From still photography to video and even lighting equipment, UnderWater takes a look at what's new to help contractors see under the sea.

Whether taking photos to diagnose a problem and plan a course of action, or confirming that a client's requirements have been met, on virtually every underwater job there is a need to visually document work. As the cameras and lights become more advanced, they become even more valuable parts of a contractor's tool kit.

As a general rule, contractors that wish to improve their underwater photographic skills should remember the same things that work on land will work under the water.

Try to include some background and foreground in your shot. Try to include other divers (or some object) in the background of the shot for scale purposes. Remember that colors will fade to blue very quickly away from the lighting being used.

It is a good idea to check the camera housing as soon as the diver enters the water. If the camera is going to leak, it will almost always leak at shallow depth, because the deeper the camera goes underwater, the higher the pressure on the O-rings.

When shooting video, remember to keep the camcorder still. Movement will obscure your subject, which is already hard to see, and can make your audience nauseous.

Contractors should remember that water, particularly salt water, is a hostile environment for mechanical equipment, so make stocking and maintaining the camera equipment a normal part of the job planning and packing routine. Take care of your equipment according to the manufacturers' recommendations, and it will likely reward you with a long service life. Always pack high-capacity rechargeable batteries and a fast charger.

For still images, there are two approaches to underwater photography: purpose-built underwater cameras and land-based cameras in special underwater housings.

Cameras specifically designed to operate underwater are usually more compact and lighter than normal cameras. They are built for harsh environments and pressure, so if the camera floods, it will likely be repairable. However, underwater cameras usually cost more than equivalent land cameras and often do not work very well out of water.

The contractor who chooses to use a normal camera in an underwater housing will enjoy high quality, excellent reliability (if the housing holds), and a wide variety of bodies, lenses, and accessories. But, if the worst happens and the housing floods, the camera is generally a goner. Also, the combination of camera and custom housing is often bulkier and heavier than purpose-built underwater cameras.

As is evident from the following pages, there are a multitude of still and video cameras, as well as accessories, from which to choose. The savvy contractor will assess his or her needs and then determine which of the products on the market best fits those needs.

Outland Technology Knows the Commercial Wars
Outland Technology has been serving the commercial diving market for over 16 years, always with the latest state-of-the-art underwater video systems and cameras on the market.

Buddy Mayfield and the entire crew at Outland take pride in the fact that all their systems of today are compatible with the company's first system made in 1984. Any customer can power their new cameras on their old cable and console, and vice versa, although to control the new zoom and pan/tilt cameras on older consoles an optional digital controller must be connected.

As ROVs go deeper and deeper, Outland has designed housings depth-rated to 19,680 feet (6,000m). Most of their cameras now have that option. The UWC-325/p is a Delrin housing version of their UWC-325 stainless steel camera. It is depth-rated to 1,000 feet (300m) with 400 line .2 lux sensitivity. The lightweight, low cost and corrosion free camera can be diver held, helmet mountable, or ROV mountable.

The UWL-300 is a 12 VDC light with 35 watt bulb, aluminum housing, and a 1,000-foot (300m) depth rating. The low voltage, high output 30 degree beam can be diver held or helmet mountable.

The UWS-3510 is Outland's new complete video system for underwater video inspection tasks. It only sends low voltage DC down to the diver for powering the camera and light. The system has the following components: UWC-325/p color camera, UWL-300 12 VDC light, C-2005 500-foot cable, CON-3500 10-inch color monitor, VHS VCR, and power supply.

In the near future, Outland plans to release the CON-5000. This new console will have a 10.4-inch LCD monitor, VHS VCR, and power supply/control unit mounted in a suitcase size case. The dimensions are 18-inches wide by 13-inches deep by 6.5-inches high. The LCD monitor is attached to the top and swings up to expose the monitor and VCR.

DeepSea Power & Light's Best Value Strategy
As imaging technology for the oceanographic community evolves, DeepSea Power & Light continues to move forward with the design and release of new equipment to meet the demands of the subsea market.

With their strategic ³Best Value Products² philosophy in mind, DeepSea's design of the established Multi-SeaCam continues to evolve. The Multi-SeaCam was designed to be a camera with a footprint and size ideal for ROV and diver applications, and that could accommodate newer modules as they became available. Originally offered in color and black and white, a low-light black and white variant was introduced in 1999, thus expanding the camera's capability.

DeepSea recently decided to take the Multi-SeaCam a step further by incorporating LEDs behind the front port ­ thus the LED Multi-SeaCam was born. Although the applications for this solid and durable camera are numerous, it is ideally suited for manipulator arm applications that require the use of a camera in space-constrained areas where a typical light and camera system would prove to be too bulky.

Additionally, integrating LEDs into the camera reduces the need for separate illumination, and LEDs are not as susceptible to shock and vibration as are typical filament based lamps. The LED Multi-SeaCam is currently offered with white LEDs and has been successfully fitted with infrared LEDs for close-in observation of marine life. The next variant will utilize new higher output green LEDs that should improve the performance of the low light and standard black and white modules.

The next generation of Multi-SeaCams will be lower cost black and white and color versions of the camera. These should be available by midway through 2001. The concept of flexibility built into the Multi-SeaCam product line was originally initiated some years ago by the introduction of DeepSea's versatile Multi-Sealite line. The idea of offering variable reflector options, a wide variety of lamp and connector choices, and simple re-lamping and maintenance seemed novel back then, but today are features that users expect. Originally offered as the 3,280-foot (1,000m) rated Multi-SeaLite or the 19,680-foot (6,000m) rated Deep Multi-SeaLite, the latest addition to this family of lights is the newly released Midwater Multi-SeaLite, which fills the gap between these two well-established products. Rated at 10,000 feet (3,000m), the Midwater Multi-SeaLite offers all of the convenient features found in its cousins. For information, call 858-576-1261.

Tethered Video Cameras from Ocean Systems
Ocean Systems' line of surface-tethered video cameras are ideal for inspection and observation to depths of 500 feet (152m). Prices for the Splash-Cam series range from $645 to $2000.

The series includes the color-only Deep Blue model, which is popular for its excellent resolution. The Delta Vision model is popular for its compact size, and is available in black and white and color. Both cameras are offered in NTSC or PAL format.

Lighting is included with all Ocean Systems cameras. The company is also introducing a portable video observation system with a 5.5-inch LCD monitor with sun shield, battery power good for 12 hours of continuous operation, and a camera with 150 feet of cable. The system is housed in a small durable travel case.

Kodak's New Sea Processing Brings Prints to Life
Eastman Kodak Company, which created technology to capture images from space and the surface of Mars, has turned its technical focus to the Earth's waters. Kodak's new Sea Processing provides underwater photos that accurately portray their subjects, increasing image clarity for divers documenting their work underwater.

The patented photofinishing process uses a blend of digital and traditional silver halide technology to optimize underwater prints, putting the same life and color in the print that the diver saw when he took the picture. This could mean even more divers documenting their work with underwater photography than ever before, and divers already account for almost 1.5 million film rolls processed per year. Kodak Sea Processing is available through select North American dive specialty shops, so contractors should check the outlets in their area.

³Kodak Sea Processing delivers a home run for all underwater photographers who choose to shoot color negatives,² said Stephen Frink, a renowned underwater photographer and instructor who tested the service. ³The improvements in my underwater prints due to Kodak Sea Processing were truly startling. Thanks to this new digital technology, we now have a way to consistently ensure optimal results with underwater photography.²

Underwater photography presents a number of challenges. The water tends to filter out reddish tones, resulting in exaggerated green or blue tints, an effect that worsens at greater depths and distances. In addition, images frequently appeared blurry and underexposed, and underwater light is often less than ideal for picture taking.

Traditional photo processing has sought to remedy these problems with filters and other light corrections with mixed results. The traditional approach is often expensive, time consuming and varies greatly with different labs. The correction process of traditional photo processing also can produce false colors, and prints may appear fuzzy.

In contrast, Kodak Sea Processing digitally enhances images, and a Kodak-trained technician makes three separate sets of corrections to ensure that the color matches that of the underwater world.

Sea & Sea Underwater Photography, Kodak's dive industry partner, is a subsidiary of Sea & Sea Products, one of the largest international manufacturers and distributors of underwater photo and video equipment.

Fujifilm Captures Hunley Recovery
Fuji NDT, a unit of Fuji Medical Systems USA, helped document history recently by donating a computed radiography system and film to the Hunley recovery project. Other Fuji Group companies, including Fujifilm-South Carolina, assisted the project with contributions of film, videotape, digital cameras and other imaging equipment. Fujifilm was designated the Official Imaging Company of the Hunley Project.

Fujifilm's QuickSnap Waterproof one-time-use camera is perfect for underwater contractors to take pictures in water without worrying about ruining the camera. The camera has a sturdy, transparent O-ring sealed case that is impact-resistant and protects the camera from water, sand and dirt. The camera features a contoured body that is submersible underwater to 17 feet (5m). The QuickSnap Waterproof allows underwater photographers to simply point and shoot, capturing their subjects from up to 10 feet away. The camera is preloaded with 27 exposures of Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 800 35mm film that features Fujifilm's innovative 4th Color Layer Technology.

RD Manufacturing Helps Make Diving Safer
RD Manufacturing's surface supplied lights and video work at low voltage to help reduce the possibility of electrical shock hazard.

Their surface supplied light power unit is housed in a dialectic, waterproof Pelican box. The incoming power supply for the power unit has a line with a built-in ground fault interrupter (GFI) circuit with a special twist lock connector on the end that mates with the power unit. This was designed to prevent the power unit from being operated without GFI protection. The outgoing power has a safety fuse in the upper left corner of the control panel. RD Manufacturing's new low voltage color video inspection system is user friendly, high quality and built with safety in mind.

The system has 13-inch color monitor and has a built-in 4-head VCR, giving a permanent record of the day's events. The color and black and white video cameras work off 12 volts DC power.

The video camera is small in size and weight so it doesn't fatigue the diver. It mounts on the center of the handle of the Kirby Morgan helmet, enabling the camera to be tilted up or down by the diver. This extended range of motion enables the video camera to be positioned at the proper angle while the diver's head remains at a comfortable position.

The proper position of the video camera enables the topside personnel to have the right view, while the diver works at a comfortable stance with less stress.

VideoRay's Swimming Video Camera
The VideoRay ROV was recently used by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to search the Yacht Harbor Marina in Austin, Texas, for items lost by President George Bush. A fire on December 16, 2000, damaged boats belonging to President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans. The Recovery Team was looking for items of possible value to the investigation.

The VideoRay swimming camera scoped out the cold, dark waters of Lake Travis in depths reaching 70 feet (21m). In just five minutes from launch, the ROV located the first items of possible value to the investigation. The manipulator arm helped retrieve items without the use of divers.

³Divers may have never found the items we located with VideoRay,² says Steve Van Meter, a Hazardous Duty Robotics Specialist from NASA/Kennedy Space Center. Bob Christ from VideoRay worked with Van Meter and the ATF Houston Field Division in the search. Van Meter uses a VideoRay at NASA/Kennedy Space Center to inspect tanks, culverts, and hazardous submerged areas, as well as occasionally fighting alligators (see the March/April issue of UnderWater). Tiny and powerful, the video quality of the VideoRay ROV makes a compelling case for a contractor staying on the deck of the boat instead of lugging equipment around underwater during an inspection job. VideoRay boasts a high-resolution camera that produces industrial-strength video for inspections and video documentation of all kinds. In fact, VideoRay has been used by Discovery Channel to capture footage of sharks and will soon make its debut in a National Geographic production.

There are two models, the VideoRay 2000 and the VideoRay Pro. VideoRay's camera, manufactured by Panasonic, is a color CCD with 350 line screen resolution and a minimum light sensitivity of five lux. An upgrade to 420 or 570 lines of resolution is available, and a better picture quality with a sensitivity of five lux.

For very light-sensitive uses, the VideoRay Pro model has an optional rear view pinhole black and white camera with 350 line screen, with a minimum sensitivity of four lux. For use with infrared, a black and white high-resolution front view camera with a sensitivity of .03 lux is available. All front view cameras have opyional zoom ability.

While contractors can currently run only one camera at a time, the VideoRay Pro will soon have simultaneous display of the rear and front camera views. All video feeds from the sub to the surface and can be recorded. VideoRay supports the NTSC and European PAL formats.

The crew of scientists and film producers on a Discovery Channel filming mission were impressed with the performance of VideoRay 2000, which is the base model for the VideoRay Pro.

³The VideoRay gave me unprecedented access to the underwater world which helped tremendously in shooting Sharks of the Great White North,² said Larry Bambrick, a producer with Discovery Channel Canada. ³Its ability to go deep in extremely frigid waters let me decide whether it was worth sending down the divers. When you're working in a hostile underwater environment like the high north, having the VideoRay act as a second pair of eyes is invaluable.²

Light and Motion Underwater Camera Housings
Light and Motion of Monterey, California, is one of the industry leaders in the digital imaging revolution. Long known for their innovative underwater video housings, Light and Motion has produced the first aluminum machined housing for a digital still camera in the United States.

The Tetra Digital Still Housing accommodates Olympus models C-2020, C-3000, C-3030, as well as the newly released C-3040. The diver can access all of the camera's controls underwater and produce phenomenal instant results. The all aluminum housing features reliable mechanical controls and has a maximum depth rating of 300 feet (91m). Both the rear plate and the lens port mount feature double O-ring seals.

The Tetra housing will accommodate both wide angle lenses and macro lenses (with optional accessory ports). The lightweight housing weighs less than three pounds in air, with the camera. A complete ³fly-away² package can be assembled with any strobe that has a Nikonos bulkhead connection and can be carried aboard any airliner and still fit under the seat in front of you.

The Tetra is an ideal camera for any type of underwater inspection work. Photo realistic prints from the 3.3 megapixel files can be enlarged up to 11x14 inches. With photo retouching software, these images can be sized to be included in reports. However, the real beauty of the system is that, with photo retouching software, low resolution JPEG photos can be sent instantly to the client or posted on a website for client viewing. With this system, the diver can take macro shots for weld inspections and wide angle shots of platform nodes, pier pilings, and pipelines.

If you haven't joined the digital video revolution yet, you're missing the boat when it comes to offering professional presentations to your clients. With a digital video camera and a properly equipped desktop or laptop computer, you can edit and produce inspection videos that will impress your clients. You can also produce company video brochures that can be distributed on VHS tapes, CD-ROM, DVD, or posted on your company's website.

Light and Motion also makes a series of video housings for a variety of Sony video cameras. The most compact package is the Mako housing for the Sony PC100 and PC110 MiniDV digital cameras. A complete Mako package with lights, batteries, and camera weighs as little as 14.5 pounds. Like the Tetra, it will fit under your airline seat or in the overhead compartment. For the traveling commercial diver, this is the ideal system.

Light and Motion also makes housings for 3-chip video cameras, such as the Sony V900 and PD100 and the Sony VX2000 and PD150. These three chip cameras produce broadcast quality video and have incredible color reproduction. Light and Motion makes their Bluefin housing for the V900 and PD100 and another Bluefin model for the VX2000 and PD150.

Ultralight Control Systems
Ultralight Control Systems offers some of the lightest and most versatile aluminum arm systems on the market, with pivots, trays, and arms for all underwater cameras, housings, strobes and video housings and lights. Ultralight's Pivot allows the diver to take vertical or horizontal photos with the push of a button, and has revolutionized underwater photography. With a quick push of the button on the pivot, the diver can switch from horizontal to vertical format before the strobes have recycled. The strobes never need adjustment because the pivot is located at the center of the lens axis. The clamp sets are quite unlike any other clamp set in the underwater world. The Ultralight clamps have been designed for maximum clamping force, ease of use, and handling. The clamp sets are spring loaded for easy adjustment during the dive and designed for maximum clamping force, making them stronger yet lighter than other clamps on the market today.

The Ultralight arms may look like just another set of adjustable arms, but close inspection will prove otherwise. The spherical ball concept has been on the market for some time. Ultralight arms have been totally re-engineered to incorporate the maximum clamping action possible. The inclusion of an O-ring greatly increases the friction forces at the joint, therefore, keeping the arms where the diver puts them. The lightweight pattern not only looks great but also allows the arms to keep their required rigidity while keeping the weight to an absolute minimum.

Ultralight Control Systems offers a full line of adapters for every underwater strobe and video light. There is a full line of adapters for use on housings and other manufacturer's trays. All adapters have the ball joint with the O-ring so that they mount directly to the clamp sets. In addition they have a full line of accessories, including spotting light adapters and light meter adapters.

Minolta's Vectis Weathermatic Zoom
The Minolta Vectis Weathermatic Zoom Camera is the first underwater camera to combine zoom, autofocus, and Advanced Photo System features.

By incorporating their Advanced Photo System technology, Minolta was able to design a more compact camera that provides ample space for the zoom lens and eliminates the need for a back-cover release. This makes the camera body more resistant to hydrostatic pressure.

The bright yellow camera provides clear, sharp pictures in virtually all conditions, and is depth rated to 33 feet (10m). The camera's passive AF system determines its focus based on the contrast of subjects, as opposed to less sophisticated active systems that use a light beam which can scatter or get lost in the water. This makes clear, sharp pictures possible below water, resulting in fewer problems for the diver.

The Vectis Weathermatic Zoom features a versatile 1.7x zoom lens with a focal range of 30-50mm (approximately equivalent to 38-63mm in 35mm format), bringing the diver close to the subject. Thanks to an improved O-ring seal, the Vectis Weathermatic keeps water out making the camera ideal for divers. A large high-eyepoint viewfinder makes it easy to see through the viewfinder even when wearing a diving helmet.

SeaView Targets New Markets
SeaView Video Technology offers several underwater systems ideal for underwater contractors. Their Twin-Cam system offers full-color video for bright sun and clear water, plus the super seeing-power of infrared-enhanced black and white video for deep water, murky bottoms, and night viewing. Both cameras will operate simultaneously, and plug into any video monitor or VCR. Power is from 110 AC, 12V external battery, 12V boat power, or internal monitor battery pack. There is nothing extra to buy ­ it even includes a 5-inch AC/DC color TV monitor.

The Mini SeaView offers rugged quality in a dependable compact package. It is less than a foot long, weighs only 3.5 pounds, and uses the proven technology of their Offshore Series full size cameras at only half the size and weight. Although not suitable for trolling, the Mini is still one of the company's most popular designs. It is compact and portable enough for maintenance and inspection jobs of every kind. Its ³see-in-the-dark² InfraRed-Enhanced black and white cuts through murky water and brings the underwater world right to the video screen.

Like its offshore big brothers, the Mini comes with a one-year full-exchange warranty against defects in manufacture, and is guaranteed to 400 foot (121m) depths. Optional cable configurations are available.

SeaView's BW-150, featuring InfraRed-Enhanced Black and White, provides sharp, clear pictures where nothing else can see. Their White InfraRed technology (patent pending) sees more because the InfraRed emitters are built into the camera probe. The BW-150 actually transmits as well as receives InfraRed light, for all water conditions, day or night.

NightSea's Fluorescence Imaging
NightSea has introduced a new line of products for seeing, photographing, and videotaping fluorescence underwater. Two lights, the UltraMax and UltraBlue, enable a diver to see fluorescence, while accessory filters for photo and video equipment make it possible to record the effect.

The high-intensity UltraMax emits a powerful beam of longwave ultraviolet light suitable for stimulating fluorescence of hydrocarbons, tracer dyes for leak detection, other fluorescent materials used in non-destructive testing, and many biological subjects.

The UltraMax operates at a low enough power to permit fully portable use with a small tank-mounted battery package. Surface power can be supplied as an option. The UltraBlue is a conventional dive flashlight custom-modified to emit blue light. The UltraBlue was designed for observing biological fluorescence, but will also work with some fluorescent dyes.

The UltraMax can be used as a light source for videotaping fluorescence. For still photography with film or digital cameras, NightSea supplies custom filters that fit over existing electronic flash units to convert them to stimulate fluorescence, with a complementary filter in front of the camera. Either ultraviolet or blue light can be used for photography or videography. Fluorescence photography is best done in dark conditions, but NightSea has also developed a compact unit that incorporates a Nikonos camera and two small strobes for taking pictures in the daytime.

The UltraMax was recently used by Orion Construction Co. of Houston, Texas, to locate a leak in an intake pipe in a reservoir. Orion added a drinking-water-safe fluorescent dye from Bright Dyes to the 1,800-foot line, which lay on the lake bed at a maximum depth of 80 feet (24m). Once the pipe was sealed and pressurized, the UltraMax quickly revealed the leaking joint.

Bowtech Teams with ROS
Bowtech Products Limited began trading in 1990 and was set up to market products for three overseas manufacturers: Remote Ocean Systems, IEC Corporation, and Seacon (Europe) Ltd.

In February 1997, Bowtech expanded into a new office and manufacturing complex in Dyce, Aberdeen. Bowtech is the UK's largest manufacturer of deep emergency underwater strobes and the second largest manufacturer of deep underwater video cameras.

Their Low Cost Camera range was developed to complement the range of cameras offered by Remote Ocean Systems (ROS), where users did not require all of the professional features such as long line drivers, and water corrected optics. The cameras offer a cost-effective solution to simple underwater monochrome and color viewing tasks. Now the two companies have combined their two ranges of Low Cost Cameras (LCC) to create a comprehensive range of high quality, cost-effective, oceanographic cameras available.

The standard range has 11 miniature cameras with very similar housing designs, depending upon their intended application, and are available in monochrome or high-resolution color. They are depth rated between 32 feet (10m) and 19,680 feet (6,000m).

The standard monochrome and color cameras both have the new 31mm diameter Titanium housing, which is depth rated to 13,120 feet (4,000m). With the introduction of Titanium and the standardization of housing sizes, Bowtech and ROS will significantly increase the use and ease of interfacing these cameras to underwater tools and ROVs.

Bowtech also offers other ROS models, such as a complete range of underwater professional video cameras, lamps and electrical pan and tilts. Their video camera line includes low light level cameras, high resolution color, color zoom cameras and the unique Navigator.

The Navigator is a solid state CCD camera that has a low light level performance that nearly matches a conventionally tubed SIT camera. It is very rugged, small, and cannot be damaged by being pointed at very bright subjects, at less than half the price of an SIT camera.

Shark Marine's Underwater Video Systems
Shark Marine Technologies of Ontario, Canada, has been building video camera systems since 1984. Their systems can be hand-held or mounted to a diving helmet or ROV. They are ideal for inspection work of all types, as well as for documentary and feature films. Shark Marine cameras have been used in extreme conditions, from the arctic to active liquid waste tank inspections, and in salt and fresh water.

The SV-14R low light level black and white and the SV-DSP2001 high resolution, digital signal processor color camera are small in size but not in performance. The housings are machined from delrin, with stainless steel hardware. Corrosion is no longer the major threat that it is with aluminium housings. The rugged design can take the constant abuse that underwater equipment is exposed to, for many years of reliable operation with a minimum amount of maintenance. Contractors can use the SV-DSP Zoom Camera when they want to keep a distance from their subject. Researchers have found this to be an invaluable tool for monitoring applications. This camera has an Optical 16X zoom, 128 X digital zoom, Auto Iris, Auto Focus, Electronic Shutter, Auto white balance, and the ability to set any or all functions manually. The camera boasts a horizontal resolution of over 480 TV lines and has a minimum illumination of one Lux. 3D is now available as a standard product. The SV-DSP-3D uses frame sequential technology so that images can be recorded and played back on standard VCRs, and viewed with our head mounted displays or shutter glasses. The camera still uses digital signal processing to achieve a stunning 470-line high quality image. Auto color balance and auto exposure are standard and the conversion point can be adjusted externally.

All Shark Marine cameras will operate from 12VDC and standard VCRs and monitors. They also have packaged topside controls, such as the SV-SC98. This includes a monitor, VHS VCR, variable light control and an audio annotation system with a built-in microphone or connection to a diver radio.

Shark Marine has recently introduced two digital video recording topsides, the DV-9 and the DV-laptop. Both units record video on Mini-DV digital recording tapes from analog or digital sources. Both also include camera connection, variable light control, single diver radio, microphone and dubbing jacks. The DV-9 contains a high resolution 9-inch broadcast monitor in a 19-inch splash proof rack case. The DV-laptop has a 5.5-inch active matrix LCD screen and will operate from 120 VAC or 12 VDC and is compact enough to fit under the seat on most aircraft.

The SV-Q10K light is built tough for the abusive demands of harsh environments. With its versatile mounting bracket, this light adapts well to almost any application. The SV-Q10K uses only two O-rings for sealing, reducing potential leakage problems. For more information, visit www.sharkmarine.com.

Inuktun Services
Inuktun Services Ltd. (ISL) offers several underwater camera systems of note to industry contractors.

ISL's Pan Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) camera system is one of the smallest amphibian cameras available on the market. At only four inches in diameter (in zero tilt position), the remote camera can fit through small openings for inspection inside of tanks, pipes and other confined spaces. The system is depth rated to 100 feet (30m), with greater depths optional, and contains a high quality Sony camera head that provides a 72:1 zoom factor (18X optical, 4X digital) at more than 460 TV lines resolution.

Inuktun's PTZ Camera and the company's team of qualified engineers made the choice easy for Westinghouse when Inuktun won the contract to supply a custom video system. Incorporating the Inuktun PTZ camera, it will be used to transmit data from within a shaft that extends approximately 2,500 feet (758m) vertically below ground level and expels air at 35mph. The camera and housing will be strategically positioned above the mouth of the cylinder and will make its descent by means of a hydraulic winch and pulley system.

In addition, Inuktun has recently designed and developed a small, lightweight, and easily affordable drop camera. Completely encased in epoxy, the camera head is depth rated to more than 1,000 feet (300m).

A B Manufacturing Offers Variety
Located in Gretna, Louisiana, A B Manufacturing was organized in early 1990 to provide rental services to the underwater diving community. Since then, equipment manufacturing has been added to supplement services to clients. Several underwater video systems are available as rental items or for purchase.

Variable Focus Camera ­ The workhorse of the diving industry consists of a variable focus color video camera with a pressure housing tested to 1,500 feet (458m) and made out of marine-grade 6061 T6 that has been hard anodized. The camera housing is 9.5-inches in length and 3.45-inches in diameter. It houses a 12V DC 6 mm f1.4 lens combined with a 1/2-inch Hyper Had CCD sensor, .2 Lux CCD, 380 TV lines, 75 ohm EIA (NTSC) output signal camera that is mated to a 250-watt underwater halogen light that yields excellent video in all situations.

Hat Mount Fixed Focus Color Camera ­ This small 12V DC camera is available in both black and white and color versions. It features the same type of pressure housing rating as A B's variable camera, except it measures 2.9-inches in length and 2.75-inches in diameter. The camera has a 5mm pinhole, electronic iris f1.4 lens with a 90 degree field of view combined with a 1/3² (8.5 mm) CCD Sony chip imaging device, 2.5 lux, 330 lines of resolution, EIA (NTSC) output signal, and 1.0 Vp p at 75 ohms. This camera is mated to a 100-watt underwater halogen light for low light conditions.

Palm-Fixed Focus Color Camera ­ A B's newest camera is called the Palm camera due to its small dimensions, which lend the camera to being helmet-mounted, ROV-mounted, or used as a drop camera. Available in both black and white and color versions, the pressure housing has been tested to 1,500 feet (458m) and is manufactured with the same material as the variable focus cameras.

Lenses offered are 4mm, 6mm, and 12mm focal lengths, all capable of using the same pressure housing. The color camera has sensitivity of less than 3 lux, with the black and white version having a sensitivity of 0.7 lux (considered to be quite low). Both fixed focus cameras are 1/3-inch formats and are available in EIA (NTSC) output signal. Resolution for the color camera is 330 lines, and 380 lines for the black and white in EIA format. Camera operating voltage ranges from a low 6V DC to a maximum voltage of 15V DC.

For information, e-mail Byron Landry at ABManuf@aol.com.

FishEye's Underwater Viewing System
An extremely versatile and rugged unit, the FishEye underwater camera is an inexpensive system that delivers sharp, beautiful pictures, even in low light situations. Contractors can customize a system exactly for their needs. Each system is available with a color camera (400 lines resolution) or black and white camera (380 lines resolution), and comes with cable lengths available in 60, 100, 150 or 200-foot lengths. The systems also include a cable management wrap, drift fin, and a down rigger clip, with prices starting at $399.

If desired, the FishEye camera can be equipped with an integrated light package. The lights are turned on and off by a surface-mounted waterproof switch located at the end of the cable. The black and white camera uses infra-red light technology and the color camera has super bright white LEDs to provide additional light when the camera is at deep depths in dark, clear water.

The camera is housed in a virtually indestructible urethane-over-steel construction to resist damage, prevent leaks and protect from scratches and dings. The housing has a tempered glass front cover that instantly sheds water beads and provides maintenance free protection.

The patented FishEye urethane cable jacket is very rugged and extremely abrasion resistant. It has a 600-pound tensile strength and is reinforced with No-stretch Kevlar, super flexible, and very resistant to kinking.

All FishEye systems are powered by 12VDC ship's power or through an available 12V portable, rechargeable power pack that can run a small TV/VCR unit for an hour or the camera alone for more than 12 hours. A standard RCA ³Video Out² connection is used to connect the camera to a monitor, VCR or camcorder to view and record the underwater action.

Sony Shows Future of High Definition is Now
Nothing is more important for underwater video photographers than equipment that yields high-resolution images with utmost dependability. This was especially true for Feodor Pitcairn, founder of Philadelphia-based Feodor Pitcairn Productions, as he shot footage all over the world for Ocean Wilds, the five-part PBS series being broadcast this spring. Pitcairn used the very first HD Sony camcorder shipped to North America on the job. The camera proved its mettle, and would be a good choice for contractors interested in broadcast quality video on their jobs.

State-of-the-art production was imperative. Pitcairn knew he was recording for posterity when he captured on tape pods of killer whales off British Columbia, sperm whales in the North Atlantic, and other species whose numbers in the wild are declining.

Pitcairn and his colleagues used one Sony HDW-250 high-definition digital videocassette recorder and two Sony HDW-700A high-definition camcorders as basic equipment on site. They also used a Sony DXC-H10-1 HD Pole Cam placed on the end of a device developed by Pace Technologies to film underwater from the top of the boat. The compact DXC weighs 2.6 pounds and measures 3.7² X 7.5². Pace developed custom underwater housings for the camcorders when taping underwater rather than from topside.

On shipboard, Pitcairn used a Sony BVMD9H5U field monitor with a 9-inch screen for viewing footage while on location. This way, the team could see exactly what they got or missed, almost in real time, permitting second chances as needed.

The latest model Sony camcorders have programmable cards that balance the color and compensate for the fading of yellows and reds that normally occurs at depths of 50 feet (15m) or more ­ a vast improvement over traditional film. A professional underwater photographer is only as good as the equipment and the location permit. Pitcairn is sold on HDTV for its high-impact images, some so crisp they shine. The 40-minute cassettes gave him and his team time to wait for the unexpected, unlike traditional film's 11-minute constraints. Thanks to that longevity factor, Pitcairn caught the remarkable underwater footage of orcas at the rubbing beach on the Sony HD camcorder.

One segment of Pitcairn's Ocean Wilds series combines HDTV and Digital Beta footage taken earlier. This marriage was successful due to the ability to change the DVW-700 from 4 X 3 to wide screen.

Back in the studio, Feodor Pitcairn Productions used two Sony HDW-500 VTR decks for recording, dubbing and editing. To show the results with maximum drama, the studio is equipped with a 42-inch Plasma HD flat panel screen ­ almost as liquid as the subject matter. For Pitcairn and his production team, it was as close to the real thing as they've ever seen.

Prizm's Video Multiplexing
Prizm Advanced Communication Electronics, located in Baltimore Maryland, is a leading designer and manufacturer of fiber optic video and data multiplexers for subsea applications. To date, Prizm has shipped over 500 fiber optic video multiplexer systems for use in subsea operations all around the world. The Prizm fiber optic multiplexer allows customers to place video cameras and related equipment remotely (up to 90km) from monitors and video taping equipment while retaining real-time, broadcast quality video. Prizm multiplexers utilize a single fiber optic cable to transmit multiple video and data signals. Prizm offers a full range of fiber optic multiplexers, from applications with only one or two video cameras to as many as 32 cameras, and bandwidth ranges from 480Mbps to 12Gbps.

The latest developments at Prizm include delivery video systems that run 16 cameras simultaneously, as well as the development of the capability to run up to 32 video channels on a single fiber.

Sonsub's Sedna ROV Set Up for High Quality Video
To complete its subsea telecom support duties accurately, Sonsub's new Sedna ROV system is equipped with seven cameras: a 3-CCD camera with an S-Video signal is the primary camera, with two advanced silicon intensified target (SIT) cameras for low-light viewing, two NTSC color cameras, and two NTSC B/W cameras.

The Sedna system features critical components from such industry leaders as RGB Spectrum and Panasonic, among others.

Sedna utilizes several RGB Spectrum products to solve two problems, one in information display, the other in recording. For displaying critical information, Sedna uses RGB's SuperView video processor. The ROV's video signals are directed to the SuperView processor, where they are combined with computer generated inputs: sonar signals, a graphic interface of the ROV control system, a cable tracker showing cable location, and GPS/Acoustic positioning data.

SuperView displays these visuals in multiple, overlayed windows on the master control console used by the pilots on the surface vessel to navigate and operate the ROV. The operator can view up to eight visuals simultaneously and manipulate each window's size and position as needed.

Real-time recordings of all exploration and trenching activities for archival and maintenance records were required on the ROV. Sonsub handles the recording requirement using RGB Spectrum's Videolink HD scan converter which can process computer, sonar, and other high resolution signal displays in real time. Unlike typical video scan converters, which download computer images for video resolution, the VideoLink HD system employs an 1125 line HDTV standard to maintain the resolution of the original imagery.

In Sonsub's configuration, the high-resolution signal from the SuperView processor is fed to the Videolink HD. Then the HDTV signal is sent to a special JVC HD recorder offered in a ruggedized version by RGB designed to deal with demanding environmental situations.

Sonsub is using Panasonic 4.7/9.4GB DVD-RAM drives to document subsea telecommunication projects carried out with the Sedna system.

Focused on reducing the time and costs of each project it undertakes, Sonsub found the Panasonic DVD-RAM drives were ideal for meeting the reliability and enormous storage requirements of the Sedna video survey system while keeping costs low.

Sidus's Video Surveillance
Today there are numerous vendors building underwater video inspection systems. What's so special about the Sidus Solutions Light, Camera and Pan & Tilt? Leonard Pool, President and founder of Sidus Solutions Inc., fathered the idea of using Robotic Positioning Systems while working with shipboard satellite communication equipment. Pool experienced first hand the benefits of working with a reliable system capable of handling the pitch and roll motions of the deep sea.

The Sidus Light, Camera and Pan & Tilt System, SS109, provides a reliable and cost-effective solution to this problem. Sidus Solutions officially introduced the new product at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. In addition to the state-of-the-art positioning platform of the SS109, another element to its unique design is the ability to handle in excess of 10 pounds of torque on each axis. This is desirable when positioning larger video equipment, lighting, scientific instrumentation, or acoustic equipment.

Building a system that was easily field serviceable was very important to Sidus engineers, Pool says. ³Our objective is to provide a reliable tool with cost benefits not only upon deployment, but also with a long life expectancy and easy to maintain.²

Each drive unit in the SS109 is modular, as are the motor and gear assemblies so each component can be removed and quickly serviced. Available options include internal limit switches, position feedback, AC, DC, and Stepper drives. Sidus took into account the needs of divers, rig operators, and scientist by providing a universal camera housing for various camera models. The standard system utilizes an integrated camera and lens providing a very high resolution CCD (charge-coupled device that stores and displays data). The SS109 has a modular CCD that incorporates an 18-to-1 zoom lens with auto focus, auto iris features each with manual override capabilities. Sidus also offers basic control circuit operation, long-line amplification, power conditioning, image reversal and Y-C video and RS-232 communication options. And when standard lighting is just not enough, Sidus also offers a full suite of low light level camera systems.

Sidus Solutions, a San Diego-based offshore solutions provider manufactures and markets underwater, navigation and surveillance systems for inland and offshore waters. They are the Western U.S. agent for Hernis Scan AS of Norway. Sidus serves its customers from offices in San Diego, California, and Houston, Texas. For more information on Sidus Solutions, call them at 619-523-0888 or e-mail info@sidus-solutions.com.

Carrillo Underwater Systems
Founded by Rob Carrillo nearly two decades ago, Carrillo Underwater Systems (CUS) develops cost-effective solutions for the commercial and scientific underwater communities. CUS produces a line of low voltage underwater lighting products, micro-cameras, video systems, specialized power supplies, underwater communications and custom hydraulics.

Significant advancement in DC power technologies have allowed CUS to develop the most advanced low voltage variable power supplies available today ­ compact, efficient and very reliable. A significant advancement in chip technology has created a new market in underwater micro-video cameras, and helps CUS produce the smallest underwater micro-video camera available. Another chip technology, CMOS, has shrunk both size and cost of video camera boards down to single chips. It is cheaper to replace a CMOS camera than it is to repair it. Board cameras that are not CMOS have come down in size and price and increased in resolution. Having greater resolution in the board components is not of real value, unless one has quality optical components to compliment the electronics. CUS works with the board and the optical manufacturers to put together board and lens packages that generate the highest resolution, greatest light gathering, greatest depth of field, and most compact overall packages. CUS knows and understands the specifics of underwater applications and tailors products to suit these special requirements. Some of the newest products from CUS are a result of technologies being left behind, such as their new C-lites. They will be made from newer and stronger materials and have a greater depth capability. The look will change to accommodate the new materials and strength. Also look for the new CUS-POV cam, the smallest camera made for use underwater, which gives topside the same point of view (POV) as the diver. Another ultra low light HAD camera will soon be available for those in need or just want to have a 0.05 lux capable black and white camera in a 1.5-inch square format.

For more information, call 888-728-2226, visit CUS on the Web at CarrilloUnderwater.com, or e-mail rob@CarrilloUnderwater.com. UW