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If someone mentions the word Action Cam for underwater use, who else would automatically think of either Go Pro or the Osmo dpi range? This week I've been learning about Insta 360’s Ace Pro 2 and I have to say, I’ve been completely blown away by it’s specs. Not only does it boast an incredible Leica Summarit lens to set a completely new and unrivalled benchmark for action camera image quality (a whopping 50 MP), it has an F2.6 aperture to capture more light and reduce noise plus a 2.5” flip touchscreen plus many more incredible options to get super creative with your content. It has an elite 1/1.3” 8K sensor with 13.5 stops of dynamic range plus support for 4K 60 fps Active HDR and 8K 30 fps video. It also has a 5 mm AI chip for further processing and powerful performance. It promises to bring smoother, crisper 8k footage with incredible clarity , even in low light conditions, backed up by it’s renowned Flowstate Image Stabilisation and PureVideo software. It’s precise underwater colour technology ensures vibrant, true-to-life footage. It has outstanding white balance capabilities, boasts an incredible 157 degree field-of-view and is waterproof to 12 ms/39 ft. Leica has a long history of producing some of the best optics in the world, and I'm loving seeing the underwater images captured with this little gem of a camera. Has anyone got one? We’d love to see your images and hear your stories.

SeaLife have recently released their new S Smartphone Housing which is compatible with all iPhone models and some Android models (the Ultra is compatible with almost all Androids). It is slightly smaller both externally (16%), internally (27%) and is also 16% lighter than it’s popular Ultra model weighing in at 24 oz/680 grams compared to 808 grams. It has the same easy-to-use buttons and large shutter release making it a complete breeze to use when wearing thick gloves. It includes the same visible Moisture and Pressure Change Leak Alerts but these are not audible like the Ultra and it has a maximum depth of 30 metres compared to the Ultra’s 40 metres. A red filter is an optional extra with this starter kit but a light weight travel pouch is included. It has 3 accessory mounts compared to the Ultra’s 7 to connect to any tray with standard tripod threads and is of course compatible with all of SeaLife’s Flex-Connect Trays. The same popular settings are available via the free SportDiver App available on both Apple and Google Play Stores: Adjust Zoom Exposure (EV) Auto/Manual Focus White Balance Tint Lens Selection RAW and JPEG shooting options Video Stabilization Movie Mode SeaLife also offers a 52 mm 0.7 x wide angle lens, plus a wide angle dome lens which increases the shooting angle by 43%, allowing for a closer photography distance and improved edge sharpness. These attach directly to their lens adaptor which can be used with the Sportdiver S Housing, allowing all lenses from their range and other brands with 52 mm or 67 mm threads to be mounted directly to expand both macro and wide-angle creativity. Step-up rings can also be used for other sized lenses. This image is of the SeaLife SportDiver Ultra Version using the Dome Lens It is also offers more bounce for the ounce with a lower price tag of $299.95, making it a more affordable option for starters in underwater photography using their smartphone. I loved using my SportDiver housing when it was first released and this is sure to be another popular addition to the SeaLife family. For more information visit www.sealife-cameras.com

During our first stay in the Philippines, just after COVID, we skipped Moalboal. At the time, it was still "complicated" to change islands. For this trip I studied an Anilao – Romblon combo but it seemed relatively complicated to me... I gave up. Good for us with the typhoons, we would have been stuck for a few days. Anyway, we went back to Cebu again, with Moalboal and its sardines as our first stop. For the rest of the season we chose safety by returning to the Thalatta Resort south of Dauin in Negros Oriental. It was also an opportunity to re-test this hotel, following the change of ownership. For the third place, another safe bet, the Island View Beachfront Resort and its Anda Scuba Diving club. Resort at the top of our possibilities with the "real" rates and not the promotional ones we had in 2022. FYI, if you are a "returning guest" there is a small discount... but also by making a "long stay" from 7 or 8 nights. This helped us a lot, without these discounts, we would not have gone back for so long. So if you go, stay at least a week. I tried to minimize the trips but we will have done close to 600 km by car and boat. The route, once again it will be with Singapore Air that we will fly, still departing from Zurich. ZRH -> SIN 12 hours (return more than 13 hours) and a little less than 4 hours from SIN to CEBU. I always enjoy this long night on the plane where you can land, especially since on the way there and back you arrive in the early morning. Some go through Turkey when I look at the schedules, no thanks, especially if it's to earn only a few euros on the flight and then it's a hassle when arriving in Cebu at 2 a.m. For us, it was an arrival in Cebu around 3 p.m., everything went quickly and without the slightest problem. Provided that you have thought carefully before leaving to fill in the online form on the Philippine website in order to obtain a QR code that will be requested on arrival. This form, on the other hand... uh... A real hassle to fill, I had to start over a good dozen times... bugs galore. So avoid doing this at the last minute, you risk having surprises. It's a long journey, especially if you still count the journey to Zurich the day before the flight. 44 hours door-to-door on the outward journey and 56 hours from the departure of Anda for the return. Here we are at the exit of the airport and our driver is waiting to take us to Moalboal at the Cebu Seaview Resort. This will be the most difficult part of the journey. Almost 3 hours of winding roads with part of the night. But we arrive without any problem at the first stage of our journey where we will dive for 4 days. A quick dinner, before assembling the photo and video equipment... tomorrow the dive starts at 8 o'clock. With the 7-hour difference in winter between France and the Philippines, we will have to set the alarm clock... But it will not be useful, only too happy to be back in the warm waters of the Golden Triangle. In the morning, a little check of the papers (certifications and insurance) and of course the small form with liability waiver, in short, classic. Everything is very well organized, the tank are rigged on land by the divers but transported on the bankas by the many crew members and guides/instructors. Once everything is installed on the banka, the signal is given to join the boat. A small staircase to go down and then, depending on the tide, a small walk in the water to reach the access staircase to the banka. I strongly advise to wear booties, if possible with good thick soles, your feet will thank you. Here as in the other places where we dived, pebbles, corals and especially sea urchins can be formidable when accessing the boat. The first dive will be in Pescador, a small island in front of Moalboal, renowned for being surrounded by a teeming life. A few years ago there was a large sardine bar that had taken up residence there... We won't see the slightest of them, just a lot of fish. Nice dive to start our stay. After the dive, it's back to the center, everyone disembarks, there's something to make coffee or tea... but nothing to nibble on while waiting for the 2nd departure. Cebu Seaview being located more or less in the middle of the Moalboal coast we will do the dives less than 15 minutes away from sailing and just a little more for Pescador which we will do 3 times in 4 days. The conditions were not great so we only did the west side but nature is well done, it was different each time. In the afternoon there is a 3rd dive and it is possible to do night dives. We will not do it. On the second day we change guides that we will keep for the remaining 3 days. Not bad... I would say better than the first one who was an employee of the center while Cino was a freelancer. A guide with a bottle... A pleasure to dive with him. We will always leave first and will often, if not always, avoid "traffic jams" and "jacuzzis". It is therefore with him that we will make "the Sardines". Sardines... They migrated for an unknown reason a few dozen meters from the coast. This is where they are visible to divers but also to snorkelers. The number of boats on the surface made me fear the "worst", I could already see myself having to elbow my way underwater, a bit like Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives. Cino jumped us into the water first and "traced" directly to the north... small shock... "But where is he going?" and then magic sardines... sardines everywhere... thousands, sorry millions, impressive. We were the only ones for the first few minutes. Then a few divers joined us but at no time was there a crowd, really great. An experiment to be done at least once... We did it again 2 days later without any regrets. It's not easy to convey the atmosphere in photos, I did the best I could. It's up to you to judge. The dive center is not the "family" type, it's closer to the factory... but very well organized, where it is good to dive. We did 11 dives in 4 days and were happy to go to see something else. The hotel is comfortable, nothing to say, nickel, quiet and the a la carte restaurant is very good. It's not on the level of the next ones but excellent for the price. Very good mention for the bar. The cocktails are very well dosed... (I suspect the bartender reversed the dose of rum with that of orange juice... ) It was really not worth having 2 drinks to sleep well. As is often the case with great encounters during these few days, there are no regrets about having passed through Moalboal... Sardines undoubtedly deserve the destination to be bet on a "ToDo", even if bubble factories are numerous here. After 5 nights it is the departure for the Negros Oriental. The transfer is arranged at my request by the Thalatta Dive Resort. A taxi picks us up at 8 am and after about 2 hours 30 minutes we arrive at a small port where small fast shuttles go back and forth between the islands of Cebu and Negros. The crossing is done in less than 30 minutes. Remember to have Pesos (PHP) in order to pay porters and luggage tax on arrival. The whole thing cost us a few hundred PHP (1 € = +/- 60 PHP). Upon arrival, a driver is waiting for us to take us in less than an hour to the Thalatta. We will arrive in the early afternoon and will be able to sit quietly and enjoy the pool before the return of the divers who spent the day with 3 dives at Apo Island. When we arrived, we met "our" guide Nadi with whom we had dived 2 years ago. He no longer dives. Alex, the new owner of Thalatta Resort, asked Nadi to take over the reins of the diving club. He now manages the entire small team and the maintenance of the diving center. We will dive with Oien during the 7 days. He is now the most experienced guide. He was trained by Nadi. We had already dived with him during Nadi's "day off" in August 2022. He is very good and has gone out of his way to show us as much as possible.... Ouch that's where it starts to get stuck. The season is really not ideal, not too much life, few nudibranchs, shrimps and others. It's nature and you have to accept it. We are "just" a few weeks, even days before the gradual return of the little beasts. Nature... hmmm that includes the weather. Not really at the top of the wind coming from the north-east and some clouds. But overall it was very nice. A little frustrated at having been able to fly very little with the drone. Big frustration on the day of departure with flat seas.... And to think that 2 days before, on the way back from the last dive, my wife, while jumping from the Banka "at the wrong" time, sprained her ankle... It is therefore with a crutch that she will leave the Thalatta. Thanks to the carpenter, who quickly made him something to move around without putting too much strain on his foot. Thanks also to the masseuse who worked a miracle. Our physiotherapists should learn from this... More than an hour of massage to relieve pain and try to unravel problems and restore mobility. Back to diving. After the first day where we did a double dive trip to the south (Basak) and then in the afternoon a House Reef for the two of us, we left for Apo and three dives on the second. The crossing is slightly hectic but it goes well with the very comfortable banka. First dive on the bow of Apo.. hmmm but where have the fish gone? The place is still beautiful with soft corals everywhere, a few turtles but very few fish. The next 2 dives will be the same. Frustration, disappointment and sadness. After a little discussion, it seems that the locals are fishing in the "marine park"... Two days later the 2 bankas are scheduled for Apo... we will have a short day of rest. That's how much we were marked by this first outing in Apo. On the way back from the banka (yes there was only one that went out, the group that had booked the second one cancelled at the last minute ) those who dived there were delighted... obviously there was life... But it was the first time... or we had fallen on a very bad day. We will have to go back to find out for sure. A day doing nothing feels good but it's so long . We will continue by diving on the coast of Dauin to the north and south and for me a little "night dive" on the "House Reef"... and on the last day a single dive on the HR with a very sporty but then very sporty launch and return. The photographic harvest was less, as was the quality and variety of the subjects. It's nature, you have to know how to accept it. A small overview of the result. More here The Thalatta Resort, for those who know it, it's always the same. You feel good there, you should say: always so good. The restaurant is always good, as is the staff of the whole hotel who are very attentive, helpful and smiling. No regrets about coming back. The changes now: Alex, the new owner, obviously has plans not to change anything... i.e. to keep this family atmosphere. Keeping the same concept of what Patrick has built. But there is an important point, he intends to do better... To improve the Thalata little by little, in small steps and I don't doubt for a moment that he will succeed. He started by redoing the inflation installation New compressors, and nitrox per membrane... The best of the best, a very good start. On the hotel side, renovation work is being carried out everywhere. Small things like the restaurant toilets, the new fresco and different layouts tested. Everywhere, gardeners are replanting new plants to further embellish the setting. I like it. At the bar, installation of shade sails so that you can sit there during the day. I'm curious to see how it will evolve in a few months. Anyway, you can go quietly, you won't be disappointed, the Thalatta Resort is a place made for divers. If you stop by the Paris Dive Show, there should be a booth with the Thalatta. Alex should be there with the former owner Patrick. We will go there to say hello to them. There is a difference between Patrick and Alex.... Patrick didn't dive, Alex, yes and he's not a beginner.... I believe that there will be positive surprises in the future on the diving side. Small downside... As a child, the prices of the dives have increased slightly. After 2 stays of 10 and 8 nights I will not hesitate for a moment to go back but at another time when there is more life... why not spend Christmas 2025 there... the whole team is well on its way to make the atmosphere there, with the decoration and a nice "Christmas menu"... I almost placed an order . Let's move on to the 3rd part of our stay. Once again we made the choice to go back where we would be sure not to be disappointed. Yes, yes I know maybe we should go elsewhere to be more adventurous... Of course not. I totally assume this choice to return in order to enjoy even more and a little differently. We appreciate finding what we loved, in order to savor the place once again. If possible, we do a small combination of safe bets with "experimentation". The next trip will again be in this style 2/3 of novelty and to finish 1/3 back... But let's get back to this trip which ends in an hour with our landing in Zurich. Anda in the south-east of the island of Bohol is a remote place, it is the price to pay to find the calm... almost 3 hours drive from Tagbilaran without counting the 2 hour crossing by speedboat from Dumaguete. We will arrive at nightfall... very tired but happy to find the Island View Beachfront Resort that we had found magical the first time. Peter the owner has made small improvements such as terraces on the front of the cabanas bungalows. Sorry for posting all this pictures but it is such a lovely place. The restaurant, the "Old Plantation" is always at the top, the reference in Anda, and guests from other hotels come there to treat themselves. We had a great time... Too much maybe the scale won't like it, I'm afraid. After a visit to the room, we meet at the bar, Hubert the boss of Anda Scuba Diving whom we did not know yet since he was in France during our 1st visit. There is also Olivier who is in his third season here. Zack, with whom we had dived in 2022, has returned to France. Nice contact and appointment for the next day before 8 am for the paperwork and our first dive. After a restful night, we are at the club with "Captain Thomas" still in place, but now there is still Jason, a young Filipino, who takes care of the inflation and supports Thomas in all the preparations on the boat. He looks serious and during our stay he passed his Open Water. Hubert intends to train him to become a guide, and thus expand the team. The boat... It was replaced by a larger one but kept the same flat bottom philosophy in order to be able to sail in a few centimeters of water and be able to approach the beach at low tide. I find it really very good, comfortable, the edge is very wide, you are well seated and equipped with the block, it can be placed stable on it while waiting for the launch. The service is top-notch, and the security system is at the forefront. Only downside, yes I know I'm a born complainer there are only S80s.... But Hubert is well aware that it will be necessary to invest in some S100 in order to make heavy consumers feel comfortable and safe. I managed but I admit that I was a bit frustrated to often stay a little higher, just to keep the hour of diving... on the other hand I never used my reserve on fins which came out regularly with 100 bar... I let her enjoy her dives without playing parasite, attached to the rescue. Underwater, the same as elsewhere, less life and always the same reasons given. Not really the season, and in addition the water being particularly hot it seems to accentuate the phenomenon. In the end, the water lost 1 to 2 °C, going from 30 to sometimes 28 on the last day. There were quite a few turtles 2 years ago... But this year we have moved to a whole new level. There are many more of them and they are less shy. I think we are slowly approaching the "level" of Bunaken. Awesome. Unlike Dauin, we had a very calm sea being protected from the wind by the big island of Bohol. Very well. We enjoyed ourselves even if, as already said, I regret a little lack of life. But the last 2 days, there was starting to be a little more to see. According to Hubert, the high season is fast approaching, More to watch here On the diving side, as well as on the hotel and restaurant side, no regrets about having gone back to dive in Anda and as for the Thalatta I can only recommend the address. If the opportunity arises, we will return without the slightest hesitation. It's a good way to end a stay, with a little more upscale services. Depending on the return flight, it is necessary to leave a day earlier and spend a night not too far from the airport. This was our case. We made it simple by going to the Waterfront right next to the airport. Decent room, big and beautiful pool but on the restaurant side there is better. I regretted not having dinner while having a simple meal in the domestic flight airport lobby right in front of the hotel. In Singapore, the work is now complete. There weren't too many people I found, at least that's my impression. Singapore Air nothing to say, the economy class is not bad and when you see the comfort that those who fly in business class can have... I understand why this company is always so well ranked. Here we are back in Europe and tomorrow work resumes. The 7-hour time difference is really complicated on the way back, on the way there it goes very well. Who knows why Nice little trip of more than 3 weeks including the trips. But small frustrations due to a lack of life, yes, yes I'm jaded, there's no need to remind myself of that. Just like the weather which was not at the top of the best and which could have led to even more serious consequences for my partner's ankle. We were hot on this one. In the end, I dived a little less than expected with only 47 dives distributed like this: Maolboal: 11, Dauin: 16 and Anda: 20 On average, they had 1 hour, a maximum depth of 34m and only 3 dives of more than 30. A hiccup with a 38-minute dive because a member of the group was at 40 bar after 35 minutes of diving Now I'm going to get ready for the next trip which will be soon and to a mythical destination for divers, Raja Ampat with a short week in Lembeh on the way back, a destination just as famous for its Muck Dive. Thanks for reading. I publish the report in french and used the automatic translate module of Microsoft Word. I hope this stay comprehensible and you enjoy my report. Feel free to ask if you have question. Comment are also welcome. Hugues

Panasonic has made a significant announcement for hybrid photographers and videographers with the launch of its new full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Lumix S1 II and Lumix S1 IIe. Both models are engineered to cater to the demanding needs of creators who seamlessly switch between capturing high-quality stills and professional-grade video. Lumix S1 II: Pushing Boundaries with a Partially-Stacked Sensor The flagship Lumix S1 II marks a milestone for Panasonic, introducing the company's first partially-stacked CMOS sensor. This 24.1-megapixel full-frame sensor significantly boosts read-out speeds, enabling impressive capabilities. Videographers will appreciate the ability to record 6K30p open-gate video, offering greater flexibility in post-production. For still photographers, the S1 II delivers with a remarkable 70 frames per second continuous, blackout-free shooting experience. Key features of the Lumix S1 II include: 24.1MP Full-Frame Partially Stacked CMOS Sensor Open Gate 6K 30p Video Recording 5.1K 60p Open Gate Recording 8.0-stop 5-Axis Image Stabilization Technology Phase Hybrid Autofocus with AI Detection Lumix S1 IIe: Streamlined Power for Creative Professionals The Lumix S1 IIe offers a more streamlined package while retaining many of the advanced tools found in its sibling. It is built around a 24.2-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor. This model also supports Open Gate 6K 30p video recording, ensuring high-resolution video capture. Photographers will benefit from features like 96MP high-resolution handheld stills and the inclusion of Photo Styles and Real-Time LUT application. Key features of the Lumix S1 IIE include: 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Sensor Open Gate 6K 30p Video Recording 96MP High-Resolution Handheld Stills Phase Hybrid Autofocus with AI Detection Photo Styles and Real Time LUT Shared Strengths and Availability Both the Lumix S1 II and S1 IIE share a robust set of features designed for professional use. These include: Dual card slots for versatile media management. A high-resolution tilting/free-angle LCD screen for flexible monitoring. A durable body built to withstand demanding shooting environments. The Panasonic Lumix S1 II is set to retail for $3,197.99 USD, while the Lumix S1 IIe will be available at a price point of $2,497.99 USD. These new additions to the Lumix S-series lineup signal Panasonic's continued commitment to providing powerful and versatile tools for the modern hybrid shooter.

UwP144 · May/Jun 2025 RELEASED - Click here UwP144 · May/Jun 2025 RELEASED - Click here

Firmware Update for Sony A7sIII and Sony A7CII / A7CR https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7sm3/downloads Sony A7III https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7cm2/software/00301105 Sony A7CR and Sony A7CII

When Nikon acquired a controlling stake in RED Digital Cinema in early 2023, the industry took notice. For photographers and filmmakers alike, this wasn't just another corporate merger—it signaled Nikon's serious commitment to professional cinema production and a strategic evolution beyond still photography. Strategic Integration and Immediate Benefits The integration has moved quickly. RED has already released cinema cameras featuring Nikon's Z-mount, creating a native pathway for Nikon glass to reach professional cinema environments without adapters. This compatibility breakthrough offers significant workflow advantages for creators invested in both ecosystems. The technical advantages of the Z-mount make this integration particularly powerful. With its 55mm diameter and minimal 16mm flange distance, the Z-mount delivers exceptional optical flexibility, supporting everything from ultra-fast apertures to edge-to-edge sharpness across varying sensor sizes. For RED's cinema application, this mount architecture provides future-proofed optical performance while simplifying lens choices for filmmakers. Image credit: Nikon.com Nikon's Video Evolution Z9 vs Z8 - image credits: cined.com Concurrent with the RED acquisition, Nikon has dramatically expanded the video capabilities in its flagship cameras. The Z8 and Z9 now incorporate features previously exclusive to dedicated cinema cameras: Internal 12-bit RAW recording ProRes and N-RAW codec support Advanced log profiles Professional monitoring tools (waveforms, vectors) Timecode synchronization N-RAW and R3D: Complementary Codecs Since the acquisition of Red, Nikon has two Raw codecs in house. Rather than competing internally, Nikon's N-RAW and RED's REDCODE (R3D) formats serve distinct purposes within the expanded ecosystem: N-RAW targets hybrid creators and solo operators with its efficiency-focused design. The 12-bit compressed RAW format balances high-quality acquisition with manageable file sizes, making it ideal for documentary filmmakers and content creators who need cinema-quality results without complex external recording setups. REDCODE RAW (R3D) maintains its position as the industry-standard cinema codec, optimized for controlled production environments and post-heavy workflows. Its established integration with DaVinci Resolve and REDCINE-X makes it the preferred choice for high-end production houses REDCINE-X is a free, professional-grade software application provided by RED Digital Cinema. In addition, Adobe has announced that it will support the N-Raw codec within its video editing software Premiere Pro. The Future Landscape This strategic alliance is redefining Nikon's identity in the visual content creation space. By bridging the gap between hybrid creators and cinema professionals, Nikon is positioning itself as a comprehensive imaging solutions provider. The RED acquisition doesn't represent a casual expansion into video—it's a fundamental repositioning that leverages RED's cinema expertise alongside Nikon's optical and sensor technology. For working professionals, this integration promises future innovations that blend RED's cinema heritage with Nikon's technological prowess, potentially creating entirely new categories of imaging tools designed for modern visual storytelling across all formats.