Where to keep WB slate?

[peterbkk 110]

On my last video housing, I built a flexible arm for the WB slate. http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...e+balance+slate

 

This was necessary because it was a fiddly process to do a Manual WB so I had to have something holding the slate in front of the lens.

 

My new housing, arriving next week, is the latest Bluefin from L&M with the Manual WB button on the control arm. I expect that I can hand-hold a slate in front of the lens with my left hand while pressing the WB button with the right hand.

 

Question: where do you keep your slate when it is not required? In a pocket? On a string tied to the housing (banging around in a current)? Some sort of clip? Stuck to the housing with something like bluetack (probably would float away)? Just wondered if anyone has any great ideas? Send a pic if possible.

 

Regards

Peter

 

PS. Has the Manual WB become more useful in recent models? My old camcorder / housing I could not MWB below 15M because it was too dark.

[Guamrider 0]

Might want to try out velcro. I used it to mount a slate on my external monitor and it's worked very well.

[gbrandon 0]

On my last video housing, I built a flexible arm for the WB slate. http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...e+balance+slate

 

This was necessary because it was a fiddly process to do a Manual WB so I had to have something holding the slate in front of the lens.

 

My new housing, arriving next week, is the latest Bluefin from L&M with the Manual WB button on the control arm. I expect that I can hand-hold a slate in front of the lens with my left hand while pressing the WB button with the right hand.

 

Question: where do you keep your slate when it is not required? In a pocket? On a string tied to the housing (banging around in a current)? Some sort of clip? Stuck to the housing with something like bluetack (probably would float away)? Just wondered if anyone has any great ideas? Send a pic if possible.

 

Regards

Peter

 

PS. Has the Manual WB become more useful in recent models? My old camcorder / housing I could not MWB below 15M because it was too dark.

 

Best solution I thought of was to buy some white fins. They are out there, just not sure if in your model. I like the old scuba jet fins, and I finally found some in white but it was a japanese only website and I couldnt understand a damn thing.

To me, having white fins is one less thing to drag around under water.

 

I got the idea when I used to shoot video alot and I would use the scuba jet logo to lock focus on, and from there i thought (or someone mentioned) that white fins would be cool for white balance...

Edited May 24, 2010 by gbrandon

[Steve Douglas 16]

I've been using white fins for a few years and I get a more accurate white balance in terms of the distance to my subject. Having a slate directly in front of your port does not provide the same white as, in actuality, you are getting when shooting a subject 3 feet away.

Steve

[BDSC 1]

I also have the L&M one touch WB and it is very easy to do by holding a white slate in my left hand and holding the housing in my right hand. I have my slate clipped on to my BC on the left side with a retractable lanyard. Just pull it out, WB, and let it go.

 

I'm sure white fins would work as well and ScubaPro has come out with their Seawing Nova fins in white. I have a pair that are black and the fins are awesome. They got great reviews when tested.

 

As far as being able to WB at depth, I have the Sony CX520 camcorder and just returned from Little Cayman. I shot a couple of clips at 60 to 65 ft. and the system was able to WB at that depth each time.

[peterbkk 110]

I've been using white fins for a few years and I get a more accurate white balance in terms of the distance to my subject. Having a slate directly in front of your port does not provide the same white as, in actuality, you are getting when shooting a subject 3 feet away.

Steve

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've been an all-black diver for too long to change now.

 

And, I hate to say this and hope I don't offend, but, when I'm diving with a group of divers, trying to keep people with white or yellow fins out of the image frame drives me nuts. One pair of bright white or yellow fins dominates an image so much that it can ruin the whole composition of a shot or take. I've often joked with friends that white or yellow fins should be banned. If I showed up on the boat one day with a pair of them, I'd never live it down...

 

I think I'll try to get a slate set up.

 

Regards

Peter

[peterbkk 110]

I also have the L&M one touch WB and it is very easy to do by holding a white slate in my left hand and holding the housing in my right hand. I have my slate clipped on to my BC on the left side with a retractable lanyard. Just pull it out, WB, and let it go.

 

As far as being able to WB at depth, I have the Sony CX520 camcorder and just returned from Little Cayman. I shot a couple of clips at 60 to 65 ft. and the system was able to WB at that depth each time.

 

Glad to hear about underwater MWB and the CX series. Can't wait to get mine underwater in a couple of weeks. Just playing with it at home and comparing to the HC3, it handles low light much better.

 

I'm thinking of putting one or two rubber straps vertically around the middle of the housing and battery pods and then sliding the slate under the strap, under the battery pods. If I get the tension and elasticity right, it might be easy enough to get the slate in and out and hold it securely the rest of the time. Also help to protect the bottom of the pods when I put the housing on the sand for those "swim away" takes. Bungee, a spear-gun rubber or those rubber tubes that OMS puts on their BCs might be suitable.

 

The alternative might be to glue the fuzzy side of a wide velcro strip to the bottom of each battery pod and the hook side of the velcro strip aligned down each side of the slate and stick the slate on / pull it off as required. Not sure how well the glue will hold up in the ocean.

 

Regards

Peter

 

PS. Thanks to everyone for your contribution. I'll let you know what works best for me.

[betti154 5]

I've seen people spray paint a fin white. A somewhat crude solution but appear to work perfectly.

[Steve Douglas 16]

I use the Manta Ray white fins. They are great for travel as they are very light weight and I have never had a problem keeping up in a strong current.

Steve

[peterbkk 110]

I use the Manta Ray white fins. They are great for travel as they are very light weight and I have never had a problem keeping up in a strong current.

Steve

 

Thanks for all the great fin suggestions. But I am very happy with my Apollo Bio fins and was not planning on changing fins at this time.

 

I am actually looking for ideas on how to tether a WB slate to the housing without it flapping around and getting in the way.

 

Maybe I'll experiment with a rubber strap or velcro - see if can fix the slate under the L&M battery pods.

 

Regards

Peter

[soon_cougar 0]

hi all... something to share with you all here..... i don't use slate to do my WB, instead i customised a white tarpauline sheet (aprox. 150mm x 300mm) with velcro and i will strap it on my leg. so i got both hand to control my cam and i just lift up my leg and points my cam to my WB "slate" :)

[peterbkk 110]

hi all... something to share with you all here..... i don't use slate to do my WB, instead i customised a white tarpauline sheet (aprox. 150mm x 300mm) with velcro and i will strap it on my leg. so i got both hand to control my cam and i just lift up my leg and points my cam to my WB "slate" :)

 

 

Above or below your knee?

[Steve Douglas 16]

Peter,

Since I use the lock tight arms, it is easy to get a lock tight piece with a split for 2 arms. I use to use one of those splits to create a third arm which held the slate. When not in use I just bent it back over the top of my, then, external monitor. Worked like a charm. Still prefer the way I do it now tho.

 

Steve

[soon_cougar 0]

Above or below your knee?

 

 

above my knee :)

[DeanB 19]

Get your buddy to clip one to their BCD and do the same for them ... Job done.

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

[Roger Botting 0]

Use 18% neutral grey to help your still buddies. One click white balance!

[peterbkk 110]

Peter,

Since I use the lock tight arms, it is easy to get a lock tight piece with a split for 2 arms. I use to use one of those splits to create a third arm which held the slate. When not in use I just bent it back over the top of my, then, external monitor. Worked like a charm. Still prefer the way I do it now tho.

 

Steve

 

 

After stuffing around with a slate, trying 3 different ways to mount it in on the underside of the battery pods, I have given up and taken your advice. I've ordered some white Mantaray fins. Might clash with the rest of my all-black dive gear but at least it'll make WB easy.

 

Maybe I'll get a white bandana to wear on my head while diving so it'll balance the white fins...

 

Do you zoom into one of the fins so that it fills the monitor before pressing the MWB button?

 

Regards

Peter

[Steve Douglas 16]

Hey Peter,

Yes, I try to fill the frame with the white of the fins. They don't need to be in focus, just fill the frame. Hope you like the fins. When you first hold them, they feel light and flimsy but they really aren't at all, and I just love the easy to put on and off straps.

Steve

[BDSC 1]

Before you order fins you may want to take a look at these:

 

http://www.scubapro.com/americas/english/s...ng-nova?scene=2

 

I have a pair of black ones and they may very well be the best fins I have ever owned. They are one of the highest rated fins ever by ScubaLab for what that's worth.

 

I will check out Steves fins in about a month when he comes to dive with us. If I like them, I'm going to steal them. He just doesn't know it yet!

Edited June 3, 2010 by BDSC

[peterbkk 110]

Before you order fins you may want to take a look at these:

 

http://www.scubapro.com/americas/english/s...ng-nova?scene=2

 

ScubaPro seem to play a strange game of releasing different products in different regions (have they not heard of globalisation?). Only the black seawings fins are available in Asia for now.

 

http://www.scubaproasiapacific.com/fin_det...y=fins&id=4

 

I don't move fast when I'm diving so the Mantarays should be strong enough.

 

Regards

Peter

Edited June 3, 2010 by peterbkk

[BDSC 1]

I'm sure they will be fine!

[peterbkk 110]

I've ordered some white Mantaray fins. Might clash with the rest of my all-black dive gear but at least it'll make WB easy.

 

Just spent a weekend (6 dives) with the Mantaray fins.

 

In all aspects but one, they performed fine. Easy to get on and off. Comfortable fit. I could fin around with more than enough power. And, more importantly, easy enough to do a good MWB. With a bit of zoom to fill the frame, I was able to easy MWB at any depth, with our without lights on.

 

Just one downside. They float. I found it quite awkward and distracting that, while shooting, my feet would be slowly floating upwards. This was particularly difficult when shooting in a small cave, in the close confines of a wreck and under a ledge.

 

Short of wearing small ankle weights, I don't think these fins will work out for me.

 

But I am convinced that white fins are the way to go for MWB.

 

Maybe I'll see if I can get a pair of the white Apollo Bio Fins. They'll sink.

 

Regards

Peter

[BradDB 0]

I've been told that white duct tape on your fins works well.

I picked some up at the local hardware store this past weekend. I was surprised to see several colors available. There were two brands of white.

 

-Brad

[peterbkk 110]

I've been told that white duct tape on your fins works well.

I picked some up at the local hardware store this past weekend. I was surprised to see several colors available. There were two brands of white.

 

-Brad

 

I thought about the duct tape option but ruled it out because:

 

a. might peel off underwater

b. changes the dynamic of the fin

c. looks ugly

 

Regards

Peter

[ronscuba 4]

Grey/silver fins work too.

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?act=a...st&id=11465