FINDING THE RIGHT BUOYANCY FOR YOUR UNDERWATER CAMERA

#underwatercamera #buoyancy #underwaterfilmmaking #filmingunderwater
How do I trim my underwater camera and housing and how do I find the perfect buoyancy and balance for my system? In this episode Vanessa Cara-Kerr will help and guide you. We discuss all the important aspects you should know so you can decide what method is best for you. You will see a variety of different float arms and strobe arms, paired with different setups - like underwater monitor and multiple lights and different port setup, such as dome port, flat ports, macro ports & dioptres. Hopefully we will help you to improve your underwater filming and underwater phtography skills with any underwater camera oder videocamera.
The series will have at least 20 more episodes to guide you step by step into the world of underwater filming. We will cover the very basics and get to more advanced techniques. We will discuss all sorts of underwater filming gear, setups from the camera housing, filters, lighting to things like storytelling and composition. Stay tuned for the next episode coming up very soon, so be sure to subscribe to the channel and hit the bell button to be notified!
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This is the gear we use: kit.com/BehindTheMask/underwa...
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Camera, Edit & Animation / Illustration: Vanessa Cara-Kerr
Additional Footage: Vincent Lavigne, Andreas Eich
Float with us: behind-the-mask.com/

Пікірлер: 121

  • @allandelapa5863
    @allandelapa5863 Жыл бұрын

    looked everywhere and could not find any practical explanations after viewing this vid you cleared up months and months of research. thank you for this video

  • @valeriamas4141
    @valeriamas414127 күн бұрын

    Great video!! Very important and useful information, very well explained and illustrated. Love your videos. Thank you so much!

  • @MaximumDiver
    @MaximumDiver5 жыл бұрын

    Another awesome informative video with great motion graphics to help understand the different components. Love it! Keep up the good work! :D

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    THANKS! Means a lot and MOTIVATES even MORE ;) Stay tuned... next week next video!

  • @JoshRafG
    @JoshRafG5 жыл бұрын

    Great video!! I have been looking for this tutorial and you did it well. Easy to understand and simple yet informative animation

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    cool thx! :)

  • @gertleroy
    @gertleroy3 жыл бұрын

    Very helpful! Any setups suitable for freediving?

  • @stevewarren6608
    @stevewarren66082 жыл бұрын

    Really informative video tutorial, Vanessa, So nice to see someone who just gives out really good information without playing to the camera. I've been involved in underwater photography retail since 1994 and shot video and stills since then, and I learned some really good tips. Thank you.

  • @downunderdandiving3357
    @downunderdandiving33575 жыл бұрын

    Thanks great informative video 👍

  • @SaltwaterFineArt
    @SaltwaterFineArt4 жыл бұрын

    thank you - loved your content to help me as an underwater portrait photographer

  • @victorhm21
    @victorhm214 жыл бұрын

    Wow, what anfantastic channel! Thank you for your very informative videos. And great job with the editing!

  • @katerosine
    @katerosine2 жыл бұрын

    Many thanks. It was so clear.

  • @langdons2848
    @langdons28482 жыл бұрын

    Great video thank you. The wheel weights and lead sheet tips were especially useful to me.

  • @dutchieoutdoorgear8937
    @dutchieoutdoorgear89374 жыл бұрын

    Thankyou! Trying too found out how to get my underwater footage better. This helps a lot for making a decision on what i could do. Struggling with green footage cause of the lack of light and with a selfie stick its hard too stabilize XD.

  • @simonyang6404
    @simonyang64044 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, this is so helpful!

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    4 жыл бұрын

    welcome!!

  • @slyderace
    @slyderace2 жыл бұрын

    Great video! I just recently bought a gopro hero 8 and currently have it mounted on my hand for personal videos but eventually I'll want a housing for videography and never knew about buoyancy for the camera rig. Makes sense! :)

  • @oioiiioo
    @oioiiioo Жыл бұрын

    This advice on balance is super helpful. I feel like I need to pay you 🙏🙏🙏 Thank you so much!

  • @isBessem
    @isBessem4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Vanessa, really helped me!

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    4 жыл бұрын

    welcome! :)

  • @badafusco
    @badafusco4 жыл бұрын

    That was really well made and said!

  • @GrantPorter
    @GrantPorter5 жыл бұрын

    Ah this video was so helpful thank you!

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    😎📽😍

  • @brandon1047
    @brandon1047Ай бұрын

    You are so good at explaining things clearly. Thank you so much,

  • @fabienlefebvre2102
    @fabienlefebvre21025 жыл бұрын

    Thanks very cool vidéo !

  • @UKDiver
    @UKDiver2 жыл бұрын

    Super helpful video! Thanks

  • @MegaBenedik
    @MegaBenedik5 жыл бұрын

    I use 4 D&D Mega floats (each 400 gram) in between a few segments of my old Stix Float Belt to adjust macro and wide angle setup for a Aquatica GH5 housing, with Dive & See monitor and 2 Keldan 4x

  • @nicolasmanson3910
    @nicolasmanson39105 жыл бұрын

    Nice video construction, thanks for those tips !

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    thank you :)

  • @mfakhzanrosli
    @mfakhzanrosli Жыл бұрын

    thank you .. very useful video!!

  • @slacksci
    @slacksci Жыл бұрын

    Very helpful, thank you

  • @mitchmitchell6873
    @mitchmitchell68732 жыл бұрын

    Very good appreciate.. Very good teacher deeply informative A very good engineer..!

  • @th4n.
    @th4n.3 жыл бұрын

    Hi Vanessa, great vid! You mentioned (min 7 mark) that you'd do a video discussing balance with pro UW photographer! Did the video eventually come out? thanks

  • @brandonzink9236
    @brandonzink92363 жыл бұрын

    Hi. Love all of your content. Thank you! I’ve been looking for those cylindrical floats with one ball mount, as on the rig pictured at 2:01. Can you refer me to a brand or site that has them?

  • @jobetdelacruz
    @jobetdelacruz5 жыл бұрын

    Wow! Behind the Mask doing tutorial sounds like a treat! Your videos are inspiration to me. I started filmmaking just last year, and would always watch and learn from your work. I recently started a channel as well, and right now, focusing heavily on becoming a better storyteller (especially that my equipment can't keep up with the latest ones now). It's a dream to be able to work with you. Hope you could read this! Hehe, thanks for the informative video!

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    Great to read 😎📽😊

  • @Secondsanitation

    @Secondsanitation

    Жыл бұрын

    good luck with that

  • @dprovisuals1890
    @dprovisuals18905 жыл бұрын

    Informative, thanks for sharing

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    welcome :)

  • @bet28
    @bet2810 ай бұрын

    Very helpfull video thank you

  • @frebecca6048
    @frebecca60482 жыл бұрын

    Nice video! Do you have any recommendations for Gopro tray and video light? Thanks

  • @AmeenAlMajzoub
    @AmeenAlMajzoub5 жыл бұрын

    Where have you been?! I've been doing photography for some 15 years, and it's been ages since I last found such great content! Well... Bloody... Done! Great work!

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    Wow thank you :) keeeps us moootivated!

  • @NanonerMcKologico

    @NanonerMcKologico

    4 жыл бұрын

    I would swear that guy is willing to marry you at once!!! :)

  • @takanishi21071979
    @takanishi210719793 жыл бұрын

    The best! 100% like!

  • @roneyyoneda556
    @roneyyoneda5563 жыл бұрын

    Thank you 🙏🏼

  • @alangraves7137
    @alangraves71375 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful content and presentation. I've learned a great deal from each video you've made. I have one simple, almost silly comment to make about buoyancy. I have watched my _cheap_ dive buddy struggle through various homemade float solutions using various foams, pool "noodles", etc. , only to be frustrated by how they compress with depth. Neutral near the surface begins to sink like a rock as he dives deeper.

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    4 жыл бұрын

    hehe yeah the pool noodles...

  • @SakeQueeg
    @SakeQueeg3 жыл бұрын

    Excellent ! Thank you. Rick

  • @ScubaDaveCCR
    @ScubaDaveCCR5 жыл бұрын

    Very nicely done! I’m looking for different ideas to set my Sea and Sea housing w/Sony a7Rlll up with 2 YS-D2 strobes for stills and 2 Light and Motion Sola 9600’s for video. And you have helped tremendously. THANK YOU 🙏🏻

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thank youuuuu

  • @davidedebenedictis
    @davidedebenedictis5 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, very informative. I understand you don't like M configuration but how to avoid the back scatter in murky water? Usually I try to put lights as far as possible so I'm forced to use a double arm aka M conf. When it's possible I try to give the lights to my buddy avoiding to use light on my camera.

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    sure the M setup does make sense sometimes. Just for beginners to start out with it might be helpful to keep it compact for the begining :). No right and wrong here as mentioned in the video :) Thank you for your input!

  • @medomido4111
    @medomido41115 жыл бұрын

    Every day I shoot a movie with the tourist customers in the Thistlegorm rek and many different areas in the Red Sea I hope to work with you until I become professional because of you

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    thx

  • @elaineross9365
    @elaineross93654 жыл бұрын

    Great advice, I'm still working towards that set up. Funds don't allow right now so my rig is super negative and I guess I'm used to that now. But this has reminded me of the importance to get that sorted out. I also use a rig with combo of video lights and strobes. Never easy switching between 2 disciplines multiple times on the same dive. Any tips on best configuration for this set up? Thanks.

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    4 жыл бұрын

    as we don't know what you are using, it is hard to recommend anything :) but there are big floats with lots of buoyancy and you can add triple clamps to attach both lights and strobes :) also you can attach a float beneath your rig and attach it to the handles with cableties.

  • @PumaCH
    @PumaCH5 жыл бұрын

    Nice Video 👍 What would you recommend to be as flexible as possible? I'm using a GH5 in a Nauticam housing with different ports and lenses. And I use it in freshwater as well. So I'd need a lot of different float arms to cover all of that.

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    see below the anser to SharkManDan :) Hope it helps

  • @vitaliyvi5145
    @vitaliyvi514510 ай бұрын

    THANK YOU

  • @userb3nje909
    @userb3nje9094 жыл бұрын

    That shot at 8:50 is heavenly ❤

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    4 жыл бұрын

    merci

  • @Secondsanitation
    @Secondsanitation Жыл бұрын

    I hope all is well fam..... I was wondering what setup would you recommend for my gfx 100s I would like to take it underwater. i know that I have challenges with this type of camera but i feel like i can get some really good phots with it. hope to hear back from you you guys . stay blessed

  • @Dupsbear
    @Dupsbear5 жыл бұрын

    Nice job. May I ask what brand and size are the two horizontal floats mounted above your two handles? They look efficient and out of the way. Thanks!

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    Aquatica.. dont know if they still make them

  • @charlesg7926

    @charlesg7926

    2 жыл бұрын

    I’ll make it really simple. You can make this yourself. Buy the following: 1) Expanded Polysterene block, it’s like $12 on Amazon. 2) A waterproof, tarred *string* . 3) Krazy Glue (which is waterproof). Glue the polysterene blocks to the bottom of the housing to get it to float, and tie a string with blocks on it, for the front lens area to raise it up (put the string thru the middle of the blocks, puncturing and making a hole in them). This is what they do in factory. Takes like 30 mins of work, but worth it to save like $100.

  • @KamranShaikh_Photography
    @KamranShaikh_Photography4 жыл бұрын

    I have recently bought carbon float arms for my underwater camera rig for better Buoyancy of video lights. I am wondering if i can travel with them and take it on flight. Concern is their hollow cylider shape as airline or security may consider them harmful. Please suggest should i put in my camera bag which i take as carry on or should i keep them in check in luggage.

  • @rohgren
    @rohgren5 жыл бұрын

    Amazing videos

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    4 жыл бұрын

    thank you!!!

  • @tortulens
    @tortulens3 жыл бұрын

    thanks!

  • @badiuzzamanbadlishah6741
    @badiuzzamanbadlishah67413 жыл бұрын

    lovely

  • @pampigwo
    @pampigwo5 жыл бұрын

    OMG Thank you !! So much LoL

  • @ChristopherDudley
    @ChristopherDudley5 жыл бұрын

    You mentioned short arms-- what is the suggested length? I have a hard time deciding between 8in or 10in arms. Do you not have problems with backscatter from the shorter arm length?

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    If I film in murky water I would choose longer arms. Really depends on the water.

  • @ahxmyxcabbages
    @ahxmyxcabbages4 жыл бұрын

    HELP. So I’m at a dilemma.. I know how much I need to make my rig buoyant.. however I’m not sure if I should do 2 arm sections or 4. (One on each side or 2 on each side) as well as what size arms I should get. 6-9-11-13 inches ? I’m struggling to decided or figure out do I make it tight and wide? Hep would be amazing if you can! Will also post this on reef patrol!

  • @KamranShaikh_Photography
    @KamranShaikh_Photography4 жыл бұрын

    Nice video series 👍 Please suggest how to make rig bouyant having flex arms. I m using tovatec 12 inch flex arms holding heavy lights which makes my rig heavy. I m not able to find any option or idea to make the rig float. Plz help.

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    4 жыл бұрын

    did you try foam floats??? don't work very well when going deep, because they compress, but to 15m should be more than fine!

  • @KamranShaikh_Photography

    @KamranShaikh_Photography

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ReefPatrol I tried foams but as you said they are not good after a certain depth :(

  • @Saleh-vn8wu
    @Saleh-vn8wu5 жыл бұрын

    Nice video 👍🏽,but what we can do the focus 😭😭 I have same problem with GH5

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    higher shutterspeed 1/200 helps! Otherwise UW manual MF :)

  • @gearbow
    @gearbow2 жыл бұрын

    I wish housing manufactures would make housings for the video centric camera bodies more like video camera housings. and make them positively buoyant . Much easier to add lead as weight to set trim on say a bare bones snorkel rig than add buoyancy with bulky arms on negatively buoyant full set up with lights and monitor. Not to mention the added drag.

  • @petrsimonjanicek6465
    @petrsimonjanicek64655 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Which tripod do you use underwater?

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    different ones, haven't found the perfect one yet. XIT404 for Macro, that works great. I use the ROLLEI ROCK SOLID ALPHA too, as is apparently should be uw proof, but it is not ;) but still works.

  • @Saleh-vn8wu

    @Saleh-vn8wu

    5 жыл бұрын

    Pakpod is the best.

  • @gearbow
    @gearbow2 жыл бұрын

    Link for your gear is sending to bad gateway. Could you tell me the floats you have on the rig behind you please? Liked and Subscribed!

  • @varotwanich947
    @varotwanich9474 жыл бұрын

    Hi, I wanna know what brand do you use for the float arm with 1 connector (the one that look like hammer)

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    4 жыл бұрын

    that's aquatica. but you can use the big Nauticam, INON, etc. ones instead.

  • @Dp4610yz

    @Dp4610yz

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ReefPatrol aquatica float arm which u used is no longer in production and is discontinued.

  • @danhngo8537
    @danhngo85374 жыл бұрын

    #BTMUnderwaterFilmingTips I’m trying to calculate the buoyancy of my camera setting, but I currently dont have access to any lakes or pools. However, I do have a 55G drum that I can fill with freshwater. What is the best way to calculate the total gram that I needed for my camera to stay neutrally buoyance

  • @waleedfarrash
    @waleedfarrash3 жыл бұрын

    Need your advice to start under water photography , which camera and setup is more convenient as a beginner?

  • @coralmanxyt
    @coralmanxyt Жыл бұрын

    What brand is this t-shape Float Arm? Thank you (550g)

  • @Channelislandsdiveadventures15
    @Channelislandsdiveadventures154 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video and information! I like it so much I hope you don't mind me using it on our new Ultralight Control Systems Inc. website that I should have online in a couple weeks.

  • @medomido4111
    @medomido41115 жыл бұрын

    Hi, successful team I work as an underwater photographer in Sharm El Sheikh I am very impressed with this channel and would like to work with you . best wishes

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    thank you :)

  • @BersekerSpirit
    @BersekerSpirit3 жыл бұрын

    I know that a body changes his buoyancy depending on the depth, a positive buoyant body at the surface of the water can become negative buoyant at 10-20 m depth

  • @MrBear2002
    @MrBear20025 ай бұрын

    How do you determine how many grams you need to achieve buoyancy. I have no idea on what floats to order.

  • @steveapril378
    @steveapril3784 жыл бұрын

    Hi someone can help me I dont know how many grams i need for neutral buyoncy for my camera and setting G16 fantasea housing + arm light I know that sink when i used it. Someone have similar setup Thanks you

  • @Sharkman_Dan
    @Sharkman_Dan5 жыл бұрын

    Wondering if you can add some links to the gear you're suggesting?

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    what links to you need :)

  • @Sharkman_Dan

    @Sharkman_Dan

    5 жыл бұрын

    What would you recommend for weights/floats? I'm guessing for traveling floats would be better? Or does it not matter too much? I use GH5 in Nauticam housing :) @@ReefPatrol

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    well depends on a whole lot... dome, lens, lights, I can't just say this or that :) @@Sharkman_Dan you can see the different floats in the animations, you need to find out how heavy your setup is underwater and then go from there and test different floats and see what works best. INON, NAUTICAM, etc. all have different floats with different buoyancy. In the background you can see my setup. Inon 275gr floats, with big aquatica floats when using a small HD monitor 501 with 2x Keldan 8x and the Nauticam Acrylic Dome with the GH5 + 12-35mm lens. That works well with me. I trimmed it a bit with the cuttable LEAD SHEETS so that it's perfect when I let it go in saltwater.

  • @koheiueno5116
    @koheiueno51164 жыл бұрын

    Won't the buoyancy also depend on how deep you are underwater, as explained in Boyles law? Or does making a vacuum in the housing prevent such fluctuations? Great videos btw, I really enjoy learning from you guys!

  • @Caesar.Aquanaut
    @Caesar.Aquanaut5 жыл бұрын

    Great video with easy to understand explanation, but I was expecting to learn how to determine/calculate how much of floatation we need for our rigs... In reality, most shop won't allow us to test/try before we make the purchase, and as for my case, none of our dive stores sells underwater camera equipment and we have to purchase it online. Thus, knowing how much positive floatation before we make the purchase will definitely be helpful. Anyway, here's the guide that I have managed to find from the internet - www.subaquacamera.co.uk/index.php/equipment-guides/how-much-does-my-camera-rig-weigh-underwater

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    Great thanks

  • @takanishi21071979
    @takanishi210719793 жыл бұрын

    What camera you recommend for underwater video? ( just not GH5/GH5 s please.... I hate this camera with bad autofocus in the world....)

  • @Bladeo16
    @Bladeo165 жыл бұрын

    Hello Vanessa where I can get floats +550g what are you using on your gh5? I cant find this with one way to fixatuon, can you send me link or name how can i find it? Thank you

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    these ones are discuntinued at the moment... Nauticam and INON has some big ones.

  • @Bladeo16

    @Bladeo16

    5 жыл бұрын

    I can find nothing on nauticam and inon page its posible to buy somwhere else?

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    you can't get those exact ones anymore, they have been discontinued. :( but if you use the double ended ones from INON, Nauticam, etc. that will work fine too! :)@@Bladeo16

  • @Bladeo16

    @Bladeo16

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thats shame looks cool, i will try, thanks

  • @nicolenoriega
    @nicolenoriega3 жыл бұрын

    How would you find buoyancy only using a single strobe?

  • @johnnyphisit
    @johnnyphisit4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for an amazing video. There is a diver resting his body on the reef at 4:11 which is contradicted to what you have said right at the beginning of the video. I understand it happens sometimes without any bad intention. However , please kindly consider not to include this kinda footage in your future videos is highly appreciated. Im a big fan of your works :) Thank you so much.

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi, thanks for being concerned! this is actually in the Med Sea on a Rock covered with "just" Algae (acutally nearly NO corals there in that area). The filmer checked the spot first before resting on it. But thank you to point it out. To us it was clear that no damage was done, but we will remember this for upcoming episodes! :)

  • @drewlongest
    @drewlongest5 жыл бұрын

    Just got open water certified and I’m glad to have stumbled onto another McKinnon fan 😁

  • @ReefPatrol

    @ReefPatrol

    5 жыл бұрын

    McKinnon is supercool :)

  • @flabellina9212
    @flabellina92123 жыл бұрын

    I hate M setup. The best setup for me is minute 15:01, but using telescope arms instead.

  • @TUNEtheFISCH
    @TUNEtheFISCH Жыл бұрын

    how much money do u wanna show in one pic? 2:15 YES! xD

  • @chrisrichardson4899
    @chrisrichardson48993 ай бұрын

    using lead tape to trim your rig is horrible for the environment, use tungsten . Lots of them are made for gulf clubs and stick great, weight more than lead by volume and also aren't going to harm the environment when they fall off

  • @HavikenHayes
    @HavikenHayes2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!