Articles
Nauticam announces the NE-EM5
Nauticam has announced the release of the NA-EM5 housing for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 EVIL camera. This camera was reviewed by Wetpixel Associate Editor Alex Mustard on Wetpixel earlier this month. The housing features a new rear mounted O ring seal and a threaded bulkhead port allows for an HDMI or electrical strobe synch bulkhead installation. All camera controls are available including a special control to access the camera’s “super control panel.”
Port availability includes existing ports for the Panasonic 8mm fisheye, Panasonic 7-14mm, Olympus 9-18mm, Panasonic 14mm, Olympus 14-42, Panasonic 14-42mm, Panasonic 45mm macro with a port coming up for the 60mm macro and a special new port incorporating the power zoom and macro switch for the Olympus 12-50 w/ macro. The NA-EM5 will be available from 11 July at a retail price of $1350.
Apple updates RAW compatibility
Apple has added support for the Canon Rebel T4i (EOS 650D) and the Sony SLT-A37. The update provides support in iPhoto, Aperture and also in third-party software such as ACDSee Pro2 that uses the operating system’s RAW decoding.
RAW compatibility 3.14 is available from the Apple support site or via software update.
Maldives creates the largest marine reserve in the world
At the recent Rio+20 conference, Maldives President Waheed announced that the whole of the Maldives will become a marine reserve by 2017. This would outlaw all “non-sustainable” fishing practices and will specifically “exclude deep-sea, purse-seining and other destructive [trawling] techniques.” Although it is uncertain as to what area the proclamation will contain, environmental activists are hoping that it will include the entire Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone, which is the area of sea that can be claimed by a country to exploit its marine resources, to a limit of 200 nautical miles around its coasts.
Underwater Journal reaches 25 editions
Underwater Journal celebrates 25 issues with its latest edition. This issue celebrates diving in off the Jersey shore, Blue Springs Manatees, Fiji and diving around Chicago. Technique oriented features include side mount diving and assembling a first aid kit.
The Underwater Journal is available now as a free download in pdf and iPad formats. In order to access the magazine, there is a required registration.
Last Pinta giant tortoise Lonesome George dies
Galapagos and environmental icon, Pinta giant tortoise Lonesome George has died, the BBC reports. He was a symbol of the Galapagos Islands and was believed to be the last of the subspecies Chelonoidis nigra abingdoni which is hence now considered extinct. Unsuccessful attempts had been made to get him to mate with other tortoises for several decades and he was believed to have been around 100 years old at the time of his death.
Nikon RS lenses adapted for digital SLRs
Andrej Belic and team have successfully adapted a Nikonos 13mm lens to work with a digital SLR. The optical quality of the Nikonos 13mm and 20-35mm RS series lenses is reputed to be every high.
Andrej is still working on a waterproof adapter to allow the camera and lens to be used underwater. Andrej has promised to keep us updated on the progress of the project.
Definitive fish species reference for the Coral Triangle released
Conservation International (CI) has announced the release of a three-volume book set entitled “Reef Fishes of the East Indies.” This definitive work, co- authored by Drs. Mark Erdmann and Gerry Allen, describes and catalogs over 2,500 fish species, including over 25 new ones, that are found in the Coral Triangle (including Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands) as well as the South China Sea (including Brunei Darussalam to Vietnam and Singapore), the Andaman Sea (including Thailand, Myanmar, and the Andaman Islands of India) and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean The books are illustrated with over 3,600 photographs.
Wetpixel is fortunate to not only have a set of the books for a review to follow shortly, but also to have tracked down the authors, who have kindly given us an exclusive interview about the books and their research.
Fisheye releases FIX Aquavolt 3500
Fisheye has announced the release of its FIX Aquavolt 3500 video light. Featuring an adjustable output with a maximum of 3500 Lumen via 24 LEDs and a burn time of 60 minutes at full power, the light has an 115° beam angle and a color temperature of 6,500-7,000°K. It also has a rear backlit LCD screen which gives information about actual output power, remaining battery life, inner temperature and remaining burn time.
The Fisheye FIX Aquavolt 3500 is available now, priced at £1059.95 or $1380.00.