Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1097515
10 dga quarterly FOCUS THE BASICS: This underwater drone has been used in some of the most challenging exploration and research areas, so it comes with many of the internal features that make it easy to use and easy to avoid issues with the drone once you're in the field. They include a 3D tilt compensated compass, accelerometer, MEMS gyro, leak alarm, internal temperature gauge, real-time volt meter and depth sensor. It can also be equipped with some 1,000 feet of tether, making it possible to shoot at considerable depths. The drone comes with a standard definition camera, but VideoRay also offers the option to add a secondary HD or 4K camera to the configuration. PHOTOS: DEEP TREKKER; (OPPOSITE TOP) OPENROV; (OPPOSITE BOTTOM) VIDEORAY FOCUS GADGETS | CONTINUED » VIDEORAY PRO 4 » DEEP TREKKER'S DTX2 and DTG2 THE BASICS: As a company that's been involved for a decade with making underwater drones for military and search-and-rescue missions, Deep Trekker has now also established itself as a reliable choice for filming in extreme underwater conditions. The DTG2 can dive to depths of 150 meters (about 492 feet) and is equipped with an HD camera. The DTX2 is rated for 305 meters and packaged for use in deeper waters and tougher oceans. The DTX2 can rotate 180 degrees in order to move vertically, which means it can tackle the kind of confined spaces that would be difficult for a diver. It can also perform in stronger currents due to its patented pitching system and vectored thruster design. IN PRACTICE: Both the DTG2 and the DTX2 were used on Discovery Live: Into the Blue Hole in 2018. The Discovery Channel special featured Sir Richard Branson in a submersible exploring an enormous underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize. The drones were able to film Branson as he went into the depths of the sinkhole and explored the environment there. "We got just beautiful, beautiful footage," says TC Conway, a camera operator, director and producer who worked on the show. "But there is a little bit of wobble with drones, so sometimes you wouldn't get what you'd expect so you really have to plan your shot and you will probably need some processing on post." THE TAKEAWAY: These two drones are workhorses. The DTX2, in particular, is designed for the most difficult shoots in unpredictable conditions, so productions that need to head into unstable waters will want to seek out this model.