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S.U.P.E.R. Part 14: INON Telescopic Arms
In our ongoing series S.U.P.E.R. (Scubaverse’s Underwater Photography Equipment Reviews), Scubaverse.com’s underwater photography editors Nick and Caroline Robertson Brown review new underwater photography equipment, general diving equipment, and some older favourites too.
For the fourteenth instalment of S.U.P.E.R., Nick and Caroline take a look at INON’s Telescopic Arms.
Inon have brought out a series of telescopic arms to add to their extensive range of accessories for underwater photographers. They are made from carbon fibre and so are lighter than you would expect. They come in 3 sizes and we tried out the medium arms with both compact and dSLR cameras whilst they were on test with us.
The telescopic arms have 3 sections that can be extended, or retracted, to the length you desire and then locked in place using a twist, lock dial for each section. The medium arm can extend from 370mm to 790mm (14.5in to 31.1in). As they are made out of hollow carbon fibre pipes, they are not too heavy when in the water, however INON have brought out Mega Float Tubes to go with these new arms for additional buoyancy. Personally, I found the weight to be good, but they could do with a float if you are going to use them in the fully forward position for stuff like backlighting.
What we loved about these arms is that you can shorten them in fully when the camera is out of the water and you are carrying it around, making it less cumbersome. But they really come into their own underwater when you want to change the length of your arms. As you get closer to a subject underwater, or your subject gets closer to you, ideally you want to change the position of your strobes to pull them closer to the camera. With these telescopic arms, you can easily change the length of your arms, even when wearing thick gloves in cold water. If you want long arms to reach past your subject to provide some backlighting – no problem! Then, as you move on to a new photographic subject, you can reduce the length back to make the system more manageable in the water.
We used them as the sole arm whilst diving with a compact camera and they worked very well. I think the short arm would work best with a compact system but the medium arms we used worked fine. With our dSLRs we added an additional short arm to give us further options for manoeuvrability. We liked this setup so much, we have kept them!
These telescopic arms can also be used with a GoPro or other action camera so that you can extend out when you want to video marine life out in front of you, or as a super selfie stick too!
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
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