16.9 Amphibico Monitor

Now that the new HDV format has arrived, it is possible to get a true 16.9 image from digital video cameras @ 1440/1080 resolution, which is a huge improvement from the standard mini DV format. For underwater housings this has created a need for Higher Res 16.9 monitors to replace the low res 4.3 monitors that cannot display the full, true resolution of HDV.

Amphibico 16.9 Hi Res Monitor

Neat Little Packaging Box

Let it be known that WE DO NOT WORK FOR AMPHBICO, however we have owned many of their housings over the years. We have recently done a review on their Phenom built for the FX1/Z1, and another on their smaller EVO built for the Sony HC1/A1, both of which we own and continnue to use on a frequent basis. We are equally as excited about sharing our opinion of the 16.9 hi res monitor, whcih we first installed on our EVO PRO HD housing, as it only comes with a small viewfinder and therefore would benefit from the addition of the external monitor the most in our opinion

The Contents of The Box

To begin, we had to take out the dummy bolt in the side of the housing and place the new wet connector into the hole and tighten up the lock nut. We recommend you take it to a dealer if you find this task a bit daunting for you. There is a small Oring that needs lubing up. Once it is in, you can use the supplied dummy plug to protect the end.

Comes With A Protective Dummy Plug

Housing Wet Connector

Wet Connector In Place With Dummy Plug On

Monitor With The Sun Shade In Place

Monitor Swivel In Place

Monitors Wet Connector

The monitor takes 4x AA batteries and we recommend using rechargeable 2000mah or higher for long running times. The battery compartment is located on the back of the monitor and is sealed from the outside by two Orings on the door. Even if this area does flood, it still should not damage the monitor as the battery compartment is sealed off from the monitor's electronics area. We left the camera on in standby mode for 24 hours and it still fired up after that period You should get about 4.5 hours of operation before needing to recharge if using 2500mah (Ni-MH) batteries or higher.

Monitor Set Up On The EVO

Battery Compartment (Recharables Are Highly Recommended)

****Cameras that DO provide the camera info when set on 1080i:
FX7 / V1
UX1
SR1
HC3
HC7 *
* Although the HC7 provides a HD signal out to the monitor, the 90 degree component cable is pointing down once connected to the camera making it impossible to push the camera inside the housing.

Cameras that DO NOT provide the camera info when set on 1080i
FX1 / Z1
HC1 / A1
Note:
The user is still able to record in HD (1080i) quality and receive all of the camera's info. The trick is to set the component output on the camera to480i instead of 1080i/480i. There is a drop in quality output to the monitor, but this a compromise the user may choose to make.

Information on Screen in 576i mode

Only The Record and Time code on the Screen in 1080i Mode on our A1 and FX1.

We own the Sony A1 and it cannot output the info to the screen in 1080i mode. We did set it to 567i mode to get the settings on the screen but we opted for the higher res 1080i mode for a better resolution image on the screen. We are happy to simply look into the viewfinder to check from time to time. On 1080i mode, you can push one of the buttons on the monitor and it will zoom in to help with focus, similar to the expanded focus setting on some HDV cameras. Simply push another button and it goes back to normal. This function does not work when in 576i mode.

Digital Zoom On - Red Led ( Expanded Focus)

Back Light Adjust and Colour Bars

Input Status Menu

Basically with the monitor you have backlighting adjustment, colour bars, 4.3 safe zone and expanded focus function, and you can navigate through the menu to view the type of input signal. The monitor will boot up once you turn the camera on and it will shut down if you turn the camera off. The LED on the bottom corner indicates power and will flash red on boot up and stay green in normal use. If you push the zoom button it will also turn red. The “LOW BATT.” indicator LED starts to flash
red once the batteries have reached their operating limit. A steady red color indicates that the batteries need to be replaced.

So what is it like in the water?... Well it certainly made life much easier filming with the small housing and keeping the shot framed was a joy! It did make the housing more negatively buoyant, however when we took it Whale Sharking (snorkelling)the extra ballastt proved no problems what so ever. We jumped in with it countless times and the setup could still be passed up to the boat crew one-handed . It was a bit difficult to see in the shallow water at times due to sun glare, but one could easily keep the shot framed when looking into it and swimming. When not in use, we folded down the monitor so it rested on top of the housing protecting the LCD screen from sun and accidental damage.

The table above gives you and idea of what the LCD can do, ranging from 525 right up to true HD resolution signals.

Easy to Handle One Handed

Ready to Go Snorkeling

Fold the LCD Down For Added Protection

Filming is Easy Now

Filming a Floppy Whale Shark

Let's Bolt it On The Phenom...

Wet Connector/ Dummy Plug

We also mounted the monitor on the Phenom, which made the housing look even more impressive! Having wet connectors on both housings now means we can move the monitor from one to the other in a matter of seconds. Before we mounted it, we felt the Phenom would not really need the monitor, as one can see the cameras LCD through the top of the housing, but once fitted, we soon realised it needed to stay! Not only is the monitor's LCD screen as sharp as the Phenoms LCD, but it is larger in area, making it wonderful to view. The monitor also displays the full 100% pixel area, thus no overscan- what the camera sees, you see the total 100% pixels as well!

Wet Connector On

Just Like Watching High Definition TV

Batteries in Their Own Water Tight Compartment

The Phenom became slightly more negative with the monitor attached, but it was not enough to make us want to take any lead off from under the housing. Shooting macro has proved much easier, in fact we don't even have to use the viewfinder as the monitor is so clear and sharp. To double check just put the monitor into the zoom mode. The monitor's postion on the Phenom seems to be fine so far and since we've begun shooting with it, we would find it hard to go back to shooting with a viewfinder.

One of the really great things about the monitor, regardless of which housing it is on, is that that it takes about 10 seconds to mount or remove, and once off, you just pop the dummy male wet connector on the housings female connector end and put it away!


Now that the new HDV format has arrived, it is possible to get a true 16.9 image from digital video cameras @ 1440/1080 resolution, which is a huge improvement from the standard mini DV format. For underwater housings this has created a need for Higher Res 16.9 monitors to replace the low res 4.3 monitors that cannot display the full, true resolution of HDV.
	Amphibico 16.9 Hi Res Monitor
	Amphibico quickly recognised this need, and have jumped in with their new 16.9 High Res monitor, which we wasted no time in purchasing and getting wet!. It came to us all the way from Canada, and arrived safe and sound after travelling half way around the world to us here on Ningaloo Reef, in Western Australia, (about 1200km north of Perth). Our first impressions were good, and that was just the packaging! The box even had it's own little pop out handle and all the contents were carefully wrapped up safely! Inside, the contents included: the monitor with it's wet connector, sunshade, swivel connector, spare oring kit with grease, the housing wet connector, dummy wet connector plug, component camera plug and instruction book. Unsure about what to actually DO with all the bits and pieces, we studied the instruction book, which revealed all about this well engineered monitor. Subsequent use has proved that it really is top quality and should last many years of hard use.
Neat Little Packaging Box

Let it be known that WE DO NOT WORK FOR AMPHBICO, however we have owned many of their housings over the years. We have recently done a review on their Phenom built for the FX1/Z1, and another on their smaller EVO built for the Sony HC1/A1, both of which we own and continnue to use on a frequent basis. We are equally as excited about sharing our opinion of the 16.9 hi res monitor, whcih we first installed on our EVO PRO HD housing, as it only comes with a small viewfinder and therefore would benefit from the addition of the external monitor the most in our opinion

Rear View	The Contents of The Box

		Next, we clipped the sun shade on and then slid the monitor pivot arm onto the housing. The monitor simply slides onto the arm and then can be fixed in place by turning the tension wheels each end. Once attached, the monitor can pivot in many directions. To connect the monitor's wet connector up, simply remove the wet connector dummy plug and push the wet connector on. Remember to lube up the connector slightly with the supplied silicon grease.

	Monitors Wet Connector
		The monitor takes 4x AA batteries and we recommend using rechargeable 2000mah or higher for long running times. The battery compartment is located on the back of the monitor and is sealed from the outside by two Orings on the door. Even if this area does flood, it still should not damage the monitor as the battery compartment is sealed off from the monitor's electronics area. We left the camera on in standby mode for 24 hours and it still fired up after that period You should get about 4.5 hours of operation before needing to recharge if using 2500mah (Ni-MH) batteries or higher.
Monitor Set Up On The EVO

Battery Compartment (Recharables Are Highly Recommended)

	Before placing the camera into the housing, you need to set the component output option in the camera menu to the 1080/576 setting. Ensure you have the display setting in the cameras menu set to V-Out/Panel output as well, or you will not see any information on the monitor. Alternatively it can be left on 576i mode, but the picture on the monitor will be 576 res instead of the full 1080i. * Some early HDV camera models cannot output the camera setting to the display in component 1080i mode..... ......See Below.......
***Cameras that DO provide the camera info when set on 1080i: FX7 / V1 UX1 SR1 HC3 HC7 * Although the HC7 provides a HD signal out to the monitor, the 90 degree component cable is pointing down once connected to the camera making it impossible to push the camera inside the housing. Cameras that DO NOT provide the camera info when set on 1080i FX1 / Z1 HC1 / A1 Note: The user is still able to record in HD (1080i) quality and receive all of the camera's info. The trick is to set the component output on the camera to480i instead of 1080i/480i. There is a drop in quality output to the monitor, but this a compromise the user may choose to make.
	Side View




Information on Screen in 576i mode	Only The Record and Time code on the Screen in 1080i Mode on our A1 and FX1.
We own the Sony A1 and it cannot output the info to the screen in 1080i mode. We did set it to 567i mode to get the settings on the screen but we opted for the higher res 1080i mode for a better resolution image on the screen. We are happy to simply look into the viewfinder to check from time to time. On 1080i mode, you can push one of the buttons on the monitor and it will zoom in to help with focus, similar to the expanded focus setting on some HDV cameras. Simply push another button and it goes back to normal. This function does not work when in 576i mode.

Digital Zoom On - Red Led ( Expanded Focus)	Back Light Adjust and Colour Bars


View Of Menu	Input Status Menu
Basically with the monitor you have backlighting adjustment, colour bars, 4.3 safe zone and expanded focus function, and you can navigate through the menu to view the type of input signal. The monitor will boot up once you turn the camera on and it will shut down if you turn the camera off. The LED on the bottom corner indicates power and will flash red on boot up and stay green in normal use. If you push the zoom button it will also turn red. The “LOW BATT.” indicator LED starts to flash red once the batteries have reached their operating limit. A steady red color indicates that the batteries need to be replaced.

		VIDEO CLIP Below is a small FLASH video clip of some footage shot with the Sony A1 in the EVO housing with the high resolution 16.9 external monitor on top. It was all shot while snorkeling. By having the monitor on top one can easily keep the subjects framed, while maintaining smooth camera movement.
Filming a Floppy Whale Shark

Smile
Let's Bolt it On The Phenom...


The Phenom

Wet Connector/ Dummy Plug
We also mounted the monitor on the Phenom, which made the housing look even more impressive! Having wet connectors on both housings now means we can move the monitor from one to the other in a matter of seconds. Before we mounted it, we felt the Phenom would not really need the monitor, as one can see the cameras LCD through the top of the housing, but once fitted, we soon realised it needed to stay! Not only is the monitor's LCD screen as sharp as the Phenoms LCD, but it is larger in area, making it wonderful to view. The monitor also displays the full 100% pixel area, thus no overscan- what the camera sees, you see the total 100% pixels as well!
	Wet Connector On

Just Like Watching High Definition TV

	Batteries in Their Own Water Tight Compartment
The Phenom became slightly more negative with the monitor attached, but it was not enough to make us want to take any lead off from under the housing. Shooting macro has proved much easier, in fact we don't even have to use the viewfinder as the monitor is so clear and sharp. To double check just put the monitor into the zoom mode. The monitor's postion on the Phenom seems to be fine so far and since we've begun shooting with it, we would find it hard to go back to shooting with a viewfinder. One of the really great things about the monitor, regardless of which housing it is on, is that that it takes about 10 seconds to mount or remove, and once off, you just pop the dummy male wet connector on the housings female connector end and put it away! If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford one of these 16.9 monitors, then we would not hesitate in reccommending buying one. The simple and robust design suggests that they will last for many years, and can be attached to future housings as technology develops. They certainly make filming a whole lot easier for us. Amphibico reports that they are selling the monitors as fast as they make them, RRP is $2250 US. They also have several of their old 4.3 models selling for around $700 US. Here is their link if you are interested in purchasing one: http://www.amphibico.com Paul & Kelly Wags 2007 www.hdvunderwater.com
Phenom Review Here
EVO Review Here
Canopus EDIUS Review Here