As underwater videographers, we constantly seek ways to enhance our workflow for better efficiency and ultimately, better results. The advantages of a remote control for video lights, such as missing fewer shots, conserving battery life, and interacting more delicately with marine life, are significant. Weefine offers a solution to these challenges. In this article, we'll delve into why a remote control is a game-changer in underwater wildlife videography, how Weefine's remote control system operates, and whether it is worth the extra buck.

In this article, you'll discover:

1. Why control your video lights remotely?
2. Weefine’s remote control system
3. Is it worth the extra money?

Why Control Your Video Lights Remotely?

When filming marine animals underwater with video lights, managing the lights manually can be cumbersome and may result in missed opportunities. Utilizing a remote control for video lights addresses these challenges. It enables you to turn the lights on and off without physical adjustments, allowing for seamless adjustments to brightness levels, thus optimizing your workflow and minimizing disruptions to marine life.

Observing how marine life responds positively when the lights are off, highlights the importance of remote control in underwater videography. By selectively activating the lights when necessary, you conserve battery power and create a less intrusive environment, fostering natural interactions with your subjects.

Weefine's Remote Control System

Weefine's remote control ports, integrated into their higher-tier video lights, offer versatility and ease of use. The ports can be connected to the remote controller and mounted onto your underwater setup, allowing direct connectivity to the lights via standard fiber optic cables.

Mounting

Weefine's remote controller comes with several included mounting options. At the bottom of the unity, you find a standard ¼-20 interface, giving way to multiple mounting possibilities. The controller also comes with a mounting adapter (handle rail) which can be directly screwed into the grip rail of the underwater tray. The included rail will fit most grip rails, that are not produced by Weefine. If you want to mount the remote onto a Weefine tray, you will have to purchase an additional mounting adapter.

Operation

To get your system up and running, you will need to turn the video lights on manually at the beginning of your dive. To turn the light off entirely, you will also need to do so manually.

You now have the following controls available:

Increase brightness: Press the right button (arrow up) for less than one second
Decrease brightness: Press the left button (arrow down) for less than one second
Switch between modes: Press the middle button for less than a second
Turn the left/right light on/off: Press and hold either the left or the right button for about 2 seconds.

Sleep mode: Press and hold the middle button for more than one second. The light will go into sleep mode at the brightness level you are using at this moment. By pressing the middle button again for longer than one second, you reactivate the lights and they will immediately jump back into the brightness level you used before.

Technical

Weefines’ remote control is powered by a small 3.0V Battery (Type CR123) which is included when purchasing the lights. I haven’t been able to figure out how long this battery will last yet, but I am sure it depends on your use-case scenario. There is no need to turn the remote controller on or off as it will do so automatically. The battery compartment is sealed by a single interchangeable o-ring.

Is It Worth the Extra Money?

Investing in Weefine's remote control system offers numerous benefits. It streamlines your workflow, enhances filming precision, and promotes ethical interactions with marine life. The ability to adjust brightness levels on the fly empowers you to capture optimal footage without compromising camera settings.

Considering the long-term advantages and relatively low cost of Weefine's remote control unit, the investment proves to be worthwhile for serious videographers. Not only does it benefit your filming endeavors, but it also contributes to environmental efforts by minimizing disturbance to underwater ecosystems.

Weefine's remote control system is a valuable asset for underwater videographers, offering enhanced control and efficiency at an affordable price point.

(operation & features may vary when using different lights; Tested with two Solar Flares 7000s)