o-ring grease

I was talking today with Joe at Amphibico and mentioned to him I noticed that the grease they use on the Phenom's o-rings look to me like Christo-lube, a chloroflourocarbon based lubricant that is oxygen compatible we use on the high pressure side of our rebreathers....

He confirmed it was Christolube and the reason why Amphibico uses that instead of the much less expensive silicone grease is they have found that silicone grease dries up much faster.

I have had my dive surface/bailout valve lubed with Christolube for over 2 years and just opened it up the other day expecting to have to regrease it....nope, Christolube was there just like the day it was greased....

Hey Dave, how did you go with your flip arms.

And your port are you going to send it in to get modified and get one of those flat macro ports.

Hey I had to use some Lip Balm the other day as I completly ran out of grease

At this point I don't know what the hell I want! lol....

The external monitor I don't think is going to work out, it is set too far back for my middle aged eyes.....They did tell me today they have a different bracket that is new that allows it to slide way forward, but then again I can remove the handle and mount it there, but I have to have a handle....plus I hear the camera's hidef widescreen top panel monitor is way better. We'll see how it goes using the viewing port up top.

Having a diopter on the 2nd flip filter arm is not working, it interferes too much with the front of the videocam...all the tolerances are too tight with no leeway, unless I can find a +2 diopter that has less of a convex surface or a thinner edge.....

My issue is I prefer macro critters, but want to be able to wide angle things at the same time......I guess depending on how the arm works underwater, I might just have to settle for having the screw in diopter on some dives, and wide angle on others, and edit them together....I am just worried i will run across some bizarre macro critter when I don't have the diopter on, and regret it.

Amphibico suggested that I many don't even bother with the color correction filter, and I could just remove it and have the +2 diopter arm which probably wouldn't interfere with anything....They also wondered if the Token brand diopter was thinner.....

I am just really bummed that it is all engineered so close to eachother...

As to the flat port, I am not sure what that will do for me yet since the dome has full zoom through capability.....

I am still trying to figure out the sequence for white balancing......

Here's the photo of the arm you requested.....I will mount it in reverse so the shorter arm is attached to the top slots, giving it a shorter cantilever so it is less likely to break if it gets smacked on some jostling dive boat.

I leave for some rebreather/video diving at Puerto Galera, Philipines Saturday eve. Talk about jumping into video feet first without looking, I haven't even had this thing wet, let alone know how the hell to use it! lol....

How does the autofocus work for you, both wide angle and macro?

Har har...well I hope you get some great dives in at Puerto Galera and then you have the fun of working out the editing HDV stuff

Yes I think the monitor needs to be infront of the LCD area. You will see anyhow as soon as you dive with it.

It's sure is important to have the diopter in for a dive, not only for the macro that comes along on a dive but for increasing your zoom in range for allot tighter shots from a few feet away. I filmed feather star the other day with the macro in and it was still in focus even when it was touching the lens.

Here is something else I did.

I think you said you got the HOYA set. Put your URPRO filter in the ring you took your #2 diopter out off and that should sit in the end of the camera. I put some soft velvet tape around the ring abit as the ring is abit smaller that end of the camera end. Screw one of the other diopters in the end of that and use it to push the filter into the end of the camera end. Then unscrew the spare diopter you used to push it in with. That means the filter is always on the camera but you can WB through it no worries. The only prob is that it drops the fstop (exposure) abit when using lights, but If you have powerfull lights then it should not be a problem.

Near the surface it will be too red but you can adjust the WB to have it looking perfect, anyhow it's good as one usually has to put in a ND filter or spin the shutter up as there is to much light near the surface anyhow so the filter helps in cutting down the light abit.

The camera will WB without the filter in at depth using the EWB method. Just with the MWB way and the filter you can give the water a more blue look. Yes the perfect setup is to have both filter, macro, no vignetting. Light & Motion seemed to have nailed it so there may be a way for Amphibcio to do it as well later on down the track. They have sorted the vignetting thing with the new lens mod, maybe they can make thinnner flip arms.

It's best just lock the focus on wide and only if the camera is stuggling for light you need to let it go to auto on wide as the detpth of field will be very small, but most time locked on full wide subjects right infront of the lens are still in focus. Macro, auto works good or just use the push to focus button for the camera to focus and then lock on. Out of focus stuff on HDV really stands out once on the computer.

Having said all that, put the thing on auto focus,shutter,db,exposure,WB and just dive to get use to it then start playing.

Thanks for the pic....

Hmmm...now that will require I figure out how to take the focus off auto, move it to wide, then figure out how to lock it!

I WARNED you I was starting at the bottom of the ladder!

Funny thing is, 20 years from now, when I figure out how to use half the features, I will think I was such a dummy....

Can't even figure out a video camera, and this guy dives closed circuit rebreathers?! lol.....hey, my 'breather is WAY easier then this crap! hehe...

Now, forget about reading the instruction manual some more, my Blue Realm DVD just came in!

Dave,

Be sure to post how the diving was for you at Puerto Galera. I leave for there on June 21st on a fam to see if it is worth bringing a group there.

Steve B)

Steve,

Definately....

I am off to a poor start though, missed my flight, soonest out was 2 days later this evening......hope the resort lets me add on 2 days as makeup days since I am showing up 2 day late.