In summary
A combined diving mask and video/stills camera for snorkelling and shallow scuba diving.Liquid Image’s VideoMask 310 sits in the middle of its new range of camera-equipped diving masks. Designed like a regular diving mask, it includes a digital camera that can record both still pictures and video clips. Ideal for snorkelling and shallow scuba diving, this mask can also be used for free diving and shark cage diving. . . [more]
Full review
Liquid Image’s VideoMask 310 sits in the middle of its new range of camera-equipped diving masks. Designed like a regular diving mask, it includes a digital camera that can record both still pictures and video clips. Ideal for snorkelling and shallow scuba diving, this mask can also be used for free diving and shark cage diving.
The manual supplied with the VideoMask 310 states it as waterproof to a depth of 10 metres and this depth rating is stamped on the inner side of the camera module. However, the local distributor’s website states: The depth rating on model 310 & 311 was originally listed as 33ft/10m. After further testing the depth rating has increased to 65ft/20m. If your packaging, product or User Manual shows the original depth rating, the warranty will now be honored to the new depth.
The VideoMask 310 is supplied with a transparent polythene carrying case, USB cable, silicone grease for the o-ring seals and two AAA lithium batteries. A printed, multi-lingual user manual is also provided, along with a warranty registration card (which has a US address) and a CD containing ArcSoft MediaImpression software (PC version only).
Build and Ergonomics
This mask is offered in black with a red highlight around the lenses, which are made of tempered glass and have cross hairs printed near the centre of each lens. These cross hairs help you to maintain focus on the subject, which must be at least 50 cm from the camera’s lens. (Note: it can be difficult to evaluate distances underwater because subjects usually appear approximately 25% larger – and therefore, closer – than they really are.)
The Liquid Image VideoMask 310. (Source: Liquid Image.)
The VideoMask 310 in use. (Source: Active Out There.)
The camera is powered by two AAA batteries (lithium cells recommended), which fit into a receptacle on the right side of the mask. A second compartment for storing spare batteries is located on the opposite side. Both compartments are sealed with screw-on caps that have o-rings to exclude water.
Two views of the main battery compartment.
On the top of the left eyepiece is a compartment for the Micro SD/SDHC memory card. This compartment has a very solid screw-on cap. Below it is a soft rubber drip guard that prevents water from the cap getting into the card slot. The card pushes into this slot, with a second push required to remove it.
The memory card compartment showing the USB mini-B socket.
The memory card compartment with the drip guard in place.
A mini-B socket for connecting the supplied USB cable is located beside the card slot. Images and video clips can be transferred directly to a computer via the USB cable and the camera will appear as an external drive when connected to a PC. No additional software is required.
The camera unit is located immediately above the centre of the eyepieces with its lens facing forward but pointing slightly downwards. The camera’s small sensor provides a large enough depth-of-field to cover the majority of subjects between 50 cm and infinity.
The mask itself has a similar structure to a typical diving/snorkelling mask, with two eyepieces that have hard plastic lenses. A transparent silicone ‘skirt’ covers the wearer’s nose and provides a watertight seal around the face. Slightly thicker silicone is used for the adjustable head strap.
If you want to use the VideoMask 310 for deeper scuba diving, you can fit accessory lights to the sides of the mask, as shown in the illustration below. A pair of 1Watt waterproof torches that screw onto the sides of the mask is available for $199.
The VideoMask 310 with accessory lights fitted. (Source: Liquid Image.)
The Stills/Video Camera
Technologically, the camera side of the mask is pretty basic. Housed behind a 35 mm diameter port is a fixed focus 8.5mm f/2.8 lens with what appears to be a simple leaf shutter. The lens focal length is equivalent to approximately 53mm on a 35mm camera, which isn’t particularly wide. It has a fixed aperture of f/2.8 and fixed focus at around 50 cm.
The lens is non-adjustable and focuses from 50 cm to infinity. Neither optical nor digital zoom control is provided. Image and video data is captured by a 1/2.5-inch (5.76 x 4.29 mm) CMOS sensor which is probably similar to those provided in very basic point-and-shoot digicams and provides 5-megapixel effective resolution.
Exposure control is fully automated with everything from lens apertures and shutter speeds to ISO and white balance settings non-adjustable. Shutter speeds range from 1/8 to 1/10,000 second, while the ISO range is reduced to 100 and 200 speeds only.
From our tests, it appears the ISO setting is fixed at 100 and the lens aperture at f/2.8; only shutter speeds appear to be adjusted. (Metadata from test shots is shown with the sample images below.)
You can’t adjust JPEG compression ratios for recording still pictures; nor can you adjust image sizes. The default size is 2560 x 1920 pixels and images are typically between 950KB and 1MB in size.
You can fit 27 pictures or approximately 40 seconds of video in the internal memory. Roughly 11,200 shots or four hours of video can be recorded on an 8GB Micro SD (or SDHC) card.
Video clips are recorded in M-JPEG format with monaural soundtracks. Only one resolution is available:720 x 480 pixels, which has an unusual (for video) 3:2 aspect ratio. It isn’t quite HD size but is better than standard VGA.
The specifications state the video frame rate as ‘up to 30 fps’ and an examination of the metadata with the video clips we recorded showed all to be recorded with this frame rate. The total bit rate for video recordings was 4000 kbps, while the audio bit rate was 128kbps with a sample rate of 8kHz.
Controls
Only two controls are provided: a pair of buttons just above the top outside corner of the right side lens. The red power/mode button is used to turn the camera on and off and switch between still capture and movie recording.
The power/mode and shutter/select buttons.
When the camera is set for recording still pictures, a red LED just above the inner top edge of the right side eyepiece switches on. If you press the power/mode button again, this LED glows blue, indicating the camera is set for recording video.
The red LED that glows when the camera is set for recording still pictures.
The black button acts as a shutter release. Pressing it gently when the LED is glowing red will capture a 2560 x 1920 pixel JPEG image. If the LED is blue, pressing the shutter/select button initiates video recording and the blue LED will blink slowly while recording is in progress. A second press of the shutter/select button ends the recording.
The blue LED that indicates the camera is in movie mode.
To turn power off, the power/mode button is held down for a little more than a second. By default, the power will be switched off automatically is neither of the buttons has been used for 180 seconds (3 minutes).
In Use
The VideoMask 310 is quite comfortable to wear and the wide silicone head strap seldom tangles with your hair, making a strap tamer unnecessary. Unfortunately, we found the lenses tended to fog up quite readily, even after the normal snorkelling preparations (spit on the lenses and rinse).
It took longer to fog after we smeared the inner surfaces of the lenses with swimmers’ anti-fog liquid but after about 15 minutes of snorkelling the lenses started to fog up again. We’re not sure what caused this but feel the problem may be with a finish on the inner sides of the lenses.
Taking pictures and video clips with the VideoMask 310 is a point-and-guess process: you point your head in the direction of the subject, press the shutter/select button and hope for the best. There’s no way to review your shots until you upload them to a computer so it will take a few trials before you know what does and doesn’t work.
From our tests we’ve discovered the following factors that contribute to the success (or otherwise) of using the camera.
1. The angle-of-view is narrower than most digital cameras, so you need to have the subject central in your vision to include it in the frame. (The cross-hair markings in the lenses can be helpful.)
2. The clarity of the water influences the end results. Don’t bother taking pictures when it’s murky.
3. Move slowly while shooting video and keep your head pointing in one direction – or scan the scene very slowly. While it’s tempting to imagine shooting thrilling videos as you weave your way through rocks and seaweeds, this can produce videos that are jumpy and frequently unsharp.
4. The camera’s colour balance has been optimised for the top couple of metres of water. Dive deeper (the camera can go down to 20 metres) and your shots and movies will quickly take on a blue cast. Accessory lights are advisable below about 8 metres.
5. Don’t expect sharp pictures of subjects closer than 50 cm from the camera.
6. Shots taken above the water will have a magenta/red bias and be excessively contrasty and probably slightly unsharp. Examples are shown below.
7. The mask fits only adult-sized faces. Larger adolescents will be able to use it but it will leak if worn by children younger than about 15.
After use, the mask should be rinsed thoroughly in fresh water to remove any sand or other debris and dried with a soft, lint-free cloth before any of the compartments are opened. The user manual provides details on after-care and storage of the mask.
Performance
We were unable to subject the VideoMask 310 to our normal Imatest evaluation because the mask lacks a tripod socket and the camera itself provides no adjustable controls. In addition, when we conducted the first of our usual shooting tests we discovered the contrast and colour balance of the sensor and image processing system had been pre-set for underwater photography.
This isn’t a bad thing for a camera that is designed for a specific purpose; it just restricts the range of situations in which it can be used. But it restricts us to subjective evaluations that can’t be backed-up by objective data.
Because the camera’s lens and imaging system are similar to those in the most basic of digital cameras and/or mid-level cameraphones, these are the devices we’ve used for comparison. On this basis, we consider image and video quality from the VideoMask 310 to be satisfactory for its purpose, but not outstanding.
While still shots taken in clear water look pretty good on a screen and when printed at snapshot size, they won’t tolerate much enlargement. The same applies to video clips; although somewhat ‘flatter’ in contrast than still shots, they can look good for their resolution on a small screen but won’t tolerate much enlargement on a large, widescreen TV set.
In addition, the 3:2 aspect ratio of the video isn’t a good fit for widescreen monitors and TV sets so black bars appear on each side of the picture when videos are played back on these screens. The soundtracks recorded with the video clips were of a similar quality; you could certainly hear what was happening as you snorkelled, but you’d probably want to over-dub the audio.
In the end, it comes down to value for money. At $299 the VideoMask 310 represents good value for money for casual snorkellers and scuba divers who want a simple way to record still pictures and video clips while they dive. But it can’t produce professional-quality pictures and movies.
Buy this product:
– If you want a cheap and simple underwater stills/video camera that will leave your hands free when snorkelling or diving.
Don’t buy this product:
– For a child.
– If you require professional quality still or video images.
– If you want adjustable camera controls.
SAMPLE IMAGES
(All images have been adjusted with the Auto Tone setting in Photoshop. Shot data has been obtained from the image metadata in the JPEG file.)
A typical example of a shot taken in murky water. ISO 100, 1/25 second at f/2.8.
ISO 100, 1/50 second at f/2.8.
ISO 100, 1/125 second at f/2.8.
ISO 100, 1/100 second at f/2.8.
ISO 100, 1/100 second at f/2.8.
ISO 100, 1/100 second at f/2.8.
ISO 100, 1/50 second at f/2.8.
Still frames from video clips:
Specifications
Depth rating: To 10 metres (see review for more information)
Image sensor: 5.76 x 4.29 mm CMOS sensor with 5 megapixels effective resolution
Lens: 8.5mm f/2.8 lens
Zoom ratio: n.a.
Image formats: Stills – JPEG; Video – M-JPEG with monaural audio
Image Sizes: Stills – 2560 x 1920; Video – 720 x 480 at 30 frames/second
Shutter speed range: 1/8 to 1/10,000 second
Image Stabilisation: n.a.
Exposure Compensation: n.a.
Focus system/range: Contrast-based; range 50 cm to infinity
Exposure metering/control: Fully automatic
Shooting modes: Auto only
ISO range: Auto (ISO 100-200)
White balance: Automatic only
Storage Media: 16MB internal memory plus Micro SD/SDHC expansion slot (up to 16GB)
LCD monitor: Status LCD panel only
Interface: USB 2.0 High Speed
Power supply: 2x AAA batteries (rated for 500 shots or 20 minutes of video with alkaline batteries; 2200 shots or 2.20 hours with lithium batteries)
Dimensions (wxhxd): 89 x 187 x 133 mm
Weight: 339 grams (with batteries and card)
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Rating
RRP: $299
Rating (out of 10):
- Build: 8.5
- Ease of use: 8.5
- Image quality: Stills 7.5; Video 7.5
- OVERALL: 8.5
