Key West by Crew West: A 5D Mark2 Underwater Video
01/09/2010
http://www.vimeo.com/14602106
My first underwater video with the Canon 5D2. It was shot with a Sea&Sea;underwater housing. Great product.
Canon Housing Leaks - Easy DIY Fix
18/08/2010
I have had quite a few people bring Canon Compact Housings to me for help over the last couple of years, as they have had small leaks for no apparent reason. These housings have mostly been the G7, G9, G10, A610, A620, A630, A640, A710, A720.
What I have found on close inspection is that there are 3 or 4 mould release lines (no. of lines depending on the model) in the main 'o' ring groove on the door. These 'lines' run across the groove and very obviously would stop the 'o' ring seating in the groove correctly.
It seems that most people have leaks in the shallows with their Canon housings. Either on descending or after a deeper dive with no problem, a leak is evident as they ascend into the last 10 meters. This is typical of an 'o' ring that has not seated correctly, so that's why I started looking closer.
I had one desperate photographer who wanted me to try anything to have their housing fixed. So I promised to find the leak source. It was a Canon G9 housing, I could see the water entering the housing as a very small drip that ran down the 'O' Ring until it pooled at the bottom.
I decided to sand the Mould Release line, as this was exactly where the drip eminated from. I used a piece of very fine wet&dry;sand paper (600 grit), I wrapped a small piece around a small aluminium ruler (about 2mm thick), then gently sanded the mould release line, until it was level with the bottom of the groove.
I actually did the sanding a step at a time and inspected the progress with a magnifying glass (Actually I used a ReefNet SubSee Magnifier, as it was stronger than a magnifying glass) and progressed until the mould release line was finally non-existent and the 'O' Ring groove had a flat bottom, rather than a step at the Mould Release line. It was quite easy to see the problem with a magnifying glass before sanding, and that it was smooth after the sanding. I also sanded the other 3 mould release lines in this particular housing, as they also were raised more than they should be.
I was so confident that I had fixed the problem, I took the housing with its camera on a dive immediately after fixing it, and it was dry as a bone.... which it hadn't been for quite a few prior dives. It has since proved to be perfectly sealed and hasn’t leaked since.
Check-out your own housing if it has these mould release lines, I'd get it fixed pretty soon.
I have now fixed more Canon Housings and all have been successful. I have also just fixed a G11 housing that leaked on its first dive, it had exactly the same problem. It also explains to me why some housings leak and some don't. This mould release line is more evident in some housings than others.
BTW, I also manufacture an electronic Leak Detector for the Canon G7, G9, G10 & now G11 housings - see the web link below.
Photos & Sketch following so you can see how to do this work yourself.
Which focus light?
16/08/2010
Hi everybody,
I want to take a focus light for my camera (Sea&Sea;Dx400D) Which the best of the focus light? Fisheye FixLed or Big Blue?
Can you help me pleaae?
Best wishes....
Canon PowerShot SD960 IS vs SD980 IS
27/07/2010
I am looking at buying a new easy to use point and shoot camera, but can't decide between Canon PowerShot SD960 IS and Canon PowerShot SD980 IS. Can anyone point me in the right direction and shed some lights on both cameras. Does anyone have any experience with these cameras and which one do you think should I get?
Any suggestions and recommendations are welcome.
cannon 100mm lens?
30/06/2010
i currently have the cannon 60mm but would like to have more magnification ,i am looking at the canon 100mm,not being an expert by no means but if i stood off from the subject the same distance i would with the 60mm to get 1:1 with the 100mm would i not get more then 1:1 with the 100mm at the same distance ? any info from divers with the same lens would be appreciated:-)
Help needed setting up Olympus E-620 with Inon S-2000 strobes
25/06/2010
I have a Olympus E-620 in PT-E06 housing with x2 Inon s-2000 strobes - and I am trying to find out more about the Settings I need to make work Better .
Is strobe setting Manual or S-TTL better to use most of the Time ?
If using on S-TTL where do I put the EV switch on the Strobe (what Position)
Are there any special settings on the Camera I should have set when using S-TTL
Any other advise or info would be useful on the set up and use .
One other Unrelated Question the Macro setting on the E-620 (little flower setting) does this actually do anything , as I normally shoot underwater in M-mode should I use MACRO for shooting Macro (does it do something to lens like a Compact Camera)
Thanks
dSLR video settings for underwater use
23/06/2010
Hey there,
Just picked up a Canon 550D. I'm looking forward to using the video option underwater. I would like to use the video option in manual mode. what settings, f/stop, ISO, and shutter speed would be good initial settings? Would it be better to stay in auto and just MWB?
Thanks for the help,
Panasonic GH1
18/06/2010
Nice forum! Finally getting around to make my first post here. Been a lurker for a while, although I have spoken a little with Christian over at Vimeo. He has been kind enough to add some of our videos to the pretty Digideep channel.
There seems to be a lot of buzz surrounding the new Panasonic GH1:
http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=332733&modelNo=Content030
[b]What do you reckon?[/b] Will this be next best thing to bring underwater since the invention of the aqualung? :-)
I´ve been reading quite alot about the camera lately and for me the key selling points are:
1. Price. Weighing in at "only" 1600 euro. That´s with the monster 14–140 mm. I haven´t checked how much the 7–14 mm will cost (which is what I need).
2. 4/3" sensor. Hopefully that means the camera will work well in low-light environments.
3. The ability to shoot 720p. See 1.
4. Shallow depth of field, interchangeable lenses and the ability to control exposure,
all while shooting video.
5. Full auto focus while shooting video with both the 14-140 and 7-14.
Unfortnately there doesn´t seem to be any housings in the pipeline. Has anyone here heard anything else?
Help in buying a new lens
17/06/2010
Dear all,
I am a freshman of the forum and it is only one year that I am in DSLR underwater photography world.
I use canon 50d and I am going to buy a new lens for Macro shooting.
I have to choose between
- ef-s 60 mm
- ef 100 m
both Canon. My doubt comes from the fact that the 100 mm is not stabilized, on the other hand it is a much better close-up lens!
Does anyone of you use the EF 100 mm Macro?
Which is the image quality of the two lenses mentioned?
Is the stabilizing device that important underwater?
What would you suggest me to buy?
Thank you all in advance, and have a nice day!
Alex ;-)
New Canon 100 macro "L series" lens
10/06/2010
Did anyone try the new Canon 100 macro "L series" lens underwater ??? How does it compare with the standard Canon 100 macro ???
Thank you very much for your input and comments !!!
All the Best ......... Francesco
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