In-cave video

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In-cave video

Postby gindling » Apr 19, 2012 10:09 pm

Any consensus or favorites for a robust, waterproof/resistant, HD video camera? Ive got a FLIP and its great for quickshots and what not but im looking for a bit more. Here is my recent video using the HD FLIP. Is there a DSLR version that is a cave favorite? The light sensitivity leaves something to be desired with the flip and I would think that the HDPRO would be the same. Im looking for off-helmet units.

http://vimeo.com/32007151
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Re: In-cave video

Postby NZcaver » Apr 19, 2012 10:16 pm

Welcome to the forum.

Check out this topic with a link to a cave video shot with a Canon 5D MkII DSLR. The body is "weatherproof" when used with L series lenses, and there are protective cases available. The new 5D MkIII is even better in low light (max ISO is something like 104,000) but it's not cheap.
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Re: In-cave video

Postby Scott McCrea » Apr 20, 2012 7:20 am

Nice work. Some dramatic scenes, too. "Don't let my mother see this." :laughing:

I am currently using the Sony TX-10. It's waterproof, shockproof, HD video, etc. It's not DSLR, but it fits my needs. I can't bring myself to carry something that big. Here's an example: http://youtu.be/sLLZhZfehbk. I need more light. I only use my Petzl Duo for light.

Even with a larger more sensitive camera, it's all about the light. The more light, the more info is captured. Plus, you are doing darned well with what you are using. Add more light and we'll be looking at award winning video from you.
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Re: In-cave video

Postby Phil Winkler » Apr 20, 2012 7:49 am

A most excellent video. It reminded me of one of Sid Perou's films of the 70's, Cascades de la Nuit (Cascades of the Night).
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Re: In-cave video

Postby gindling » Apr 20, 2012 11:38 am

Glad you liked it, thanks! I was using some black diamond icons (old ones) for light... with neither my lights or my camera anywhere near waterproof it made for some interesting video work.
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Re: In-cave video

Postby Amazingracer » Apr 20, 2012 1:10 pm

Actually the new GoPro HD2 does really well in cave for low light conditions. You still have to give it some light to work with but I use mine in cave all the time and get decent video.
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Re: In-cave video

Postby Leclused » Apr 20, 2012 1:18 pm

Amazingracer wrote:Actually the new GoPro HD2 does really well in cave for low light conditions. You still have to give it some light to work with but I use mine in cave all the time and get decent video.


Following video was made with a gopro (Im not sure if it was a Hd2).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Z8Uke_ ... r_embedded

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Re: In-cave video

Postby NZcaver » Apr 20, 2012 4:11 pm

Leclused wrote:Following video was made with a gopro (Im not sure if it was a Hd2).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Z8Uke_ ... r_embedded

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Great video! :kewl:
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Re: In-cave video

Postby rlboyce » Apr 20, 2012 7:34 pm

Agreed!! Looks fun!!
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Re: In-cave video

Postby verticalAndy » May 24, 2012 10:54 am

I've been shopping for a video camera for a couple of months now. I almost purchased the ContourROAM (but I didn't like the internal battery), and then I was just about to purchase the GoPro HD2, when I learned about the Sports Vue 360.

http://www.sports-vue.com/sports-vue-360hd.html

It's a little bigger than the ContourROAM, but it has replacable batteries and seems to have lots of features. There is a convincing head's up video comparison between the Sports Vue and the GoPro HD2 which seems to indicate that the Sports Vue shoots well in low light. I'm real tempted to invest in this one so that I can use it on an upcoming trip in July.
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Re: In-cave video

Postby chh » May 26, 2012 5:02 pm

Those are both great videos. Thanks for sharing!
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Re: In-cave video

Postby Smells_Familiar » May 27, 2012 1:49 am

gindling wrote:Any consensus or favorites for a robust, waterproof/resistant, HD video camera? Ive got a FLIP and its great for quickshots and what not but im looking for a bit more. Here is my recent video using the HD FLIP. Is there a DSLR version that is a cave favorite? The light sensitivity leaves something to be desired with the flip and I would think that the HDPRO would be the same. Im looking for off-helmet units.

http://vimeo.com/32007151


Seems very much like one of my favorite films by Steve Zissou entitled "Water Through Tight Crevass". Brillant....red helmets and all!!!
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Re: In-cave video

Postby JHCAVER » Jun 22, 2012 8:14 pm

Awesome video :bat sticker:
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Re: In-cave video

Postby mooreshire » Jun 30, 2012 5:28 pm

It all comes down to the sensor(s) and lens inside compared to the price paid, in my opinion.

As their first attempt at a 3CCD camcorder, Panasonic loaded their professional broadcast-grade 1/4" sensor cube into the now-discontinued HDC-SD1 model. Every single camcorder built since by any manufacturer has featured a CMOS sensor, only one color chip, or a smaller three-sensor cube. That is a full quarter inch of light collecting surface area per primary color, a fixed lens by a reputable optics manufacturer, it accepts secondary lenses, and it records h264 video to an SD card (admittedly interlaced at full 1080 resolution, so arguably it only does 720p), also it fits in the DiCAPac Wp-D20 waterproof case if you're not into dismantling and swabbing Lysol around inside your electronics to decon.

Any time one of these (admittedly outdated) camcorders hits the used equipment market for less than $300 I try and scoop it up for caving video purposes. Nothing else that I have used comes anywhere close to its color sensitivity in low light situations and I hate that nobody has made a compact video camera using such a sensor array since. DSLRs with three 1/4" color chips can now do stellar video too, but between the body and a lens that's too much money for me to take underground and break without crying. I use CMOS sensors when I have to (love my older ContourHD helmet cameras with easily swappable batteries and memory) but even when well lit it looks greyscale compared to a 1/4" 3CCD array under high-Color-Rendering-Index-rated video lights. Most of my caving videos I wouldn't show off as a professional though - caves are the hardest environments I've ever filmed in.

Lava formations filmed with such a sensor array, but before I switched to specifically "high-CRI" diodes in my video lights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybaLXhwbBCw
An even older and longer lava tube video using the 1/4" 3CCD without proper dedicated lighting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlHXWMlQNrE
For those who don't know, lava tubes are basalt and usually black-walled except where they have brilliant varied color. We also have marble caves here too, and I think only a 3CCD does justice to the colored striations in that rock.
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