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Field deployment

This guide is about getting good footage from the SubCam in the field: choosing a site, aiming the camera, picking settings for the conditions, and what to check before and after every deployment. For the mechanics of mounting and rigging, see Mounting and the Mooring Guide.

Match the rig to the site​

Choose a frame and mooring sized to the site's exposure, meaning its depth, wave height and current. The Mooring Guide has worked examples with full parts lists:

Under-rigging for the conditions is a common way to lose a deployment, so if you are between levels, go up one.

Aim the camera​

  • Tilt. A downward tilt of about 15 degrees is a good starting point for seabed scenes. See Camera Configuration for how tilt, field of view and reach relate.
  • Field of view. The SubCam sees about 100 degrees horizontally, so you do not need to aim precisely. Frame your area of interest and leave some margin.
  • Distance. The camera focuses from 15 cm to infinity, so keep the nearest subject at least 15 cm from the lens.
  • Face away from problems. Avoid pointing into surface glare, or straight into a strong, sediment-laden current that will fill the frame with particles.

Match settings to the conditions​

The SubCam works by natural light, so the water and the time of day matter.

  • Clear water and good light. Use a higher resolution for the sharpest image.
  • Turbid or low light. Visibility, not the camera, is usually the limit. Place the camera closer to your subject, and try HDR mode for high-contrast scenes such as a bright surface above a dark seabed.
  • Battery and storage. Both are used by recording. The Schedule screen shows a live estimate, so you can balance how much you capture against the up-to-15-hour battery and the SD card. Smart Capture can spread recordings across daylight for you.

See Configure and Schedule in the PEBL App guide for these settings.

Biofouling and deployment length​

In productive water, marine growth on the lens gradually softens the image. Clean the lens between deployments (see Maintenance), and plan to redeploy every few weeks, sooner in warm and productive seasons.

Before you deploy: a checklist​

  • Battery charged, schedule set and saved, status LED green.
  • Compass calibrated in place, with all rigging and metal hardware in their final positions.
  • Lens clean; USB-C bung dry and firmly seated.
  • SD card fitted, with space free.
  • Tamper seals intact (for hired kit).
  • Rig sized to the site; camera tilt and aim set.
  • Surface marker and a note of the position, for recovery.

After recovery​

  • Stop logging and turn the device off.
  • Rinse in fresh water, clean the lens, and dry around the bung before opening it.
  • Copy your data and media off the device (see Operating and retrieving data).
  • Follow Maintenance for drying and storage.

Need help?​

Get in touch at hello@pebl-cic.co.uk.