digideep.com - News

Drew Wohl wins Underwater Images 2008 competition

2008-05-04T18:36:01Z

Drew Wohl, one of our long time members and moderator, has won the Underwater Images 2008 Photo/Video Competition in the conservation category. Congratulation to Drew for this 1st place with the fantastic video. See the video here.

Sealux CD300 Housing for the Nikon D300 Review

2008-04-28T19:27:00Z

Mastering the operation of an underwater housing is a journey of familiarization. You move through a process of engaging its functionality, employing its ergonomics and adapting to its idiosyncrasies and so become at one with it through lots of practice. It�s like learning to play an instrument.
Sealux s CD300 housing for the Nikon D300 DSLR has a similar feel to the earlier D200 housing only with improvements in performance and functionality. All the controls just seem right and the changes I have so far encountered are for the better. Mastering the operation of an underwater housing is a journey of familiarization. You move through a process of engaging its functionality, employing its ergonomics and adapting to its idiosyncrasies and so become at one with it through lots of practice. It�s like learning to play an instrument.
Sealux s CD300 housing for the Nikon D300 DSLR has a similar feel to the earlier D200 housing only with improvements in performance and functionality. All the controls just seem right and the changes I have so far encountered are for the better.

Aquatica Canon 1Ds Mark III

2008-04-28T13:49:00Z

The new Aquatica Canon 1Ds Mark III housing is a rock solid housing machined from solid aluminum, treated and anodized to military specificationfor the Canon 1Ds Mark III. This solid manufacturing makes a depth rating of 300ft. possible. The housing has the same bayonet mounting as the other Aquatica housings and therefore all existing accessories can be used.

------------------------------ Official Press Release ------------------------------

Aquatica is proud to announce its latest addition, the housing for the fabulous Canon 1DS mark III, with 21.1 mega pixels this camera/housing combination will push the boundaries of underwater photography to another level. Machined from solid aluminum, treated and anodized to military specification, then painted with a robust weather and wear resistant finish, this addition to our already wide selection of housings will benefit from the same 300 ft. depth rating that set us apart from our competitors.

The 1DS Mk III housing has the same mounting bayonet that will accept our existing accessories as well as ports, including our tack sharp Megadome, Aqua View finder and remote control cord, it is therefore in a position to address every aspect of this demanding activity that is underwater photography.

Key features

Bayonet Port: Positive bayonet mounting and locking leaves no doubt that your ports are secure in place and water tight. The bayonet system dome, macro ports and extension rings, offers the fastest access to lenses for rapid changing without having to remove the SLR from the housing. Allows use of lenses from a 15mm fisheye lens to a 180mm macro lens. Tele-converter port extensions are also available.
Fingertip access to all camera menu controls include On-Off, Mode, bracket, Meter positioning, focus control and AE/AF lock as well as AF preferences. Access to all menu features include review, enlarge and delete, histogram and internal SLR preferences.
Lens release lever for easy lens changing through the front port with camera installed.
Built in remote control compatibility, no modification or special connectors to install.
The most critical aspect of underwater SLR photography is the viewing system. The Aquatica 1DS Mk III uses a viewfinder that derives the biggest and the brightest image possible in full frame viewing to your eye. An accessory Aqua View Finder is also available giving the user unparallel viewing of the camera's viewfinder for sharp focusing and exact composition.

SPECIFICATIONS

Depth rating: 300 feet/90 meters
Precision machined from a single aluminum block. It is fully anodized to military specifications and coated with robust wear resistant coating. All function labels are pad printing so they will not peel off or fade.
Accurately balanced ergonomic design - all controls are within easy reach.
Excellent underwater balance.
Replaceable sacrificial anodes protect the housing from electrolysis.

Panasonic DMC-TZ3 review

2008-04-27T11:24:00Z

It is a sunny Saturday. One of my diving buddies comes walking back from the water. He tells me there is a seal lying on the dike. I am sure he is pulling my leg, as usual, but after telling me three times I want to make sure and I set off to the dike taking my camera with me. I do have the feeling that I will be made a fool but suppose he is right and there is actually a seal lying there? I would not want to miss a chance like that� It is a sunny Saturday. One of my diving buddies comes walking back from the water. He tells me there is a seal lying on the dike. I am sure he is pulling my leg, as usual, but after telling me three times I want to make sure and I set off to the dike taking my camera with me. I do have the feeling that I will be made a fool but suppose he is right and there is actually a seal lying there? I would not want to miss a chance like that�

Sealux: Universal housings for Canon and JVC.

2008-04-25T06:57:00Z

Sealux comes up with two new products: With the UMN 190C and the UMN 190J the German manufacturer presents two universal housings for Canon and JVC Camcorders. Both housings take all models of their brands that don't exceed 190 x 132 x 116 mm. The new products have monitor backs, controls in comfortable reach of the hands, flip filters, the possibility to attach optional wide optics and can be used up to 90m depth.

------------------------------ Official Press Release ------------------------------

UMN 190C & 190J for Canon andJVC camcorders

Only universal housing with big 3,6� 16:9 colour screen.
Up to 10 functions can be controlled from the handle (Canon) / 4 functions can be controlled (JVC).
Take digital video and stills on the same dive.
Central positioning of the handles avoids shaky footage.
High flexibility and optimal adjustment of the camcorder on the tripod-plate li>
Wide-angle ancillary lenses of best quality also useable over water li>
Unique solution for swivelable filter at an universal housing. li>
The complete SEALUX video system, this means housing and light system can be packed in the ultralight transport case!

New 45 degree viewfinder from SUBAL

2008-04-15T06:53:00Z

Finally SUBAL has announced a new viewfinder for its housings. The new and nicely designed WS45 Finder Optic fits to all newer SUBAL housings and is the response to the high demand for a 45 degree viewfinder solution by many underwater photographers. With the viewfinder a magnification of 150% is achieved resulting in a vibrant viewfinder image that is 2.5 times bigger than the original SUBAL viewfinder. It covers the whole image including all camera infos. For the use in different conditions, the viewfinder can be rotated in four steps (90 degree).

Sea&Sea DX-D80 on shark expedition in the Bahamas

2008-04-14T07:00:00Z

I am standing on the back deck of the M/V Shearwater and am ready to jump in the water. I have to clear my throat three times and ask myself if I really want to do this. I look for a spot near the reef and try to calm down. I have the Nikon D80 in a Sea&Sea underwater housing in my hands, as well as two Sea&Sea YS110 flashes. I do not do any photographing in the first 15 minutes. I am nervous about what is to come. At one point my breathing gets easier and I start looking around a bit more easily. I am standing on the back deck of the M/V Shearwater and am ready to jump in the water. I have to clear my throat three times and ask myself if I really want to do this. I look for a spot near the reef and try to calm down. I have the Nikon D80 in a Sea&Sea underwater housing in my hands, as well as two Sea&Sea YS110 flashes. I do not do any photographing in the first 15 minutes. I am nervous about what is to come. At one point my breathing gets easier and I start looking around a bit more easily.

An easy to install UW leak detector

2008-04-12T07:22:00Z

The Australian UW Photographer Jeff Mullins presents a new and easy to install leak sensor that detects moist and water in the housing and warns the photographer with a flashing LED. It can be installed in various underwater housings like Ikelite, 10Bar, Fantasea and some of the Olympus, Canon, Nikon and Fuji housings. The sensor is adapted to each housing model and comes with easy instructions for self assembly. The leak detector is available for about 60$. Find more information on uwleakdetector.com.

Seatool: One-Touch Close-up Lenses for DX-1G

2008-04-10T08:46:00Z

Japanese manufacturer Fisheye just presented two sets of underwater close-up lenses for the Sea & Sea DX-1G. One set consists of two lenses with 50mm diameter the other set contains three lenses with a diameter of 20mm. Both sets can be used with just one or any combination of the existing other lenses. An additional diffuser allows to take macro images even without an external strobe. For further informations take a look at this site.

Light&Motion: LED Video Lights that DO work!

2008-04-10T07:30:00Z

Light&Motion presented the new Sunray 1000 Video Lights that work with new High Output LED's. With these new Generation of LED technique Light&Motion kills the Myth of LED's being not suitable for video light. Read Light&Motions interesting article about a LED system beating 22W HID systems in output.

HeinrichsWeikamp: Remote Slave Unit

2008-04-08T15:28:00Z

At the end of March HeinrichsWeikamp announced their brand new Remote Slave Unit (RSU) for underwater strobes. It is NOT a TTL-adapter (don�t mix it up with the Digital Adapter by the same company), but a photo sensor which triggers strobes over large distances and is intended for creative pool, wreck or cave photography. The system can cover an area with a radius of about 25m for spectacular lighting effects. Pre-flashes of the camera are not supported which means that an additional external strobe might be necessary.

The manufacturer about compatibility

"All underwater strobes (TTL and non TTL) with 5 pin Nikonos connector are working fine with the following limitations. The strobes are equipped with a strobe ready signal of at least 4 Volts on the connector to power the RSU. The trigger voltage can be up to 30 Volts. Instructions to measure the voltages can be given on request. Furthermore all strobes known to us with 4-pin Sea&Sea Motormarine connector are compatible to the RSU-S version. Modifications to this strobes could be necessary."

Fantasea: New compact housings!

2008-04-02T14:08:00Z

Fantasea presented two new housings for compact digital cameras: The new FSD-1100 for the Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS/ Ixus 80 IS and the FS 600 for the Nikon Coolpix S600. Both are in Fantaseas new design which is not only visible, but also improves durability and quality of the housing. The housings include one year DEPP insurance.

Better housings for better diving

Fantasea improved their housing design totally and now offeres full function controls and a improved and stronger construction. All command control buttons are made of coated brass and have double O-ring seals. The housing also features a radial O-ring main seal, a new flash diffuser design, a LCD screen glare protection, Stainless steel buckles and a 46mm threaded port ring, which makes it suitable for a wide variety of filters and wet lenses. The new design and construction also allows deeper depths of up to 60 meters/200 feet and is considered to be the most durable and professional housing of its class. The two housings for the Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS/ Ixus 80 IS and the Nikon Coolpix S600 are available soon.

Aquatica introduces D300 housing!

2008-04-01T10:38:00Z

The Canadian manufacturer Aquatica introduces the D300 housing for the Nikon D300 DSLR camera. All important functions are accessible from the grips and it has a pressure certification to 100 meters. It comes with two Nikonos connectors and is ready to accept the new underwater remote control and so can be used as a pole cam.

------------------------------ Official Press Release ------------------------------

Aquatica�is pleased to introduce the Aquatica D300 housing for the Nikon D300 DSLR camera. This new housing has an ergonomic design and gives the user easy access to vital controls to deliver a high performance, user-friendly experience for the underwater photographer. Accessible from the right hand are the Main and quick dial controls as well as the shutter release and AF-lock control all this with out having to remove your hand from the grip. Developed based on our tested and proven port system, the rugged yet compact Aquatica D300 is compatible with all of our bayonet ports and accessories, The100 meters (over 300 feet) pressure certification is sure to please even the most technical of diver.�The housing is supplied with two universally accepted Nikonos-type strobe connectors, giving the user a wide array of underwater strobes to choose from and the flexibility to mix brands and models of strobes as desired. The secondary connector is ready to accept the new underwater remote control for pole camera use or for long exposure in low light situation. a ��-20 hole is supplied on the top of the housing in the same axis as the lens for mounting a focusing light.

Features

Ergonomically positioned dial controls.
Easy and comfortable placement of the shutter release lever.
300 Ft / 100 meters depth rating
Compact, anodized aluminum construction for long lasting performance
Standard Nikonos-type dual strobes connector.
The most versatile port system of the industry, with one of the largest throat opening to accommodate all major lenses desirable for underwater photography.
1/4�-20 hole on top mounting of housing for mounting a focus light or other accessories.

New Patima housings for Canon G9 and Sigma DP1

2008-03-30T12:30:00Z

Patima has announced two new compact cameras underwater housings. the Patima DPCH-G9 for the Canon G9 and the Patima DPCH-DP1 for the Sigma DP1. Patima is one of the few manufacturers still constructing compact camera housings. Both housing are depth rated to 120m which is far more than compared to their polyacrylic "brothers", which usually are only depth rated to 40m. The use of all camera functions is possible with both housing. They also feature a fiber-optic cable adapter to connect a slave flash and a Nikonos 5-pin bulkhead. A 6-pin connector for TTL compatibility with the Speedlite 580EX, 580EX2 and SunPak flashes is available as an option.

Sea & Sea MDX-Pro D3 officially announced

2008-03-30T11:02:00Z

Sea & Sea today announced the MDX-Pro D3 housing for Nikon's flagship the D3. The housings includes some worthwhile features like the built in leak sensor. The important control dials can be directly accessed from the hand grips. This ergonomic design allows the operation of the housing in demanding situations where fast access to the control is needed. The housing comes with two kinds of type-N connectors: one 2-pin wired connector (for manual) and one 5-pin wired connector (for dedicated TTL) in its standard configuration.

------------------------------ Official Press Release ------------------------------

[Product number: 06136]

Main housing features

Every detail of the housing is precision CNC machined. Ergonomically designed for ease of use.
Manufactured from solid block aluminum alloy with all edges carefully polished for safety./li>
The housing is protected by a highly corrosion resistant anodized (black) coating. The coating provides the housing from environmental corrosion and abrasions.
An optional TTL converter 250 for Nikon enables automatic TTL strobe photography with the SEA&SEA YS-250PRO strobe./li>
Equipped with a 0.66x pick-up viewfinder standard. An interchangeable 0.8x viewfinder (optional) is also available.
Both the main command dial and sub command dial are operable while holding the hand grips due to advanced ergonomic design.
Most Nikon D3 camera functions are accessible and can be operated underwater with ease.
A port lock mechanism secures the port from accidental loosening.
Comes standard with two kinds of type-N connectors: one 2-pin wired connector (for manual) and one 5-pin wired connector (for dedicated TTL).
The locking latches prevent accidental housing opening.
A built-in leak sensor immediately alerts you to any water leakage.

Basics

Construction: Body: corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy (machined)/anodized body
Grip: corrosion-resistant die-cast aluminum alloy
Dimensions (WxHxD): 355x220x151mm / 14.2x8.8x6inch
Depth rating: 60m/200ft
Weight: approx.3,150g / 110.3oz (Housing only)
Accessories: Housing body cap, hex wrench, CR2032 lithium battery, attachment tool

Press Release