Written by new-contact on Mar 26, 2010. Posted in General Interest

Underwater filming equipment explored

Specialist underwater filming equipment can produce outstanding and atmospheric sub-aqua images, whether this is for use in wildlife documentaries or for fleeting shots of a character taking a swim in a TV or film production.

There are no cameras designed specifically for underwater shooting as the global market is too small. Sealed housings are instead used to encase the camera and provide electronic and often mechanical access to the camera features. Franz Pagot, a Director of Photography and underwater cameraman, said: “The necessary controls and settings are set up on the camera first and then the unit is put into the waterproof housing.”

Specific cameras have normally been catered for with specific housings in recent years. Canadian-based firm Amphibico is one of the market’s world leaders and for the past ten years has been updating its housings based on the design of its 2000 model the HD Amphibicam, which was built for the Sony HD F900. This particular housing offers four hand grips, which between them offer the operational control in a way designed to provide ease of use.

Newer models from Amphibico include the Phenom housing for the SONY HVR-Z7U HDV camcorder, while the XD Amphibico X3 housing for the SONY PMW-EX3 represents the higher end of the market. Aaron Braganza, Director of Marketing and Development at Amphibico, said: “The housing, like all our models, are depth-rated for 330 feet, made of marine-grade aluminum and have all the features necessary for the pro to be a pro underwater, including the much-coveted white balance amongst the host of features."

One of Amphibico’s main competitors is Gates, which manufactures generally smaller housings that can provide greater manoeuvrability. This can be particularly useful during shoots that involve fast-moving animals where the opportunity to catch the necessary shot may only come once. Andrew Sutton, an underwater specialist with Nice Images and Eco2, said: “Amphibico and Gates are the top-of-the-list market leaders. Amphibico is a large device suitable for the main shots and the manoeuvrability of Gates makes it good for tighter shots in documentaries.”

As with many of the major manufacturers the most popular housing from Gates is for the Sony EX1R. In addition, Gates focuses on mechanical camera controls, meaning the controls on the housing correspond to where they are on the actual camera. This differs from Amphibico, which has chosen to pursue ease of use by locating the controls on the housing hand grips. Pamela Mazey Mertz, Director of Sales at Gates, said: “We believe in the reliability of mechanical controls.”

Image quality is a major concern for underwater filming and depends on factors including what lenses are used and the standard of the camera itself. Leading underwater filming expert Peter Scoones has designed the Nekton housing range for broadcast cameras the Sony 750, 790 and 900. Among their many features they employ reduced compression to help improve picture quality. His cameras employ a mix of mechanical and electronic functions and have been used on projects such as the BBC’s Planet Earth.

The pursuit of better image quality dominates innovation throughout the industry. Pete Romano, President of US-based manufacturer Hydroflex, said: “HD is making remarkable strides to advance the art and the Phantom high speed camera has redefined high speed photography by allowing cameramen to shoot at up to 1000fps.”

While the niche market continues to evolve, productions on a budget are advised to steer away from more improvised equipment. Splash bags, for example, are good at protecting cameras from wet conditions but are not designed to be submersed. Mr Pagot said: “They are designed to protect from splashes. Any sharp edges of the camera shell or any protruding accessories can pierce them and cause a leak if put underwater, while the stress from depth pressure can also be damaging.”