Underwater Videography

[fijiblue]

Does anyone do underwater videography and if so, what equipment.

 

[thereefgeek]

One of my old avatars: Me shooting a French Angel in Bonaire, May '05.
Sony TRV-22 in a Light & Motion Stingray III Sport housing:
http://www.uwimaging.com/stingray_three_sport/index.htm

Since then I've added 50 watt halogen video lights from Nocturnal Lights:
http://www.nocturnallights.com/video_lights/tl50_twin_beam_underwater_video_light/

Here's my current setup from an old posting at Scuba Board:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=116450&highlight=thereefgeek

 

[fijiblue]

Very cool. Im trying out the new Panasonic DVX100B in the Equinox Pro pak 8 housing in a few days. Im looking forward to it.

 

[thereefgeek]

Nice!

Once you shoot all that video, you'll want to look into some editing software. Right now I'm using Adobe Premier Pro, and it's a huge program with a lot of capability. I started off with Windows Movie Maker 'cause it came with Windows XP, but the program compresses the data quite a bit. The files end up smaller and the render quicker, but when you finish your movie and burn it to a DVD, just make sure to have your settings as high as possible so when you watch them on your TV the don't look pixelated.

 

[fijiblue]

Nice!Once you shoot all that video, you'll want to look into some editing software

I use FCP. I've been shooting and editing commercials, music videos, corporate videos for 6 years now. I just never ventured into underwater videography and figured now is a good time.

 

[fijiblue]

I'm still debating whether or not to use 24p mode for the footage.

 

[Chrismo]

Progressive video compresses better than interlaced does. definitly, If your going to deliver the final video online, film it progressive.

 

[fijiblue]

Thanx for the advice. I just got back from the trip, but I decided to do both and ate up a lot of footage just to be safe. Editing it now and should be done really soon.