Table of Contents for Review of the Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask

• What You Get
• The Liquid Image Under Water Video Mask
  • Pros
  • Cons
• Liquid Image Documentation
• Codec Settings
• Sample Video Clips, RAW and Unaltered
• Sample Video Frame Grabs
• Recording Capacity
• Battery Time
• Warranty and Support
• Software
• Summary and Recommendation
• Pricing
• About HelmetCameraCentral.com
• Review Change Log

Included in the box, you will find the following, in addition to the Video Mask:

• USB Cable
• User Manual
• Carrying Case
• ArcSoft Photo Impression Software
• ArcSoft Video Impression Software
• 2 AAA Energizer Lithium Batteries
• Silicone Grease

Pros

One of the first things you notice when you inspect the Explorer Series Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask is the streamlined design of the unit. The swim mask is a hybrid, combining VGA video capabilities and 5 megapixel camera with a sleek dive mask made of very solid composite materials. The lenses are made of high quality tempered glass and have a cross hair in the center of each - helping you to frame in your video and photos. There are two compartments on either side of the mask, both double sealed and accessible via threaded caps. The compartment on the right houses the 2 AAA lithium batteries which power the unit. You can expect battery run time of over 2 hours with high quality batteries. The left compartment is a general storage area for extra batteries or to hold a couple of dollars for refreshments between video snorkeling adventures.

On top, there is another, larger cap that seals the USB port and microSD slot (2GB max for the Explorer and up to 32GB for the new Scuba models). All of the compartments are threaded and have washers in addition to O-rings for optimal water resistance - a tube of silicon grease is included to make the seal even more effective. Two buttons is all it takes to operate the mask, red powers the camera on and off and switches between video and photo modes. The yellow button below it is the shutter/record button, it's function depending on the mode you're in. Two bright LEDs which you can see through the clear premium grade silicon skirt tell you whether you are in photo or video mode, red for photo, and a blue LED for video. A status LCD tells you battery life, how many pictures and clips you've taken, and whether you're in photo or video mode. The Explorer weighs barely more than a regular swim mask and allows you virtually hands free operation of the camera.

The mask size seems to be a good compromise that will fit most people without leaking. If you have a much larger than average size head your view may be slightly limited. Likewise, if you have too small of a head, you may get leaks. The goal was to fit the majority of people with this mask and introduce larger skirts for the more advanced Scuba Models due out in April of 2009. The mask seals nicely given you don't have a huge amount of facial hair. The strap is highly adjustable and features a quick release mechanism on either side. If you have longer hair that tends to get tangled up, you may want to get a strap pad available at diving supply stores.

We took a few sample snapshots at the office before actually field testing the unit, and the results were quite surprising. The pictures turned out sharp and had decent contrast. Certainly better than expected for the retail price of $99.95, especially for a camera with no adjustibility. We had a chance to test the video mask at Mumbo Lake, one of many small glacial tarns that we have in the beautiful mountains surrounding us here in Mt Shasta, California. It was a quick test, and we were snorkel-less, which only allowed for brief underwater sessions but we got a good idea about the usability and quality of the unit. The mask works just as well as any other swim mask we've used, it doesn't leak and visibility was good. The lake was semi-murky so there wasn't a chance to test the video quality in pristine clear water, but we were able to get an idea of the general camera quality.

Our underwater footage turned out pretty good. Resolution is decent at 640x480, and the frame rate is acceptable at 20 FPS. A higher frame rate would be better, but most people are probably going to use the mask for recreational water activities, so a higher frame rate would sacrifice battery life and storage space (a 2GB microSD card holds over an hour of video or hundreds and hundreds of photos). Colors were well saturated, nice and contrasty, and had minimal artifacting. There were some odd waviness issues which would be a concern for serious videographers but not most recreatonal users. The April 2009 Scuba Models feature HD 720p video which will please even advanced underwater photographers.

Bottom line is the mask works wonderfully underwater! The red and blue LEDs are very visible, making it very easy to tell what mode you're in. When in video mode, the LED blinks to let you know that you're recording. The buttons are placed in an easy to reach spot on the "shoulder" of the mask, allowing you to change modes and start and stop recording without fumbling. The power/mode button is a few mm higher than the shutter/record button, making it easy to distinguish between the two. We think the design is a solid one which most people will appreciate.

Cons
While the mask is very user friendly, more controls would be nice. Some people will miss the ability to adjust focus settings for the camera mode; although this would be difficult with no viewfinder or live preview LCD.

It would also have been nice if the status LCD reported how many pictures/video clips the memory card has space for, as opposed to how many have already been taken. Video quality, as we mentioned before, is good. There was one odd thing with the video quality; a slight wavy effect. It's hard to describe really, it makes things seem rubbery if you pan your head from side to side. This effect isn't nearly as obvious underwater though, as the aquatic world is much "wavier" to begin with, making this issue much less apparent. The unit also has no microphone, which was probably an obvious choice as the mask is made for underwater adventures. If you were hoping to record the latest trout gossip, you're out of luck. A different frame color might have been nice, all the Explorer models are yellow, but that's really down to personal preference. All in all, the negative aspects are certainly outweighed by the positive.

Included with the unit is a 25 page manual that covers everything you need to get your mask up and running. Also included is a USB Cable, 2x AAA Lithium batteries, a tube of silicon for the washers, and a carrying case.

The basic codec settings for the Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask are as follows:

Video: AVI @ 640×480 @ 18-25 fps @ 2775 kbps
Audio: No Audio.

Click the thumbnail below and you will see a screenshot of the video compression codec details for the Liquid Image Underwater Video Mask from the GSpot Codec Appliance.

You can expect recording times somewhere near the following:
1 GB card - 50-55 minutes
2 GB card - 1 hour 40 minutes

We haven't fully tested battery life yet; but with rechargeable batteries you can expect up to a few hours depending on water temperature.

The mask has a 90 day limited warranty.. Helmet Camera Central is here to assist with any issues that may arise with any products that have been purchased by us.

Bundled with the mask are ArcSoft's Photo Impression and Video Impression Software. These programs, while minimal and simplistic, are very user friendly and allow for easy and straightforward video, slide show and photo editing.

We think Liquid Image has a superb product here. It is a quality piece of work with a surprisingly low retail price of $99.95. It functions perfectly and has video and photo quality that will please anyone but the most hardcore of video-philes.

The Explorer series gets a definite Dive Cam Central recommendation. It does it's job quite well, and it's simple operation will ensure that everyone who uses it will be able to easily record their aquatic adventures. Liquid Image will be be introducing professional Scuba versions of the swim mask in April of 2009 water resistant up to 30 meters on one model and 100 meters for another. If the quality of this introductory version is anything to go by, then the professional version is highly anticipated!

Dive Cam Central Price: {$99.95} (Order Here)