BMD cameras Underwater.

Wanting to get comments on any underwater rigs users have built using BMD cameras.

I've seen referencer to a VR shoot with 9 pairs of BMD Micro Cinema Cameras by @michaelmuller7 (Insta) but not much else searching these threads. Did see a few references to using the soft plastic bag type enclosures but I imagine they not are rated beyond a couple of metres depth? Interested in housings safe for 60m+ depth as diver I'm working with regular dives that deep and is looking to get a Lumix GH5 with MFT mount, 4K with camera stabilisation. Off the shelf housings for 60m and 100m are available for this camera with push thru buttons to operate camera and a wet lens thread on the front of them (he already has some compatible lenses he's using with an older Panasonic so sticking with a MFT sensor makes sense).

I figured the extra stops of DR on BMD cameras and potentially better recording compression too (depending on BMD camera) would help pull colours back in the grade and avoid overly contrasty images. Blue tinting and losing reds being an obvious issue at depth and distance. What monitors do people use? How do you operate camera, what controls are available underwater, WB, iris, ISO etc? (@michaelmuller7 used a system of Arduino shield, gunlock syncing with BMD products and iPad controls I think).

Found this enclosure for Ursa Mini cameras rated to 10m max.

https://www.ewa-marine.com/products/broadcast/a-bm2/

Have used frequently the Nauticam housing for the 4K BMCC... still using it.
Bring enough light and you will have no issues of losing reds, and other colors in the spectrum...

You do need to also ensure that you use the extra power bank from Nauticam


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I think the nw Pocket 4K would be a good candidate for underwater shooting, just the enclosure is needed, no add on monitors required. Perhaps Ewa or Nauticam will develop one for it. If the camera does get wet, you are only out $1300.
Cheers

I think the nw Pocket 4K would be a good candidate for underwater shooting, just the enclosure is needed, no add on monitors required. Perhaps Ewa or Nauticam will develop one for it. If the camera does get wet, you are only out $1300.
Cheers

This forum needs a "like" button.

Likes for all the above, cheers guys!

Have used frequently the Nauticam housing for the 4K BMCC... still using it.

Cheers Rene, at US$3,600 it's no more than 3x the cost of PCC4K !! I think we'll be sticking with the GH5 for a bit longer. Tempting though, looks solid as a rock.

Housing for BMPCC4K inbound:

https://vimeo.com/323525848?ref=fb-share&1


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I think we'll be sticking with the GH5 for a bit longer. Tempting though, looks solid as a rock.

Hi Alastair, did you get your BMPCC4K underwater in the end?

My Nauticam NA-BMPCCII Housing has arrived. Any questions let me know!

The project has been delayed for now. Crew I might edit for currently have 2x GH5, a GH4 (uses same housing as GH5) and an ROV that can go to 500m with an optional $500 container for the electronics, runs off a cable to transmit the video signal. For land based still thinking the BMPCC4K and lenses for that Dynamic range and nice colour science, LUTs in firmware etc.

Interested to hear how you BMPCC4K is going underwater, what kind of image quality you are seeing etc. Definitely if we get a BMPCC4K an underwater housing is the next logical step. One thing the producer loves about the GH5 is in-camera and in-lens VR for stabilising shots, as it gets pretty rough down there along the coastline of WA. And the wet lens setup being he can swap lenses underwater.

Housing for BMPCC4K inbound:

https://vimeo.com/323525848?ref=fb-share&1

Thanks Richard, image quality looks good and every dial and button I think you'd be wanting underwater. Have shared. BMPCC4K records to the new BRAW codec now too, right?

I’d love to know a high quality underwater option for the URSA Mini Pro G2. Still waiting for it to ship, but when I get it I’d love to try some underwater stuff. I have a model friend who does a lot of mermaid themed shoots. We’ve spoken about doing a mermaid video and it would be great to get underwater with the mermaids.


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I had an underwater shoot recently in a pool and desperately wanted to use our BMPCC4K. There were no housing solutions available at the time, that I could find, so I ended up using an Outex Pro Kit and, while not perfect since they're shaped for conventional DSLRs, I was able to fit the camera in there without too much trouble. More importantly, it worked great and was even able to change batteries a couple times with only a couple minutes of downtime in between. For about $500, it's hard to beat. I've reached out to Outex hoping they will develop a model more closely matched for the BMPCC4K, but we'll see if they listen.

I'm not at liberty to share much from this project until it's released, but here are a couple frames the producers have already shared publicly.

outex_maha.jpg (843.91 KiB) Viewed 1886 times

As for more robust solutions, I would consider Salty Surf's upcoming housing for the Pocket 4K. They have pre-orders open.

https://www.facebook.com/saltysurfhousi ... =3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/saltysurfhousi ... =3&theater

Nauticam makes a housing and various lens ports that support the BMPCC4K. A typical housing will cost around $3500 plus a good $1000 dome port. Camera not included. Plus another $3000 for professional quality underwater lights.
Undewater photography is a whole nother game.

I’ve had the Nauticam housing for a few weeks now. Alas apart from getting it in the pool and a couple
Of check dives. Nothing great to show.

Any queries or questions. Just ask!