Director wants to know: GH1 or HVX for underwater scene?

Ben_B

Ben_B

Veteran
Hi, I'm working on a film that is shooting a mix of HVX + Letus, naked HVX, and possibly some GH1 (or HMC or EX-1....yeah it's a real mix, we're shooting some tests next week) but anyway, he wants to get a few shots underwater for one of the scenes (from below, pointing up, etc.)

He was wondering whether we should by which of these housings, one for generic SLR, one for the HVX.

SLR ver.
http://www.ewa-marine.de/index.php?id=83

HVX ver.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/438448-REG/Ewa_Marine_EM_VP_2_VP2_Underwater_Housing_for.html

I pointed out that I believe the SLR version is cheaper, and it is rated to a higher depth (60ft vs 33ft) but I know for him it will come down (rightly so) to image quality.

So does anyone have any thoughts on which camera will perform better underwater, the HVX (with it's built in lens) or the GH1 (probably with my sigma 24mm f/1.8, or possibly a fast nikon fisheye/wideangle...) this being for shots looking up from below the ocean "with light stream down." I think someone falls in in one also.

The other issue I pointed out to him is that my GH1 is much cheaper to replace should something go wrong vs the DP's HVX (all equipment is uninsured but we will be signing contracts with the producers for the underwater scene to ensure the equipment is replaced if destroyed.)
 
One thing I think would sway me towards the GH1 is the LCD screen. After using it for a while it's really odd going back to the HVX! It is sooo much better on the GH1. Might be a factor, since I imagine you will shoot from the LCD underwater?
 
What will be shown in those underwater scenes? I could imagine that the weak codec in the GH1 could be a real problem in such a scenario.
 
What are you filming? Where, daylight, lights? A little more might help you get a better opinion.

Do you need deep focus? If so an HVX with a wide angle adapter might work well if you have the exposure for it and the housing allows for the adapter. Without the adapter you might not like the 32.5mm equivalent wide end.

Have you looked into a 7D? There must be a thousand in CA already so finding one to rent might be easy, and very affordable.
 
I think that the 24mm will to tight on the GH1. A good wide lens like the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 would be more helpful for underwater filming.
Codec wise, the jury is still out. It could tricky with possible blockiness or banding depending to the structure and the textures seen in the frame. Test, test, test!
 
I've got a friend that is picking up the Tokina 12-24...how would that do?

I think the director has a whole arsenal of Nikon glass...we might use a 10.5mm fisheye or something else like that.

As far as I know it just needs to be a shot up at the surface from underneath that should look kind of nice...I don't think there is a specific subject.

You'll need to make a more compelling argument than "oh the codec" is bad if you're going to say thata gainst GH1...I have not have any problems with codec issues on my GH1 because I know how to shoot with it, and I don't think the HVX's poor low-light performance, crappy blacks, and heavy grain are particularly good underwater either...but yeah I am gonna advocate test test test. The director has already talked about doing some image sequence stuff for other scenes so maybe if we get the SLR adapter he'd be ok with using one of our DSLRs that has a high burst frame rate.
 
Then shoot a test with the GH1, the Panasonic colors are great IMO. And if you are shooting with an HVX then it should match nicely.

The 12-24 should be plenty wide but you need to make sure you will be fine with f/4. Shooting up could mean you won't have exposure problems, more so with a VDSLR. I don't know much about the 12-24 other than hearing that it is a good lens, but the 11-16 is supposed to be significantly better. Not sure how since I don't know the 12-24mm.
 
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