Amphibico VH2000/VX2000

[Carl]

I have a well used (hence has been reliable ! ) Amphibico VH2000 housing with or without the Sony VX2000 camcorder in excellent condition. The housing is great, all the electronics work well and the logic board was upgraded by Amphibico to their current for that model. This is a superb standard definition set up and the VX2000 is a great camcorder. I have TWO available lenses. One is an 80 degree wide angle that is an upgrade from Amphibico to their standard 67 ? degree. The other is a VERY high quality 110 degree wide angle that was made by Fathom for Amphibico for a short period of time. This is an INCREDIBLE wide angle and a very serious lens. BOTH are full zoom through. The 110 does absolutely no vignetting, the 80 degree may (or may not!) vignette unless you zoom in just off widest. I also have the AMPHIBICO external video monitor (runs on the same Sony batteries as the VX2000) that I love on this set up. Also several red filters (screw on, hence fixed), spacers, etc. I will price well, especially for the whole package, but you must understand that the BIG 110 degree lens is a superb optic and was BIG bucks. If you know what precision wide angles cost now, you will get the idea. Honestly, I expect to sell this unit and keep the 110 as a paperweight because if it's price.

If you have an interest, give me a note: cjboden@earthlink.net or through UWPhotoChat.

Several video folks have shot this camcorder, including one well known host of this site (albeit in an Ikelite) as well as one well known French Canadian.
References available on request! If you shoot SD you cannot go wrong with this outfit!

[Jonathan Bird]

Carl, post some pics!

[Carl]

Guys, if anyone is interested in the unit or components of it, just email me as noted above and I can forward JPEGS to you pronto. I will load some pics to the site when I get a chance.

Of what I have then:

VH2000 Amphibico Housing, external wet link video bulkhead, no other mods. Probable 2 red filters screw on to the camcorder, one or two blank screw on fronts (empty rings) (needed to get the proper spacing in the housing)
DCR-VX2000 Sony Camcorder, great condition.
80 degree Amphibico wide angle port/lens
110 degree Fathom wide angle port/lens
Amphibico VL 135 Underwater Battery Pak with 4 Aspen NP-35 "Bricks" batteries (takes 2 at a time, one for each light powered through the unit, electronically controlled through the handles for on off function. VH2000 attaches onto the top of the battery pak with thumb screws.
IDX 400 Twin Battery Quick Charger for the NP-35's
Amphibico ACFM350 External Underwater Video Screen, goes color, black and white, has contrast and brightness control, PAL and NTSC selectable.
TWO Amphibico ALHIDS Discovery HID Arc Lamps: 30/35/40/45/50 Watt adjustable as well as temperature adjustable. These are essentially brand new. They do have the wet connector two contact "rod" ends that fit into the VL 135 Battery Pak, but other ends are available for other battery paks if you so chose. Mods would be your problem though. Amphibico can provide any connector ends to you to match any of their current battery pak connectors. I think they all run the bricks anyway though...

Serious inquiries only ( I always wanted to say that !). Nah, just give me a holler !

Caaaarrrrrrllllllllllllllllllllllll
cjboden@earthlink.net

[tarczy]

Carl, post some pics!


Potential buyers want to "see" what they're buying. Tell the story with pictures. You'll get the stuff sold a lot faster. ;)

[Jonathan Bird]

Potential buyers want to "see" what they're buying. Tell the story with pictures. You'll get the stuff sold a lot faster. ;)

^^^ What he said. ^^^

Carl, why not put the monitor that you like so much on the new camera?

[Carl]

Jonathan, All,

The external monitor has served me well. There is SO MUCH ROOM in the Ikelite housing that I want to build a new rear plate with an INTERNAL mounted video screen. I can separated the screen, potential controls and power sources with all the available room. Other possibles: the handle electronic controls of the Amphibico housing run the FX7 without problem via lanc control. I am thinking about having DUAL controls on the housing, the fully manual in existence, and one set fully electronic.

As to use of the Amphibico external monitor on the Ikelite, I can easily add a bulkhead to do that, but my preference is to find a screen for internal use.

If none of these stuff sells, then I will *******ize all of it into the Ikelite. I figure with the Fathom and the stuff I can do, it will be

FRANKENIKELITE ! The sequel...

What's the worst that can happen ? It leaks ????

Caarrrrrrrllllllllllllll

[Red Sea Pictures]

I also have the Fathom 110 lens, it's a keeper, beautiful piece of glass.

[Carl]

Guys,

There seems some controversy on the build of the 110 degree for the VH2000 type housings/bayonet mount.
Specifically:
Amphibico claims it is theirs and not a Fathom build (might explain why it took them 3+ years to deliver the lenses to the people who ordered and paid for them in advance ! Fathom would not have done that !)
It may be a 105 degree and not a 110 degree (but, being comfortable with my manhood, who's measuring ??).
That said, it really is a superb lens and it is still available. Too damn big for a paperweight. A lump of stainless steel works better for that...

Caaarrrrrrllllllllllllllll

[Jonathan Bird]

Post a picture of it and I'll tell you who made it.

[Red Sea Pictures]

That's the lens, not sure if you can identify from this pic...

[Jonathan Bird]

I need a side view, close up!!

[Red Sea Pictures]

Or maybe from this one...

[Red Sea Pictures]

Heerya go...

[Red Sea Pictures]

Still no joy Jon?

[Jonathan Bird]

I will send the pic to Paul at Fathom and see what he says.

Jonathan