Wetpixel/Under The Jungle Cenote Workshop 2021
Articles
Retra announces Pilot Light Enhancement module
Retra Underwater Technology has announced an update for its Light Shaping Device (LSD). The Pilot Light Enhancement (PLE) module has been developed as an enhancement when the LSD is used with the Inon Z240 strobe. Since, in common with most snoot type devices, “sighting” the LSD is somewhat awkward, being able to use the Z240’s built-in aiming light makes the process simpler. The PLE mounts onto the strobe with bolts and the LSD is then mounted onto it. This effectively straightens the beam of the aiming light, making it useful for aligning the LSD correctly. It produces an enhanced output in the pilot light, but does cause a loss of one stop in strobe power.
It is available now at €48 plus shipping.
Marine science expedition seeks crowd funding
The East African Marine Transect (EAMT) aims to catalog and document the marine life of the East Africa coast, from South Africa to Kenya. The team plans to use 3D stereo imaging tools to establish a baseline of the fish fauna that they encounter during the 4 month trip.
The organizers are looking to crowd source the costs of the expedition. For more information, please see their indiegogo page.
Nikonos RS lens project finalized
Owner Andrej Belic provides a summary of his project to allow the use of Nikonos RS lenses with current housed SLRs. He has developed a conversion process that allows the lenses to operate with modern electronics, and also adaptors that then allow them to be used with Nauticam, Seacam and Subal housings. All three housing brands can be used with the 13mm fisheye and 28mm wide-angle RS lenses, with the 50mm macro also potentially possible on Nauticam housings only.
Andrej feels that the RS lenses give optically superior results over conventional lens and dome port configurations, as well as advantages in weight and size.
Dolphins maintain awareness for 15 days
The Public Library of Science ONE (PLOS ONE) journal has published a paper that documents how long dolphins can remain aware. In experiments carried out by the National Marine Mammal Foundation, they were able to maintain vigilance, as measured by their ability to respond to acoustic targets, for 15 days continuously. Dolphins are known for their ability to “rest” one hemisphere of their brain while the other maintains awareness, and the paper suspects that this may allow them to do so in order to remain vigilant and watch out for predators. Previously, this ability was ascribed solely to their need to breathe.
Canon updates firmware for EOS 1D X
Canon USA has announced the release of a firmware update for the EOS-1D X SLR. The update adds additional autofocus performance including intermittent red illumination of the AF points in the camera’s viewfinder when in AI Servo AF and an increase in cross-type AF sensitivity to allow accurate focusing with the center AF point with a maximum aperture of f/8.
Firmware version 1.1.1 for the EOS-1D X is available free of charge from the Canon website.
What would you say
Wetpixel member Simon Spear has posted a short film entitled “What would you say?” on the Wetpixel forum. Filmed almost entirely with a Canon 7D and Canon EF-S 10-22mm lens in a combination of Hugyfot and Ikelite housings, the film has a conservation theme, is about our oceans and highlights a few of the many challenges that lie ahead.
Results: Wildife Photographer of the Year
The results of the 2012 Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year have been announced by the National History Museum. Paul Nicklen took first place overall and won the Underwater Worlds category with his stunning image of Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) exiting the water in a cloud of bubbles. He also took runner-up in the underwater category. Commended photographers in the category include, Claudio Gazzaroli, Thomas P Peschak, David Hall and Jordi Chias. In other categories, Jean Tresfon was awarded a Commended in the birds category, Lucio Candisani won the Cold-Blooded animal behavior, and Steve Kovacs achieved a Commended.
Many congratulations to all those who achieved a placing.
GoPro unveils the HERO3
GoPro has just released details of their latest POV cam, the HERO3. The Hero3 is 30 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than the HERO2 and is available in three models, Black, Silver and White. The Black edition is capable of capturing video at up to 4K resolution, at 15fps, but also offers 2.7K at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps, 1440p at 48fps, 960p at 100 fps and 720p at 120fps, as well as 11MP stills. This is achieved via a processor that is two times faster. The Silver Edition has 11MP stills and 1080p30 video, while the White Edition has 5MP stills. Both Silver and Black versions have manual White Balance control and the standard housing now features a “Dive Lens”.
The Black Edition is $399, Silver is $299 and White $199. Pre-orders are scheduled to start at 12:01AM PT today. A video of sample footage has also been released on YouTube.