MWB Video with Gates HF S10/S11 Housing

Here is a short video we shot showing off how easy it is to use Manual White Balance with the new Gates HF S10/S11 Underwater Housing thanks to the ingenious design utilizing the Canon remote control. This is one of many video tutorials we will be producing this year.

Gates HF S10/S11 Manual White Balance

Thanks Mike,

it's definitely a good thing the canon remote control allows a full control of the control except on/off and switching between photo/camcorder mode as basically housings relying on infrared or like the gates on the remote control allow full control underwater. However since we are talking about WB, your tutorial is true on the process to follow to achieve MWB but shows MWB is not achieved at the end. The blinking MWB icon is not supposed to blink when MWB is correctly achieved (I've checked). The color tone on your video has not changed before and after placing the white paper in front of the camera...

I had with the HF-S10 made several tests in a pool with and without light, using or not the red filter. Curiously, I am not sure MWB is very useful on this camera. First, you apparently need lots of light to achieve a correct MWB (ie non blinking icon). Secondly, I've never seen big changes in color tones between being in auto or in MWB and auto seems to provide quite good color tones in many situations. You can however get big differences (better or worst) if you switch between the various preset WB.

....However since we are talking about WB, your tutorial is true on the process to follow to achieve MWB but shows MWB is not achieved at the end. The blinking MWB icon is not supposed to blink when MWB is correctly achieved (I've checked).....

Not sure if this Canon is acting the same as my HV10 and HV30. Both of my Canon cams act the same with MWB. I agree, the icon is not supposed to blink if MWB is correctly set. However, sometimes the icon keeps blinking, but WB is definitely changed and improved.

Scubacaster is quite correct. It is one thing to demonstrate the necessary steps but the 'video tutorial' does not demonstrate any white balancing at all. I recently met with someone whose opinion I respect and who has experience with this Canon and she said that it will not WB below 30 feet anyhow. Never the less, was surprised that this tutorial clearly demonstrates that white balance was not achieved.

Steve

I have successfully white balanced with this set-up on land, and the icon does quit blinking. Unfortunately, El Norte cut short my dives in Cozumel recently and I didn't get to fully test it out underwater. In a few weeks I'll be spending 12 days diving Raja Ampat and will have the opportunity to thoroughly test this rig. I'll report my results upon return. I use Manta white fins to WB.

I have successfully white balanced with this set-up on land, and the icon does quit blinking. Unfortunately, El Norte cut short my dives in Cozumel recently and I didn't get to fully test it out underwater. In a few weeks I'll be spending 12 days diving Raja Ampat and will have the opportunity to thoroughly test this rig. I'll report my results upon return. I use Manta white fins to WB.

I was in Raja Ampat last month. The only advice I can give you is to use the red filter a lot considering you are shooting wide. I was unable to do achieve a correct MWB or at least to do better than auto on several occasions so I stayed with auto white balance. Not enough light but we haven't had lots of sun... but the filter was convenient in most situation.

I'm hoping for lots of sun! I haven't sprung for lights yet (although I did sell an antique piano today so I have a little $). I'm a little worried about shooting without lighting. My HV20 was definitely better in low light than the HF S10.

Wish me luck!

My limited understanding is that not all WB functionality is the same in all camcorders. Some cameras are more capable than others in adjusting the color temp, some not so much.

For example, my sony HC7 is limited to a certain maximum color temp change. The actual "depth" depends on the sunlight, water clarity, etc..

I still think this MWB option of this rig has value. This MWB option in this S10 rig may still have some merit in some situations.

FYI, I manually set my WB often even when shooting macro / upclose subjects with artificial lighting. I've found that even a foot or two distance of the light from the video heads to the subject effects the color temp.