Boxing for underwater video filming. video art

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Underwater video box

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Summer has come and soon you will go on a long-awaited vacation. This season there is an increased interest of video amateurs in underwater shooting (we already receive many questions about what underwater boxing is and how to choose it. Of course, you need to prepare in advance for such an important matter as underwater shooting.

The first thing you need is, of course, a video camera, as well as a protective case - a box, and an underwater illuminator (if you plan to shoot at a depth of more than 3 meters).

The most transparent water in the ocean allows you to see a large object at a distance of no more than 50-55 meters. But this happens very rarely, and even in the clearest waters of tropical seas, transparency often does not exceed 10-25 meters. To obtain an acceptable and aesthetic image, it is desirable to shoot objects at a distance of no more than 1/3 of visibility. Thus, the usual shooting range will be approximately 3-5 meters. But it's even better to swim closer. True, this reduces the field of view, disappears the "volume" of the image. From this follows the most important first factor: underwater video filming should be carried out with extremely wide-angle optics. Based on this, you should also select a video camera. It does not matter at all what video camera (VHS, S-VHS, Video 8, Hi 8, DV, etc.), what zoom ratio (zoom) - the main thing is a wide-angle lens.

Not bad if the focal length starts at least 4 mm. But sometimes this is not enough, and therefore it must be borne in mind that there are special attachment lenses (converters) that are screwed onto the lens (they must have a suitable thread and in the extreme zoom position ("Wide" or "w") do not cache, i.e. e. do not cut corners). Such nozzles are quite common and have a multiplicity of 0,7x, 0,4x. Their price is usually $50-100. That is, if the lens has a focal length of 4 mm, then with a 0,4x nozzle it will have 4x0,4 = 1,6 mm (almost 150 degree field of view diagonally), this allows you to take a full-length figure of a swimmer from a distance of 0,7, XNUMX m and minimize the effect of water turbidity. This is the basis of everything!

It so happened historically that almost 80% of boxes in the world are produced for SONY video cameras. This will be the second determining factor. At the same time, several types of boxes are produced - plastic flexible boxes, for example, Ewa VST, for filming at depths up to 3 meters, at a price of $100-200, plastic rigid boxes up to depths of 5 meters, their price is slightly higher - $200-300. These models may only be of interest to those who occasionally snorkel in shallow water.

The most reliable are polycarbonate and metal (aluminum alloy) boxes with diving depths of 50-75 meters. Therefore, if you decide to do underwater photography and plan to purchase both a camera and a box, then first decide on a box. Then, based on which models the box is intended for, among these, select the camera itself, taking into account everything previously stated. Otherwise, it may happen that a box is not produced for your camera, and it is even impossible to adapt something (if you know how to tinker)! It will not be so bad to buy a box first, and only then a camera - there is more choice here.

SONY itself makes several models of boxes for a number of its cameras. A large number of polycarbonate boxes are made by NIMAR and IKELITE. And IKELITE - more than 60 modifications for SONY cameras and about a dozen for JVC (VHS-C). The main body elements of IKELITE are transparent and make all controls easily accessible, and most importantly, they allow you to react in time to the slightest penetration of water (this, unfortunately, happens even with the most branded boxes, and often through the fault of the user who did not notice the villi getting on the sealing elements , or in case of violation of the maintenance rules, because the boxes require great care). The same company also makes good illuminators that are equipped with video boxes.

But the best boxes are made of metal, they sometimes have a large spherical porthole, which allows, together with a wide-angle nozzle, to realize a diagonal field of view angle = 150 degrees when shooting underwater. These are boxes from Aqua vision, SeaLux, Subal Europe, Blaze, Marlin, Seaway, Sea&Sea.

So what is the best box if you don't skimp on the costs?

The box must be made of aluminum alloy.
It must be equipped with a wide-angle spherical porthole that allows the use of an expansion nozzle.
The camera control must be electric, all functions must be implemented (although, according to the author, the following operations are necessary: turning on the electric, turning on the recording, and as complementary: white control, backlight and zoom).
An additional remote control monitor should be placed in the box. A color viewfinder is usually convenient for color control. But professionals often prefer a black and white viewfinder, because. it makes it easier to control the sharpness of the image. You don't have to chase after an extremely "cool" camcorder with many features, a color viewfinder and a folding screen. Absolutely excellent shooting results are obtained with simple camcorders.
The box must be equipped with a lighting system of one or two lamps. You are not Cousteau and will not be able to drag kilowatt illuminators under water. To begin with, one illuminator with a power of 35-50 W will suffice (for example, Sea&Sea CL-50A or Sea&Sea CL-8050A). Better, of course, 2 illuminators (the same or 100 W each). But such a system is more cumbersome, it is difficult to swim with it, and it is not possible to place it everywhere (shooting in hard-to-reach places).

Some companies make boxes to order to satisfy the "quirks" of underwater photography enthusiasts. Naturally, the highest results are achieved in this case, although this makes the system more expensive, and the price of all the equipment in the kit reaches $10000. And for cameras of the Betacam system and more.

Let's dwell on the option when you already have a camera. If it is SONY or JVC, then you will be able to find boxes for them with a high probability. Boxes for Panasonic cameras are very rare, although they have one important advantage: Panasonic cameras have a lower ISO limit of 0,7 lux. This is important because dark at great depths.

If there are no boxes for your camera, then you can:

Buy a new set of box + camera only for underwater shooting (and even sell the old camera).
Adapt the serial box to your camera.
Order boxing in a serious workshop or in a special company - in this case, the results will be maximum.

At the end, we will give some more practical advice.

When shooting underwater, although you are in a state of hydroweightlessness, try to shoot as if from a static position, avoid moving the camera.
Do not shoot swimmers in pursuit. Here it is very desirable to agree and pose on purpose, otherwise the material does not look good. Shoot "montage", i.e. think in advance how you will mount the material.
Even powerful lamps will not illuminate with a "bounce" of colors more than 0,5 meters, so the main thing is to illuminate the nearby foreground, and in the background the swimmer can also be a silhouette (this is why the wide-angle system is still important).
Underwater video filming requires a higher level of swimming training than the average swimmer, so that the control of diving equipment is carried out at a subconscious level. And you must always be prepared for any surprises. The sea is the sea.
Place a small bag of desiccant (silica gel) inside the video box - some camera models work very unstable in high humidity conditions.
It is desirable to have a powerful additional battery so that it is enough for the whole day of filming.
Keep the lens porthole clean, as often exhaled air bubbles stick to its surface.
Don't jump into the water with the box. You must submit the video system or lower it on a cable with a carabiner.

Author: Vladimir Gudzev

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