Zacuto 2012 Video Camera Shootout.

[Steve Douglas 16]

"I have the Nauticam housing so I can't comment on the 10Bar. The Nauticam's higher price is reflected in the quality of the overall design, machining and finish. The only complaint I have is that I really would have liked the dome ports to be glass rather than acrylic (and I'd be happy to pay a significantly higher price for this)."

 

But you can buy a glass dome for the Nauticam. I agree, I wish it came with one however. Great shots, I have never seen a whale shark on a night dive. Lucky you.

Steve

Edited July 18, 2012 by Steve Douglas

[Davide DB 494]

But you can buy a glass dome for the Nauticam. I agree, I wish it came with one however.

 

Hi Steve, which glass dome are available for my beloved nauticam? I saw domes for the proper DSRL housing but no dome for the M43 system

[SimonSpear 65]

...along with the name of the "famous director" who picked the GH2 as his first choice. None other than Francis Ford Coppola.

 

 

Did you see the results from the blind vote test on nofilmschool.com? Apparently pollsters didn't know the name of the camera they were voting on and the camera with the most votes ended up being the GH2 with the Alexa 2nd, F65 3rd and Epic 4th.

Edited July 18, 2012 by SimonSpear

[HDVdiver 16]

Did you see the results from the blind vote test on nofilmschool.com? Apparently pollsters didn't know the name of the camera they were voting on and the camera with the most votes ended up being the GH2 with the Alexa 2nd, F65 3rd and Epic 4th.

 

 

I must say that the trend to put the hacked GH2 first amazes even me. At the Adelaide screening I put it third after the F65 and the Arri...and I thought I was being radical.

 

But as a remote location HD camera (topside & UW) I'm very happy with the results it's giving me.

 

 

Steve:

 

Unfortunately there is no glass dome currently available for the Nauticam GH2P...but I'm working on it.

[HDVdiver 16]

Glass dome update:

 

 

I'm now back in Oz and have had a quick look at the viability of machining an adapter to allow the use of a Subal glass dome on the Nauticam GH2P housing. The good news is that it looks like it will work OK. For the 7-14mm Lumix the Subal FE2 port will be in the perfect nodal position with absolutely no vignetting.

 

The local CNC engineering guys I use have also had a look and say it's doable...but it won't be cheap. I'm not interested in going down this path as a commercial venture but if anyone is interested in one of these on a cost sharing basis sent me a PM and I'll keep you informed about the project and cost estimate.

 

CNC design and set-up costs in Australia is not cheap, but the quality of the work is superb. At this stage I'm only going to make 7 units (3 for myself and the rest for photographers I dive with). If I order more units the cost per unit goes down significantly. Let me know asap since I'll be starting the process in a week so that the adapter is available for my next trip to Indonesia in August.

 

I'm not sure if it will be high grade aluminium or delrin. Once the computer design work is done the machinist will tell me what he recommends.

[Davide DB 494]

Hi George,

 

Does this subal dome accomodate the lumix 8mm fisheye?

 

I see on their site that they produce GF2, GF3 and GX1 housings along with several dome port for 7-14 and 8mm lens. Unfortunately there's no info on these ports.

While they have full info on dsrl ports, it seems like evil camera are considered by them a second choice...

 

Thanks

[HDVdiver 16]

As it is there would be vignetting when using the 8mm with the Subal FE2.

 

When I have the adapter I might try to mill-off the protruding sun shade on the Subal dome to see if it will then work with the fisheye.

 

I use the 7-14mm for most dives so this lens is my priority...but the 8mm Lumix would be a bonus. I also use an old Minolta 7.5mm which gives me nicer colors than the Lumix 8mm and will work with the Subal dome.

 

I simply do not understand Nauticam's logic in not providing glass domes (or at least an adapter) for the GH2P housing as it is a pro-use housing every bit as much as their housings for mirror-flop cameras.

Edited July 23, 2012 by HDVdiver

[Davide DB 494]

 

I also use an old Minolta 7.5mm which gives me nicer colors than the Lumix 8mm and will work with the Subal dome.

 

 

Did you build a custom gear to control the aperture?

[HDVdiver 16]

I've only used it in my modified Subal housing with an old Subal aperture gear. The 8mm Lumix doesn't work in my Subal which forced me to look for an alternative. Originally (for35mm film) the Minolta gave a circular image...but for the M4/3 sensor it's a very nice full-frame fisheye and physically long enough to work with my Subal housing without vignetting. Image quality is slightly surprisingly nicer than the 8mm Lumix...which I also have and use with the Nauticam.

[Davide DB 494]

which I also have and use with the Nauticam.

 

Ok thank you.

I would love having the 7-14mm but at the moment is out of my budget (one of the most expensive m43 lens + new dome port).

 

I'm using the 8mm. I'm striving a lot trying to correctly positioning my lights. The FOV is huge and I usually find myself filming at a certain distance from the subject. At this distance the lights cannot enlight too much... If I shorten the distance I have to move the lights to avoid a black spot in the middle.

I had the opportunity to test the SOLA 2000, 4000, the Luna 4V and the new Fix Aquavolt 3500. In the end I've chosen the FIX which can cover the entire field but I'm realizing that this lens work the best with wide panoramic shots without the lights...

A friend of mine use the 8mm a lot for photos and with flashes it's a completely different story.

 

I would appreciate your experience with the 8mm for video.

 

Bye

 

PS

 

I hope to write soon a short review of the new FIX Aquavolt 3500 lights

Edited July 23, 2012 by M43user

[HDVdiver 16]

You can get some nice results with the 8mm by using off-camera lights...i.e have the model carry the lights. Filling the whole FOV is then not so important.