critter

Thanks for the responses.

OK, I might try the "shallow" bucket idea.  I actually have a 200L drum (stands over a metre high) but my arms aren't long enough to reach the bottom.  Big problem here is that it is winter so the water (in the drum) is around 10ºC.  I might have to put my wetsuit top on the test it.

One thing I do remember doing... I couldn't actually get the aperture changed* and thinking that the sub-command dial control was one of those that slid out, I pulled on it gently to see if that made a difference.  It wasn't something the control shouldn't be able to handle but probably something I hadn't done before.  Perhaps the seal isn't as good as it should be and that let some water in.  I'm positive no water had come in before then - and I'd been at 18m for 25 minutes by then so I doubt it was just the pressure.

I will concentrate on that control in my tests.

* I normally test all my controls once the camera is in the housing.  Unfortunately, I was interrupted for dinner after I had carefully assembled the housing but before I completed my testing and forgot to finish testing after dinner.

I have had a flood with an Ikelite and it turned out to be the aperture control knob.  Check the set screws before you go down as was suggested and make sure they are tight.  I had the knob come off at 80 ft and it wasn't pretty.

Tony

Has anyone used this lens UW on a DX Nikon?  Thoughts?  Topside it seems as sharp (if not sharper) than the Nikon 105, and it's about 1/3 the cost.  Thanks.

That is the lens that I exclusively use underwater, it is extremely sharp and have not had any issues with it.  The only thing you need to make sure that the auto mode has to be engaged by sliding the top of the lens forward, hard to explain.  I have accidentally had it slip back when I have mounted the port of my subal on there and have gone a dive without being able to autofocus.  No biggie just dive without shooting.  Another point that you probably need to do with any macro lens is that it helps to have a focusing light with it.  I don't have anything fancy but a couple of little flashlights mounted on my ulcs arms.  This really aids in focus in dim conditions and on night dives.  It's a great lens, extremely sharp.  Highly recommended.

Tony


there are several images on from our recent trip on www.carroimaging.net

Well I got mine to work for awhile at least for the first dive.  I did the alcohol, swabbing, hair dryer, and packed it with moisture munchers for hours and the device would stop flashing.  After one dive , on the second it started flashing.  Again no leakage.  I emailed Ryan at Reef Photo and he thinks the board probably has a short in it caused by an errant drop of water.  I will send him the housing to have the board replaced.  I dove the last two days without a battery, sigh..., but had no problems.

Tony

Down in Grand Cayman and the same thing has happened to my housing.  It's dry, have removed the battery will try cleaning the contacts although they look pretty good and they aren't touching the housing and are not bent.  sigh.....

Great shot Drew, I really like the grain.  Did you post process this with channel mixer or some other technique.

Tony