HC9-Ikelite won't MWB!

[Diverking]

Has anyone actually been able with the HC9? I've tried everything I could think of and nothing will work. What I've tried:

1. Using white-ish sand (Red Sea). Tried changing the distance and angle. Tried different depths (18-30 metres). Nothing.
2. Bought a pair of white fins. Tried hard not to move. Maybe like 30 times in different dives! Nothing.
3. Had a buddy hold his Amphibico slate in front. Nothing!

The result was always the same: the WB indicator just kept flashing. So I switched to the outdoor setting and used red filter / lighting, which generally does the trick but of course won't get me the right colors except for close objects (with the HID lights).

Manual white-balance is anything but simple with the Ikelite housing... if only it worked!

Do those of of you with the HC7 have the same problem? I'm guessing it's perhaps a problem of low-light performance.

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[ronscuba]

Sounds like a low light problem. Try it at 5-12 meters as you descend. Won't solve the problem for deeper depths, but leaving it at that setting might look better than auto WB.

 

[Diverking]

Well, I guess I could do that, but it wouldn't help much white-balancing at, say, 10 m. and then shooting at 20, would it?

 

[ronscuba]

Not sure it will help, but worth trying. I know sometimes I get deep and can't lock in a MWB. What's set is the last MWB I did 5-7m above. My housing let's me easily switch between MWB and auto. Most of the time the MWB is best, even if it was set several meters shallower.

I use an FX7, not a HC9, but the theory is the same.

 

[Diverking]

Thanks, ronscuba. I'll try that and see how it goes.

 

[drbill]

So I assume the housing itself is able to control the WB function on the camera (many less expensive housings, like mine, can't). If this is the case, then I think Ron is probably right about the low light levels. I find my HC-7 to be a miserable substitute for my TRV-17 except when I film close-up with my HID lights... then the results can be fantastic compared to the mini-DV camera.

You you get a green cast in the backgrounds and less illuminated parts of the scene with the HC-9? This is probably the biggest issue I have with the HC-7. In part I think it is due to the switch to CMOS sensors vs CCD.