4K Rayfin Camera Used in Hudson Canyon Expedition

SubC Imaging is honoured to be partnering with OceanGate Expeditions to explore the Hudson Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Ocean. The canyon is an extension of the Hudson River Valley that runs from New York up to 400 nautical miles out into the Atlantic Ocean, reaching depths of 3,500m.

SubC Imaging is honoured to be partnering with OceanGate Expeditions to explore the Hudson Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Ocean. The canyon is an extension of the Hudson River Valley that runs from New York up to 400 nautical miles out into the Atlantic Ocean, reaching depths of 3,500m.

The expedition will be carried out using OceanGate’s impressive Cyclops 1, 5-person submersible. The Cyclops 1 is capable of reaching depths up to 500 meters and have been used to carry out dozens of research projects. OceanGate’s submersibles were born out of appreciation for the complexity of harsh subsea environments and the desire to advance marine research in the deep ocean. This appreciation and the desire to explore the unknown has allowed OceanGate and SubC Imaging to form an exciting partnership.

With the help of SubC Imaging, the Cyclops 1 will be equipped with the most advanced subsea imaging technology: a programmable Rayfin 4K camera, MantaRay parallel laser, and a SubC Offshore Digital Video Recorder with an overlay to capture 4K footage and high-resolution digital stills.

Highly received for its event-tracking capabilities, data acquisition, and superior optics, SubC Imaging’s Rayfin smart cameras are employed by a number of renowned marine research organizations and are being used in various applications around the world. From ROVs, AUVs, drop, tow, and observatory systems, the Rayfin is easily integrated onto any platform. The Rayfin product line can record HD video or 4K resolution while capturing ultra-high-resolution digital stills and is designed to house lighting and/or lasers that can be powered and controlled through the camera itself and via scripting.

Scripting is a simple software language that, in this case, allows your camera, lasers, LEDs and other accessories to run autonomously. You can script where there are periods of time where user interaction would be inefficient or not possible. Common applications include AUV, observatory and other battery deployed scenarios where a time-lapse of stills and video are required.

In the video below, you’ll see many diverse creatures from coral, to squid, to chain catsharks captured for the first time in 4K using the Rayfin camera. This footage was taken during OceanGate’s expedition to the Hudson Canyon in September 2020.