low light UW dig camcorder & housing?

[morrisr 0]

Hi there,

I'm a newbie to this site and to UW digital video...so, please bare with me...help/suggestions would be much appreciated! I'm a biologist who is trying to figure out the best setup for videoing in low light. I am trying to capture swimming speeds of jellyfish in the Chesapeake Bay, and I'm working on a budget (<$1500). The jellies will be taped pretty close up (within about 3ft) because they'll be swimming through a frame setup (so that I can get orientations, etc). I'll also need a camera that you are able to set the focal length on, but I think most do that now (?)

Can anyone help me out on ideas for the best, affordable digital video camera and underwater housing? I've looked at posts, forums, reviews, etc and I'm just overwhelmed, and many setups are out of the budget or do not have good low light capabilities. I just don't even know where to start.

Also, does anyone have any experience using products from oceanbrite.com? I like the idea that the housing will accomodate future camera upgrades.

Thanks so much for any help anyone can offer!

Becs

[sjspeck 3]

Hi there,

I'm a newbie to this site and to UW digital video...so, please bare with me...help/suggestions would be much appreciated!  I'm a biologist who is trying to figure out the best setup for videoing in low light.  I am trying to capture swimming speeds of jellyfish in the Chesapeake Bay, and I'm working on a budget (<$1500).  The jellies will be taped pretty close up (within about 3ft) because they'll be swimming through a frame setup (so that I can get orientations, etc).  I'll also need a camera that you are able to set the focal length on, but I think most do that now (?)

Can anyone help me out on ideas for the best, affordable digital video camera and underwater housing?  I've looked at posts, forums, reviews, etc and I'm just overwhelmed, and many setups are out of the budget or do not have good low light capabilities.  I just don't even know where to start.

Also, does anyone have any experience using products from oceanbrite.com?  I like the idea that the housing will accomodate future camera upgrades.

Thanks so much for any help anyone can offer!

Becs

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi,

 

First of all, Oceanbrite is a dealer, not a housing mfr. They sell products from Ocean Images and Equinox. The first 11 housings on their video page are from Ocean Images (www.oceanimagesinc.com) and the last 4 are from Equinox (http://www.underwatervideohousings.com/index.htm)

 

If you're interested in one of the Ocean Images housings, I'd suggest buying it direct, it's cheaper than Oceanbrite sells them and you can deal with the owner of Ocean Images, who's a great person to ask questions/get assistance from.

 

Given your budget, look at the Ocean Images Dolphin or the Equinox Pro-Pak 6. Depending on how it's configured, you should be able to get one under $900. Other housings in this price range would be the Top Dawg II available from BackScatter.com or the Ikelite line.

 

Less expensive options would be from Aquatix (www.aquatix.com) or AtmoSeal (http://www.atmoseal-eng.com/aquavaul.htm) These are more generic "tube" housings i.e. one size fits all. The upgraded models have electronic controls and retail under $600.

 

The first consideration is probably do you want mechanical or electronic controls? There's no clear answer to this question, both have pros/cons.

 

If you go with an electronic housing, you're limited to using Sony cameras that have LANC ports as this is how the controls are actuated. Note: Most but not all new Sony models have this port. To a certain extent, an electronic housing can also be used with similar sized models with a few exceptions, so there's some flexibility for the future.

 

If you go with a mechanical housing, it's built around your camera and is specific to that model or very similar models. So if you change cameras, you usually have to have the housing retro-fit at generally around $200. But you can use any manufacturer's camera that you can find a housing for.

 

Finding a low-light camera with the remaining $6-900 is going to be a bit of a struggle. It rules out most/all of the 3CCD models and the top end of the Prosumer models which would have better low-light performance. I don't have any recommendations in this area, maybe one of the better Sony HC series, although camcorderinfo.com didn't have good things to say about their low-light performance.

 

Have you thought about shooting with Lights? or will that interfere with the jellies?

A basic light setup can be found for around $400, if you bought one of the generic housings, this would still leave you around $500 for a camera.

 

Also, depending on how you're funded, you might check eBay. There's some pretty good deals on used equipment there occasionally. Last week there was a Dolphin Pro housing, used once, that sold for around $500, ($849 retail)

 

Hope this helps,

 

Steve

 

FWIW I shoot with an electronic housing. I like the ease of installiing the camera, and also having all the controls at my fingertips.

[morrisr 0]

Thank you so much for the reply and info and websites, everything was really helpful. I'm going to wade through reviews and see what seems like the best all around deal for the money. I may be back with more questions when I think I know what I want...run it by the group, so to say.

-So far...I think I want (ie. the boss wants) an electronic housing, so that we do have some flexibility in the future, as you said.

-I've heard that Sonys are generally slightly better in terms of low light capabilities (at least when comparing cheaper models), do you think that's a valid statement?

Plus, it seems like a Sony might be the best option for an Ocean Images housing.

-I had initially thought of using lights, but I don't think we can because it will probably seriously affect the jellyfish, especially in terms of behavior and swimming speeds, since they can sense light and respond to it.

 

OK, so I think I'm leaning towards a Dolphin Pro housing and a Sony camcorder...but now I have to figure out which one. Any thoughts on the DCR-TRV19? I've seen mixed reviews - good low light capability and then a UK website had a bunch of people with issues of the CCD going bad about a month after insurance ended (go figure). Ahh...work stress...which toy to buy?!

Thanks for helping!

[sjspeck 3]

-I've heard that Sonys are generally slightly better in terms of low light capabilities (at least when comparing cheaper models), do you think that's a valid statement?

Either Sony or Canon from what I've read.

Plus, it seems like a Sony might be the best option for an Ocean Images housing.

For an O/I electronic housing, it's the only option. Sony's the only mfr. currently offering a LANC port across most of their cheaper line.

OK, so I think I'm leaning towards a Dolphin Pro housing and a Sony camcorder...but now I have to figure out which one.  Any thoughts on the DCR-TRV19?

I'm not familiar with it, so I looked at a review. My points of concern:

 

The tapes load from the bottom. The O/I housing has a camera mounting tray which secures the camera using the tripod mounting hole, so every time you change tapes, you'll probably need to remove it from the tray.

 

And the b/w viewfinder - Check with O/I to see if you'll be able to open the LCD in the Dolphin housing, if not I'd go with a better TRV that has a color viewfinder or add their external monitor. If you use the red correcting flip-down filter in bright shallow water, it colors everything pink/yellow. Below 15' though you need it to restore the red that's lost. I used to shoot with a b/w viewfinder and could never tell if my color balance was good till I reviewed the tapes during later playback.

 

Steve

[anthp 0]

Re brands...it seems that some unually quantitative reviews place the newer Panasonic 3CCD cameras ahead of both Sony and Canon in the low-light/low price performance stakes.

 

For reviews (including a low-light performance test) see camcorderinfo.com.

 

Now does anybody house these things?? :?

[ronrosa 0]

Re brands...it seems that some unually quantitative reviews place the newer Panasonic 3CCD cameras ahead of both Sony and Canon in the low-light/low price performance stakes.

 

For reviews (including a low-light performance test) see camcorderinfo.com.

 

Now does anybody house these things?? :?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Ocean Images makes a housing for the Panasonic GS400.

 

http://www.oceanimagesinc.com/products/hou...anasonic-gs.htm

[Teppo 0]

Check up if you find housing for Panasonics GS 200. It's (I presume) the cheapest 3ccd digivideo today, and should be the most suitable for your budget and requirements. Don't worry about lanc and upgrading (your camera you are going to buy later) in your housing. It's anyway too big/advanced to fit in the same housing. I'm a Sony user myself with PD170 and Ikelite, but the GS 200 was one of my options and really like it... Best luck!