Combined video and photo rigs?

[MB NZ]

I've seen a few combined video and photo rigs out there, but they look quite unwieldy. What I mean by a combined rig is a still camera with or without a GoPro mounted on to the housing plus two strobes plus two video lights.

Anyone use anything like this, how do you get on with it?

 

[fbk]

I have an LX7 in Nauticam housing and tray with SOla 2000 video lights. I recently attached my single inon strobe to the central 1" ball mount on the housing since I already had the strobe and thought I may as well make use of the mount and I really only ever take macro photos anyway where you can get away with one strobe. But having done a couple of dives like that I think I will just concentrate on video especially macro which is what I am finding myself wanting to get into. Really I think it's either one or the other and video has more appeal for me.

 

[MB NZ]

yeah, i was thinking the same thing. i've been doing video only for the past 2 years, but got the itch to get back in to still photography, so have a new setup to play with. i will continue to do both, but probably not on the same dive!

good luck with macro video. i've had a few attempts and it is quite challenging.

 

[fbk]

It's pretty new to me still but yes macro video is challenging! I'm waiting for my Inon float arms to arrive to get my lights out wide for WA as well as give me somewhere to mount my lens holders. Weighs close to 6kg out of the water and around 1.5kg neg. so the arms will get it close to neutral. Without the float arms and with the tripod legs it is heavy compact and stable for macro. I got the tripod idea from some other posts on here with a similar setup.

 

[MB NZ]

Nice setup. After sorting out the equipment, the next challenge I realised was that a lot of macro life doesn't seem to like video lights very much and since lights are often essential, it made things quite tricky! I look forward to seeing your work.

 

[fbk]

MAAC Trip - Puerto Galera, Philippines - YouTube

My first and only real attempt so far at close up video, mostly in the 2nd half. This was before I realised I needed a tripod and was shot either bare port or using a single +6 diopter. Have since added a Inon UCL-100 with LD mount for easier swapping. Heading to Tulamben next month to find some critters and play around with it all some more, I've only done a handful of dives with this camera so far and am nowhere near realising its potential.

I hear you on the lights scaring things away, if I get bored with video or feel like a change on some dives I'll fire up the strobe.