Wetpixel

Show report: ADEX 2015

by adamhanlon

Show report: ADEX 2015 (Page 2)

By Drew Wong.

Big Blue Dive Lights by Z-Gear Singapore

The VL25000P aka the Big Chubby, claims 25000 lumens from 35 XML LED bulbs

As a VL2800P owner, I like Big Blue lights. It’s powerful and has red LED as well. However, at the Z Gear (Asia Pacific distributor) booth, I saw the VL25000P, which claimed a whooping 25000 lumens out of the 2.3kg Li-Ion self-contained unit, with a burn time of 2.5 hrs! That is astonishing performance. I am currently arranging to test it against the SeaWolf.

FUN-IN Underwater Photo

FUN-IN is a rapidly expanding Taiwanese underwater photography equipment supplier and manufacturer. Their booth was the biggest photo booth but carried the usual fare so I’ll only cover the newest highlights.

The FUN-IN pressure check system will retail under $300.

The most exciting product from FUN-IN, is their prototype but soon to be released housing pressure check system, which will retail under $300 and will fit all housings via adapters. This little gauge has LED lights to indicate pressure check and will come with a hand pump.

The ultra small video light system for compact cameras, seen here with a RECSEA G16 housing.

For compact videographers, there is also another ultra compact prototype yet to be released lighting system, feature a flexible arm LED light that is driven by a battery system attached to the housing. They were unable to give me any specifications or delivery time except “soon”.

AQUAKO

Aquako arms and diopter system on a Fantasea FG16 housing

South Korean manufacturer, Aquako were at the show to show off the Aquako stackable diopters and clear acrylic float arms. The arms come in 2 sizes, 260g or 400g buoyancy. More interesting is the fact you can actually open the tubes and put stuff in.

The Aquako arm with a toy shark in it.

Seacam

The Seacam booth.

Seacam’s Harald Hordosch explains the Nikkor connection to Wetpixel member Darren Jew

As usual, Seacam’s Harald Hordosch was on hand to make a presence for the silver housing. This year, he brought along some new toys for Seacam owners.

Seacam finally gets a pressure check system, using a wine pump!

Seacam finally developed a pressure check system, making them the last major brand manufacturer to actually have one. The new system is typically Seacam distinctive, using a modified wine pump to suck the air out. The electronics is now hooked up to the flood alarm as a unit. The entire process takes up to 4 minutes of testing to give the green light or red light for a bad seal.

Harald pumps his housing up (or out)!

Seacam also showed the Nikkor R-UW 20-35 f2.8 custom conversion lens, which allows users to use a smaller port as it is optimized for that port as the outer element.

The Seacam Nikkor 20-35mm R-UW lens conversion kit.

Seacam will only convert the owner’s lens and will not be supplying the lenses. Price is on application.

Seacam will also be producing housings for the Canon EOS-Cinema line of cameras, the C300 II and C500. The Prelude line Canon 7D Mark II and Nikon D7200 housings will also have more functions (but still not full like the normal line).

Wandering around ADEX

With limited imaging equipment offerings, I wandered around the floor to look for familiar faces. ADEX always invites quality speakers to talk on all subjects underwater. One of the popular speakers who appear annually is Wetpixel’s Shawn Heinrichs. He raced from shooting on location in Indonesia to deliver his talk on conservation, including screening his film, Racing Extinction.

Shawn Heinrichs talks about marine conservation.

Shawn was also doing demonstrations with underwater model Hannah in the pool on how to shoot underwater models.

Another Wetpixel staffer, Mike Veitch, of Underwater Tribe Bali, was an exhibitor for his photography trips and guide services. His company specializes in underwater photography trips around Indonesia, including one on one sessions etc.

Mike Veitch with Miho Takeda for Underwater Tribes Bali.

Kaj Maney aka liquidguru, an active member of the Wetpixel video forum, was in town for the Dive into Ambon booth. Ambon is, of course the famous island for muck diving and that elusive psychedelic frogfish, Histiophryne psychedelica. For those looking for more adventurous diving, Kaj, also told me about some new cave site he’d discovered.

Kaj Maney at the Dive into Ambon booth.

DPG Photo Editor Lia Barrett, was at ADEX to talk about photography and also promote the Prawno line of marine themed apparel.

Lia Barret with Claudia Winchler at the Prawno booth.

Underwater photographer Aaron Wong, the 2015 ADEX Ambassador for underwater photography, gave demonstrations and give talks on underwater photography with models.

Closing thoughts:

This year’s ADEX was bigger and better for divers at large, but for the imaging equipment, it was slightly disappointing from the last few years where many manufacturers turned up. Subal and Aquatica weren’t there, nor was Sea & Sea in any big way other than a couple of housings at the FUN-IN booth.

Perhaps next year, it’ll be different?

  1. Show Report: Scuba Cam: Nauticam, Gates, Inon and Orcalight.
  2. Show Report: Big Blue, Fun-In, Aquako, Seacam and people around the show.
  3. Wetpixel/Scubacam Imaging party: Full report with pictures!