Crossing over from Stills, advice needed

So thanks to a series of events I am now adding a Canon Elura 90, Ike housing with UR/Pro filter, UWL-100 lens, and video housing mirror to all the stuff we drag around on dive trips. Being new to video, have a few questions.

I have a Fisheye focus light for my still setup will this make a decent Video light? Do you need two?

Do people really use the mirrors or prefer the eyepiece?

Any must have items not listed?

I have only seen photos of the housing, how will I attach the Fisheye to the housing? Will my current collection of TLC arms and clamps work?

Also do I need to get a whiteboard for whitebalance? Is whitebalancing crucial in video or can you just set it on Auto?

Thanks,

Ahhh welcome to the world of video...

Light: depends on what you are shooting, one might be alright for macro stuff, which is where you going to be using lights anyways. Make sure you have it on an extendable arm, TLC will be fine, but get a ball clamp for the handle from Ike....

I have no idea how wide the fisheye light is, maybe Peter will know more about that and if its usable for video.

If you are diving in bright conditions and shooting wide stuff you don't really need lights if you have manual WB.. unless you shooting toward the sun. I wouldn't worry about that at first, just try to keep in mind you want the sun at your back... just like using filter photography...

On your set up the mirror probably better, being able to hold the cam away from your face a little (with elbows slightly bent) will help keep your setup steady.

FOr WB, if indeed your housing and camera do have access to manual WB i like to use a off white dive slate. Others use the sand, the sun or any number of things to WB. Try a few different options before you take a shot and see which colour you like best before you hit record.... auto does not really give the colour that manual can

M

Because you are new to video, I thought that this might help you a bit. Its an article I wrote for the www.kenstone.net site and Asian Diver Mag will be publishing it drastically cut down. Hope it is of use to you.

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/underwater_douglas.html

Thanks for the tips and an excellent artical. Now if I can just get my wife to sherpa the video housing around I can have the best of both worlds.

Steve Fish put together a three part video seminar that you can find here to get some tips.

http://www.uwimaging.com/email/video_seminar_part1.htm

http://www.uwimaging.com/email/video_seminar_part2.htm

Part three is coming out shortly.

Enjoy.

:-) Barrett

Martin,

You could use your existing light for close-up and macro things, although the light is a little warm for my taste.

A perfect world would see some L&M Mini Pro HID lights added to the system. Dedicated video lights are always the best option.

Not sure how the "sherpa" will feel about that though.

P

Well it was the "sherpa's" brother's wedding we needed the camera for and Julie could not stand the idea of coming home in August from Cocos with out a video.