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Hugyfot releases variable buoyancy arms.
Hugyfot has released a buoyancy arm kit that allows the user to adjust the buoyancy offered during a dive. The floating arm system, announced on Hugyfot’s Facebook page, consists of 4 arm segments with appropriate clamps. Two of the segments are standard fixed buoyancy versions, whilst the other two have a valve that allows them to be partially flooded. By allowing them to be partially flooded, the user can adjust the buoyancy of the arms as required. When empty, the arm system will be 2.5kg positive.
The arms are available now and the complete kit costs 750 Euros.
Costa Rica bans shark finning
The Ticotimes reports that President Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica has signed a presidential decree that bans the practice of shark finning, as well as the importation and transportation of shark fins. The country has been used by fishermen operating throughout the area to land catches of shark fin, including those of sharks illegally caught in Marine Protected Areas like the Cocos Islands.
The new laws outlaw the practice of shark finning, make it illegal to import shark fins from any other country, states that all sharks must be inspected upon landing and the implementation of a strict zero-tolerance policy for any boats found transporting shark fins. Owner of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, was at the signing ceremony and, when asked about whether the justice system has the will to monitor the new decree replied:
“All of the young people I have spoken to in Costa Rica have been outraged for a long time about the slaughter of the species in the oceans,” and, “I think the public of Costa Rica will monitor it for the government.”
Underwater Photography Olympics to be held in Eilat
The Eilat Red Sea World of Underwater Images has announced that in addition to their normal shoot-out categories, there will be an additional one for National Teams that is being billed as the “International Underwater Photography Olympics”. This will consist of teams of three photographers from the same country, either as an organized party, or as independent individuals who are attending the event. Images can be entered into both the team and individual events. The judging will consist of a “Eurovision” style vote-off, with national teams voting for the other teams’ images.
The Eilat Red Sea shoot-out will be held in Eilat, Israel from 4 to 10 November 2012.
EOS 650D scores poorly on DxO testing
Canon’s new EOS 650D (Rebel T4i) seems to have taken a retrograde step in sensor performance according to DxOMark. DxO Labs tested the 650D (Rebel T4i) against its predecessors; the Canon 600D (Rebel T3i) and Canon 550D (Rebel T2i). The color depth, dynamic range and low-light ISO performance test ratings were all lower than that of the earlier cameras. DxO concludes that:
“Canon chose to focus its efforts on designing a camera with such ergonomic improvements as a capacitated touchscreen display and an innovative, quick, quiet, and powerful hybridized autofocus. In video mode, the autofocus operates continuously and takes full advantage of the emerging new line of lenses equipped with Stepping Motor (STM) technology.” And, “for the EOS 650D’s sensor, however, even its hybridized autofocus cannot deflect the conclusion drawn from our DxOMark test results: “same old, same old.””
GoPro updates firmware
GoPro has announced an update to the firmware for its HD HERO2 POV cam. The ProTune update was announced at NAB earlier this year, but is only now available. The major change is Protune’s 35Mbps data rate which provides less compressed footage hence giving more flexibility in post production. There is also a new neutral color profile, which captures more detail in both highlight and shadow areas, and the camera can now record in 24fps, to ensure compatibility with other source media.
In a post on the forum, Wetpixel Senior Moderator, Paul Wags, suggest that the higher data rate will enhance blue water shots. The Protune update is available as a free download from within the GoPro CineForm Studio app.
Last few spaces available for Wetpixel Ultimate Indonesia
If you are still undecided about whether to visit Indonesia for some of the best diving and photography on the planet, now is the time to decide! We have a few spaces left for the upcoming Wetpixel Ultimate Indonesia trips. Dec 08 to 19, Kaimana to Sorong: stateroom and standard cabin; This trip is a “once in a lifetime” trip, and it is rare for there to be any free spaces available.
Full details are available on the Wetpixel Expeditions page. For more information and bookings, you can also contact Dan Baldocchi via email or by telephone on +1-773-564-9579.
Adobe updates its DNG format
Adobe has announced an update in its Digital Negative (DNG) format. The aim of the DNG format is to provide a single archival format that will be supported over time, rather than a specific manufacturer raw format that my cease to supported at some point in the future. It has extended the specifications of the DNG format, and created a more compact, Lossy DNG option, which gives a file size option between that of a full-size DNG and a JPEG. The format has also been extended to keep any in-camera cropping that has been applied to a RAW file, to allow for the inclusion of full HDR data and to retain any non-image areas around merged panoramas.
The full specification is available as a pdf download and there is also an updated free DNG converter available.
CITES to seek protection for mantas
Wetpixel Senior Moderator, Shawn Heinrichs, has penned an article entitled “Manta Rays Under Attack-Will CITES Save the Manta Ray”, about the ongoing killing of manta rays in order to satisfy the demand for their gills for use in an obscure psuedo-medicinal remedy call Peng Yu Sai. This is a soup consisting of boiled manta gills, seahorses and pipefish that is prescribed to treat fevers, chickenpox, and heat in the body. Heinrichs labels this as “endangered species soup”. He also surmises that the overexploitation of sharks for shark fin has driven the traders to seek alternative sources of revenue, in this case, manta rays.
Brazil, Ecuador, and Columbia have requested that manta rays be added to the CITES list under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) at the next meeting, due to be held in March 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. Although the CMS listing is a recognition of a species’ vulnerability, it is still not legally binding.