Sony Japan has announced the release of the a7II mirrorless camera. Initially only available in Japan, the new camera features a 24.3 million pixels 35mm full size “Exmor” CMOS sensor and 5 axis image stabilization. Perhaps more critically, Sony claims the AF is 30% faster and that subject acquisition and motion tracking performance are better than that of the previous models.
The upgraded MANGROVE VC-3L6 video light by Aditech has a 6750 lumen output with two step adjustment. It is now available in a significantly smaller and lighter package with the same performance as the earlier model.
The MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) ROV Doc Ricketts recently observed a deep sea anglerfish at 600 meters deep during an expedition this month. The scientists were able to capture video footage of the approximately 9 cm long female Melanocetus. There are more than 200 different species of anglerfish and this is believed to be the first ever video footage of a Black Seadevil alive and at depth.
Gates Underwater Products has announced an adaptor kit that will allow the use of Nikonos RS lenses with their housings. The kit currently allows the use of the 13mm fisheye, 28mm, 50mm macro and 20-35mm zoom lenses with Gates Deep Epic and Deep Dragon housings and will map focus and iris to the housing controls. Other camera support is planned in future.
Gates Underwater Products has announced the March 2015 release of their GT14 Underwater Imaging Light. It features an out put of 14,000 lumen, powered by changeable, rechargeable batteries with a burn time of 30 minutes at full power. The lights have a 90° underwater output and are equipped with a visual gauge of remaining battery power.
In research published monday of this week, scientists have finally isolated the virus that is causing a mass die off of sea stars along the pacific west coast. The scientists have isolated the virus and refer to it as sea star associated densovirus.
Wetpixel’s Associate Editor, Alex Mustard presents a very comprehensive review of Nikon’s new D750 full frame SLR and the Nauticam NA-D750 housing. Alex was able to take the first housing off the production line with him during one of his recent Red Sea workshops. In terms of the camera, Alex looks at its AF system, image quality, sensor performance and dynamic range.
Wetpixel’s staff are currently winging their way towards Las Vegas for the 2014 DEMA show. For those who haven’t followed our coverage of the show before, our aim is to try to give people who can’t be there, a flavor of what it is like to attend. We will be posting “live” updates each evening over the next four days, each full of new products, trends and gossip about the underwater imaging industry. Of course, there will also be coverage of the infamous Wetpixel/DivePhotoGuide Imaging Party, so remember, what happens in Vegas….will be posted on Wetpixel!
The Fall 2014 issue of Alert Diver is now out and print copies will be arriving in DAN US members’ mailboxes over the next few days. For those that live in other parts of the world, the magazine is available from today as a download via the Apple App store or as an online version on the Alert Diver website.
Ikelite has announced their new housing for the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. As always, the company are early “adopters”, offering a housing very quickly after the camera’s release. Constructed of acrylic, the housing has the company’s TTL strobe connections and includes a double handled tray.