62 replies to this topic

[Drew]

As Wetpixel continues to grow, more and more housing manufacturers are becoming strong supporters of this site. Even though they are lurking, they are listening. So all you wetpixel readers out there wanting certain features or certain cameras housed, let the manufacturers know what you want (in a nice and constructive way,please). Please note this is not a gripe thread but a constructive method of feedback to the manufacturing industry.
I will start with my most fervent wish as of right now:

A housing for the Canon XH series. As a manufacturer, Canon is very willing to work with manufacturers with support of their lanc connections. The images produced from this series is sharp and even the pans on HDV look better than the Sony. It is a very viable alternative to the Sony FX/Z/V1 series. It is also priced right between the Sony segment.
What's stronger about this camera is the fact that it is much more customizable imagewise than the Sony, giving the shooter more flexibility in getting the right shot on camera vs in post.

As for features, some sort of attachment hook or bracket to put weights or flotation on housings to balance the housings would be cool. One of the hardest things for many housings is to get the balance right once you put lights/monitors and other accessories on. Being able to strap weight on the bottom or put closed cell foam on top (Not the other way round folks!) would be a boon to housing users.

Happy wishing all!

[wagsy]

Well why not have a tiny BCD for the housing that you can regulate the bouyancy for your housing that you want at any depth.

Just pop it in the water and if floats, get in and let the air out and away you go adjusting it during the dive. Extra long inflator hose runs to it. Get back to the surface and pump it back up again and hook it on the mermaid line as you get out

[PCDiver]

Well why not have a tiny BCD for the housing that you can regulate the bouyancy for your housing that you want at any depth.

Just pop it in the water and if floats, get in and let the air out and away you go adjusting it during the dive. Extra long inflator hose runs to it. Get back to the surface and pump it back up again and hook it on the mermaid line as you get out

Hi Wags,

I'm not sure that will work. The bouyancy will vary with depth so you need to constantly adjust it to keep it neutral. What could work is a balast tank. The volume in a balast tank stays the same. Problem with the balast tank is water moving around changing the weight distribution.

Peter

[Hawkfish]

Lightweight, compact, simple to maintain, let me pack my camera inside it during travel, potentially use a removable tripod plate to mount the cam in the housing so I'm not always attaching/detaching plates when going from topside to underwater filming. How about a simple optic on the back that magnifies the viewfinder view as an alternative to an external monitor. It would be nice if it would also rinse out my wetsuit and hang it up after dives too.

[Drew]

Funny, here I am trying to give members a chance to give serious feedback to manufacturers and I get three stooges. Sigh

[DeanB]

I wonder why they don't take us seriously.

A housing thats electronic..But if it fails some manual levers for back up...A thought.

Better button positions on the grips..They seem to be made for gloveless tropical divers. I wear 5mm.

More sturdy manual controls, especially the exposure levers. <_<

Definitely more lens options..Maybe dome ports for telephoto or conversion lenses.

Free / cheap rental for a week for try buyers..Or money back if purchased. I think L&M do this...

I'll try to think of more.

Dive safe

DeanB

[PCDiver]

A underwater remote control with the following features:

1. remote control of all electronic functions
2. small remote monitor
3. control of powered tripod
4. underwater plugable
5. minimum 5 meter cable

[DeanB]

Cripes.. Remote this, remote that...

Why don't you just get somebody to do it for you I'm cheap...Ish.

Dive safe

DeanB

[PCDiver]

Cripes.. Remote this, remote that...

Why don't you just get somebody to do it for you I'm cheap...Ish.

Dive safe

DeanB

Naaah, you're going to scare away the fishies. But with all these remote functions you can easily convert a housing to a sofisticated pole cam.

[DeanB]

Its a short answer to your prob...But therapy will get you over your fear of water. Try paddling first, then wading up to your waist..



Were divers not skivers.

Dive safe...Or not at all for some .

DeanB

[shawnh]

Here are some thoughts i put into Easy to Do and Wishful Thinking Categories:

Easy to Do:
Manual Controls: I am a big advocate of electronic with manual back up. If you give me manual on Power, Record, and Zoom, I would be incredibly happy. That would require a button for record and zoom each and one side rocker lever for zoom.

Attachment Points: I agree with Drew, more attachment points for weights, etc is always nice.

Ext. Monitor: Super slim, high resolution monitor that can be positioned in differnt locations, articulated to dif angles and isn't bulky.

Wishful Thinking:
Better Lenses: Atomic is doing it with their masks, let's do it lenses. Someone create a super tough lens that actually improves light transfer to the sensor. I don't want to have to worry about inadvertant scratches, scuffs and spotting. I also want more light getting to my sensor.

UW Auto WB Technology: It would be super cool if a mfg. created an auto WB contraption that constantly evaluated the surrounding light and modified the cams WB settings in real time via the Lanc. A sensor would be located on the front of the housing next to the lens and would used some technology (lazer, UV, whatever) to measure the light and offset against daylight settings. The user could then adjust the settings on the WB thingy to get the desire look. The WB circuitry would be built into the housing elecronics.

I have lots more but will save for another day:)

[Nick Hope]

Manual Controls: I am a big advocate of electronic with manual back up. If you give me manual on Power, Record, and Zoom, I would be incredibly happy. That would require a button for record and zoom each and one side rocker lever for zoom.

With you on that Shawn, and may I add a manual focus knob to the list.

Ext. Monitor: Super slim, high resolution monitor that can be positioned in differnt locations, articulated to dif angles and isn't bulky.

Would be great if it was slim and could be folded down (towards user) to fit the housing into tight gaps.

[wagsy]

Yes Nick...a manual focus knob would be nice.

More colour options...Kelly likes Pink

[PCDiver]

Its a short answer to your prob...But therapy will get you over your fear of water. Try paddling first, then wading up to your waist..



Were divers not skivers.

Dive safe...Or not at all for some .

DeanB

Can I sent you the invoice for a new screen? Mine is covered in coffee.

[Mini Dive]

On housing with electronic controls on both handles, I would like to see a button that would allow for toggling the control functions from one handle to the other and vise versa. And maybe even user assignable button functions. My left thumb doesn't work very well due to herniated discs, so I need to mostly rely on old righty.

[Scuba_SI]

On housing with electronic controls on both handles, I would like to see a button that would allow for toggling the control functions from one handle to the other and vise versa. And maybe even user assignable button functions. My left thumb doesn't work very well due to herniated discs, so I need to mostly rely on old righty.

Light and Motion have switchable handles already, but it would be nice to be able to connect your housing to a usb port on your laptop and use a simple DOS based program to change button functionality

[Mini Dive]

Light and Motion have switchable handles already, but it would be nice to be able to connect your housing to a usb port on your laptop and use a simple DOS based program to change button functionality

Thanks, up until now this was all I was able to read from their website -

Unlike mechanical solutions, Smart Grip Handles put the main controls right at your fingertips. Need to shoot left handed while bracing with right hand? No problem. The left handle can be user programed to control record, zoom, and momentary focus.

So I thought transfer could only be switched to the left. Thanks to your post, I went back to check. I was finally able to open the link within (after trying for over a month) where I was able to read -

Smart Grips are also switchable left to right, giving you redundant control if needed. This also gives you the option of shooting right or left handed.

So I guess that would work for me. Hopefully the other manufactures will follow.

Edited by divedude, 09 March 2007 - 06:45 PM.

[Scuba_SI]

Thanks, up until now this was all I was able to read from their website -

So I guess that would work for me. Hopefully the other manufactures will follow.

You can do it in your dive, from memory you hold down one buttong for 2 seconds, and it switches them, and the same to switch back.

[Nick Hope]

I think the main reason they did it was to give you full functionality (with a delay) when the batteries in one of your grips run flat.

I would also like access to at least one assign button on cameras such as the Z1 so I can run in AE override mode when I want to.

[sjspeck]

Light and Motion have switchable handles already, but it would be nice to be able to connect your housing to a usb port on your laptop and use a simple DOS based program to change button functionality

DOS? What's that? I didn't see it in either XP or Vista...j/k. What about MAC users?
And if you did do that, how would you change the button labeling? If you reassign them and then forget what you reassigned them to, it could be interesting u/w...