chromatophore

Alright, well the verdict is in and predictably it's a good one! Thanks Alex and Tim for taking the time to instruct a novice. It seems that shooting at 1/640 really is a magic # for the dolphins, but I've also found that I can dial down the ISO a bit and still get nice results. I've been shooting at 1/800 with the ISO at 400 on shutter priority and I've been happy. My only concern is that the images can get blown out when the camera is left to its own devices at times, resulting in an unnecessarily overexposed image that seems wasteful of valuable aperture range. If the ISO is at 640 and the shutter at 1/640, wouldn't it seem logical that the camera would be fast enough to compensate for a spectrum of available light? If I'm under the dolphins shooting up it's as if the camera is overloaded. Either way I'm thrilled with the progress, thanks again!

Wow guys! Thanks, and to think I second guessed myself with the original post...I'm going to head out and try a little fine tuning today. I'll repost my results but I'm anxious to see where this wealth of information takes me. I'm also going to test out the Nikkor 10-24mm. Hopefully coupled with your suggestions I'll come up with something worth reposting!

Happy Holidays,

Jim

I'm not sure if the original author has made their purchase or not, but I have some constructive criticism and objective advice for the IKE D7000. I've been shooting this setup almost seven days a week for six months or so with great results. It's true that much of the engineering is improved as you climb the price ladder, but once you learn the controls you can overcome many of the housing's "shortcomings" with patience and make good use of the extra cash. I'd say save the $1,000-1,500 and pick up lenses that would more specifically cater to your preferred subject matter. The clear housing can be a lifesaver, especially for those of us diving it pretty regularly and so far the setup is sound. I haven't owned an Aquatica or Nauticam, so I can't make a brand comparison but it's my third Ikelite and I've been satisfied thus far.