Tripods

[David White]

Having booked to join Jonathan on the Lembeh Straits trip next year I am looking for a tripod that will enable me to keep the housing stationary while filming the little critters. I use the SONY HVR-Z1U camera within the Amphibico Phenom housing. Any suggestions?

[admin]

David,

I often use a tripod shooting video underwater with macro. Of course, in Lembeh, it's easy to find a nice safe spot for the tripod so it won't hurt the reef because there is so much sand. In a reef environment, you have to be VERY careful or you will damage coral and get some menacing looks from your fellow divers!

I typically use an inexpensive tripod with a cheap plastic "fluid" head that won't get trashed in seawater, then keep the tripod in water for the whole trip--never let it dry out. It comes from the ocean and goes into a dip tank and stays there until the next dive. (If it dries out, salt and grit will degrade the fluid head). By the end of the trip, the tripod is usually toast and I just discard it or donate it to the dive shop (the fluid head is dead, but it still makes a good still photo tripod). I have had luck using the Velbon 7000 for this task. It's about $150. The trick is finding a tripod that goes low enough (none do!) and are heavy-duty enough to hold still in a current and take the weight of the weightbelt I clip to it to keep it on the bottom!

Jonathan

[David White]

Thanks for the info Jonathan. I am very conscious of the reef when shooting and there have been many times when it just was not possible to get the shot without doing damage. So I didn't get the shot. One of the difficulties with HD is that focus becomes even more crucial than SD. My eyes are not what they used to be and not having found a suitable corrective lens am relegated to shooting in auto focus on many occasions. I find it difficult to frame the shot, zoom in, switch to auto focus to set focus, switch back to manual focus, white balance and then record the clip while keeping the housing still and not touching anything. Perhaps I just need more practice... I was thinking that the Lembeh Straits would lend themselves to the use of a tripod especially for macro work.

[Jonathan Bird]

David,
This is the tripod I used this winter in the Philippines with my little HVR-A1U HDV cam.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=366741&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

It goes pretty low, and the fluid head held up for 6 weeks of 4 dives a day. It may not be beefy enough for your Z1 housing though. That thing is a beast.

Jonathan

[David White]

Six weeks of four dives a day; now that is what I call a dive trip! Yes, the Phenom is a beast out of the water and, apart from considering the overweight baggage charges at airports, requires a strong arm to haul about. However, under water it is a different matter entirely. My housing is set up to be slightly negative and is quite easy to manoeuvre.

Annie Crawley sent me some information regarding the tripod that she uses underwater, originally manufactured by a company that was purchased by Aquatica. She has sent her tripod to Aquatica so that they can obtain the specifications and start manufacturing them again. It appears as though the tripod can be set quite low and since she has been using hers for years, apparently quite durable. I will post again on this subject once I have more information.

[Bodie]

What sort of features, minimum/maximum height, type of latches in colapsable stocks, material preference, type of mounts (not sure how it attaches to the amphibicos), other perticulars would you want in a tripod for underwater use? I do have a nice little shop in my garage here and a full manufacturing center on campus a few blocks away. I'd be interested in trying to design a dedicated underwater tripod that wouldn't cost $150 a pop.

[Jonathan Bird]

Six weeks of four dives a day; now that is what I call a dive trip!


It was a film project. Fun....but taxing!

[Jonathan Bird]

What sort of features, minimum/maximum height, type of latches in colapsable stocks, material preference, type of mounts (not sure how it attaches to the amphibicos), other perticulars would you want in a tripod for underwater use?

It should be made of aluminum, and the legs should be able to spread pretty far so the thing can go very low and be steady. It should be able to be filled with lead shot (in the legs perhaps) to make it heavy enough to stay put. It doesn't need to be very long-legged. Rarely do you need it to go as high as a land-tripod. It needs a fluid head that will remain functional submerged. I'll think of some more things.

I was going to build one as well, but it turned out to be easier to buy one and just not expect it to survive too long.

Jonathan