|
The
Undy on test
by
Brian Pitkin
Reproduced
from in focus 36 (March
1990)
Greenaway
Marine Ltd now offer the 'Undy' a fully waterproof
camera, rated down to 30 metres, for under P-50. Based on
the Fuji 400 print film pack with built-in flashgun, the 'Film
Camera Marine' is a polycarbonate housing with wind-on
control, shutter release and flash control.
The
housing, made in Japan by the U.N. Co. Ltd, is 157 x 73 x
87mm and comprises a back and front half secured by two sprung
case clips, one either side. The two halves are sealed by
a recessed '0' ring. The front has a flat glass
lens port and carries an easy-to-use, sprung shutter release
control and sprung flash control button. The back carries
the film wind-on control which projects above the top of the
housing. All external controls, which are orange, couple with
the internal controls of a Fuji 400 print film/flash pack
via '0' ring sealed linkages. The housing comes
with a lanyard.
Although
inspected and tested in water at high pressure before despatch,
the manufacturer recommends that you test the housing before
use in case of damage in transit. Carefully check that the
main '0' ring seal is clean and free of any foreign
particles, close it up and immerse it in water. If there is
no leakage of water then the 'Film Camera Marine'
is ready for use.
To
use the system, open the housing and simply insert the Fuji
disposable camera. Fasten the two clips and you are ready
to shoot. Underwater, unless you are in clear, shallow water
you will need to use flash. To charge the flash press in the
flash control button until a small orange light, visible through
the rear of the housing, comes on. Look through the viewfinder,
compose your picture and press the shutter release. The flash
is not that powerful, so you are recommended to restrict your
camera to subject distance to about 1 metre for optimum results.
I
took an 'Undy' with me to Cayman Brac in the Caribbean,
along with four Nikonos cameras and a housed Pentax, and found
it incredibly simple to use. Getting an eye close enough to
the camera back to see through the viewfinder and compose
my shots whilst wearing a mask meant turning my head slightly
to one side. Even then I did not always frame my subject correctly,
but I would expect to improve with practise. There is an orange
mark at the top of the back half of the housing which indicates
the centre of the picture which, although easier to see, is
not as accurate as the viewfinder.
All
external controls operated without any problems and providing
I was either very near the surface or no more than a metre
from my subject when using flash the prints were correctly
exposed and quite pleasing. My thanks to the barracuda which
posed for me.
Backscatter,
caused by flash illuminating small particles in the water,
was not a serious problem in the clear waters of the tropics.
However, due to the proximity of the flash to the lens, backscatter
would degrade the resulting prints in less clear water.
The
'Undy' fits easily into a stab jacket or ALJ pocket.
The one big advantage over any other system is that should
the housing flood all you lose is the disposable film pack.
The
'Undy' is available ex stock, complete with one
roll of 24 exposure film, a tube of silicone grease for 'O'
ring maintenance and silica gel packs to keep the inside of
the housing dry when not in use for only £49.95, plus
£1.00 post and packing, from Greenaway Marine Ltd, Broad
Hinton, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 9PA. Additional Fuji 400 film
packs with built in flash are available from some Fuji stockists
at £7.95 each. Processing cost for 24 enprints is about
£4.00.
|
