Back-Bone Mod Used for Deep Sea Imaging
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Back-Bone Mod Used for Deep Sea Imaging
Alvin, which is operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), has been in operation since 1964. The human occupied vehicle is capable of reaching depths of 4,500m, carrying two scientists and one pilot for each dive.

Back-Bone’s modified GoPro cameras have been installed on the DSV Alvin deep ocean submersible, and on a variety of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Our ‘Modulus’ sensor extension and housing was used to fit a Hero4 Black into a small deep sea cylindrical pressure vessel. The camera was too wide to fit into the pressure vessel without modification and the lens would be too far off-center even if it could have. Using our extension ribbons and housings, project engineers were able to relocate the camera’s image sensor and centered it perfectly within the vessel. The camera body was placed lengthwise farther behind. A rectilinear (non-fisheye) 5.4mm lens was used. The result is known as the ‘MISO-EPO 12 MP Deep-Sea Digital Still Camera’ – a camera capable of withstanding the crushing depths that the Alvin is designed to explore.

Deep Search 2018

From August 19 to September 2, 2018, NOAA and partners at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a research expedition on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution-operated R/V Atlantis to collect critical baseline information about deepwater habitats offshore the U.S. Mid- and South Atlantic.

During this mission an 85 mile coral reef was discovered off the east coast of the U.S. that was previously unknown. These timelapse videos were shot with a Hero4 camera with Back-Bone sensor extension and lens installed.

August 23rd, 2018

August 26th, 2018

GO Sars 2018 Cruise

The objective for this expedition was to explore the distribution, abundance and ecology of mesopelagic resources of the Northeast Atlantic.

These images were captured during the research cruise. They are from ROV mounted cameras featuring Back-Bone mods as well as images of one of the cameras being deployed on its own and placed on the sea floor.

Gallery of Seafloor images acquired during the GO Sars 2018 cruise – Drs. R. Pedersen, T. Barreyre, and S.Jorgensen of U. Bergen and the K. G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research were the lead scientists. Imagery is copyrighted by U. Bergen and the K. G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research. The images were acquired using the MISO-EPO 12 MP deep-sea digital still camera developed by D. Fornari – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), MISO/SSSG Facility and E. Perrone – EP Oceanographic (EPO), LLC. Deep Search 2018 related images, video and information courtesy of NOAA – Deep Search 2018 image and video gallery

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Using Back-Bone Modified GoPros With Microscopes
Back-Bone
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Using Back-Bone Modified GoPros With Microscopes

 

Microscope camera systems capable of shooting in 4K are bulky and extremely expensive. Back-Bone’s ‘Ribcage’ Modified action cameras provide a cost effective alternative. Here’s a list of features that make these cameras a no-brainer for this type of application. Camera’s and mod kits are available here.

 

Cost

4K microscope camera systems can cost many thousands of dollars. A modified 4K GoPro can range in price from a few hundred dollars to $899 for the H6PRO which supports 4K @60fps. The Ribcage RX0 features a 1″ CMOS sensor and 4K output for $1399.

Industry Leading Specs

Shoot at resolutions up to 4K/60 for a fraction of the cost. Other features include 12MP RAW photos plus full exposure and shutter speed control. Get frame rates of up to 1000fps with the Ribcage RX0.

Portability

Typical microscope recording systems require a computer or wired controller box in order to function. Back-Bone mods are compact, self contained and battery powered so you can take your research into the field. Each camera features a rear display.

HDMI Out

All of Back-Bone’s modified cameras feature live video out. The H5PRO and Ribcage RX0 cameras even feature a clean 4K live output via HDMI so you can see every detail on a large screen or capture to an external recording device.

Hands Free

Operate cameras via wireless remote control, smartphone app and in some cases voice commands so that your subject remains undisturbed (H5PRO/H6PRO & Ribcage YI 4K+ feature voice control)

C-Mount

All of Back-Bone’s modified cameras feature C-Mount – the standard lens mount for machine vision and medical imaging applications. Many microscopes already have a C-Mount camera port or beamsplitter. If replacing the eyepiece you can use a cheap C-Mount nosepiece adapter to mount the camera.

Imaging Options

Record in the infrared or in a slice of the spectrum of your choosing. Back-Bone cameras all feature a removable IR-Cut filter which can be replaced with your own custom filter to suit your needs.

This video shows the results of a Ribcage Modified Hero4 camera on a high-end microscope.

Useful information:

  • GoPro/YI sensor size: 1/2.3″
  • Ribcage RX0 sensor size: 1″
  • Max recording resolution: 4000 x 3000 @ 30fps (H6PRO & Ribcage Yi 4K+)
  • Still image Resolution: 12MP RAW (GoPro / Yi), 15.3MP RAW (Ribcage Rx0)
  • Sensitivity: ~ 350nm – 1100nm
  • 650nm IR-Cut, 635nm IR-Cut, 780nm Cold Mirror, 0.3, 0.6 & 0.9 OD ND filters available
  • Contact Midwest Optics for custom filters
  • Filter size Hero4/Yi 4K/4K+/ RX0: 15.2mm diameter x 1.1mm thick
  • Filter size H5PRO / H6PRO: 9.6mm diameter x 1.1mm thick
  • Filter size Hero3/3+: 9.6mm x 0.5mm thick

Mounting a Back-Bone H5PRO modified Hero5 to your average microscope with an eyepiece adapter.

 

 

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Back-Bone and Nat Geo Lions 360
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Back-Bone and Nat Geo Lions 360

Don’t you hate it when lions eat all your cameras? We provided our Ribcage modified GoPro cameras and lenses to film National Geographic’s Lions 360 video, plus we were able to help in other ways. During filming several of the production’s stock GoPro cameras were actually destroyed by the curious lions. Rather than write them off, we had the production send them to us. What many people don’t realize about our camera mod kits is that if you install one on a broken GoPro camera it can actually fix many problems, particularly if the lens is damaged. If it still turns on you can likely salvage it!

One of the cameras actually did require a spare part as the lions had chewed through the LCD readout on the front, though that component isn’t required for the camera to function. We disassembled the cameras, installed our Ribcage AIR Mod Kit for Hero4 and… good as new, Only now you can add your choice of lens! Ribcage Mod Kits are available for GoPro Hero3/3+, Hero4 & Yi 4K/4K+.

Please enjoy the Lions 360 video embedded below. Click and drag with your mouse cursor in order to look around.

 

 

 

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