
Tips on shooting Black Water Dive?
#1
Posted 01 February 2011 - 03:44 PM
I'm heading to the Big Island in a couple weeks and planning to do the Black Water Dive while I'm there. I've done the dive before, but plan to try shooting it this time and could use some pointers.
I have a Canon 50D with an Ikelite housing, Ikelite DS160 and DS52 strobes.
What lens would you suggest? I have ports for a 10-20mm, 17-85 wide angle lenses, and 50mm & 100mm macro lenses.
Any suggestions or pointers would be greatly appreciated!
Beth
Beth Hutter
#2
Posted 02 February 2011 - 12:32 AM
I've actually been reading up on the subject as I am planning my first trip to dive in Kona also. here's a few links I found after a quick search that seem to have some good tips.
Black Water Night Dive
Kona "Pelagic Magic" black water
I intend to start with my Nikon 60mm Macro, easy and fast focus. depending on how it does I may try the 105mm. I'll bring lots of light and just play with the strobes alot.
Take care,
john
#3
Posted 02 February 2011 - 08:59 AM
Nope, been there - done that. I used a Nikkor 60 mm macro with a flat port on a Nikon D80 APSC ~= 90 mm for full frame 35. It was too tight. I think my 17-70 or 10-17 FE + 1.4x TC in a dome port would have been better. You will need a very bright light and many of the subjects will be quite small and semi-translucent. I switched between AF and pre-focused MF. You will need excellent buoyancy control. The dive is AWESOME!!! That is a trite and over used pa, but it really is AWESOME!!!Hi beth,
I've actually been reading up on the subject as I am planning my first trip to dive in Kona also. here's a few links I found after a quick search that seem to have some good tips.
Black Water Night Dive
Kona "Pelagic Magic" black water
I intend to start with my Nikon 60mm Macro, easy and fast focus. depending on how it does I may try the 105mm. I'll bring lots of light and just play with the strobes alot.
Take care,
john
Bob
Carpe carp - Seize the carp
#4
Posted 02 February 2011 - 10:00 AM
Beth Hutter
#5
Posted 02 February 2011 - 11:47 AM
Just did two of the dives. On the first, I used the 60 macro lens in autofocus. NO GOOD. (Canon 7d). On the second, I prefocused at about 4 inches and used the move the camera in and out method. MUCH MUCH better. The Tokina 10-17 with a teleconverter and small CFWA dome will be my next attempt. The guys who do the dive a lot shoot the 60 mostly pre-focused and cry when something big comes through. The 100 is way, way too hard for me at least.Thanks John, Bob. You've pointed out exactly the dilemma I'm hvaing...to shoot macro or wide angle lens.
Bill
Bill
Canon 7d, Nauticam, Lots of glass, Olympus OMD-EM5, Nauticam, 60 macro, 45 macro, 8 mm fisheye, Inon, S&S, Athena Strobes plus lots of fiddly bits.
www.blueviews.net
#6
Posted 02 February 2011 - 03:37 PM
Edited by heymo, 02 February 2011 - 03:38 PM.
Beth Hutter
#7
Posted 02 February 2011 - 08:32 PM
Hi Beth,Thanks John, Bob. You've pointed out exactly the dilemma I'm hvaing...to shoot macro or wide angle lens.
At the risk of being place on the rack for heresy, I have a modest proposal. Consider you end use for the images. Is it a double page spread for NG, may be some nice 11 x 14-teens for the den, or post on your web site? Shoot a little wide and crop. You will be drifting with the current, but your subjects will be going faster. Do you have rock solid buoyancy control? Will your subject be exactly where you want it in the frame? Your 50D has 15 Mpx. I think you only need about 8 mpx for a 200 dpi 11 x 14 print. Shoot wider and give yourself some breathing room and crop. If you do more than one of these dives, try both macro & a wider angle. I don’t know your system, but with the Bare mini dome port (4-3/4”) I can use the 10-17, 10-17 + 1.4x TC, and the 17-70 with a 50 mm PE. Smaller kit, less fuss, lots of range. You might consider replacing the 18-35 with a better lens that can shoot 1:2 macro with a fairly wide range.
Bob
Carpe carp - Seize the carp
#8
Posted 03 February 2011 - 03:21 AM
http://www.dpreview....kina35macro.asp
Edited by loftus, 03 February 2011 - 03:22 AM.
#9
Posted 03 February 2011 - 06:13 AM
I would love to have the Tokina, but it is not made for my 50D. ( I believe there is one availbe for the 40D and below) I do have a 10-20 WA but I'd be afraid the critters would look like backscatter they'd be so small...eventually I will upgrade that lens but am limited to what ports Ikelite can accommodate as of now. I have a 24-105mmL- but the lens diameter is too wide for their port system.
Loftus- the Tokina 35mm DX Macro looks like a great lens...and would fit in the same port I use for my 50mm. But all the reviews I've read say you have to be right on top of what you're shooting to get the 1:1 ratio...and on this dive that's not always possible.
I really appreciate all your input. Will definitely post when we get back if I get anything, and will try to include metadata as well.
Beth Hutter
#10
Posted 03 February 2011 - 12:52 PM
If they are your only two choices use the 17-85, the 50 is only 1:2 and focuses so slowly as to be painful. The 35 macro is nice optically but extends so much that getting the working distance correct is really tricky.Thanks Bill. Really debating now between using the 50mm macro or the 17-85. The 17-85 is a crappy kit lens, but it gives me a better range of focal points to choose from. The 50mm may just be too limiting.
Bill
Bill
Canon 7d, Nauticam, Lots of glass, Olympus OMD-EM5, Nauticam, 60 macro, 45 macro, 8 mm fisheye, Inon, S&S, Athena Strobes plus lots of fiddly bits.
www.blueviews.net
#11
Posted 03 February 2011 - 01:45 PM
Beth Hutter
#12
Posted 03 February 2011 - 08:48 PM
I went to Jack's and bought a very bright focused beam flashlight. I chose the Princeton Tec Shockwave LED light. I drilled a hole in the bottom of the handle. I went to the local hardware store and picked up some stainless steel hardware. I mounted the light on my camera housing using my existing loc-line. The light is quite heavy outside the water and would break apart the loc-line. So I waited until I was in the water to connect the loc-line.
Once underwater the light worked great. I could easily focus, as long as I could keep the critter in the beam.
I can't emphasize enough the importance of a powerful spotlight if you want to use autofocus. A FIX Light or other bright wide focus light is completely inadequate.
Enjoy! It's an AWESOME dive.

John Davies
Canon 70D / Nauticam / dual Inons
my photos
#13
Posted 23 February 2011 - 08:24 PM
actually you need A VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERYA VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY bright focus light. My wifes 2 x 1200 lumen lights were fine. My 2 sola 600s not so many.Hi Beth. My post on the subject was referenced above. I used the Canon 60 mm macro and would do so again. Many critters are quite small. I would have been unhappy without a macro lens. A VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY bright focus light will be your best bet. From my other thread:
I can't emphasize enough the importance of a powerful spotlight if you want to use autofocus. A FIX Light or other bright wide focus light is completely inadequate.
Enjoy! It's an AWESOME dive.
Bill
Bill
Canon 7d, Nauticam, Lots of glass, Olympus OMD-EM5, Nauticam, 60 macro, 45 macro, 8 mm fisheye, Inon, S&S, Athena Strobes plus lots of fiddly bits.
www.blueviews.net
#14
Posted 24 February 2011 - 11:48 AM
And adding a 500 lumen Fix is not sufficient either and not even a sola 600? I am not looking to spend $1000 for lights for a single dive
Any suggestions for reasonably priced satisfaction on this dive?
Nauticam D7000, Inon Z-240's, 60 micro, 105 micro, Tokina 10-17
www.shiningseastudio.com
#15
Posted 24 February 2011 - 01:06 PM
I used a LED 44 (220 lux) with an old model Nikkor 60 mm micro lens on a D80 body. The light is nowhere near bright enough, but sometimes it would AF. I mostly used MF & MF pre-focus. The light was bright enough for me to spot little critters. I suggest you use a wider lens than the 60 mm.I am planning this dive in late May/early June. Based on comments above, I take it my single 200 lumen Big Blue 1x5 is not nearly sufficient. Yikes! Not sufficient for autofocus only.. or not sufficient for taking pics at all?
And adding a 500 lumen Fix is not sufficient either and not even a sola 600? I am not looking to spend $1000 for lights for a single dive
Any suggestions for reasonably priced satisfaction on this dive?
Since you have a Nexus housing, you can MF or AF. Consider renting a focus light.
Bob
Carpe carp - Seize the carp
#16
Posted 24 February 2011 - 03:14 PM
It seems the critters are small yet its suggested to use wider than 60mm. What am I missing?
I currently have a 60mm micro and a 10-17 with 1.4x in a small dome. Which is recommended and why?
Do some larger fish/creatures come around?
Edited by diver dave1, 24 February 2011 - 03:15 PM.
Nauticam D7000, Inon Z-240's, 60 micro, 105 micro, Tokina 10-17
www.shiningseastudio.com
#17
Posted 25 February 2011 - 10:18 AM
Many folks suggest using the Tokina 10-18 with a 1.4 in the small dome with the understanding that the relatively infinite DOF will let you shoot like mad up close. There are occasionally some larger creatures but most are quite small. I went the 60 route, pre-focused. The next time I will go the 10-17 route with the 1.4 and see how it goes.I am not understanding something here.
It seems the critters are small yet its suggested to use wider than 60mm. What am I missing?
I currently have a 60mm micro and a 10-17 with 1.4x in a small dome. Which is recommended and why?
Do some larger fish/creatures come around?
Bill
Bill
Canon 7d, Nauticam, Lots of glass, Olympus OMD-EM5, Nauticam, 60 macro, 45 macro, 8 mm fisheye, Inon, S&S, Athena Strobes plus lots of fiddly bits.
www.blueviews.net
#18
Posted 25 February 2011 - 12:17 PM
That's what I am thinking. If I do this dive again, may be the 10-17 + 1.4x TC or the Siggy 17-70. The Tokina would ceertainly be easier to use.Many folks suggest using the Tokina 10-18 with a 1.4 in the small dome with the understanding that the relatively infinite DOF will let you shoot like mad up close. There are occasionally some larger creatures but most are quite small. I went the 60 route, pre-focused. The next time I will go the 10-17 route with the 1.4 and see how it goes.
Bill
Bob
Carpe carp - Seize the carp
#19
Posted 05 March 2011 - 05:10 AM
I used a D200 w/ 60mm 2.8 D. 2x 90DX strobes on manual control and 2 focus lights. One to look far and one pointed to illuminate the critters once I had them in front of my lens.
I shot w/ autofocus, which seems good enough. the surge was just enough to make manual focus really hard.
I went with "Big Island Divers" which offer the Manta night dive and Black Water dive back-to-back on the same night. It makes for a long evening and we didn't get back until almost midnight, but that fit with my schedule better.
below are a few pics from the evening:




Take care,
John
Edited by jarhed, 05 March 2011 - 05:11 AM.
#20
Posted 05 March 2011 - 09:34 AM
Did you have good shots from the manta dive?
http://picasaweb.google.com/onederway/
http://www.pbase.com/derway
nikon n90s/ikelite housing/twin SS-200 canon G2/ikelite/DS-50/optical TTL slave
sony V3/ikelite/DS-51/Heinrich DA2 slave