Solutions to Video lighting and housing buoyancy

Over the years I have tried several lighting systems

for videography, most were bulky and added weight

and negative buoyancy. However this is in the past.

My main system is a Sea and Sea Housing for the HC-1 Sony HD

with the $$$$ wide angle conversion lens X0.35 VX,

which we call the "family jewel",. However, Sea & Sea had no way to correct the buoyancy

and the system nose dived. If I added the Sea & Sea BLX lighting package

it became a boat anchor, very negative and hard on the shoulders, and swim profile.

I switched to the Light & Motion lighting modules (2) by using plastic-ties.

They are good lights but made to fit my L&M Bluefin housing (back-up system)

which I went to when my shoulders ached. I used sections of lobster trap (CA)

floats to ease the buoyancy problem, but it looked very weird and compressed somewhat at depth.

Solution: StiX floats for my Ultra-Light arms (4 each 2" floats on each side)

and a StiX lens float (designed for a still camera macro port) but converts just fine.

For lighting I am using the Keldan (Swiss made) Luna-8 (2 each)

and although pricey(over $ 1500 US cy each), I can get 3 dives before recharging overnight.

The result: neutral buoyancy and "sweet-even" HID lighting (using the diffusion reflector)

for really beautiful HDV results, and that Swiss workmanship that is so nice to handle.

This allows the $4000 lens to be used w/o being an ordeal. Without the diffusion, the beam is narrow

but can light subjects in clear water some 10-12 meters away, no problem.

This year I celebrate 50 years of diving and u/w filming, and tho I wish I had solved these issues

sooner, I am very happy with the results. One entry "Raja Ampat" will be screened at The

San Diego Underwater Film Festival later this month at the Qualcom Theatre big screen in HD.

BTW: the StiX floats were about $150.00 with extra floats if needed, a real bargain from Backscatter in Monterey, CA

Bill Macdonald

www.youtube.com/007bmac

www.macdonaldproductions.com

Bill,

That is a good idea. I cut my own Divinyl cell strips and drill holes to tie them to the ULCS arms as well.

it's interesting you like the "family jewels", the x35 VX lens. At least 1 other member found the S&S lens to be distorted and soft. It was designed as an SD lens and was just 'carried over' when the HD cameras come along.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18078

Bill,

That is a good idea. I cut my own Divinyl cell strips and drill holes to tie them to the ULCS arms as well.

it's interesting you like the "family jewels", the x35 VX lens. At least 1 other member found the S&S lens to be distorted and soft. It was designed as an SD lens and was just 'carried over' when the HD cameras come along.

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18078

Drew;

I carried over the w/a lens from the PD-150 Sea & Sea VX-2000 housing, a 3 chip camera that I was ecstatic with.

When the HD came along ........... the DVCAM format was toast (tho I heard Nat Geo was still infatuated)

The HD single chip cameras do not do well as a 3-chip PD 150 in low light (perimeter distortion, soft)

so they are correct with that

however under normal conditions the HDv systems are exceptional with that lens in my experience

Bill Macdonald

www.youtube.com/007bmac