Liquid Image's new underwater digital camera masks debut at CES

Looks like Liquid Image -- those wacky underwater digicam folks -- are going to be hitting the ground running at CES with not one, but two HD underwater digital camera masks. Meant for serious professionals (and well-heeled Jacques Cousteau wannabes), the Pro HD350 shoots 720p video, sports 64 MB flash storage, supports microSD / SDHC cards (up to 32GB) and is rated to a depth of 330 feet. Taking things down a notch, the Scuba Series 320 (MSRP around $215) is the other 720p video cam. Featuring the same 64 MB internal memory and 32 GB microSD / SDHC support, this guy is rated at 115 feet. Bringing up the rear is the VideoMask 310, a 640 × 480 / 30 fps video camera, sporting 16 MB internal memory, 8GB microSDHC card support, and is rated to a depth of 33 feet. It is expected to list at $159, while the Scuba Series 320 will list for about $215. The Pro HD350 hasn't been priced just yet; all three cameras take 5 megapixel photos and will get debuted at CES this week.

[Via Helmet Camera Central, thanks Chad]

[Flashpoint @ Jan 5th 2009 4:57PM]

with a laser beam attached to its frickin head?

[Shaka @ Jan 5th 2009 6:47PM]

yeah especially made for
Snake!!!!!! Snake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OneLove @ Jan 6th 2009 12:35PM]

If i were a fish and saw that coming at me...run!!!..i mean...swim!!!!

[Marcus @ Jan 5th 2009 4:57PM]

Super cool!

[eggothewaffle @ Jan 5th 2009 4:57PM]

"Liquid Image's new underwater digital camera masks debut at CES, scare the hell out of little children at everywhere"

Fixed.

[cstreiffpriceline @ Jan 5th 2009 5:00PM]

"The goggles.... they do everything!"

[Flashpoint @ Jan 5th 2009 5:21PM]

Do the Urkel....

[BlurMagic @ Jan 5th 2009 5:36PM]

"Do you know how awesome these would have been when we were 8?"

Better yet, we get um when we are 40!

[Harkonian @ Jan 5th 2009 5:02PM]

Anyone else see a problem with shooting 720p with 64MB of RAM available? Isn't that like 21MB/sec of data? Why even include such a small onboard flash?

[Nick @ Jan 5th 2009 5:37PM]

THat onboard memory wouldn't even last 5 seconds for shooting 720p video. I'd imagine the only reason it's imcluded is because it they need some on board memory for the camer to run. The same reason all digital cameras have on board memory. Once 32GB micrSDHC cards hit the market this year, they should have enough capacity to record at least hald an hour of uncompress HD video.
http://htcsource.com

[you @ Jan 5th 2009 5:05PM]

if only steve irwin had these!

[go seki @ Jan 5th 2009 5:05PM]

Now if they just did one that did night-vision ..

[Rob @ Jan 5th 2009 5:06PM]

screw underwater....i'd wear this thing on land

[Lu_Max @ Jan 5th 2009 6:27PM]

....or in bed! ;-)

[mark @ Jan 5th 2009 5:08PM]

does $215 seem cheap to anyone?

[kevin @ Jan 5th 2009 6:57PM]

Yes. And since I only go snorkeling, the $159 model would even be fine for me. Last year, I spent $50 or so one that actually plugs into a camera or deck (it doesn't record on its own), so $159 for something that can be worn and recorded with sounds good to me.

[Matthew C @ Jan 5th 2009 10:21PM]

Considering the price of some waterproof camcorder cases ive seen - yes, this looks like quite a deal, if you have a use for it (which I definitely do not.)

[noname @ Jan 5th 2009 5:09PM]

I want it! But i am interested in the Pro version, 200$ underwater camera must be crap, good underwater camera starts at 1000$, 200$ is a price of some basic underwater camera jackets.

[Holmes @ Jan 5th 2009 5:14PM]

anyone else besides me thinking this is great for making porn POV movies?

[go seki @ Jan 5th 2009 5:28PM]

is that a snorkel in your pocket .. or .. of course it is ..

[NumbDiver @ Jan 5th 2009 5:26PM]

Anyone dumb enough to wear this getup, deserves the ridicule he receives. I've got enough hoses & regulators to keep track of at depth, not only is this kit stupid; it's dangerous.

I can't imagine trying to get through a wreck with my face lights catching on everything (and tearing my mask off in the process).

Does no one from this company actually dive? Maybe they should market accessories for their kit so you can attach an umbrella in case of rain, to keep their cameras and lights dry...

PLEASE nominate this for the next CrapGadget award.

[mark @ Jan 5th 2009 5:22PM]

Just wait till they come out with soft box diffusers and umbrellas for the lights.

[NineHaven @ Jan 6th 2009 12:42AM]

Yeah, $215 does seem a bit low priced.

And yes it would be not too smart wearing one of these on a wreck or kelp dive.
However since Im doing a couple of island trips this year I am interested...
Id like to try one of these out on a reef dive.

[XpLoiT @ Jan 5th 2009 5:37PM]

NumbDiver: so i take it your on the backorder list :) keep in mind snorkler goers could use this too without all those regulator thingy ma bobs u talk about

[erk @ Jan 5th 2009 5:41PM]

The lights are just add on options, they don't come with the cam.

[Forrest @ Jan 5th 2009 6:02PM]

Looks to me like the lights fold away?

Does everyone who dives and has need of a camera have to navigate cramped spaces?

Do you not need light when you shoot video at 330 feet?

I appreciate your vast diving expertise, as I have none, so maybe I should just assume you represent all divers everywhere?

I understand that Engadget rarely covers dive-related gadgets, so you're eager to show your expertise. Congrats!

More on-topic, though: I'm shocked at the price. If the mask is any good, the camera probably stinks, and vice-versa.

[Kent @ Jan 5th 2009 5:28PM]

I'm guessing clearing one's mask will be a bit more of an adventure.

Then again, if you get sick of being scared by baraccuda, this just might scare 'em back.

In space, no one can hear you scream, but underwater, the chorting sounds of your dive partner's regulator may be him laughing his fins off.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Jan 5th 2009 5:38PM]

Or the sounds of him being strangled by kelp. (in your hands)

[KC diver @ Jan 6th 2009 12:23AM]

Baraccuda are attracted to shinny objects. You might just get a baraccuda to the face when you turn it on.

That setup is for snorkling.

[dukeman @ Jan 5th 2009 5:51PM]

Pew, Pew!

[Ross @ Jan 5th 2009 6:08PM]

Am I the only person that's noticing a lack of highly rated and low ranked comments lately?

[z-man @ Jan 5th 2009 7:18PM]

Yeah, your the only one.

[Matthew C @ Jan 5th 2009 10:24PM]

Nope - I rarely see anything-ranked comments anymore, and I havent seen a Highest for at least a weak.

[Andrea @ Jan 5th 2009 6:57PM]

I actually think that if you're going to go through the trouble of buying a really nice camera to take awesome underwater photos, you should also invest in a decent digital photo frame so that you can flaunt the photos to friends and family. http://www.sitonsantaslap.com/?utm_source=bc

[Nate @ Jan 5th 2009 7:13PM]

Seriously? Every housing for cameras cost at least 2x as much as these POSes. Not only do you look like a 'tard...you look like a cheap one. Well-heeled? C'mon...this is seriously becoming LOLGadget with the piss poor poorly informed and poorly written entries as of late. Step it up a notch...or 10.

[strider_mt2k @ Jan 5th 2009 10:11PM]

Shiny!

Smile for the folks!

[JustPureChaos @ Jan 6th 2009 1:42AM]

Haha Underwater species POV porn?

[IFRYER @ Jan 6th 2009 9:16AM]

this will be great for capturing pictures of bubbles. Thats all you'll get since the regulator in your mouth is only four inches BELOW (remember bubble go up!) the lense!!!!

This product should be outlawed and is going to kill some novice wanna underwater photographer be when there hoses get tangled and they lose both the masks and regulator at depth!!!!

[Brian @ Jan 6th 2009 11:17PM]

Quickly after entering I brush off bubbles from my mask and camera housing front window or u/w lenses. Most of my video and stills are done with my body in a horizontal position and my face and camera at a slightly down angle from the virtual horizon. My regulator directs bubbles across my throat past my neck and up past below my ears towards the surface. I do see my bubbles when perpendicular to the virtual horizon and looking slightly up. I turn my equipment on only when there is a valuable opportunity. The frequency of bubbles occuring while shooting should be low and immaterial. Whenever I have had my mask knocked off it did not travel more than a few inches and I quickly grabed it back and cleared. Driving without a mask in salt water may be unpleasant it is not blindind and a controlled assent is easily managed. I have used head mounted dive lights without difficulty during night dives. These lights are in addition to my mask and therefore more cumbersom, this concept seems to integrate both simplifying the issue. Your concern of novice divers is valud. Novice divers should avoid any camera until they have at least 30 dives and have competant control of air usage, boyancy and most especially navigation. Most divers signalling the question "where is the boat" have a camera in their hand. %%( :)o

[Brian @ Jan 10th 2009 10:59PM]

I have 653 dives, 27 hrs of u/w video. I have the PADI U/W Photographer certification. All u/w video cameras need a red filter below 30 feet during the day. Colors are removed from the spectrum the deeper you dive, red is the first therefore must be added back using a red filter. Video lights have little effective beyond 15 feet and should be used with the red filter removed. Removal should be done while u/w to be able switch to close ups using the lights. I have used head mounted lights for night diving.I place a red filter directly on the lens of my housed unit for shalow dives when I do not bring the attachable lights. I use an external red filter attaching to the front of the housing for dives when I bring my close up lights. The outfit I am now using has an u/w video monitor. Moving my head arround while shooting does not happen a lot as I am consecrating on the monitor and am free to move my eyes within the wide angle provided by the my dive mask. While doing a giant stride or roll back entry I hold my mask to my face. I will buy this if it comes with a red filter which may be removed underwater. Congradulation, great concept.