wagsy 0 Posted August 15, 2006 Hi all. Just got thew new Amphibico PRO EVO HD and lined it up with the Phenom and the good old Navigator 900 for a pic. Not only will we do a full review on the PRO EVO HD, we are going to take all three housings down for a side by side shoot to see how they compare. DV against A1 against FX1. Stay Tuned Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anthp 0 Posted August 15, 2006 Looking forward to it Wags... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freediver 0 Posted August 15, 2006 I can already see which one is better suited for shooting video while freediving.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted August 15, 2006 Gday Cliff, I like your work on your site you are doing. I think we should all get over there more often to help get it busy for you...me included... The Navigator 900 with it's flip out screen and on hand handstrap is the best I recond for free diving with...it was and still is a great little manual housing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronrosa 0 Posted August 15, 2006 Hey Wags. As you know, I have a 900 and am looking to upgrade, so I REALLY look forward to your review. What is the metal bar connecting the handles on top of your Navigator ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Douglas 16 Posted August 15, 2006 Ron, I may have a buyer for you . What is the system and price? Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickJ 2 Posted August 16, 2006 I'm most likely buying an FX1 this weekend, so I will have a TRV950 and A1 spare, though I'll still probably keep one of them. Which one? I was thinking of keeping the A1 despite my bagging the low light performance. I'll have the FX1 for the critical stuff and the A1 topside for 'travel' HDV (and DV if necessary) - anyone disagree with that logic? eg. is the 950 going to become a collector's item and I should keep it for another 5yrs before I sell ? Or is the 950 such a superior beast that I'm better dumping an almost new A1? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickJ 2 Posted August 16, 2006 BTW my modded USVH (pictured left!) will take either the 950 or the A1 - I have two cables for the different vid outputs to the LCD monitor (which sits inside at the back). I could sell the package if anyone is interested .... Even has manual WB for the A1! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted August 16, 2006 NIck, keep the A1 for topside use with 16:9 footage you can meld into your FX stuff. Sell the 950 while it still has value... you can't meld the 4:3 950 with the FX Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickJ 2 Posted August 16, 2006 Yeah good thinking Mike. That's what I'll do. The 950 in the USVH is a sweet combo, especially for starting out. I'll miss that form factor, but onwards and upwards ....! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Hope 151 Posted August 17, 2006 Which FX1 housing are you going for Nick? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickJ 2 Posted August 17, 2006 Well there are some great deals going for the LMI - I just sent them my AMEX details. Going for the full travel pack with the lights (on the left) http://www.uwimaging.com/email/fx1_retail.htm Unfortunately it doesn't come with a gym membership or any airline upgrade points, so I'll have to work out the optimal muscle/airline ratio pretty soon ...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 0 Posted August 17, 2006 Hehehe Nick... you have no fortitude to fight being assimilated. Now if Justin picked up one, then we'll call you guys the triplets. And you're paying more for taking up all that space on the boat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickJ 2 Posted August 17, 2006 Ha - you are right of course Drew. I just got fed up diving alongside a guy who consistently captures better material than me under the same conditions. Of course he does have some talent - does that count? <_< Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted August 19, 2006 Hey Congrats Nick on ya new housing.....and yes keep the A1 for uptop so you are in 16.9. I'm over here in Melbourne now for a few days for a film job but should have the A1 underwater as soon as I get back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickJ 2 Posted August 19, 2006 Thanks Wags! Just picked up the FX1 today and been playing around with it a bit. The LCD is certainly gorgeous. Feel as though I know the camera quite well already as I've been around a few. Forgot how light it is for its size, but the housing is the heavy sucker of course. Shawn is carrying that over for me in a couple of weeks, dear boy. Looking forward to getting the whole thing underwater for a few trials before the next big trips to Raja Ampat and the Sardines of SA etc .... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted September 1, 2006 Well here we are... forums all back up..... The EVO now has been for a dive and I would like to say...it does indeed keep the water out and it sinks if ya let it go It's a tiny thing compared to the Phenom but is allot easy to move around the place and much cheaper... More soon. See it sinks... Lined up with the Phenom for it's first dive.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted September 1, 2006 your phenom looks too pretty.. you should dive with it from time to time and scuff it up some... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakine 0 Posted September 1, 2006 Hello Wags, I just ordered my A1 and I would love to hear your opinion on the camera and housing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted September 2, 2006 That handle ontop of the Navigator 900 is for a telescopic pole I can screw into it and it's also a great carry handle. We were using it when the Great White Bit our RIB. In the middle of putting a review together on the EVO but here are a few screen grabs. It's not up to the performance of the big $$$ housings for the FX1/Z1's but it still can get you some very nice images. It's going to be great to use as well shooting day Whale Sharks DVD"s next year for customers as it's easy to handle and run around with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 0 Posted September 2, 2006 Question Wags There is significant distortion in the corners. What lens are you using? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted September 2, 2006 Question WagsThere is significant distortion in the corners. What lens are you using? Hey stop picking on me little EVO Well those shots are all zoomed in Drew, full wide it's better and like other housings adding another $$$$ lens will improve performance but then these little housings would end up costing way to much for the average guy/girl diver. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 0 Posted September 2, 2006 Well isn't image quality part of the evaluation? Usually the most important part. Just something else to consider. I mean a Hi-res HD lens isn't that expensive and a port (be it flat or dome) can easily be made to compliment it. Sometimes the compact housing may not be all that great., esp since many use the compact housings for macro and if there's distortion to the point of unuseable, then what's the point of spending a few grand on a housing with poor optics, not that I'm saying the Evo has poor optics. Just something to consider in your evaluation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sjspeck 3 Posted September 2, 2006 Wags, and it sinks if ya let it go Are you using the NP-QM71D battery? Mine sinks also with that battery. The bottom weights on the housing are removable if you want it to be more buoyant. Although I think if both are removed it might now be too light and I don't know what it willl do to the balance if just one is removed. I'm going to experiment with cutting them down next time I'm near an ocean. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted September 2, 2006 I agree Drew.. image quality is important but it's made for the general diver and if image quality is the number one thing then I recon the buyer would be going for something else in the higher price range with a $$$ port on or a larger HDV camera. Who knows, maybe the Canadian mob are working on a sexier $$$ port for it. The lens on me EVO is the same as the Navigator 900 and the dive buddy housings. Footage from me little Navigator has been on many TV doco's around the world over the years and been use to shoot over a couple thousand Whale Sharks day DVD's for customers and not to mention use to shoot that Naturally Ningaloo DVD of which we have sold 2000 copies so far all without a single complaint about the quality...so I'm guesing the little EVO with the same lens on it should be fine. I suppose one could put a flat Ampibico port on to shoot macro. I'm also going to pop in a macro +2 diopter on the flip arm to try it out as it worked great in the Navigator 900. sjspeck..yes I have the same battery in as well, will slide out the leads for a dive and see how it goes. O... by the way I found this, it's a screen grab from another A1 housing brand with a Super Wide $$$ Port on...can you see something in the bottom right corner Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
