A news item at our partner site Digideep states that underwater photographers who work with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D and the eTTL-Converter developed by Heinrichs-Weikamp should NOT yet update the firmware of their camera.  Furthermore, the problem also affects Amphibic eTTL flash guns offered by Subtronic, a manufacturer who installs the converter as an OEM-version in their strobes.  Be sure to see the Digideep article for details, if you have a Rebel XTi/400D.

Our friends at San Diego Shark Diving Expeditions are running a Guadalupe great white shark expedition with Ron & Valerie Taylor, stars of the first of the shark diving feature films, Blue Water White Death.  Two years ago, I accompanied Ron and Val on an extended trip to French Polynesia, which was a lot of fun. You’d be silly to miss this opportunity!

The trip runs from October 29 - November 5, 2007 and costs $3195 USD. As of writing this, there are still 9 spots open. 

Yesterday, the first 25 RED cameras were delivered to new owners at the RED headquarters in Orange County, California.  The guys at fxguide have written up an informative article detailing their unboxing and first impressions of the formidable new camera, which at the moment, only shoots in a reduced feature set.

“What is working? The camera shoots beautiful 4K images in 24/25/30 fps… There is software to convert the files - but no full workflow yet (see below). The signal to noise ratio seems amazing. The cameras are producing very low noise images from the Standard 320 ASA to 1000 ASA, in full 4K.”

Particularly illuminating is the discussion about how the new camera handles timecode and ASA.  Several underwater folks I know have this camera on order, and Wetpixel-sponsor Gates Underwater Products is reported to be planning a signature underwater housing for the unit.