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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 :)

Underwater Bubble Blowers User Group Thread NEW

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Need help in Freeport, Bahamas.

Need help in Freeport, Bahamas.

Fellow film makers,

I'm contemplating going to Freeport, Bahamas, for a couple of weeks to do some heavy duty filming to acquire enough material to finish a couple of episodes on our current series project. I've contacted the de-rigueur dive operation there, UNEXSO, and I just cannot afford the prices they are quoting me for a small boat, captain, and gear, so that we can dive in peace and get the shots we want. Freeport is desirable because it has caves, both inland and sea ones, sharks, wrecks, reefs, dolphins, and all of that very, very close to shore. There is also a ferry that goes there from Ft. Lauderdale, so I can bring scooters, several cameras and all the stuff that would be prohibitive weight wise by plane.

Does anybody here have any connections in Freeport? Local small dive operators, charter boat operations, anything that can facilitate what I want to do? I would rent a house for the whole time, and that is easy to do through the internet, but finding dive help is a bit more difficult. Any help would be appreciated.
 
I guess Rudi, you are encroaching on Christina Zenati's territory, she is the go-to shark wrangler at UNEXSO Freeport. Without her help, the shark thing might happen, if you know the sites, but the dolphin thing won't.

They train, keep and feed those animals, maybe it's worth talking to her first?

Any viable solution, I'm in with an Epic and a Rouge, let me know.
 
Rudi Herbert said:
.... Not having an external monitor for me almost makes this housing a no-go, but in fact, I'm willing to forget/forgive all that in exchange for that beautiful 9.25" dome Aquatica has, which is a must for lenses like the Nikon 14-24, Nikon 16-35 and even the Tokina 11-16. He who has never used a 9.25" dome or larger has no idea what a difference it makes when compared to an 8" dome. I tested both the nikon 14-24 and Tokina 11-16 with a 9.25" dome and +2 B&W diopter and the results were spectacular....
Click to expand...

Can you publish the test results?

Theoretically, there should be hardly any (about 20%) difference between 8" and 9.25". In order to achieve similar image plane curvature as it was possible with 2/3" sensor cameras one would need to come up with 32" dome port.

Are you able to quantify the results that you obtained?

By "spectacular" do you mean a fraction of what the sensor is able to resolve? And, if so, what fraction? It would be great to see the actual results and let them speak for themselves.
 
Tom Hamilton said:
Speaking of your next toy Jim, here are first pics of the real deal, now on display at Blue Ocean in Monterey.

Very pretty piece of engineering, can't wait to get one into the water.

Cheers
Click to expand...


What are the battery options/mounting?




Rudi Herbert said:
Tom,

How about something like this IKAN? http://www.ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=372

Not the greatest, but very cheap, surprisingly adequate and with both HDSDI and HDMI.
Click to expand...

I'm an Ikan dealer if you need one of them?

Here's the full list of their current monitors. A couple of the new ones have the in plane switching technology which gives more consistent color and brightness from different viewing angles.

http://www.ikancorp.com/productlisting.php?id=75

I can make a 9" monitor housing on a custom basis.
 
White Shark

White Shark

Frame grab from a recent shoot:
....and his name is BRUCE

8031789364_aea28afa8b_z.jpg
[/url] Y004_C077_0910WL by RedCineUnderwater, on Flickr[/IMG]

8031790844_c4c3b101a9_z.jpg
[/url] Y004_C077_0910WL by RedCineUnderwater, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
Tom Hamilton, I wouldn't have recognized you, but I'm sorry we didn't get the chance to meet at Blue Ocean. I checked out the housing with Mauricio Handler.. It think it has some very nice features - mostly having to do with the electronic control of the camera.. Reminds me of my old Light & Motion housing for the Nikon D100 with the ROC controls on the handles, which I loved!

Hung out with fellow RED U/W shooters, Clay Weissman and Edi Fromweiler, Eric Cheng, Backscatter and the whole gang.

Looking forward to getting footage up on Ocean Footage (thanks Dan), and to new shooting opportunities coming up in Maldives and PNG.

peace, R
 
Pawel,

Do you have any examples of how your underwater housing handles flaring? video's if possible?
 
Sorry, I never managed to get Nikonos 15 to flare :)

In the lab it produced consistently higher contrast than any dome.

In the field I did point the housing towards mid-day sun down at 10m and I couldn't cause any flaring. Even when filming a flashing strobe, no flare.

One of the reasons is that the Nikon Nikonos lens has very well controlled internal reflections. It has a modern retrofocus design with light traps multi-coated elements.

I have recently experimented with additional matte to increase contrast even further. See pictures attached.

BTW, when you evaluate sharpness of any optics you really need to look at 4k or 5k images at pixel-for-pixel and preferably something shot in controlled conditions with perfect focus unless your delivery is for the Internet :)
 

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Will Keir said:
FK! That's picture is unreal Johnny, grabbed my eye immediately. Super sharp. What camera/lens/housing?
Click to expand...

Epic @ 5k 2:1 overcranked at 48fps. Gates Deep Red housing & Sigma 15mm fisheye. And most important, out of the cage in a mobile submarine style cage to follow the action.

8031791736_499a0b4cc7_z.jpg
[/url] White Shark in Blue Water by RedCineUnderwater, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
Johnny Friday said:
Epic @ 5k 2:1 overcranked at 48fps. Gates Deep Red housing & Sigma 15mm fisheye. And most important, out of the cage in a mobile submarine style cage to follow the action.

8031791736_499a0b4cc7_z.jpg
[/url] White Shark in Blue Water by RedCineUnderwater, on Flickr[/IMG]
Click to expand...

Nice day at Guadalupe and great shot Johnny. What compression? BTW, thanks for the call the other day, shed some light on my buddies edit.

Best,
Frazier
 
Gentlemen,

Anyone can recommend a speakerphone mask unit? Not a communications system like OTS, I got those, but some old fashion attachment with a small speaker that allows me to speak to talent underwater at close range and be understood? I've used one of those years ago and though it was cumbersome, I remember it did the job, so I need something like that again. Any ideas?
 
Hard to believe, I've never filmed underwater without lots of flaring. Most of my work is close to the surface, on the half way mark between water and air often. I've never filmed underwater with the Epic and your housing. Both are soon to change.

Thanks for the prompt response.

What about external monitors, does your housing come with one, do we buy these separately, any recommendations? Getting ready to give Band Pro a couple dates on the possible upcoming demo. An external monitor is not completely necessary for the tests but would be a great option if available. Looking forward to the demo.

Thanks Pawel.


Pawel Achtel said:
Sorry, I never managed to get Nikonos 15 to flare :)

In the lab it produced consistently higher contrast than any dome.

In the field I did point the housing towards mid-day sun down at 10m and I couldn't cause any flaring. Even when filming a flashing strobe, no flare.

One of the reasons is that the Nikon Nikonos lens has very well controlled internal reflections. It has a modern retrofocus design with light traps multi-coated elements.

I have recently experimented with additional matte to increase contrast even further. See pictures attached.

BTW, when you evaluate sharpness of any optics you really need to look at 4k or 5k images at pixel-for-pixel and preferably something shot in controlled conditions with perfect focus unless your delivery is for the Internet :)
Click to expand...
 
Hey Rudi,

In my limited experience with u/w talent of the human kind, the DP and cam ops had full-face two-way comms. Whenever the talent needed alternate instructions, they were handed an earpiece; listen, acknowledge, and do. It worked for most situations.

The key, in my view, however, is before you ever go into the water, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse, an open circuit shoot can only last so long. And it goes by really, really fast. Before you know it, it's over, people bolting for the surface.

Not telling you anything you don't already know I'm sure, one of the scenes I shot in the Red Sea last year involved a chance group of Dutch tourist divers happening on the set, without so much as a by-your-leave, swam straight into mid-shot, stared at the cameras close-range, flashed pics, waved, smiled, hung out for 20 minutes, enjoying themselves immensely. Christ, what a disaster. As hilarious as it was.

Expensive day though.
 
Rudi Herbert said:
Gentlemen,

Anyone can recommend a speakerphone mask unit? Not a communications system like OTS, I got those, but some old fashion attachment with a small speaker that allows me to speak to talent underwater at close range and be understood? I've used one of those years ago and though it was cumbersome, I remember it did the job, so I need something like that again. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Rudi, why not the smaller OTS receive only unit? smaller and you can keep it hidden and the talent can hold it up to their ear and then stow it away. The only reliable system is the OTS, more comfortable, easy to use.

there's a UW lubell speaker system but that is surface to all divers in the water, broadcasts throughout the water to everyone. Good for directors on the surface, not cheap.

I've got the receive only unit on my UW housing to pump the divers audio into the camera for sound bytes. Works well. Glad I did it.

Frazier
 
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