sea_ledford

I'm used to shooting raw images, so I've never really paid attention to underwater white balance, I just fixed in it post. Now that I'm shooting video with a camera that doesn't have a raw output (sony a7iv), I'm feeling behind the curve on white balance. I am shooting in s-log though. Most of my video work will be deep (150'+), so my understanding is any sort of red filters would not be useful. I tried some white balancing at depth (used my white fin, lights on), but quick post processing with a rec 709 LUT lead to over saturation of the reds and oranges. Might have just been the LUT though. I'm planning on developing a mesophotic light LUT, but haven't had the time yet. If I am going to always be using video lights, do I even need to WB at depth? Should I just set the WB to the color of the lights and be done with it? Unfortunately all the dives are during research missions, so a fun dive to futz with things isn't really an option. Screen caps for reference below from a couple different lighting situations. No processing other than a LUT, I may have desaturated a bit... not sure, they were long days.

I just got a new Ninja (the current brown one with no number designation apparently) and Marelux housing, new to both of them so that's been fun with no manuals for either. It seems that the new Atomos OS moved the onscreen buttons down just a fraction and my housing buttons don't actually press where they need to press. I haven't used the old OS, so I'm just guessing that this is a new problem and not inherent in the Marelux housing. Any Ninja V users having a similar problem once updated? If it's the OS I would think the nauticam housings would be having the same problem.

Looking for the older non-bayonet WWL1. With float collar and cap would be fantastic, but just the lens would work too. Thanks! -Chris

Thanks! MDBC is a significant project funded by Deepwater Horizon oil spill funds. We are in phase 1 currently, which is just figuring out what works. Ultimate goal is to restore the injured deepwater corals. At least that is the ultimate goal of the part that I am working on, there are three other portfolios running concurrently. Project website is here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/habitat-conservation/mesophotic-and-deep-benthic-communities-restoration I'm mostly working in the Coral Propagation Technique Development portfolio.

Could you tell me more about your monitor set up? Looking at getting one fore an a7iv for video, and not fiding too much info on them for UW use. What is so crucial about the cable routing?

I've been doing UW photography for a long time now (first camera was a Nikonos V), but I'm shifting to more video these days. Such a completely different world! Most of my upcoming work will be for NOAAs Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities Restoration project as part of the technical dive team. Looking forward to learning and sharing will all of you! -Chris