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AquaVideo has been the
leading supplier and manufacturer of housings for
Panasonic video cameras and camcorders since the early
eighties. In fact the first AquaVideo housing was for a
Panasonic single tube camera and a PV3200 VHS portable
recorder - built in 1981 - and there is a good
possibility that this was the first commercially
manufactured and marketed (it appeared in the New
Products section of Skin Diver in July, 1992) underwater
video system that was completely self-contained.
Subsequently, AquaVideo manufactured housings for
Panasonic full-size and C-sized VHS and SuperVHS
camcorders, and even for the Recam, the first broadcast
camcorder. In addition to our own AquaVideo brand
housings for virtually any Panasonic camcorder, AquaVideo
has been the OEM supplier for 5 different housings
manufactured by AquaVideo but sold under the Panasonic.
In 1989, AquaVideo manufactured the MC10 Panasonic
housing for the PV10 camcorder, and subsequent years we
have made three more OEM housings for the PV series
camcorders, the AG-3 3 chip S-VHS-C camcorder, and the
current EZ-30 3 chip mini-DV camcorder.
Cool features of the
EZ-30:
- Three CCD chips
for improved color rendition, sharpness,
etc.
- DV In/out for
recording between digital camcorders or directly to a
computer with IEEE1394 digital inputs (also known as
Firewire, Ilink, etc.)
- 16:9 wide screen
mode
- 2.5 inch color LCD
screen that is fully visible in the AquaVideo housing
which makes it extremely easy to use - vast
improvement over older generation underwater video
systems.
- Settable White
Balance capability - (Most single chip cameras do not
support settable white balance - which can
significantly enhance the accuracy and intensity of
underwater colors.)
- In addition the EZ-30
offers an exceptional white balance range - much
greater than other competitive camcorders - including
3-chip camcorders like the Sony TRV900 and
VX1000.
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- Easy access to
controls, particularly the white balance control -
(the White balance control is awkward to set on
camcorders like the Canon Vistura and Sony TR-V900)
Note: we are referring to the true, settable type of
white balance where the camcorder can be set to do an
adjustment underwater (or elsewhere) based on a true
reference. In underwater video this is done underwater
by aiming the camera at something white (a white
slate, a buddy's t-shirt, the white sand bottom, etc.)
andpressing the white balance set button. This is the
best (and really only) way to get a true color
rendition underwater. This does not necessarily
eliminate the use of a color correction filter as a
filter will extend the depth range capability of the
white balance circuit - but it will still provide
greater and better correction.
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- Note: We are often
asked: What is the BEST camcorder for underwater use
(aside from the $10,000 to 50,000 broadcast
camcorders.)
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- There are a number of
factors that complicate this question, but to keep it
short - at the time of this writing, July, 1999, it
would be one of three camcorders - the Panasonic
EZ-30, the Sony TRV900 (although the VX1000 has been
very popular, the TRV900 has made it obsolete-
particularly in the underwater market,) and the Canon
XL1.
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- The additional cost (
$4000 to $ 5000) and much greater size of the Canon
XL1 put it into a little different category for most
people, so for the most part it comes down to the
Panasonic EZ-30 and Sony TRV900 - both of which sell
for a little over $ 2000 and are generally excellent
camcorders for almost any purpose.
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- The main advantages
of the Panasonic EZ-30 are its smaller size, much
better white balance capability, and somewhat easier
control access.
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- The main advantages
of the Sony TRV900 are its additional features -
unrelated to underwater video, but still important if
you are trying to get the most value for your dollar -
like the optical image stabilizer (the EZ-30 uses a
digital stabilizer which is not quite as good.); the
video inputs which allow you to record other sources
to the digital tape - other camcorders require a
$200-$400 accessory input module to allow this; and
the floppy disk adapter for easy transfer of still
shots.
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- So if your primary
concern is to get the best possible underwate shots
and still have a very good abovewater camera - the
Panasonic EZ-30 is the best choice.
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- However, if you are
willing to give up a slight amount of quality in your
underwater video (it is still excellent) to get some
added features for other video applications, then you
should consider the Sony TRV900.
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- As far as the Canon
XL1: We have sold several housings for the Canon XL1
and their owners are extremely pleased with the video.
Given the presumabl better quality of the larger,
interchangeable llenses - and particularly the
availability of a true wide angle lens - means that it
is not unreasonable to think that the image quality
may be even better than its smaller counterparts the
EZ30 and TRV900. However, we simply haven't had a
chance to do true, head to head comparisons with the
Canon XL1 and other camcorders.
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