D7000 Underwater video

[ATJ]

I'm blown away by how good this footage looks:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=42775

It is making it hard not to order a housing for mine.

edit: fixed dumb looking typos

[Remorhaz]

Very nice... but must stop watching cool sh*t on the Internet done with D7000/D-SLR...

[aim54x]

Looks amazing!

[chrisk]

Andrew, what you have really done is demonstrate how significant dslr video really is. I know alot of people who pass negative comment about video in dslr and say it has no place. Even hear them make those redundant sayings like "if i wanted to take video ill get a video camera" If they opened their eyes and see what can be produced they will eat their words. Dslr video is nothing like video camera video. The quality of video i dan produce froma d5100 and 35/1.8is mind blowing.

[gstark]

What Chris said.

Andrew,

I know that for shooting underwater you really need accessory lighting, but it seems to me that in this video that was not done. Am I correct? I also think that the wb settings were probably not quite correct.

And a shame about the crappy muzak.

[surenj]

Daim, I guess they don't need a camera stabiliser in this environment. [jealous]

I also think that the wb settings were probably not quite correct.

Gary, I thought that it's quite blue down there in the depths....

[gstark]

I also think that the wb settings were probably not quite correct.

Gary, I thought that it's quite blue down there in the depths....

Exactly. I'm thinking that extra light, plus a little warming in the wb department might be the go, but it's an area that I'm not experienced in, hence I'm asking.

[ozimax]

The quality of video i dan produce froma d5100 and 35/1.8is mind blowing.

You're correct about DSLR video quality. Shooting just a few short videos with my FF Canon 5Dii + 50mm F/1.2 is astonishing. If only I actually knew what I was doing!!

[chrisk]

with my FF Canon 5Dii + 50mm F/1.2 is astonishing.

show off

[ATJ]

I know that for shooting underwater you really need accessory lighting, but it seems to me that in this video that was not done. Am I correct? I also think that the wb settings were probably not quite correct.

Well, yes, ideally you'd use supplementary lighting but it wouldn't be effective for the sorts of sequence shown in this video because most of the subjects are too far away. Also using a 10-17mm fisheye would make it even more difficult. I guess with a bit of playing you could balance the supplementary light for the foreground and use available light for the background but that is hard enough with stills and would be difficult with video underwater as the ambient lighting would be changing.

White balance as such doesn't really exist underwater, except perhaps in shallow water. Because the red light gets filtered out so quickly with depth, there just isn't enough to play with to get "white" light. A filter on the front (or back) of the lens would be the only way you could do it and that would greatly reduce the amount of light. Additionally, it would only be "correct" for a certain depth and water clarity.

[ozimax]

with my FF Canon 5Dii + 50mm F/1.2 is astonishing.

show off

Alas Roozy, my 50mm/F1.2 is no more. It was a magnificent lens but I needed some moolah, so it has been sold.

[chrisk]

i may be wrong, but i dont think you can even retrospectively alter wb or any other settings from video mode. i use premiere and even adding a colour tint is hit and miss. not nearly as easy to do as with a single raw photo.

[Willy wombat]

Im considering it myself Andrew!

[gstark]

I know that for shooting underwater you really need accessory lighting, but it seems to me that in this video that was not done. Am I correct? I also think that the wb settings were probably not quite correct.

Well, yes, ideally you'd use supplementary lighting ....

Thank you.

[ATJ]

I ordered a housing for my D7000 on Monday and it is currently on its way here - and I'm crossing my fingers it will arrive before the weekend.

I'm buying it at completely the wrong time with the AU$ dropping below parity but as I'm having some issues with my D300 housing, now was the right time in terms of when I needed it. I'm kicking myself I didn't just order it as soon as I got back from Borneo, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I've already had some problems. UPS wanted me to pay a ransom of over $300 for it. This included GST (which I was expecting) their processing fee (which I'd rather not have to pay, but I was expecting) and a 5% duty. Now, I know there's no duty on it. I got them to send me the invoice and the invoice included the Tariff which was 42029900. According to the Customs website:

Chapter 42 - Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)

A few phone calls later and they admit the tariff was wrong and remove the duty.

I was worried that all this messing around would delay the package but they were able to delay the package on their own:

Honolulu, HI, United States 11/22/2011 3:33 P.M. A flight delay occurred because of aircraft mechanical reasons.

So... who knows when I will get it now - and I paid extra for it to come more quickly. Unfortunately, they still have until Monday top get it to me and still meet their SLA. My previous B&H shipment with the same level of shipping was ordered Monday and arrived Thursday. This won't happen here.

[Reschsmooth]

So... who knows when I will get it now - and I paid extra for it to come more quickly. Unfortunately, they still have until Monday top get it to me and still meet their SLA. My previous B&H shipment with the same level of shipping was ordered Monday and arrived Thursday. This won't happen here.

Somewhat irrelevant, but a rant nevertheless: I am still waiting on my waist level finder that was apparently shipped on the 27th October from the US. I didn't pay for priority and have no tracking item (it was a USD 50 spend, so wasn't going to spend USD30 on tracking postage). But still....insert appropriate emotical to reflect my inner feelings...here it is.

[ATJ]

Somewhat irrelevant, but a rant nevertheless: I am still waiting on my waist level finder that was apparently shipped on the 27th October from the US. I didn't pay for priority and have no tracking item (it was a USD 50 spend, so wasn't going to spend USD30 on tracking postage). But still....insert appropriate emotical to reflect my inner feelings...here it is.

I feel your pain. In my case, if I don't get it before the weekend, I don't need it until just before the following weekend (I can only use it on the weekend unless I take a sickie). In that case I could have just used USPS and saved $30 on the shipping and not had to pay the $55 "tax" that UPS charge just to do the paperwork. Thems the breaks.

[Willy wombat]

So how is it ATJ? Any sneak peaks for us?

[ATJ]

I haven't used it underwater with the D7000, yet. It only arrived on Monday 28 November and on Sunday 4 December I took the housing empty for a dive to make sure there were no problems. Hopefully, I'll get to take it with the camera installed this weekend. We're currently nursing a sick dog so planning is a little difficult.

In the mean time you can view some video I shot in Borneo with my GoPro Hero HD (which I mount on my DSLR rig):

[Willy wombat]

I would love a go Pro myself - putting yours to very good use I see!!

[ATJ]

I would love a go Pro myself

What's stopping you? They are so cheap. Get one for Christmas.

[Willy wombat]

Its on my wish list!!

[ATJ]

Here's some video I shot on Saturday.



This was shot with the D7000 with the VR version of the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED (which I bought from DDP for only $139). Lighting was sort of from video lights in my strobes but the water was that shallow that the ambient light was pretty much greater than the video lights. I may have to invest in a brighter video light and use the other two as fill lights. You can hear the VR running most of the time. I hate to think how the video would look without it.

I should add that the video looks pretty cool on the TV at 720p.

[stubbsy]

Interesting video Andrew. I like that you've labelled everything so even mugs like me know what I'm looking at.

[Willy wombat]

Looks like you got the hang of it quite quickly Andrew. Love those cuttle fish. On my recent trip to Lembeh, all the video people were raving about Sola video lights if you are looking for some.

Cheers
Steve

[ATJ]

On my recent trip to Lembeh, all the video people were raving about Sola video lights if you are looking for some.

I have my eye on the SOLA 4000. It is just a matter of being able to justify the cost. It will mount nicely on my rig as I already have a Loctite setup for a torch. I think I can get by with just the one and then use the 2 DS161 as fill lights. That's the theory, anyway.