rcolman

Actually, I always shoot in CINE MODE for exposure ... I find that it is too easy to blow out highlights with the other automated exposure modes. I started out shooting in 60i, and am now shooting in 30p.

Rick Colman

I am looking to buy a Canon HV30 for some underwater shooting.

Giovanni  

I have about a dozen dives with the HV30. Look for some of my videos on VIMEO.COM.

rick colman

How is the macro hunting going Rick?

We do a lot of macro photography in southern california, because, dive conditions are often too poor for wide angle, and fish or other larger scale marine life is scarce.

I have been doing some video macro, but, unless the nudi is actually doing something, it is like trying to do a video of a pretty rock or something. Not really much action and, to my taste, still photography is better suited to nudibranchs, etc.

I have, however, invested in some dive lights, so may take it up again soon

Rick Colman
Laguna Hills, CA
www.colmanphoto.com

Is that whats happening to everybody else using Premier Pro of even FCP and Sony Vegas.

I have pretty bad ocean conditions here right now, very green dirty water with lots of particulate. I used the following regimen:

1) use FCC to do manual white balance, after the fact

2) use AUTOLEVELS, increase the clip popints to 1% to increase contrast, and set the time averaging to 5 frames.

3) then, apply AUTOCOLOR.

It does not solve all the problems by any means, but does clean up a clip pretty well for an inexperienced amateur.

Rick Colman

Would be interested to see a still of how the image looks with your stronger diopters behind a dome port.

I tried a +6 dry diopter combination and it worked out well behind the dome port. I was able to fill most of the frame with a 3" nudibranch with good focus. I left the lens at full-wideangle behind the dome port. The combination seemed to work ok. I then tried a +2 diopter on the second dive, and this did not have much effect. I can't recommend this low diopter as being much good.

Exposure is still a problem. I decided to go back to automatic "cine"mode on the HV30 which is full autoexposre with low gain with the shutter locked at 1/60. Unfortunately, I was deep in cold southern california waters with littel light. The footage is viewable, but undereposed a bit.

Next time I will try locking the exposure at f4 in aperature priority, or, better yet, mabe bring some lights.

rick colman
laguna hills, ca