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Hello all, I'm trying to figure out what compact would work best for underwater video only. I've been looking at specs, reading reviews here and also wherever else I could find them, including for older RX100 models, watching side by side videos and whatever uw clips I could find, but unfortunately the mass of contradictory information found online is a little confusing. To summarise what I'm looking for: I'm only interested in a compact for shooting underwater video clips only, not stills. I'd shoot in 1080 and/or up to 4k, 24/30 to 60 fps - mainly with shallow ambient light in the tropics - and mainly wide angle general reef scences, with a red filter (primary), and less commonly with lights for macro/closeups (secondary) - I don't really care much for slow-motion. As a side-note I'm well aware of the limitations but have decided to focus on on compact-sized cameras for now, for specific practical reasons, - mainly to have something with manual controls and of reasonable size to work with for a couple of years before eventually upgrading to something bigger and more efficient like a dedicated camcorder or mirrorless. Main points of interest to me: • white balance for video in camera white balance (I'm partial to Lumix cameras on this), possibility to do a manual white balance, possibility to shoot in a flat profile to white balance in post (I don't think there is a compact capable of shooting raw video, but a flat/ flatter profile option would be very useful) • low light capacities for video how efficient is the video in lower light conditions - ie how will the camera handle darker days, going a little deeper, say with a red filter, what are the manual options • efficient video autofocus how good is the autofocus when shooting video - some cameras (LX series) have touch screen focus controls to set focus, but this is not really a practical option in a housing. How good is the camera at tracking in the sort of environment we shoot in underwater etc... • video image quality how defined is the video image, dynamic range etc - these compact cameras come with 2 sensor size options, four thirds for the LX100ii and 1" for the others, but it's not clear what really works best due to cropping, processing etc Not a major difference in apertures for these cameras, but there might be something to lookout for in lens quality • video stabilisation these compact cameras offer 2 types, lens and in camera - the RX100 seems to have a slight edge on this • battery life how does the battery hold when shooting video - I've heard that the RX series drains batteries very quickly when shooting 4k videos this is less of an issue on land, but underwater and in housing, for one hour dives shooting short clips, more so • overheating when shooting video? I've heard this is/was a major issues when shooting video on the Sony RX series. I shoot to edit 10 to 30 seconds clips, might go up to 1 minute for very specific reasons but not beyond, so a 5 minute cap like the RX100's 4k mode doesn't bother me for instance however the camera will indeed be used for underwater video only, in a housing, so reallynot very practical if it overheats easily --------- As mentioned in the title, I've narrowed down the search to 3 classic compacts: • Sony RX100 V or VI (or higher) • Lumix LX100 ii • Lumix LX 10 But I'm open to other recommendations for good video cameras of of similar size. I am quite partial to the Lumix series, have seen some good really good and helpful feedback here (thanks again), but have been reading contradicting information on video performance, especially when compared to the RX series. It doesn't really help that most of the video info found elsewhere online is focused on vloggers shooting in very different conditions from what we would find underwater, and that most commercial showreels focus on closeup scenes with a great light rig, which is not what i'll be using the camera for most of the time, and hardly mention white balancing Some info i've picked up along the way on these cameras: The older Panasonic LX10 seems to have focusing issues, and stabilisation is not great The Sony RX line (V, VI, VII....) is also very interesting, but I have heard of the overheating issues, which seems to be a common problem for other users shooting video. Since I'll be using this camera for video only, this does seem like a major problem. Not clear if this is major issue really fixed with the RX100 VII - found tests saying that it is, others that it isn't... Apparently in a studio, 40 minutes of continuous shooting is possible, but not sure what this would translate to inside a UW housing. RX100 battery life is also supposed to be quite dismal when shooting video, again not great underwater, and not sure what to make of its white balance options The Panasonic LX100 ii seems like a good alternative without the overheating issues and with better battery management, but what of autofocus, low light and image quality? It's also not clear how its bigger sensor really performs>>> ------- Beyond dry camera specs, it would be fantastic if people with real-life underwater video experience with these cameras could give opinions to help me make a more informed decision on which compact to get for shooting uw video clips. Thanks in advance for your help and pointers cheers ben

Grouper season just wrapped up, glad that I got some good footage this year without hurricane interruption. The dive condition could be challenge most of the time, but every now and then, you can some decent calm sea, but visibility could still be bad: Shot with Panasonic LX-100, two Archon WM66 light, and Opteka 0.3x lens (modified).

Here is the video from my recent voyage to the Tubbataha reserve in the Philippines. I have been diving for 20 years, and this the most amazing dive trip I have ever experienced. (Make sure to select 4K resolution, if your monitor supports that) https://youtu.be/n54kRn3IazQ Enjoy, Basil

Shot this with Panasonic LX-100 and did some color grading. My monitor color calibration is off so I need some help/suggestion. Can you care to do a screen grab and post here about which scene do you think has a pleasing color? In most scene, I used 10bar red filter, in situation where the sun is not behind me, I get purple color. I also played around with Natural/Standard/Landscape color profile. Without the red filter, the coral look very washout, but the blue is quite nice and no problem of purple hue. With the red filter, the coral color is more pop, yellow saturation seems too high, but the blue is quite nice as long as if I get the sun behind me or at the right angle.......I'm still trying to nail down the color on this camera. Also, don't worry about the soft corner of the video, I used a modified WA lens for land use so the result is not as good, but love the wider FOV that none of the existing wet lens can provide. Not sure if this modified WA lens is a keeper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D3SDzxmuR0

I am mulling over the LX100 to replace my current Sony NEX-5R for underwater photography and videography -- I find I am more interested in video when I dive, than in still photos (although I do both). I found this video, recently posted, and it looked pretty nice -- seems to have good detail, although the white balance is off in places (in my experience, a Magic Filter works wonders for U/W video). Here is the link: Does anyone else have experience with this camera underwater? How does it handle? How is the video?

Nauticam LX100 housing System & Camera - Demo, as new We have one Nauticam LX100 demo system for sale, very lightly used on one trip and a couple of shop dives (probably a total of 10 dives). As new, in boxes, full 1 year warranty. Has all the latest features including the remote trigger and vacuum valve. Included as well is the LX100 camera in very good shape with box, etc. Includes: #17710 NA-LX100 Housing with standard port #25612 M16 Vacuum Valve #38702 N50 Acrylic dome port #71204 Nauticam Flexitray Wide, with left handle #71204 Nauticam Flexitray Right Handle #71311 Flexitray Strobe Mount Balls (2) Above has full 1 year warranty. Panasonic LX100 Camera, boxes, manuals, flash, charger, etc. Spare battery New this system is $2800 Now Only $2100 Including paypal/cc and free ground shipping in the cont. US. I will consider selling it without the Flexitray system for -$200. Email: Jack@opticaloceansales.com 800-359-1295

Quite a few DSLR, SLR and compact cameras get really good quality footage. In fact there are experienced videographers who buy them with no intention of taking a single still picture. These cameras can perform a manual WB at almost any depth, on ambient light, without need any red filter. In the other hand almost any advanced user camcorder housing comes with its built-in flipping filter. Proper MWB is supposed to be achieved from a certain depth (light is heavily filtered) by using the red filter.... Could anyone explain me this paradox???? Do the sensors of all the manufacturers of sill cameras have something in common that make them so different to the ones in the camcorders? Maybe is a mistake no using red filters in still cameras if you want the best results? Or maybe the flipping filter is an item inherited from past needs that are beginning to loose their point since the new camcorders can achieve MWB with on red filters?... can they?

Here are a few of the better pics from my recent liveaboard trip on the Red Sea Aggressor. I learned a LOT as I practiced, and I can't wait for the next trip, so that I can learn even more! -Basil Egypt Red Sea (9 of 22) by Basil Kiwan, on Flickr Scorpionfish - he was really well concealed! Egypt Red Sea (14 of 22) by Basil Kiwan, on Flickr I would love it if someone could tell me what this fish is. I assume it is some type of triggerfish?? Egypt Red Sea (7 of 22) by Basil Kiwan, on Flickr Ehrenberg's Snapper schooling with some Goatfish Egypt Red Sea (8 of 22) by Basil Kiwan, on Flickr Blue Spotted Stingray Egypt Red Sea (10 of 22) by Basil Kiwan, on Flickr I would also really like to know what this guy is? He is awfully cute, is he a baby grouper??? Here is the full album on Flickr https://flic.kr/s/aHskizroyC

I read Adam's preview on this camera today: http://wetpixel.com/articles/sony-unveils-the-rx100-iv-compact-camera Like the idea of the super slo-mo for critter behavior documentation and I'm trying to decide between this and the Panasonic LX100 Does anyone know if the control set remains the same as the RX100-III? Hoping of course that it will fit into an existing RX100-3 housing. Thoughts? http://www.imaging-resource.com/cameras/panasonic/lx100/vs/sony/rx100-iv/