Help with filters in Hawaiian waters

[RS]

You can download them. Click on the button next to play.

 

[testpilot58d]

Randolph...I just mean I dont physically have the bandwidth.

I'm in Iraq right now on a satellite internet system and it just doesnt have the bandwidht to pull down files that big.

 

[RS]

Oh, gotcha.

 

[ronscuba]

If you have bandwidth limitations you could always watch the youtube versions.

Before going HDV, I had a Sony TRV900 and Gates housing. It was a very good system. 3-chips, access to MWB, decent in low light. When I decided to go HDV, I wanted an upgrade all around, not just in resolution, so the smaller cheaper HDV cams didn't really have what I was looking for.

Divx Stage6 is one of the best sites to watch free streaming high quality videos. I converted my edited mpg/avi videos to their format using the Dr. Divx program, then uploaded the file to their site. Pretty amazing when you consider the quality and they host the videos for free.

Manual white balance is a funny topic. People will debate back and fourth how it works, what the best method is, how it compares to auto white balance, whether to use it or correct in post, etc.. All I know, is I consider the end result to be what matters most. How you got there differs depending on the equipment used and the person behind the camera/computer. To set MWB, I use the sun, sand or my grey fins. Whichever gives me the best color at the time is what I use. Experiment, the sand, sun, you hand, fins, are free. I don't care if the sand is not totally white, or that my fins are grey, this is a hobby, I do it for fun. Heck, it's cool that you can take an expensive camcorder, bring it underwater, record exactly what you see, then share it your friends, family, the world......

 

[testpilot58d]

Ron,

Thanks for the words of advice! And also the tips on sharing the HD content. I hate having a HD camera and displaying video to friends and family back home in low def crappy youtube quality.

Can't wait to get home this summer and get the housing wet and start taking some video. I made another housing using the same design for my SD Sony digital 8 camera in 6" PVC and had it down to 115' with no leaks, so I'm really excited about using this. Its small and compact and just a little bigger than the camera itself. Oh, and I loved the fact that your videos were from Roatan. When I get home my wife and I are going on our very first dive vacation and our LDS is doing a group trip to Roatan that I am interested in. Your videos sealed the deal.

Thank you!

Brian

 

[Empty V]

So from what I'm getting MWB with the filer on is fine, it just has to be done as depth changes and the filters seem to be the way to go. I'll be ordering mine tomorrow, thanks!

If you have bandwidth limitations you could always watch the youtube versions.

Before going HDV, I had a Sony TRV900 and Gates housing. It was a very good system. 3-chips, access to MWB, decent in low light. When I decided to go HDV, I wanted an upgrade all around, not just in resolution, so the smaller cheaper HDV cams didn't really have what I was looking for.

Divx Stage6 is one of the best sites to watch free streaming high quality videos. I converted my edited mpg/avi videos to their format using the Dr. Divx program, then uploaded the file to their site. Pretty amazing when you consider the quality and they host the videos for free.

Manual white balance is a funny topic. People will debate back and fourth how it works, what the best method is, how it compares to auto white balance, whether to use it or correct in post, etc.. All I know, is I consider the end result to be what matters most. How you got there differs depending on the equipment used and the person behind the camera/computer. To set MWB, I use the sun, sand or my grey fins. Whichever gives me the best color at the time is what I use. Experiment, the sand, sun, you hand, fins, are free. I don't care if the sand is not totally white, or that my fins are grey, this is a hobby, I do it for fun. Heck, it's cool that you can take an expensive camcorder, bring it underwater, record exactly what you see, then share it your friends, family, the world......

Being an underwater video noob, my questions were regarding if MWB to a white slate would produce a better result than an object that is not white. I'm not sure how these thing react underwater because I have no experience with them yet. It seems that you just go with what looks good on your monitor at that moment, right? So does that mean that you try it on different objects until you find the look that you want? I'd like to figure a lot of this out before my trip so I have as little discovery with this rig as possible.

Billy

 

[ronscuba]

The internet is great. I've learned a lot surfing the web, still have much more to learn, and sharing ideas/information is what makes this message board in particular, great.

I ended up at Roatan, Cocoview to be specific, from all the positive posts by Roatanman. I owe him a big thanks. Cocoview is a great place for macro video/photo.

Billy, I've used a white slate for MWB, but to my eyes, the sand, sun or my fin did just as well and not carrying an extra piece of equipment is a plus. I tend to try my fins 1st, then sand, then sun. Yes, as soon as I get good color I stop. I don't bother trying additional methods if the 1st method ends up looking good.

I reset MWB when I make a decent depth change. You can go crazy down there and reset MWB for every shot, but that's not for me. I generally always use the filter, except when shooting macro with lights.

There is a lively discussion going on right now over on wetpixel on MWB. A lot of pro's contribute over there and I've learned quite a bit just reading the threads over the years.

 

[Empty V]

Well it looks like the pricing for the UR Pro filter is a little bit more for my camera because of the thread size. The funny thing is that I called Equinox and found out that they just order UR Pro filters. On UR Pro's website a filter for my camera runs about $215, I got one from B&H (the one labeled as an equinox filter) for $125 so I'm pretty happy Once i get back from Hawaii and start shooting in our so-cal water I'll order the Green water filter which is $150 from B&H.

Billy