Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

BlurFix adapter released for GoPro HERO

Snake River Prototyping has released an adapter for the GoPro Hero HD POV cam’s underwater housing. BlurFix fixes the GoPro HD underwater focus issue by placing a flat 55 mm filter in front of the housing’s OEM fish-eye lens. Included with the lens is a low profile UV filter that has no vignetting in 480p, 720p, and 1080p modes. The company also offers low profile filters for the adapter by URPro which can add color correction for green or blue water.

Snake River Prototyping has supplied Wetpixel with a review model, so please check back for a review of its performance soon. BlurFix is available now at $75 for a self-install kit, or $130 pre-mounted to a housing.

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Ocean Encounters app available on iTunes

Wetpixel member Brandon Cole has released an iPhone/iPad app called Ocean Encounters. This is an interactive photo ebook that aims to showcase underwater photography from around the world. The 250 images within the app can be accessed via an interactive world map, by scrolling through the images one by one, or through a slideshow. The images have captions available, including information about the subjects, first person accounts and conservation information.

The app is available now for purchase from iTunes or via the Mac app store.

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Africa Diver issue 18 available

The August/September issue of Africa Diver is now available for download. Issue 18 includes articles and research about the Sardine Run, and why it didn’t really occur this year. It also features conservation efforts in Tanzania as well as visit her islands. Rocktail Bay in northern KwaZulu Natal is highlighted as a destination and Andrew Woodburn is the featured photographer.

Africa Diver is free to download in a pdf format.

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Last minute spaces available on Wetpixel whale shark expedition

The Wetpixel whale shark aggregation expedition has had some late cancellations, opening up the option for two more people to attend. The trip was oversubscribed, so this is a great last minute opportunity. Every summer, hundreds of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) aggregate near Isla Mujeres, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico to feed on bonito spawn. Last year, we had a group of at least 250 whale sharks In an area the size of a couple of football fields.

The available spaces are on the 5 to 9 August trip. If you are interested or need more details, please contact Eric Cheng via his contact page and copy me into your mail as well.

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Baa Atoll declared UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve

Save Our Seas reports that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO} has declared the Baa Atoll, Maldives a World Biosphere Reserve. These are places where conservation, research and development successfully interconnect. Baa Atoll contains the now famous Hanifaru lagoon, where large numbers of manta rays and whale sharks congregate. In fact, it is the pressures caused by the increase in visitors due to these events that have brought on the implementation of protection for the area. Baa Atoll project leader, Guy Stevens says:

“This philosophy is at the heart of UNESCO’s World Biosphere Program, which is why I am confident that Hanifaru will become a place where manta rays, tourism and the local communities can, and should, all benefit from its existence. Where the road to sustainable management is a real and effective path upon which the conservation of our oceans, and its resources, can travel for the future benefit of all, forever.”

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Inon releases insect eye conversion lens for compact cameras

Inon has announced the release of the UFL-M150 ZM80 underwater Micro Fisheye Lens. The new lens provides 150 degrees ultra-wide angle fisheye imaging. with a minimum focusing distance of 0cm and attaches via a “Mount Base” adaptor. The camera’s zoom position must be set to approximately 80mm (35mm film equivalent).

Inon has released a series of adaptors, including M27 to AD bayonet, M27 to M67 and M27 to LD mount. It is compatible with a wide variety of Olympus, Fujifilm, Sony, Canon and Panasonic cameras/housings. A full list of suitable housings is available as a pdf download. The new lens is available now.

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Microsoft releases Camera Codec Pack

Microsoft has released a camera Codec Pack that allows Windows 7 and Vista users to view raw files as thumbnails natively in Windows Explorer, and edit copies of them with Windows Live Photo Gallery 2011. It is available in x86 and x64 versions. The pack adds support for a selection of some 108 raw-capable cameras, and seems a bit arbitrary as it excludes a whole range of recent (and not-so recent) models. There is no information at present about if or when additional camera model support will be added.

The Codec Pack is available as a free download.

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Zacuto publishes part two of the Great Camera Shootout 2011

Zacuto has published part two of their 2011 Great Camera Shootout. Entitled “Sensors & Sensitivity” the tests were again conducted using the Single Chip Camera Evaluation (SCCE) testing technique. To measure sensor sensitivity, the team tested the signal to noise ratios for each camera in order to determine the threshold of acceptable noise.

Camera models tested were: Arriflex-435, Alexa, Canon 5D Mk II, Canon 1D Mk IV, Weisscam-HS2, Nikon D7000, Sony F35, Phantom Flex, Panasonic AF-100, RED ONE M-X and Sony PMW-F3.

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Black Magic Design releases DaVinci Resolve Lite

Many editors feel that Apple has downgraded the feature set of its Final Cut program in the newly released Final Cut X, and are seeking alternative solutions. One of the most promising seems to be Adobe Premiere Pro, however this is somewhat lacking in color grading ability. Black Magic Design produces DaVinci Resolve, a stand-alone pro quality color grading package which retails at about $1,000. They have also recently announced the release of Resolve Lite which is a free version of the full package.

DaVinci Resolve Lite is a free download for Mac OS.

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

Results of Scuba Diving Magazine photo contest announced

Scuba Diving magazine has announced the results of its “Through Your Lens: Reader’s Photo Contest 2011”. The grand prize was won by Steffen Binke, with his image of a whale at Lighthouse Bommie, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The competition has awarded prizes in four categories: Macro, wide-angle, behavior and divers and the winning images will be featured in the August 2011 issue of the magazine.

Congratulations to all the winners. and especially to the Wetpixel members amongst them. There is a slideshow of the winning images on the Scuba diving magazine website

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