Amphibico is back

[sorvju-f]

Nice to see that Amphibicos long history was not ending:

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/amphibico-announces-genesis-housing/

This set is not for me, but now I can wait upgrades to come to new camera models.

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

I'm perplexed as to how Amphibico can be in bankruptcy one minute and have a brand new housing the next!

[sorvju-f]

I'm perplexed as to how Amphibico can be in bankruptcy one minute and have a brand new housing the next!

Behind these things is always things we do not know.

On the other hand in a situation Amphibico had it is vital to convince your earlier customer base fast about the positive future.

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

What I like is that they are hinting at a housing for this little ProRes HDMI recorder! Sign me up!!

http://atomos.com/ninja/

[sorvju-f]

What I like is that they are hinting at a housing for this little ProRes HDMI recorder! Sign me up!!

http://atomos.com/ninja/

I have this SSD HDMI recorder ordered for testing ( decklink shuttle ) for topside use and tests. Of coarse I will try if it fits to my housing also.

Problem there is that these SSD-disks are not controlled by camera....have to put on beginning of the dive ( opening and closing of housing ) and it is recording all the time....anyhow I have to look first if there is enough space inside the housing...

Advance is real uncompressed full HD resolution with really high bitrate.

I will tell more as I get it.

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

Those uncompressed files will be HUGE!!

You can add a button to the housing to stop/start the drive.

[sorvju-f]

Those uncompressed files will be HUGE!!

You can add a button to the housing to stop/start the drive.

I got this deckling shuttle today. You are totally right, those uncompressed files will be HUGE!! 8 Gb per minute.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/hyperdeckshuttle/

Mainly I am planning it for topside use....I will do some tests with it...let you know the results later on.

There are some ways to operate with that inside the housing. Trough HDMI connection it is impossible to send commands to unit. One way to do it is to record UW is to put recording on just before the dive...one hour dive needs about 500 GB disk...even the price of recorder is reasonable it starts to come pricey with the big SSD disks....you need 2 or more of those.

The best way is that producer of recorder will do upgrades to something like for example electric connection to record light...when it is blinking the unit will be recording.

Still file sizes are HUGE!

Jukka

[David White]

So the question then becomes do I replace my destroyed SONY HVR-Z1U camera and have the Phenom housing repaired or do I upgrade to the latest and greatest toys?

[Jonathan Bird]

David,
My understanding is that the same housing can be modified to use the Sony NX-5 (http://www.amphibico.com/pro/phenom-nx5-se-sony-hxrnx5u-hdv.html).

Jukka, one option is to re-compress your footage to ProRes from uncompressed.

I sent an e-mail to my contact at Black Magic Design and suggested to them that they would have more takers on the Shuttle if it recorded to ProRes or even Long GOP at 100 Mbps or something. Very few people working on our budget have the desire for the file sizes and "quality" of uncompressed HD. It's sort of silly to be working with a camera like the Sony V1 and uncompressed. The files sizes greatly outweigh the quality of the lens and sensor. It's like using a point and shoot with a 100 MP sensor. Just my opinion. How big is it? Will it fit in your housing?

Jonathan

[sorvju-f]

David,

I sent an e-mail to my contact at Black Magic Design and suggested to them that they would have more takers on the Shuttle if it recorded to ProRes or even Long GOP at 100 Mbps or something. Very few people working on our budget have the desire for the file sizes and "quality" of uncompressed HD. It's sort of silly to be working with a camera like the Sony V1 and uncompressed. The files sizes greatly outweigh the quality of the lens and sensor. It's like using a point and shoot with a 100 MP sensor. Just my opinion. How big is it? Will it fit in your housing?

Jonathan

I have not yet tested it to housing, but here is picture, which is telling something. If you want exact measures let me know.

Your proposal was more than perfect...one thing to add is that camera could operate the disk. Uncompressed 4-2-2 10 bit is needless but going to native 1920 x 1080 from 1440 x 1080 must have influence, specially if information flow is jumping from 28 to 100 MBs. I have not runned test yet, but I will do later ( needs some more HDMI cables ).

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/UW-chat/Shuttle+WM+800.jpg/full

Jukka

[sorvju-f]

David,

Jukka, one option is to re-compress your footage to ProRes from uncompressed.

Jonathan

Thats possible later, but for recording that is not possible...OWC 480 GB SSD disk is costing about EUR 1000 for one hour recording.

Jukka

[sorvju-f]

David,
My understanding is that the same housing can be modified to use the Sony NX-5 (http://www.amphibico.com/pro/phenom-nx5-se-sony-hxrnx5u-hdv.html).

Jonathan

David, what ever is your decision you have to burn lot of dollars for that. I feel that there is also something new coming out from Sony soon ( higher bitrates, new sensors etc )

Jukka

[tkelly]

I'm perplexed as to how Amphibico can be in bankruptcy one minute and have a brand new housing the next!

Bankrupcy is a long process. There are also different types. In most corporate bankrucpy filings, the creditors are frozen, but the business continues, while the company restuctures itself to clean up its debts. So they continue to sell and create products. After all, the less money filing company brings in, the less likely everbody is to get anything.

[sorvju-f]

I have not yet tested it to housing, but here is picture, which is telling something. If you want exact measures let me know.

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/UW-chat/Shuttle+WM+800.jpg/full

Jukka

Unfortunately without modifications of camera ( like removing handle, viewfinder, microphones ) there is not enough space for this shuttle inside the housing so it will be only for topside use:(

There might be good change to some housing producer to ake external housing for this HDMI-SSD system....Jonathan maybe to give tip to our sponsor.

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

The problem with an external housing is the 26 pin waterproof HDMI cable going between the two!

[sorvju-f]

The problem with an external housing is the 26 pin waterproof HDMI cable going between the two!

That is the truth...but anyhow solving that, might give several customers....where is our Dan...could be nice project to him.

Jukka

[David White]

It appears as though the flood of the Phenom housing may have been caused by a crack in the trigger of the right hand grip. At least that is the only sign of a possible failure. The home insurance policy offered $2000 towards the replacement of the camera and nothing for the damage to the housing due to an obscure clause excluding items designed for use in extreme environments. However, while searching eBay for a replacement camera I came across a listing for the SONY HVR-Z1U camera with an additional wide angle lens, and the Phenom housing with the dome port in excellent condition, an unused flat port, prism monitor, 4:3 monitor and carry cases for both along with additional accessories for $3850. After shipping and import duties were paid the total cost came to $4330. Both the camera and the housing have less hours than my previous equipment. In fact, the housing, serial number 0506-001, has never been below 20 feet and is almost like new.

I considered upgrading to the SONY NX-5 camera but the technicians at Aquatica told me that there were significant changes to the interior specifications of the housing to accommodate the different cameras and they would not be able to modify my housing to fit anything other than the FX1 or Z1U cameras. Since I still have about 50 hours worth of footage to be loaded into the computer from previous trips and an additional 45 blank HD tapes I thought that this purchase was my best option.

I still intend to send the flooded housing into Aquatica for repair but they indicated that it would likely be December before they were ready to accept any repairs. If the repair costs are reasonable then I will go ahead, have the housing repaired, and perhaps look for another Z1U or FX1 camera to stuff inside. That will make me feel a bit like Jukka, with backups for my backups.

[sorvju-f]

It appears as though the flood of the Phenom housing may have been caused by a crack in the trigger of the right hand grip. At least that is the only sign of a possible failure. The home insurance policy offered $2000 towards the replacement of the camera and nothing for the damage to the housing due to an obscure clause excluding items designed for use in extreme environments. However, while searching eBay for a replacement camera I came across a listing for the SONY HVR-Z1U camera with an additional wide angle lens, and the Phenom housing with the dome port in excellent condition, an unused flat port, prism monitor, 4:3 monitor and carry cases for both along with additional accessories for $3850. After shipping and import duties were paid the total cost came to $4330. Both the camera and the housing have less hours than my previous equipment. In fact, the housing, serial number 0506-001, has never been below 20 feet and is almost like new.

I considered upgrading to the SONY NX-5 camera but the technicians at Aquatica told me that there were significant changes to the interior specifications of the housing to accommodate the different cameras and they would not be able to modify my housing to fit anything other than the FX1 or Z1U cameras. Since I still have about 50 hours worth of footage to be loaded into the computer from previous trips and an additional 45 blank HD tapes I thought that this purchase was my best option.

I still intend to send the flooded housing into Aquatica for repair but they indicated that it would likely be December before they were ready to accept any repairs. If the repair costs are reasonable then I will go ahead, have the housing repaired, and perhaps look for another Z1U or FX1 camera to stuff inside. That will make me feel a bit like Jukka, with backups for my backups.

So David...you are back n game...great!

Backups are important and nice to travel with:p

David if you want to pay douple just come and live in Finland:rolleyes:

David, you did not give us any other report from Cocos ( just flooding ).

HOW WAS COCOS?

Jukka

[David White]

Jukka,

Cocos was an exceptional experience. Given that it was an extremely last minute thing for most of the attendees it was a very interesting group of people from all over the world. There were some very serious shooters in attendance including Jay Ireland and Georgienne Bradley, Randy Osgerby, Erin O' Niell, George Balles and Tobias Zimmer. There was even more photographic equipment assembled than is usually encountered on one of Jonathan's trips, including a couple of heavyweight Amphibico housings which made my Phenom look like the poor relative.

Cocos island is quite different from the Galapagos islands with fewer marine species in evidence although those that are present tend to be greater in number. There are hard corals in abundance at some sites which are populated by numerous reef fish. Whitetip sharks and marble rays are everywhere. We saw numerous eagle rays and, of course, the Galapagos and scalloped hammerhead sharks. The other panga also saw the tiger shark on a couple of dives. For the most part visibility was only about thirty feet which would have made shooting a challenge but for one day visibility was exceptionally clear and that is when Cocos really delivered. The dive site, Alcyone, had dozens of hammerheads at the cleaning stations and, with the improved visibility, they would approach to within an arm's length. Pity that it was not captured on film.

My understanding is that the islands of Malpelo and Coiba are much less visited by divers than Cocos or Galapagos and offer opportunities to encounter lots of large pelagics.

The full trip report can be read here: http://oceanviewvideos.net/Cocos-Island-trip-report.html

[sorvju-f]

Jukka,

Cocos was an exceptional experience. Given that it was an extremely last minute thing for most of the attendees it was a very interesting group of people from all over the world. There were some very serious shooters in attendance including Jay Ireland and Georgienne Bradley, Randy Osgerby, Erin O' Niell, George Balles and Tobias Zimmer. There was even more photographic equipment assembled than is usually encountered on one of Jonathan's trips, including a couple of heavyweight Amphibico housings which made my Phenom look like the poor relative.

Cocos island is quite different from the Galapagos islands with fewer marine species in evidence although those that are present tend to be greater in number. There are hard corals in abundance at some sites which are populated by numerous reef fish. Whitetip sharks and marble rays are everywhere. We saw numerous eagle rays and, of course, the Galapagos and scalloped hammerhead sharks. The other panga also saw the tiger shark on a couple of dives. For the most part visibility was only about thirty feet which would have made shooting a challenge but for one day visibility was exceptionally clear and that is when Cocos really delivered. The dive site, Alcyone, had dozens of hammerheads at the cleaning stations and, with the improved visibility, they would approach to within an arm's length. Pity that it was not captured on film.

My understanding is that the islands of Malpelo and Coiba are much less visited by divers than Cocos or Galapagos and offer opportunities to encounter lots of large pelagics.

The full trip report can be read here: http://oceanviewvideos.net/Cocos-Island-trip-report.html

I really can share your flooding feelings.

I made one dive this year without camera gears, and that was weird.

Cocos sounds like a place to visit...Jonathan TIP, TIP, TIP.

David I do not want to travel without you...your trip reports are the best!

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

I am planning a Cocos trip. ;)