Using Sony HC1 and Ikelite?

Greetings! I just picked up a Sony HDR-HC1 video camera, and am looking for feedback from anyone that's using an HC1 underwater.

Any reviews, tips, suggestions regarding video camera housings? I have a history with Ikelite housings, so am leaning toward that brand, but would like any comments on alternative housings; pros/cons.

For Ikelite users, a couple of specific questions. Does the Ikelite housing allow a wide angel lens on the camera inside the housing? The literature states that it will accommodate external wide angle lenses, which implies that there may not be enough room inside the housing for additional lenses. Additionally, does the Ikelite housing allow for manual white balance?

I'm currently using a Sony HC1000 with Ikelite housing, which does a beautiful job in standard DV in 4:3 format, but I'm shifting everything to HDV.

With respect to the HC1 camera itself, how is the low-light performance under water?

Many thanks!

Max

Greetings! I just picked up a Sony HDR-HC1 video camera, and am looking for feedback from anyone that's using an HC1 underwater.

 

Any reviews, tips, suggestions regarding video camera housings?

For Ikelite users, a couple of specific questions. Does the Ikelite housing allow a wide angel lens on the camera inside the housing? The literature states that it will accommodate external wide angle lenses, which implies that there may not be enough room inside the housing for additional lenses. Additionally, does the Ikelite housing allow for manual white balance?

I have an HC 1 with and Ikelite housing, you are correct that you can fit an external wide angle lens (wet) but the results I have had haven't been great (fair amount of distortion). I don't believe that you can fit an internal wide angle lens, in fact I am positive. The housing itself is good, you can access all functions although an extra arm at times would be handy. Ikelite's service is fantstic too, so that is a bonus...

HC 1 underwater, great!!!! Only issues I have had is to white balance at depth due to low light intensity, but not a massive issue.

Can't think of anything else, overall for the money great value.

Jonny

I have an HC 1 with and Ikelite housing, you are correct that you can fit an external wide angle lens (wet) but the results I have had haven't been great (fair amount of distortion). I don't believe that you can fit an internal wide angle lens, in fact I am positive. The housing itself is good, you can access all functions although an extra arm at times would be handy. Ikelite's service is fantstic too, so that is a bonus...

 

HC 1 underwater, great!!!! Only issues I have had is to white balance at depth due to low light intensity, but not a massive issue.

 

Can't think of anything else, overall for the money great value.

 

Jonny

Can only agree - I use the Gates housing underwater - the WB can be a little bit of a pain as you have to access it through the LCD screen, this somethis fails, i.e. it doesnt quite touch the correct area of the screen, but in something like 200 dives with the camera it has only happened twice. The camera is great and the quality underwater is fantastic - I have lots of footage from the HC1. You can check it out here....

http://www.updownandaround.com/scubavideo.html

Enjoy - any question just give me a shout!

tristan

I have an HC 1 with and Ikelite housing, you are correct that you can fit an external wide angle lens (wet) but the results I have had haven't been great (fair amount of distortion).

What brand of wide angle lens do you have? Ikelite? Sea&Sea? Also, is the distortion primarily in wide screen HDV mode only, or is it the same in standard DV?

Thanks!

Max

Wagsy has a review on the Amphibico EVO and HC1.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15274

The distortion that I get is on both. I use the INON wide angle lens but not the dome. I have been debating getting the extra dome attachment however for $400 it is a risk and personally I think that there are some serious limitations of wet lenses. I am actually now not using the wide lens as the distortion gives me the shits! Personally if you haven't bought the housing yet this would be a major consideration. I am still waiting for a guy who bought the whole INON dome settup to hear his review...

I can show you a couple of screen grabs if you would like to see trhe results?

J

I am still waiting for a guy who bought the whole INON dome settup to hear his review...

I can show you a couple of screen grabs if you would like to see trhe results?

 

J

Actually, J, I would appreciate some frame grabs to get an idea of the distortion. I have already ordered the Ikelite housing. I have a positive history with the Ikelite models, although my previous versions allowed wide angle lenses mounted on the camera itself, rather than externally on the housing. I thought long and hard about the EVO, but my lights are configured for Ikelite mounting, which ended the debate in my head. If you have frame grabs both with and without the wide angle INON, that would be excellent. Ikelite actually has an Ikelite-brand WA lens they sell; I wonder who the manufacturer really is. Possibly INON?

Anyway, thanks for the response!

Max

Just been trying to work out how to do the frame grab thing on premiere pro.... not happening.

What's the easiest way to do it? I will try and get some footage which is similar so that you can compare like for like.

One thing I will say about Ikelite is that they have great customer service and backup etc which is always good.

J

To do frame grab on Premiere Pro: Open your project, and you can do a frame grab from either window or the timeline, depending which is activated. Then just click "File"-"Export"-"Frame", then under "Settings" General-choose your file extension, Video-choose 1920 x 1080 "Square Pixels" (for HDV), Keyframe and Rendering-choose "Deinterlace". Then click OK.

Dan

So the first two fram grabs are with the WA lens, notice it is worse in the bottom left of shot. Maybe I am just a di@*head and have made an error with the settup... any tips would be great

The next two are without the WA lens

Hope this helps

Jon

Jon, that does help! The Ikelite descriptions do point out that there may be some vignetting or distortion with the zoom on full wide, and if that happens, they recommend zooming in slightly to avoid it. To me, that seems to defeat the purpose of the wide angle lens. Hmmmm... My problem is that I have prescription goggles without bifocals, which means I usually wouldn't be able to tell if there's any distortion around the edges while I'm shooting. Well, that gives me something to think about....

Thanks very much for the pics, Jon! Good luck with your videos!

Max.

Some follow-up questions, Jon...

Some good pics. What settings do you have your HC1 set to? Do you manual white-balance underwater?

Thanks!

Max.

My housing came back from Ikelite last week and your questions made me want to test this a little more and try and see if I could improve things. I have just spent the morning in the pool testing with different settings. With the camera mode set to wide angle conversion there seams to be a fair amount less distortion, infact across the board there seams a fair amount less distortion.

Now Ikelite actually had to replace the body of my housing due to it getting damaged on a plane, I am wondering whether the camera wasn't sitting 100% straight therefore more distortion on one side....This always seamed strange that the distortion was bad on one side that the other.

I really won't be able to tell until I dowload the test footage and really look at it, I will keep you updated.

Yes I use manual white balance but I have to set it in about <10m (approx 10 visibility) of water any deeper it is a pain in the arse which I believe is due to it's poor low light capabilities.

I use a mix of manual and auto focus depending on conditions and pretty much leave everything else as is.

I am not best person to ask with regards to settings, Wags would be the one to assist on this as he has an A1 which is similar.

Jon

I have gone through the latest footage taken last week and it is the same.

I must have been on drugs looking through the view finder!!!!

So distortion still the same....

Jon

I have gone through the latest footage taken last week and it is the same.

I must have been on drugs looking through the view finder!!!!

 

So distortion still the same....

 

Jon

Hi

I see a lot of distortion using the Inon Wide Angle on my Ikelite housing for the Sony PC350. There is no distortion at full wide but zooming causes circular distortion at the edges. It really focuses attention to the centre of the frame!

The other problem I have had with this housing and lens setup is the thread on the Ikelite port. The Inon lens threads are metal, the Ikelite port is a plastic material, these threads are very fine and they have worn signficantly. The slightest cross-thread and they chew up pretty easily. Granted, as I work on day boat the lens was on and off a lot for cleaning and drying.

This season I'm using an Amphibico Evo/Sony A1 so I don't have these issues anymore.

cheers

Simon