Camera with a Cause
When a swarm of Eagle Rays strafes a group of vacationing divers, everyone remembers it. These days, it is likely that more than a few people caught the dynamic display on camera. Action cameras are the norm rather than the exception on most dive boats. GoPros have been ubiquitous while most other brands struggled for attention. Recently at the Dive Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) trade show, a competing camera not only caught my attention, but it also solved a lot of issues that I had been experiencing after a long string of GoPro purchases. I have owned no less than six GoPros over the years and have noted nagging frustrations that a new camera called Paralenz has solved. But beyond great features, Paralenz has also embarked on several exciting collaborations that, according to Marketing Director Jacob Dalhoff Steensen, emphasize their “responsibility towards leaving cash instead of trash” in places where divers use their products.
The first program to come online will donate 5% of cameras sold to a small NGO or conservation organization in the local area of the dive shop/resort/live-aboard where the camera was sold. Dahloff Steensen adds, “once it is up and running, it will create a stream of funds to small research and conservation communities. It is a business model that we wish to encourage other companies to follow as well.” Two other philanthropic ocean conservation and research initiatives will be announced by the company soon.
The camera itself offers several features never before seen in an underwater action camera. Built by divers, the small camera logs your dive and inserts markers in the file to indicate the depth and time for a photo or video sequence. When the dive is over, you can transfer the logged data and footage to your phone or computer. Their proprietary app generates a dive profile and places all your photos and recordings at the time and depth you took them. As you scroll through the dive, the pictures and videos are displayed. Dive logs and recordings are easily shared with your community of friends and dive buddies. The app also lets you control all settings of the camera and makes sure that the firmware is up to date.
With a built-in pressure sensor, the same data stream can be used to auto-correct color as the depth changes. Depth and temperature info can be optionally overlaid on images and video or logged merely as data on the dive timeline. There is no need to purchase or carry a series of color filters since everything is handled by the software.
The rugged unit looks like a small flashlight. Its cylindrical barrel is equipped with a spinning collar that switches between various shooting modes. A beefy trigger switch is easily operated with bare hands or thick gloves, and haptic feedback helps you “feel” when you have started or stopped a recording. Various tactile buzzes indicate different menu choices, but you can also look at a tiny screen on the back of the unit to see its menu system.
During my course of camera testing, a firmware update was offered online improving the unique buzz signatures making it even easier to determine if you successfully trigger your camera without needing to remove it from your helmet or mask. An auto-record option is available for divers that prefer to set the camera to activate on descent and turn off at the surface. (I know I am not the only person that took a GoPro on an entire dive and forgot to trigger it because it was on my head!)
The streamlined shape means that many mounting options are available. A series of rails on the device guide it into an included GoPro style adapter for a helmet or hand mount. Other accessories such as the third-person viewer convert it into a selfie camera, but you will also find it easy to tuck into your wetsuit sleeve or hold it like a flashlight with the included lanyard. You might even decide to attach it to the side of your mask strap using a slice of a bicycle tire inner tube. The options are endless.
The only negative feedback that I can offer involves issues of aim. With no viewfinder or image display, it will take a couple of dives to get accustomed to the field of view. However, if you want to set it, forget it and just enjoy the dive, this won’t slow you down at all. Besides, word on the street says an integrated viewer is coming soon.
If you are looking for a reliable new action camera, give this one a hard look. You won’t need to worry about flooding, fogging or color filters. The product is built, tested, and improved upon by divers who desire to establish a community around the camera. The bonus is that your purchase will also support small, local conservation initiatives that desperately need help!
This image is a screen capture from a 4K video file shot on the Paralenz Action Camera.
SPECIFICATIONS
▪ Weight: 5.5 ounces (155 g)
▪ Battery life: LiPo – 1600 mAh. 3+ hours recording (1080p – 30 fps) or 2+ hours recording (4K – 30 fps)
▪ Full charge in 1 to 2 hours
▪ Memory: Micro-SD card up to 64GB
▪ Paralenz Dive app: Viewing/Sharing/Settings (iOS and Android)
▪ Video Resolution: 4k-30 fps/1080p-100 fps/720p-200 fps
▪ Still Resolution: 8 MP
▪ White Balance: Normal or DCC (Depth Color Correction) (can be turned on/off)
▪ Video Format: MOV – H.264 codec
▪ USB-C port
▪ Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB connectivity
▪ Pressure/temperature sensors
▪ Up to 656 feet (200 meters); military-grade aluminum
▪ Microphone
