Video-rig for tech diving

Hi.

Currently using Ikelite housing with Canon HV30, 2x 50/100W halogen lights with nicad battery pack. I dive alot abroad and almost solely tech diving.

I want to upgrade my videorig and I'm looking for some hints and tips.

The major drawbacks on my current rig is the weight in water, the depth rating(only 60m, 100m or more is preferable), and the viewfinder solution, you flip the lcd on the videocam inside-out and there is a mirror that shows you what you're shooting.

A housing solution where I can hold the rig under me or in front of me and still see the screen is preferable. I have access to DPV's so possibility for scooter mounting is a plus.

I don't need a full-pro system, but I want better quality. Will shoot mostly tech dives, deep dives, and freediving.

Any ideas where to start?

Cheers

I would take a serious look at the new Gates HF S21 Housing set up. The Gates housing is a compact, bulletproof set up with a depth rating of 450 feet, perfect for tech divers! This new housing (see pictures) has an easy to use 3.5" viewable LCD (no flip out screen), full control access, including utilization of the Canon remote control which allows full menu access and easy Manual White balance. There are three available optics, the GP32 wide angle (a must) with 85 degrees of coverage and 50% zoom through capability, the FP32 flat port (great for macro) and the Sp32 standard port (not nearly as useful as the other ports). Should you decide later you want an external viewing source, you can also add the Gates EM 43 High Resolution Monitor.

Here are a few links to videos we did for the Gates HF S11 housing, which is nearly identical only the HF S21 set up has a larger LCD screen and dual memory card capability.

Here is a video showing how to manually white balance with the HF S11/21 housings

Here is a video showing how to set up the housing and camera (later on also shows how to attach lights).

Please let me know if you have any other questions I can answer.

Happy Diving

Mike

You said scooter mounting... I've seen some type of camera you put inside your scooter, and have an external lens somehow. Might be something for you?

If you want to film down to 100m then your options are seriously limited. Extreme pressures and low ambient light will require you to start looking at some of the higher end equipment.

Start scrimping and you're going to end up with a soggy mess or gloomy video leaving you wondering why you even bothered.

Here is a pic taken of me returning from a film shoot at 156m recently.

Regards,

Lance

Nice shot Lance! What were you doing down there?

Nice shot Lance! What were you doing down there?

We were out at Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea with a group of Scientists from The University of Queensland. Osprey Reef is an underwater mountain rising up from 1500-2000m and has some unique deep wave formations carved in it from before the sea levels rose, covering them. Since then the coral has been building layer upon layer and is now only just below the surface at low tide.

The Scientists were interested in viewing these wave formations and I also retreived some ancient coral samples which are now back at the University being dated and analyzed.

Regards,

Lance

100m or more is preferable

Amphibico is only good to 100M. IIRC Light & Motion is somewhere around 100M also.

If you want to break 100M get a Gates. They're good to 137M/450'.

 

Amphibico is only good to 100M. IIRC Light & Motion is somewhere around 100M also.

I have a feeling the Gates will go a long way past 100m without any trouble but the port float might not come back looking like it was before you took it down.

Regards,

Lance

Thanks for the replies!

Grayscale:

Yeah, I've had a look at that option, but I'm not going to shoot exclusively with scooter.

Mike L :

The Gates housing w/ S21 is interesting, looks like it's a good balance between compact and quality. The light and motion lighting pack was quite expensive, does the price defend the performance?

gee Lance, you got some gear there...lol