March 2011

Sea & Sea announces the next housing for the Nikon D7000

The Japanese manufacturer announces the imminent release of the new MDX 7000 housing for the Nikon D7000, but at the same time we are informed that both the optical connection strobes, and those with cable connection via YS converter to the new Nikon, only have manual sync, and no DS-TTL mode. For sure, if the flash dialog changes with each new camera, this means trouble, not only for the accessory makers, but also for the users, who may have to limit the capabilities of the flashes they already own.

Ikelite presents the housings for the new Canons

With the usual timing, Ikelite announces the new housings for the new Canon cameras. First of all, the housing for the new reflex 600D, allowing access to all the functions, and tested at up to 60 m. As usual in transparent polycarbonate, the housing ensures a perfect view of the display, and the magnifying viewfinder allows for a good vision through the eyepiece. It comes with bracket and arm-shoe, weighs 3.2 kg., and shoud cost around € 1400 without ports. Ikelite also presented the ULTRA compact housings for the new point&shoot IXUS 100 and 115 HS, Powershot A330IS, A1200IS and A2200IS. All have been tested up to 60 m, ensure access to all camera functions, and can mount, directly on the port, macros or wideangles with M46 thread, or with appropriate adapters. They weigh about 500 gr and their price should be around € 250. Also: easy-open latch and drop-in camera loading.

Canon G12 test, with Ikelite housing and strobe

Our review of the PowerShot G12 goes on, we will test it underwater with the Ikelite dedicated housing and Ds 51 strobe. The former is an alternative to the cheaper Canon housing, but with definitely superior features in terms of robustness and watertightness, in fact, it is certified up to 60 m dives. The little flash can go up to 80 m. Read the first part of the test, and learn what camera, housing, and flash look like on land.

Biodiversity: sperm whales and megapixels

A new scientific article hypothesizes that sperm whales may communicate through stereotyped series of click sounds. This would mean that the sperm whale is not only the largest animal in the world, but also one of the most intelligent. For the occasion, we have resurrected an old series of pictures we shot with a little 5 megapixel Nikon, and the story behind them came back to our mind. At the same time, looking at those pictures, we realized once again that the rush for megapixels is certainly not a priority, at least for underwater photography, considering what we managed to get from a little camera like that one, a toy compared to today’s super techno monsters. Take a look at the gallery and read the story.

Isotecnic revives the IGLOO analog housings

Isotecnic announces that it is still possible to alter the IGLOO housings for analog reflexes to fit digital reflexes. Isotecnic proposes two types of mods; the first for IGLOOs built before 1999, adapting the back and inserting external controls and a monitor; the second for those built after 1999, substituting the back, according to camera model, and adding controls and monitor. In the first case, one can fit NIKON D40-D50-D70-D80-D90 or models from other makers with similar sizes; in the second case, you can insert the D300 or similar. It is also possible to add custom controls; feasibility and prices will be defined by Isotecnic at reception of order.

Recsea housing for the Canon SX 210 IS

We have analyzed in detail the housing Recsea WHC-SX210 for the Canon SX 210 IS, for which no Canon housing exists. The camera has a very powerful zoom, but this does not prevent its use underwater, instead, with a housing, it can represent an all-in-one solution for travel reportages, where you may need both a long tele, and the capability of underwater shots. The polycarbomate housing, well built and easy to handle, is available from Digital Media Service. Here are the details of our analysis.

Species evolution: Canon G12 test, part 1

The story of the Canon PowerShot G series starts on September 8, 2000. The series has reached its tenth model with the PowerShot G12, with a slightly more than yearly upgrade rate. Among the cameras in this class, the prosumer compacts, the G12 is perhaps the most appreciated for the availability of a moderately priced dedicated housing, and for the possibility of using more sophisticated housings, together with wideagle and macro lenses. It is used by many competition winners because it allows for an adequate manual control on all image parameters, and it produces a good image quality. Take a look at the first part of our test.

From Nauticam the housing for Panasonic LX5, and more

The new Nauticam housing NA-LX5, already seen at EUDISHOW in Bologna, is on the shelves. Built entirely in aluminum, it is waterproof up to 75 m; mounts a diffuser for the on-board flash, and a lever to raise and close the flash. All camera controls are accessible, including on/off switch in combination with video mode selection. The shutter button is particularly accurate for maximum precision. With an adapter, the Inon UWL-H100 LD lens can be mounted, to restore the field angle to that of the original wideangle focal of the camera. The housing can fit also the twin camera Leica D-Lux5. The price is € 850. As a sign of the dynamism of the Hong Kong manufacturer, the housings for the Canon 60D and for the Panasonic Micro 4/3 GH2 have been announced, although no image is available yet.

New stuff from Ikelite

Ikelite announced a new package including the compact point-and-shoot Nikon L22 camera, and the dedicated housing #6280.23 with diffuser, deflector, and strap. In addition, the Deluxe Package with Travel Bag is offered, including, along with camera and housing, also the AF35 Autoflash kit. The prices in Euro should be around 380 for camera and housing, 840 for the Deluxe Package, and 280 for the housing alone. Another novelty is the optical cable converter for Ikelite strobes. The converter connects to the socket for the traditional cable, and works with cameras with or without preflash. Waterproof up to 90 m, is priced at about € 80. It can be adapted to all Ikelite strobes, and can be used with cables from INON, Sea&Sea, Olympus, and Nauticam: Ikelite does not provide an optical cable. Click here for details.

Save the Nassau grouper

The ban on fishing at spawning aggregations of the Nassau grouper, a charismatic species of the Cayman Islands, is due to expire this year. The ban, started in 2003, is strongly opposed by the local fishing organizations. Anna De Loach, a writer, video author, and researcher, has launched a petition to the local authorities to block the reinstatement of fishing in the area. In 2002 the species was dramatically declining due to excessive fishing, and the American researcher is trying to prevent it from becoming again a species at risk of extinction. Click here to read more, and to send the petition.

Reefs at Risk revisited: black clouds on the reefs of the world

Reefs at Risk Revisited is a project of the World Resources Institute (WRI), developed in close collaboration with Nature Conservancy (TNC), WorldFish Center, International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), and Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). Several other institutions contributed to carry out an analysis of the present state of coral reefs in the world, and a forecast for 2030 and 2050. The risks deriving from local activities and global warming were considered. The results are alarming for the present, but even worse for the future. Globally, 60% of the reef of the planet is subject to a medium to very high risk, but by 2030 this figure is expected to exceed 90%, and to come close to 100% by 2050. It is worth recalling a quote from Rachel Carson, one of the founders of the enviromental movement: One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, 'What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?'” And for the reefs of the world this is a very concrete risk. Click here to read the full article, or a synopsis.

A new Olympus: tough, and amphibian

From middle March, the new Olympus TG810 TOUGH will be on the market, at a price of € 299.

Waterproof up to 10 m, it can bear a weight of 100 kg, and mounts a depth meter, compass, and GPS. That is, an invitation to adventure. The new amphibian sports a 14 Mpixel sensor, a 28-140 stabilized lens, a 3”display, 720p HD video, ISO sensitivity from 80 to 1600, i-Underwater Snapshot mode (for u/w souvenir pictures), and the usual lavish collection of functions, among which Fish-Eye and In-Camera Panorama. There is also a Pet mode, for the detection of the “faces” of cats and dogs: when will we have a Fish Detection mode?

2011