pooley

This listing is nothing to do with me, but there is one here - http://www.uwpmag.com/?p=underwater-photography-equipment-for-sale Mike

Hi Keri, I've got an R5 for topside use and its undoubtedly a great camera. I'm fighting with every sinew not to house this with the WACP as I already have a very good D500 setup! I feel your pain on the considerations! If you already have the WWL-1 lens, then maybe consider going to a Sony setup. Fantastic cameras, and the A7R4 is a relative (and I use that word loosely) bargain, certainly no more expensive than the R5 The reason I suggest that is you can use the WWL-1 with the Sony 28-60 and get the benefits from a wet lens you already own. For a fisheye, unless you want to do the full circular shots, them you could adapt one of the 15mm fisheyes to your Sony and save some money. The Canon 8-15 is superb but a lot more money if you don't want the 8mm end. Mike

Are you still in Makadi Bay? If so, try diving the house reef by the Serenity hotel - it really took me by surprise how good it was once you go about 15m north of the pier where all the snorkelers stop. Loads of fish, turtles etc - I did 2 dives there taking 2 teenagers from or group on their first dives, and my buddy and I agreed it wasn't far off the outer reefs. A good way to spend an hour or so away from the hotels without doing a full boat trip! Mike

Nice one Ian, thanks for the input. The Scubapro is certainly getting the plaudits here! I've got ages to decide as I won't buy until travel is confirmed and I may well service my old regs, get a new jacket and air integrated computer rather than my initial thoughts. With regs though I'll look at those - I see them everywhere with divemasters and instructors. I'll have to find somewhere that will let me try a wing style BCD - so many seem to prefer them, but never having tried one I don't want to just buy one without at least a little pool test first cheers Mike

Thanks Wolfgang, You're right about the Apeks orgs, I've kept mine serviced and I've no complaints about their performance, it was more a case of weight considerations, but there may well be a case for sticking with them As for the jacket, I think its going to have to be a case of spending time in a store and looking at exact features Mike

Certainly an interesting BCD there Tom! Not sure I'll find anything like it in my local dive shop though! Some good points in the text over what to consider though, so thanks Mike

Thanks, Adam, interesting words on the jacket style Mike

Cheers Robert, I've never used a back inflation BCD, but over the years I've heard positive things regarding the in-water stability, which obviously is a huge benefit for us on this forum. I've got plenty of time before I buy one so I can take a proper look. I also need a new computer as mine conked out on my last trip, I'd never even considered looking at an air integrated one. I only need basic air and nitrox readings - yet another thing to look at- it'll keep my busy when I'm on a night shift! thanks again Mike

Cheers Chris, not aware of these, I'll take a look thanks Mike

Cheers Tim, I'm expecting a variety of answers, but worth a shout in case there are any photo-specific improvements in design worth considering. I keep seeing Zeagles in review comparisons, no idea what they're like personally but they always appear towards the top in the tests cheers Mike p.s. PSG - here we come

Hi all, Planning for my 50th in 2022 has made me realise that my jacket and regs are about to hit 20 years old - maybe they need to consider retirement... Once we get the all clear for travel I think its about time I got a new set but not having bought anything for so long I'm way behind on the latest trends I appreciate everyone has different tastes / needs for their gear but does anyone have any recommendations for travel friendly gear, or what to look out for, regs that are good for not shooting a stream of bubbles in front of me etc? They'll be for warm weather diving, I'll keep my Apeks environmentally sealed ones in case I decide to get cold, and as regards a jacket, I'm not the smallest or dantiest of blokes - 6'2", 16 1/2 stone Cheers Mike

Tim / Chris thanks for taking the time to reply. Its not so much the FoV details, more so do the sharks come close enough, especially at Guadalupe, for those lenses. I'll take both 4" and 8" domes if I get the 10-24. Anyway, plan A has failed at the first attempt - Shearwater is fully booked on my preferred dates. They have offered me other ones I can't do, there is still a possibility I could go on a trip at the other end of the holiday, otherwise Tiger Beach might br remaining on the bucket list for a little longer sadly. I'll see if any of the Bahamas trips can offer me anything but the price may mount up if I'm not careful. Back to emailing the providers.... cheers Mike

Cheers pal, that's really useful advice, especially with the uncropped shots thanks for taking the time to post them Mike

Hi, Covid permitting I'll be taking the above trips in 2022. Plan A is a 6 night Liveaboard with Jim Abernethy late March for great hammerheads and tigers, then going to Guadalupe on Nautilus Belle Amie in September. I've dived with Jim before off Palm Beach and was happy with the services, and this is a solo trip a week before the rest of the family fly over for a holiday from England so my only consideration in the diving, not any creature comforts. Guadalupe will be done with my wife as our joint 50th birthday trip so I need something a little plusher. She is certified but doesn't dive any more but she really likes the idea of the surface cages. On a side note, she did ask me 'can I go for a swim there...?' She's been suitably advised! Anyway, I'm after any suggestions / tips (both photography and travel) / viable alternative suggestions before I book, probably sometime this week. Gear wise I have a Nikon D500, and was expecting to use my 8-15 mm a lot (I also have the kenko 1.4x), but looking at various shots with exif it seems a lot of people use longer focal lengths. I was planning on adding a 10-24mm - does this seem like a worthwhile investment? All advice welcomed thanks in advance Mike

Well gents, I've enjoyed the responses in this thread. End result is, I would love to go the water contact route, but I'm going to go with my current setup along with a recitillenear 10-24mm add on to my current setup, and I've agreed to spend the extra money on a trip to tiger beach. If my friends who see the results criticise the results due to a lack of definition then so be it - I'll get to be up close and personal with some very impressive sharks! Thanks for all the input - if I win the lottery in the meantime, I'll be going there with the WACP! Mike