American Cinematographer - December 1999 - 113

compiled by Douglas Bankston
Aquatic Gear
Hydroflex has recently introduced
a variety of new tools for underwater
photography.
The company's splashbags, made
for a variety of cameras, are completely
sealed units that incorporate custom drysuit type zippers for easy access.
Designed for surface use only, the
splashbags feature either the Hydroflex
air-powered spray-deflector system or
the spinning disc-type system built-in to
prevent water drops from settling in front
of the lens. An internal defogging system
keeps condensation from forming.
Clear side panels allow unob¬
structed viewing of the lens and camera
settings. Lens control is achieved either
remotely with the Preston system or
manually with a follow-focus whip.
Magazine changes and most lens
changes can be made easily without
removing the camera from the bag. The
viewfinder retains over 90 degrees of
rotational adjustment. The built-in matte
box accepts accessories such as
eyebrows and hard mattes.
The camera's position inside the
bag is adjustable to accommodate
several types of lenses. The mounting
base outside the bag is also adjustable to
balance the system on a head regardless

fitting UV-coated quartz envelope, reflec¬
tors are used in place of a Par diffuser,
which has its ability to spread light
significantly reduced when wet.
Both lights are rated to a depth of
100', with 220V power required. The
500W SE Incandescent weighs 22 lbs. on
4000W SE HMI
The

HydroFlo fluorescent under¬
lighting system uses industry-

water

standard Kino Flo flicker-free ballasts
and

in 6', 4', 2'

lengths and in 15"
lengths. The underwater
fixtures are designed for wet or under¬
water applications to a depth of 100'.
They may be used individually, either
handheld or hard-mounted with weight
cuffs, or they may be grouped in banks of
four and eight on flat panels or in
Hydroflex's underwater softboxes.
Patterned sleeves may be fitted over the
tubes for use as an on-camera practical
light. Also available are custom UV trans¬
mitting tubes for underwater ultraviolet
comes

and 9" MiniFlo

effects.
All

are

HydroFlo fluorescent fixtures
supplied with underwater mateable

connectors that allow them to be first

mounted in underwater sets and then
connected later. Power distribution for

fied

2.25"

x

5.5"

x

7.5" aluminum

housing with a built-in hood. The monitor
offers excellent off-axis viewing and may
be handheld or mounted on a ball-joint
arm or a swivel-type yoke.
The
HydroPar 5000W SE
Incandescent and HydroPar 4000W SE
HMI lights, designed for underwater use
only, employ interchangeable reflectors
to adjust the beam pattern into spot,
medium

and

Because the

flood

configurations.

globe is enclosed in a tight

an

underwater Par
and fluorescent
fixtures.

weighs 32 lbs. and 11

the four-bank softboxes has been

a

monitor,

lbs., respectively.

Hydroflex's underwater video
monitors incorporate a flat 5.6" color
in

offerings
Hydroflex:
splashbags, a
waterproof
new

from

the surface and 6 lbs. underwater. The

of lens choice.

screen

A selection of

simpli¬
by using a single 16-conductor cable

that breaks out into four 4-conductor
connectors at the

end, thereby eliminat¬
ing the need for four separate cord exten¬

sions.
A compact,

of the

lightweight variation
HydroFlo light box, the Mick Light,

consists of two 15" Kino Flo tubes with

a

removable egg crate

diffuser and weighs
only 1.5 lbs underwater.
The SeaPar 1200W HMI

lighting

system has been upgraded to feature
Hydroflex's custom underwater mateable
connectors that incorporate an extended
American

Cinematographer 109
American Cinematographer - December 1999

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