Some highlights of the Liquid Image Video Scuba Mask HD320 :

• This is the worlds only swim mask that has an integrated waterproof digital still and HD video camera
• The 5 MP camera can operate to a depth of 115′, making it ideal for use when scuba diving, free diving, or snorkeling
• Video Mode – 30 FPS @ 720p HD
• Image Resolution – 5.0MP CMOS Sensor 2560×1920
• Light attachments available for deeper dives
• Record all your underwater adventures!

Table of Contents for Review of the Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask

• What You Get
• The Liquid Image Under Water Video Mask
  • Pros
  • Cons
• Liquid Image Documentation
• Codec Settings
• Sample Video Clips, RAW and Unaltered
• Recording Capacity
• Battery Time
• Warranty and Support
• Software
• Summary and Recommendation
• Pricing
• About HelmetCameraCentral.com
• Review Change Log

Included in the box, you will find the following, in addition to the Video Mask:

• USB Cable
• User Manual
• Carrying Case
• ArcSoft Photo Impression Software
• ArcSoft Video Impression Software
• 4 AAA Energizer Lithium Batteries
• Silicone Grease

Pros

One of the first things you notice when you inspect the Liquid Image Video Scuba Mask HD320 is the streamlined design of the unit. The dive mask is a hybrid, combining 720p HD video capabilities and 5 megapixel camera with a sleek dive mask made of very solid composite materials with a flashy metal-flake blue paint job. The lenses are made of high quality tempered glass and have a cross hair in the center of each – helping you to frame in your video and photos. There are two compartments on either side of the mask, both double sealed and accessible via threaded caps, which house the 4 AAA lithium batteries which power the unit. You can expect battery run time of over 2 hours with high quality batteries.

On top, there is another, larger cap that seals the USB port and microSD slot (32GB max). All of the compartments are threaded and have washers in addition to O-rings for optimal water resistance – a tube of silicon grease is included to make the seal even more effective. Two lever buttons is all it takes to operate the mask, the left side of the lever powers the camera on and off and switches between video and photo modes. The right side of the lever is the shutter/record button, it’s function depending on the mode you’re in. Two bright LEDs which you can see through the smokey premium grade silicon skirt tell you whether you are in photo or video mode, red for photo, and a blue LED for video. A status LCD tells you battery life, how many pictures and clips you’ve taken, and whether you’re in photo or video mode. The mask weighs barely more than a regular swim mask and allows you virtually hands free operation of the camera.

The mask size seems to be a good compromise that will fit most people without leaking. If you have a much larger than average size head your view may be slightly limited. Likewise, if you have too small of a head, you may get leaks. The goal was to fit the majority of people with this mask, for people with larger noses and who generally need larger masks, the HD321 is available and features a larger skirt. The mask seals nicely given you don’t have a huge amount of facial hair. The strap is highly adjustable and features a quick release mechanism on either side. If you have longer hair that tends to get tangled up, you may want to get a strap pad available at diving supply stores.

We took a few sample snapshots at the office before actually field testing the unit, and the results were quite surprising. The pictures turned out sharp and had decent contrast. Certainly better than expected for the retail price of $249.95, especially for a camera with no adjustibility.

Our underwater footage turned out amazing! Resolution is crisp and well saturated at 1280×720, and the frame rate is a smooth 30 FPS. Colors were well saturated, nice and contrasty, and had minimal artifacting. The rolling shutter issues associated with the original 302 mask, which would be a concern for serious videographers but not most recreatonal users, have mostly been eliminated. When used in conjunction with a blue or green water filter, the results are absolutely dreamy!

Bottom line is the mask works wonderfully underwater! The red and blue LEDs are very visible, making it very easy to tell what mode you’re in. When in video mode, the LED blinks to let you know that you’re recording. The buttons are placed in an easy to reach spot on the “shoulder” of the mask, allowing you to change modes and start and stop recording without fumbling. The power/mode button is a few mm higher than the shutter/record button, making it easy to distinguish between the two. We think the design is a solid one which most people will appreciate.

Cons
While the mask is very user friendly, more controls would be nice. Some people will miss the ability to adjust focus settings for the camera mode; although this would be difficult with no viewfinder or live preview LCD.

It would also have been nice if the status LCD reported how many pictures/video clips the memory card has space for, as opposed to how many have already been taken. The unit also has a microphone, which seems unnecessary as most of the sounds captured are generally the gurgle made when breathing out. A different frame color might have been nice, you can have any color you want, as long as it’s blue, but that’s really down to personal preference.

Another issue is battery life. The ocean tends to be pretty cool, and coupled with the fact that water has a much, much higher heat capacity than air, it tends to affect your battery life rather quickly. For this reason Liquid Image recommends and includes a set of disposable lithium ion batteries. Until they release rechargeable lithium ions, you can expect to spend a decent amount on batteries for your dives.

All in all, the negative aspects are certainly outweighed by the positive.

Included with the unit is a 25 page manual that covers everything you need to get your mask up and running. Also included is a USB Cable, 4x AAA Lithium batteries, a tube of silicon for the washers, and a carrying case.

The basic codec settings for the Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask are as follows:

Video: h.264 @ 1280×720 @ 30 fps
Audio: no audio codec information available.

Download a sample RAW video clip from the HD320

You can expect recording times somewhere near the following:
1 GB card – 30 minutes
32 GB card – 960 minutes

Battery life is around 2 hours of video, or 2000 pictures with lithium ion batteries.

The mask has a 90 day limited warranty.. Helmet Camera Central is here to assist with any issues that may arise with any products that have been purchased by us.

Bundled with the mask are ArcSoft’s Photo Impression and Video Impression Software. These programs, while minimal and simplistic, are very user friendly and allow for easy and straightforward video, slide show and photo editing.

We think Liquid Image has a superb product here. It is a quality piece of work with a surprisingly low retail price of $249.95. It functions perfectly and has video and photo quality that will please even the most scrutinizing videophiles.

The Scuba series gets a definite Dive Cam Central recommendation. It does it’s job quite well, and it’s simple operation will ensure that everyone who uses it will be able to easily record their aquatic adventures in high definition!!

Helmet Cam Central Price: {$249.95} (Order Here)

]]> http://blog.divecamcentral.com/2009/11/10/liquid-image-video-scuba-mask-hd320-review/feed/ 1 http://blog.divecamcentral.com/2009/04/02/liquid-image-videomask-310-review/ http://blog.divecamcentral.com/2009/04/02/liquid-image-videomask-310-review/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:38:47 +0000 chad http://blog.divecamcentral.com/?p=123

We are getting more excited about the upcoming Liquid Image VideoMask 310 every day! A great in-depth review of the Liquid Image VideoMask 310 just hit the press over at Scuba Diver Info! They took the 33ft rated scuba mask down to 90ft in 50 degree water – and the 310 rocked it!

Here’s a highlight from the review of the Liquid Image 310 Underwater Video Mask: “The mask part of the video mask is good enough to replace a conventional mask. And the camera part is well enough integrated so that you’re hardly aware of it. This makes the VideoMask much more than just a novelty. What it boils down to is that the Liquid Image VideoMask lets you shoot still underwater pictures and video without having to carry a camera. This means you have your hands free for other things and don’t have the added water resistance from holding a camera.”

The Liquid Image VideoMask 310 will begin shipping in late April 2009 and can be pre-order direct from Dive Cam Central.

Hope to see you there.

Thanks to TopTenReviews

Table of Contents for Review of the Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask

• What You Get
• The Liquid Image Under Water Video Mask
  • Pros
  • Cons
• Liquid Image Documentation
• Codec Settings
• Sample Video Clips, RAW and Unaltered
• Sample Video Frame Grabs
• Recording Capacity
• Battery Time
• Warranty and Support
• Software
• Summary and Recommendation
• Pricing
• About HelmetCameraCentral.com
• Review Change Log

Included in the box, you will find the following, in addition to the Video Mask:

• USB Cable
• User Manual
• Carrying Case
• ArcSoft Photo Impression Software
• ArcSoft Video Impression Software
• 2 AAA Energizer Lithium Batteries
• Silicone Grease

Pros

One of the first things you notice when you inspect the Explorer Series Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask is the streamlined design of the unit.  The swim mask is a hybrid, combining VGA video capabilities and 5 megapixel camera with a sleek dive mask made of very solid composite materials. The lenses are made of high quality tempered glass and have a cross hair in the center of each – helping you to frame in your video and photos. There are two compartments on either side of the mask, both double sealed and accessible via threaded caps. The compartment on the right houses the 2 AAA lithium batteries which power the unit. You can expect battery run time of over 2 hours with high quality batteries.  The left compartment is a general storage area for extra batteries or to hold a couple of dollars for refreshments between video snorkeling adventures.

On top, there is another, larger cap that seals the USB port and microSD slot (2GB max for the Explorer and up to 32GB for the new Scuba models). All of the compartments are threaded and have washers in addition to O-rings for optimal water resistance – a tube of silicon grease is included to make the seal even more effective. Two buttons is all it takes to operate the mask, red powers the camera on and off and switches between video and photo modes. The yellow button below it is the shutter/record button, it’s function depending on the mode you’re in. Two bright LEDs which you can see through the clear premium grade silicon skirt tell you whether you are in photo or video mode, red for photo, and a blue LED for video. A status LCD tells you battery life, how many pictures and clips you’ve taken, and whether you’re in photo or video mode. The Explorer weighs barely more than a regular swim mask and allows you virtually hands free operation of the camera.

The mask size seems to be a good compromise that will fit most people without leaking. If you have a much larger than average size head your view may be slightly limited. Likewise, if you have too small of a head, you may get leaks. The goal was to fit the majority of people with this mask and introduce larger skirts for the more advanced Scuba Models due out in April of 2009.  The mask seals nicely given you don’t have a huge amount of facial hair. The strap is highly adjustable and features a quick release mechanism on either side. If you have longer hair that tends to get tangled up, you may want to get a strap pad available at diving supply stores.

We took a few sample snapshots at the office before actually field testing the unit, and the results were quite surprising. The pictures turned out sharp and had decent contrast. Certainly better than expected for the retail price of $99.95, especially for a camera with no adjustibility. We had a chance to test the video mask at Mumbo Lake, one of many small glacial tarns that we have in the beautiful mountains surrounding us here in Mt Shasta, California. It was a quick test, and we were snorkel-less, which only allowed for brief underwater sessions but we got a good idea about the usability and quality of the unit. The mask works just as well as any other swim mask we’ve used, it doesn’t leak and visibility was good. The lake was semi-murky so there wasn’t a chance to test the video quality in pristine clear water, but we were able to get an idea of the general camera quality.

Our underwater footage turned out pretty good. Resolution is decent at 640×480, and the frame rate is acceptable at 20 FPS. A higher frame rate would be better, but most people are probably going to use the mask for recreational water activities, so a higher frame rate would sacrifice battery life and storage space (a 2GB microSD card holds over an hour of video or hundreds and hundreds of photos). Colors were well saturated, nice and contrasty, and had minimal artifacting. There were some odd waviness issues which would be a concern for serious videographers but not most recreatonal users.  The April 2009 Scuba Models feature HD 720p video which will please even advanced underwater photographers.

Bottom line is the mask works wonderfully underwater! The red and blue LEDs are very visible, making it very easy to tell what mode you’re in. When in video mode, the LED blinks to let you know that you’re recording.  The buttons are placed in an easy to reach spot on the “shoulder” of the mask, allowing you to change modes and start and stop recording without fumbling. The power/mode button is a few mm higher than the shutter/record button, making it easy to distinguish between the two. We think the design is a solid one which most people will appreciate.

Cons
While the mask is very user friendly, more controls would be nice. Some people will miss the ability to adjust focus settings for the camera mode; although this would be difficult with no viewfinder or live preview LCD.

It would also have been nice if the status LCD reported how many pictures/video clips the memory card has space for, as opposed to how many have already been taken. Video quality, as we mentioned before, is good. There was one odd thing with the video quality; a slight wavy effect. It’s hard to describe really, it makes things seem rubbery if you pan your head from side to side. This effect isn’t nearly as obvious underwater though, as the aquatic world is much “wavier” to begin with, making this issue much less apparent. The unit also has no microphone, which was probably an obvious choice as the mask is made for underwater adventures.  If you were hoping to record the latest trout gossip, you’re out of luck. A different frame color might have been nice, all the Explorer models are yellow, but that’s really down to personal preference. All in all, the negative aspects are certainly outweighed by the positive.

Included with the unit is a 25 page manual that covers everything you need to get your mask up and running.  Also included is a USB Cable, 2x AAA Lithium batteries, a tube of silicon for the washers, and a carrying case.

The basic codec settings for the Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask are as follows:

Video: AVI @ 640×480 @ 18-25 fps @ 2775 kbps
Audio: No Audio.

Click the thumbnail below and you will see a screenshot of the video compression codec details for the Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask from the GSpot Codec Appliance.

You can expect recording times somewhere near the following:
1 GB card – 50-55 minutes
2 GB card – 1 hour 40 minutes

We haven’t fully tested battery life yet; but with rechargeable batteries you can expect up to a few hours depending on water temperature.

The mask has a 90 day limited warranty.. Helmet Camera Central is here to assist with any issues that may arise with any products that have been purchased by us.

Bundled with the mask are ArcSoft’s Photo Impression and Video Impression Software. These programs, while minimal and simplistic, are very user friendly and allow for easy and straightforward video, slide show and photo editing.

We think Liquid Image has a superb product here.  It is a quality piece of work with a suprisingly low retail price of $119.95.  It functions perfectly and has video and photo quality that will please anyone but the most hardcore of video-philes.

The Explorer series gets a definite Dive Cam Central recommendation. It does it’s job quite well, and it’s simple operation will ensure that everyone who uses it will be able to easily record their aquatic adventures. Liquid Image will be be introducing professional Scuba versions of the swim mask in April of 2009 water resistant up to 30 meters on one model and 100 meters for another. If the quality of this introductory version is anything to go by, then the professional version is highly anticipated!

Dive Cam Central Price: $119.95 (Order Here)

]]> http://blog.divecamcentral.com/2009/02/24/liquid-image-explorer-series-302-swim-mask-review/feed/ 0 http://blog.divecamcentral.com/2009/01/04/liquid-image-releasing-a-slew-of-new-swim-masks/ http://blog.divecamcentral.com/2009/01/04/liquid-image-releasing-a-slew-of-new-swim-masks/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:05:04 +0000 admin http://blog.divecamcentral.com/?p=7 Just in time for CES, Liquid Image has announced 3 new freaking sweet underwater camera masks! We were expecting a new mask sometime soon, but we weren’t expecting 3, especially with the features they have.
The biggest and baddest of the new cameras is the Pro HD350 (black pictured on the left), this mask can take microSD/SDHC cards up to 32GB and records 720p video. It’s also rated to a depth of 330ft! This camera is aimed more at the professional dive industry (search & recovery, military).Next is the Scuba Series 320, this mask also takes video at 720p and can utilize microSD/SDHC cards up to 32GB, it’s rated at a depth of 115 feet. Both of these cameras feature lever buttons for easier shutter action. The last camera in the new line up is the VideoMask 310 (red and black cam on the right). It’s rated to a depth of 33 ft and takes videos at 640×480 at 30fps on up to an 8GB microSDHC card. All the cameras above also take 5 megapixel photos and feature Liquid Image’s new flashlight mount. We’ll be at CES with Liquid Image January 9th-11th so make sure to stop by the booth and say hi or ask questions if you’re at the show!

For more info on the cameras, read the 3 press releases below. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Liquid Image Co, LLC Melanie Pearson (916) 698-6097 Melanie@LiquidImageCo.com http://www.liquidimageco.com IMAGES & SPECS: http://www.flickr.com/liquidimageco/collections LIQUID IMAGE PRO HD350 SERIES CAMERA MASK RELEASED AT CES Sacramento, CA., January 2, 2009 – Liquid Image is releasing a High Definition Pro Series Camera/Video Mask at the 2009 CES show in Las Vegas January 8th – 11th. The Liquid Image PRO HD350 Camera/Video Mask allows professional scuba divers to capture underwater photos and High Definition digital video hands free. Uses may include search and recovery, military, government or other professional underwater occupations. The HD video is 720P (1280 x 720) and records at a rate up to 30 frames per second with audio. The camera mode features a 5 MP (2560 x 1920) still image. Each Camera Mask will be tested and certified to a depth rating of 100 meters / 330 ft during production. This model has adjustable light attachments available to help bring out the color and detail that is generally lost while diving below 5 meters. Large lever style buttons allow for greater dexterity while wearing diving gloves. A darker silicon skirt helps to shield the peripheral vision from distraction, while still permitting the LED light indicator to signal the user when recording photos and videos. The outer housing is a dark grey color to help camouflage the diver when needed. To take a photo or a video, the diver lines up the crosshair marks on the mask with the object, and then presses the capture button. LED lights inside the viewing area indicate the mode the camera is in when activated. The digital images and video may be downloaded to a computer through the High Speed USB cable provided, or through a Micro SD/SDHC card. The camera comes with 64 MB Nand Flash internal memory. A Micro SD/SDHC Card slot allows the memory to be upgraded to 32 GB. Every 1 GB of memory added allows approximately 30 minutes of recorded video. US and International distribution is set for spring 2009. SRP – Estimated price TBD Liquid Image Co, LLC, is an international manufacturer of cameras, electronics, toys and games that target sports and outdoor activities. The corporate office is located in Sacramento, CA, with an international office located in Hong Kong. LIQUID IMAGE HD SCUBA SERIES CAMERA MASK RELEASED AT CES Sacramento, CA., January 2, 2009 – Liquid Image is releasing a High Definition Scuba Series Camera/Video Mask at the 2009 CES show in Las Vegas January 8th – 11th. The Liquid Image SCUBA SERIES HD320 Camera/Video Mask allows scuba divers to capture underwater photos and High Definition digital video hands free. The HD video is 720P (1280 x 720) and records at a rate up to 30 frames per second with audio. The camera mode features a 5 MP (2560 x 1920) still image. Each Camera Mask will be tested and certified to a depth rating of 35 meters / 115 ft during production. This new model has adjustable light attachments available to help bring out the color and detail that is generally lost while diving below 5 meters. Large lever style buttons allow for greater dexterity while wearing diving gloves. A darker silicon skirt helps to shield the peripheral vision from distraction, while still permitting the LED light indicator to signal the user when recording photos and videos. To take a photo or a video, the diver lines up the crosshair marks on the mask with the object, and then presses the capture button. LED lights inside the viewing area indicate the mode the camera is in when activated. The digital images and video may be downloaded to a computer through the High Speed USB cable provided, or through a Micro SD/SDHC card. The camera comes with 64 MB Nand Flash internal memory. A Micro SD/SDHC Card slot allows the memory to be upgraded to 32 GB. Every 1 GB of memory added allows approximately 30 minutes of recorded video. US and International distribution is set for spring 2009. SRP – Estimated at $215 US Liquid Image Co, LLC, is an international manufacturer of cameras, electronics, toys and games that target sports and outdoor activities. The corporate office is located in Sacramento, CA, with an international office located in Hong Kong. LIQUID IMAGE VIDEO MASK RELEASED AT CES Sacramento, CA., January 2, 2009 – Liquid Image is releasing a Video Series Camera Mask at the 2009 CES show in Las Vegas January 8th – 11th. The VideoMask 310 Camera/Video Mask is an upgraded version of the award winning Camera Mask, released in 2008. This new version allows snorkelers, free divers, and shallow scuba divers to capture underwater digital video and photos hands free at a higher frame rate. The video is D1 (720 x 480) and records at a rate up to 30 frames per second. The original model, Explorer Series, recorded around 20 frames per second. The camera mode features a 5 MP (2560 x 1920) still image. Each VideoMask 310 will be tested and certified to a depth rating of 10 meters / 33 feet during production. This new model has light attachments available to help bring out the color and detail that is generally lost while diving below 5 meters. To take a photo or a video, the diver lines up the crosshair marks on the mask with the object, and then presses the capture button. LED lights inside the viewing area indicate the mode the camera is in when activated. The digital images and video may be downloaded to a computer through the USB cable provided, or through a Micro SD/SDHC card. The camera comes with 16 MB Nand Flash internal memory. A Micro SD/SDHC Card slot allows the memory to be upgraded to 8 GB. Every 1 GB of memory added allows approximately 20 minutes of video. US and International distribution is set for February 2009. SRP – Estimated at $159 US Liquid Image Co, LLC, is an international manufacturer of cameras, electronics, toys and games that target sports and outdoor activities. The corporate office is located in Sacramento, CA, with an international office located in Hong Kong.