Hi all, i'm very interested about Sony HC7 camera I'm curious about news and maybe some demo video using this new camera underwater. How Hc7 works in low light situations? Anyone have used it underwater?
Many thanks
ERIK
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HC7 good for underwater videos?
20 posts
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Hi Erik
The HC7 does a great job if there is lots of nice light around.
You can go here http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20249 to download a clip from a HC7 user.
They don't work too good in low light compared to a FX1/Z1 though.
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Hi Erik
The HC7 does a great job if there is lots of nice light around.
You can go here http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20249 to download a clip from a HC7 user.
They don't work too good in low light compared to a FX1/Z1 though.
Many thanks Wags, infacts i was thinking to take a HC7 and a news housing. I use a lot my Fx1 in a L&M housing but sometimes is too big and heavy, for example it will be very expencive and complecated to take Fx1 with me travelling from Italy to Exmouth (WA) :-). So i was considering a little one HD camera ... do you think is similar to TRV950 or TRV950? Sure... in HD quality :-)
Bye and thanks for helping me
ERIK
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Erik, I take the handles off my Bluefin HD and carry it in my backback as cabin baggage with the camera inside. I can get away with this leaving airports in S E Asia. Maybe they're stricter on the weight of hand baggage when leaving airports in Italy?
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Erik, I take the handles off my Bluefin HD and carry it in my backback as cabin baggage with the camera inside. I can get away with this leaving airports in S E Asia. Maybe they're stricter on the weight of hand baggage when leaving airports in Italy?
Yes but i think weight of hand baggage limitations is normal in any flight, maybe can change but L&M + Fx1 is really heavy. The common weith limitation for hand baggage is 7 KG....
Infact i was thinking to a little HD system for travels, easy to store on my hand baggage and also easy to use underwater but i woulf like to know more about low light limitations, with my TRV950 i found some limitation but is ok if you know how to do and using video lights, i would like to know if HC7 is similar or is low light difficulties are more evident than old TRV900 ore 950...
For Wags: many thanks for the link i looked at the video, i love it but in open water and low lights i found a very poor quality, similar with TRV950. If i make closeup video using lights or with good ambient light is ok but with low light..
Thanks all
ERIK
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Erik,
This is an example of a HC7 in auto every thing mode and colour filter
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Hi Mr Mooney
Nice colors, but mostly shot in the shallows? How deep was the dive? Also any color correction?
What housing? Enquiring minds want to know....and so do I.
Yes but i think weight of hand baggage limitations is normal in any flight, maybe can change but L&M + Fx1 is really heavy. The common weith limitation for hand baggage is 7 KG....Erik, do what I do... act like 20kg IS 5kg.
Although I do agree that Perth Airport is about THE worst in Australia, especially if you aren't in their frequent flyer high status clubs. I had a Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Platinum (which I think is equivalent to One World Diamond) yet they still hassled me. One reason I don't like going to Australia to dive. I may just have to rent from Mr Mooney next time I go. -
Also of course Erik get the missus to wait around the corner with the 20kg carry-on bag while you're checking in. Then when check-in asks if you've got any carry-on luggage you just show them your water bottle and newspaper. Then when the gate staff say you can't carry that on Sir you tell them the check-in staff said it would be OK. If it's the same girl doing both jobs then you're stuffed but turn up nice and late at the gate so that they're so eager to take off that they just slap your wrist and let you take the bag on anyway.
Anyway back to the HC7...
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Hi guys and thank you. Yes i think it will be better to use a little video system to travel, differently it will be always a problem, sometimes maybe will be ok ... but if not... a lot of problems, costs and more.
So, i was thinking if is a good idea to pass from a TRV950 + Bluefin (than i'm using for long travels) to a new HC7 + Bluefin. I would like to shoot HD when traveling like i do here in italy with my FX1E but i'm not sure at all to change: with my TRV950 i make great uw videos and maybe passing to an HC7 will be the same but not sure, or maybe a lot of cost to have same quality.... Anyone have used both? Maybe could help me :-)
Thank you guys!!!!
ERIK
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Erik
I too thought of buying a small housing to complement the big boys in non-essential holida situations. But you then run into compromises in optics, controls etc. Plus the added expense of another housing is probably going to add up to a lot of overweight baggage.
I believe Skywest charges $20 for sport equipment (not that scuba equipment is considered sport to them but golf is). Their cabin is much smaller being a Fokker plane so even if you have a smaller housing you'll have to check it in. Price of having a camera is you have to bring it along with you.
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Erik
I too thought of buying a small housing to complement the big boys in non-essential holida situations. But you then run into compromises in optics, controls etc. Plus the added expense of another housing is probably going to add up to a lot of overweight baggage.
I believe Skywest charges $20 for sport equipment (not that scuba equipment is considered sport to them but golf is). Their cabin is much smaller being a Fokker plane so even if you have a smaller housing you'll have to check it in. Price of having a camera is you have to bring it along with you.
Yes is a very good argument. In any case i was looking for a small stuff also to use it easy diving around the world, but i would like to understand if is possible to make very good shoots with HC7 also with some limitations of course, diferently it will be better for me to make photos, photo gears are no so big. :-)
Sometimes you could spend a lot of time recording video but with no good quality just for memories... i would like to have a little cam making very good videos, differently i will prefere to have very good results making photos :-). In any case Fx1 is great for me, and it will be very difficult to find a little cam doing job so well, i think i would find a friend with a HC7 and ask him if possible to try it :-).
Thank you for helping me :-)
ERIK
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Hi Erik,
here are two more samples of the HC7:
http://www.belowthesurface.de/media/FlexVideoPlayer.html
Shaky footage is because of me... not an camera issue... :-)
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Heres a better version of Challenger Bay for those who do not have fast downloads.
This video was shot using an Amphibico Dive Buddy Evo Housing with the standard wide angle lense and standard Ur/Pro flip filter.
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Erik,
A year ago I used the TRV900 at Cocos and two months ago I went back to Cocos with the HC7. Almost everything was shot into the open with ambient light. The HC7 video was much better, both in quality and clarity. I will give part of the credit to the Gates Fathom Imaging SWP25 super wide angle port.
I too did not want to deal with the larger cameras and housings while traveling and underwater, but I wanted to go HD. I am extremely glad I got the HC7 with the Gates housing and port.
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Heres a better version of Challenger Bay for those who do noy have fast downloads.
Enjoy.
Great video, I have a hc7 but my results are not even close to yours. Can you tell us if you've used an W/A lens if yes what model and if you have used a red filtter.
Thank you
Paul
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I've done probably close to 100 hours underwater with a HC7 now from crystal clear tropical to low vis temperate waters - it's a great little cam, but it does have limitations.
Pros
Small and compact
Very, very nice results in good light
Easy to WB down to 15m
Reasonable access to essential controls (dependent on housing)
Did I say small and compact?
Cons
You are just not going to get the same quality as a FX1/Z1 so forget about it
Inconsistent WB below 15m
Unable to manually set gain (would have been great for low light if you could have)
Auto focus unuseable for WA and sometimes even for macro
Poor results in low light low vis when compared to miniDV (had a couple of occasions when a similar 1 chip compact miniDV outperformed the HC7 in pure picture quality in those situations)
Overall I'm really happy with the HC7, but you need to know it's limitations and use it accordingly - but I guess that's the same with any kit isn't it?
And honestly one day I really will post some footage and screen grabs!
Hope this helps.
Cheers, Simon
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Hi all and many thanks, i will take a news Hc7 next days and starting to use it in travels, many thanks for demos :-)
ERIK
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Hi all and many thanks, i will take a news Hc7 next days and starting to use it in travels, many thanks for demos :-)
ERIK
Erik,
Hopefully you are getting a housing that allows manual white balance. Enjoy your new camera
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I've done probably close to 100 hours underwater with a HC7 now from crystal clear tropical to low vis temperate waters - it's a great little cam, but it does have limitations.
Pros
Small and compact
Very, very nice results in good light
Easy to WB down to 15m
Reasonable access to essential controls (dependent on housing)
Did I say small and compact?
Cons
You are just not going to get the same quality as a FX1/Z1 so forget about it
Inconsistent WB below 15m
Unable to manually set gain (would have been great for low light if you could have)
Auto focus unuseable for WA and sometimes even for macro
Poor results in low light low vis when compared to miniDV (had a couple of occasions when a similar 1 chip compact miniDV outperformed the HC7 in pure picture quality in those situations)
Overall I'm really happy with the HC7, but you need to know it's limitations and use it accordingly - but I guess that's the same with any kit isn't it?
And honestly one day I really will post some footage and screen grabs!
Hope this helps.
Cheers, Simon
I think Simon summarizes the HC7 well above. Give it plenty of light and this little camera shines. In low light, the HC7's tendency to kick up the gain can result in some really nasty scenes... I just got back from the Cocos and struggled with shooting the HC7 on deep dives in overcast days. The twin 24W HID lights I brought really helped with closeup WA shots and the occaisional shark/ ray that came in close. I swear, at one point, I nearly tossed my camera over the deep wall after missing the nth Hammerhead that came in close because of that stupid Sony standby sleep mode!!! No matter how many times I would tinker with the camera to keep it awake, it seemed to always just fall into standby mode right at a critical money shot!
BTW, someone had a Seatool HC7 housing on our trip. Very sweet little electronic housing. Shame it doesn't have MWB else it is well designed. But then again, at 25m, don't think it really mattered not having MWB...
Oh and on heavy carry ons, I think I've dislocated my shoulder... I was carrying close to 20kg in carryon (Gates HC7 housing, Fathoms WP25 port, 2x24W HID video heads, laptop, and various chargers in a lowepro computrekker AW plus and a midsize camera bag with a Sony HC7, Canon 400D, Canon 70-200IS L, 2 more lenses, and topside flash. So far no trouble from Cathay or Continental but I think I'll need to see a chiropractor or acupuncturist when I get back to HK... Seriously, I think I've strained or torned something in my shoulder
...Will try to post some clips from Cocos next week when I'm back home.
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I swear, at one point, I nearly tossed my camera over the deep wall after missing the nth Hammerhead that came in close because of that stupid Sony standby sleep mode!!! No matter how many times I would tinker with the camera to keep it awake, it seemed to always just fall into standby mode right at a critical money shot!
I know the feeling, the sharks just don't seem to understand they need to give about 5 seconds of notice before making their entrance. I know you had a great time, Cocos is fantastic
