Nikonos 15mm being a reference lens: after putting it on the optical bench and actually measuring its performance I concluded that it out-resolved the Epic sensor in across the entire frame. No other land lens/port combination was even close to that. This results in high contrast not only in the detail, but elevated contrast in the mid-frequences that is perceived as "sharpness" by our eyes.

Another thing about this lens is lack of distortions at close focussing distance. Most land lenses can't do it in the air, let alone underwater. This manifests itself in very flat and natural looking images when in motion as our eyes are very sensitive to distortions when the scene is in motion, but not as much for stills.

I'm amazed at the amount of people dismissing measurements of the measured sharpness of the lens and need to see a low resolution Vimeo clip before they comment on it. I keep saying: in order to compare, improve or assess anything we need to measure it first. And, in order to achieve beautiful images, we need sharp underwater optics.

As to the size, I totally agree. DeepX is so tiny compared to anything else and even my 3D housing is about half the size of my single HDCAM housing (which is still smaller than Bob Cranston's, BTW). Yes, not needing a crane is a big advantage.

The footage you shot is very nice too. Keep up the good work. Well done.
 
surprise visitor

surprise visitor

Thought you guys might be interested in this shot taken of my camera assistant whilst using Deep Atom out at Osprey Reef last week obviously he didn't see what snuck up behind him :yikes: Our motto is "Situational awareness"
 

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Great stuff Ross. I miss my time in the tropics, lived out in Micronesia and Palau for seven years. had a blast. Bali's just not the same, we have sharks here but a species seldome seen in other regions, the Very Wide Eyed White Tip Reef Shark, I think it evolved due to every fisherman and their dog hunting sharks here for the fins! Sad.

I've always had a project burning in the back of my mind of a place I know, a true expedition with massive shark potential. If you come across a team with a spirit to embark on an adventure into a little dived region of sand specks in the vast Pacific, to push diving boundaries and set new standards in underwater cinematography then let me know. There is magic out there....

Cheers,
Mark.
 
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Ross Isaacs said:
Thought you guys might be interested in this shot taken of my camera assistant whilst using Deep Atom out at Osprey Reef last week obviously he didn't see what snuck up behind him :yikes: Our motto is "Situational awareness"
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that's too funny...

Sadly white sharks are rare and I have never seen one diving despite thousands of dives among seal colonies and ther countless opportunities....or maybe I didn't see one behind me too :)

well done - very few details give it away.
 
Looks Like July 2012 is UW 5K 3D Month

Looks Like July 2012 is UW 5K 3D Month

Congratulations to GATES and all the talented folks that contributed to the Deep Pulsar/Atom...sexy.

Dateline July 29, 2012, Remote South Pacific Atoll:

Day 15 on location in the South Pacific shooting a 3D project for a client with my Mocean Armor iSea 3D system. http://moceanarmor.com/product/isea-g43d-cinematic-production-services/

The 29" cubed housing is built around the Alterna beam splitter by Magicine.
http://magicine.com/pb/wp_e48820b9/wp_e48820b9.html

System features the 7" Marshall OR-70 3D monitor as the external monitor. I am a big fan of this monitor.
http://www.lcdracks.com/monitors/3D/OR-70-3D.php

Also incorporated TWO RED 5" LCD's in the back plate.

Dual HD-SDI stereo signal to the surface is making the Director and Stereographer very happy as they watch real time in 3D on a 50" Panasonic in the air conditioned salon of their 120' yacht :-) The Stereographer is calling the numbers while the Director guides camera and talent with a hydrophone. Unbelievably cool.

The quick release ballast system has enabled us to operate from a 7 meter support vessel with only 2 Grips required to deploy and retrieve the rig.

Another week of filming left. I will post videos and stills when we get an internet connection again.

I love this stuff...It's in my DNA.


Sharky
 

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Behind the Scenes shot with my iPhone 4s

Behind the Scenes shot with my iPhone 4s

BTW - I now shoot all the behind the scenes underwater elements in 1080 30p with the iPhone 4S in the iSea 4 housing from Mocean Armor.

Works in Antarctica or the South Pacific.
Rated to 200 FSW.

Attaches to my EPIC housing as a great reference camera too...

Now shipping.
http://moceanarmor.com/product/isea-4-pro-kit/
 

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Ken Corben said:
Congratulations to GATES and all the talented folks that contributed to the Deep Pulsar/Atom...sexy.

Dateline July 29, 2012, Remote South Pacific Atoll:

Day 15 on location in the South Pacific shooting a 3D project for a client with my Mocean Armor iSea 3D system. http://moceanarmor.com/product/isea-g43d-cinematic-production-services/

The 29" cubed housing is built around the Alterna beam splitter by Magicine.
http://magicine.com/pb/wp_e48820b9/wp_e48820b9.html

System features the 7" Marshall OR-70 3D monitor as the external monitor. I am a big fan of this monitor.
http://www.lcdracks.com/monitors/3D/OR-70-3D.php

Also incorporated TWO RED 5" LCD's in the back plate.

Dual HD-SDI stereo signal to the surface is making the Director and Stereographer very happy as they watch real time in 3D on a 50" Panasonic in the air conditioned salon of their 120' yacht :-) The Stereographer is calling the numbers while the Director guides camera and talent with a hydrophone. Unbelievably cool.

The quick release ballast system has enabled us to operate from a 7 meter support vessel with only 2 Grips required to deploy and retrieve the rig.

Another week of filming left. I will post videos and stills when we get an internet connection again.

I love this stuff...It's in my DNA.


Sharky
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Hi Ken the 3D housing looks nice how much does it weigh may I ask?
 
Making of clip from 3D Coral Sea Expedition

Making of clip from 3D Coral Sea Expedition

If anyone is interested here is a little making of clip from our recent Coral Sea 3D expedition to trial our new DEEP ATOM. The clip was shot on my Deep Red. We have a 3D teaser coming soon as well cut from the actual 3D footage.

https://vimeo.com/46557239
 
Hi,

this is the first time for me posting in this special section, I'm working as DIT on a 2nd Unit Underwater Shoot and have a few questions, maybe someone with more experience can chime in:

we are shooting EPIC in a GATES housing and the housing is terrific, well made and the underwater guys love it, but there is one downside:
- as soon as we connect the surface video cable the REDMOTE is disconnecting
- we tried to disconnect the surface video cable then, but then the salt water seems to do the job and the REDMOTE does not connect
- as soon as the surface video cable is disconnected and the housing out of the water, the redmote connects and does her job fine

Anyone with a similar experience?

Just out of curiocity: which system do you use so the dop (who is sitting next to the director) can remote control the lens and the director could start/stop recording without getting wet?

thanks in advance - best wishes and kind regards,
martin
 
Hi Martin,

Here in Maui on a shoot with Jeff Whitehurst's production company, so not much time to answer before we go back in the water. If I understand your question correctly, anytime the Redmote is more than ten feet or so from the camera, in air, it will not work reliably. If you are trying to make it work through a u/w housing, it must be in close proximity (in its own housing of course), if not directly attached to the housing.

Your only solution here is RS232 control via thru-the-housing cabling, as far as I know, Amphibico are the only ones currently certified by Red to access those protocols. Call Joe Bendahan at Amphibico, he may be able to help.

Any here feel free to correct me, I have been very busy, so not completely up with the latest news.
 

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Martin,

As you just discovered, electromagnetic waves do not travel very well in water or through metal enclosures.

Apart from ultrasonic, the only solution is cable: either copper or fibre. You will probably need custom solution for this. Feel free to contact me by email to discuss. We have some solutions that may work for you.
 
Hi Tom and Pawel,
thanks for your quick respones: I am sorry if I caused confusion - the REDMOTE is always inside the GATES housing and works, but as soon as we connect the surface feed video cable the REDMOTE disconnects.
best wishes and kind regards,
Martin
 
martinnoweck said:
Hi Tom and Pawel,
thanks for your quick respones: I am sorry if I caused confusion - the REDMOTE is always inside the GATES housing and works, but as soon as we connect the surface feed video cable the REDMOTE disconnects.
best wishes and kind regards,
Martin
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Martin,
Sounds like a question better suited for Gates....
 
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