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roberto.formiga

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Everything posted by roberto.formiga

  1. For years I used LR since the 1.0 version. It's a great software, nothing to say about it, it's just not for me. Not because of the software itself, but because of their business model. When the subscription was introduced I went for it and when the iPad version became available I subscribed to the 1TB cloud plan which I think it's an incredible tool, specially for full time photographers that needs mobility. What bothered me was that for years I paid "rent" to Adobe without using their software on a daily basis. Actually, specially during the pandemic, months went by without even launching the LR app. But besides that my main issue with this model it that I felt "enslaved" by Adobe. When I realized that all my work was sitting in their cloud, locked in their software and without payment years of work would become useless I took the hard decision to look for alternatives. I had to re-develop thousands of photographs along the way in the new software I'm using and managing a local backup, but I'm free again to upgrade software whenever I choose and I have immediate access to all my images locally (somehow I couldn't download some RAW files back from Adobe's cloud, I don't trust it 100%). So I bought a software and as long as I want I can keep using it just like in the old days. The plus which I was not expecting is that the image output quality is even better than LR for my kind of photography. My previous DSLR camera lasted 10 years and I don't need always the latest and greatest software that is able to read RAW files of newer cameras that I don't own. The subscription model make us pay for upgrades we don't need most of the time. I still prefer the ownership model over the subscription model the whole industry (software and non) is moving to. In my opinion and for my usage €150/year for LR seems a good deal in the short term but the long term cost is high since there's no alternative other than keep paying forever. Consider that I paid €170 "una tantum" on a black Friday sales of Capture One. Of course this is just my case and people have different needs and expectations. It's up to us to choose the best option. I'm probably just getting old... :-D
  2. Adobe's subscription model forced me to abandon Lightroom and Photoshop completely. After testing a lot of options in the market I've moved to Capture One and never looked back. They (still) offer a perpetual license OR a subscription based model. I've bought a perpetual license in 2021 and I don't need to upgrade annually. I'll probably keep this same version for many years to come. And the final output that I'm able to achieve in my black and white photography is way better than Lightroom's. It's a great piece of software.
  3. Hi guys! I've just came back from Tiger Beach and had an amazing time photographing exclusively with the WACP-C. I'm using it in a Hugyfot housing with the Saga port adapter, tailored to perfectly match the Nikon 28-70mm F/3.5-4.5. I've been able to use the full zoom range. As Edward Lai mentioned on his previous post though (regarding the new port adapter Nauticam is designing), an issue is that zoomed down to 28mm and focused at a subject touching the front element of the WACP, a very slight vignette shows up in the corners. During this trip I've never shot under this circumstances (shooting @28mm I'm photographing as wide as possibile with subjects within a certain distance, not touching the dome) and this issue was never a problem. The overall image quality is very good, I'm happy with the sharpness and contrast. To me, the main benefits of this combo in comparison to a dome port solution are: 1) Flexibility: paired with the 28-70mm the WACP-C gives an enormous zoom range. While that doesn't compensate for an incorrect tecniche (as we all know it "get close to your subject" is paramount in underwater photography) the zoom capabilities allowed me to compose much better zooming in and out as if I was on land. It allowed me to fill the frame with the subject and to keep undesired divers, bubbles or fins out of the corners of the frame. 2) Transportability: I've packed everything, housing, camera, WACP-C, 180mm dome port, 2 Nikon lenses, 2 Retra strobes and all accessories (batteries, charges, fibers, etc) in a Thinktank backpack. With the 230mm dome that would be impossible. 3) Less drag: my rig is much more compact now and have less drag underwater hence I'm able to respond and compose faster while shooting, which translates in less lost opportunities specially for fast moving subjects. I won't enter the corner sharpness discussion. To my observation on the field (not on a controlled test environment) the results are pretty good. One characteristic of the WACP-C that may be an issue depending on the shot is that it flares while shooting straight at the sun. The flares are not ugly and may also be used creatively. Below I share with you some WACP-C photos
  4. Hi, I've adapted the WACP-C to my Hugyfot D850 housing with the (very well made!) SAGA adapter. The combination fits perfectly and the Nikon 28-70mm works in it's full zoom range, no vignetting observed from my land test shots. Very compact size for a full-frame setup, I'm very happy with it. Not tested in water yet. There goes some pictures of my setup: Note how small it is compared to the Zen 230mm glass domeport (right) and the Hugyfot 170mm acrylic fisheye port (left):
  5. These are the other $290. We are paying the know how like in the old tale “$1 to turn the screw, and $9,999 to know which screw to turn.” The circuit board looks very simple but cracking TTL protocols, implementing high speed sync capabilities and other technologies requires a lot of technical knowledge. I agree that they are very expensive though. I wish they also offered us a product consisting in only a simple manual led trigger costing less than a third of the price
  6. Hi, Brazil is a very big country :-) I don't know where are you located but there are a lot of options. The best dive spots you'll find in the northeastern part. Fernando de Noronha island offers world class diving. You'll find also good opportunities in Recife. Next to Rio de Janeiro you'll find good diving and photo opportunities at Arraial do Cabo, Cabo Frio and Ilha Grande. Bonito also offers incredible fresh water diving. Some dive operators that I recommend: http://www.atlantisdivers.com.br http://www.aquaticos.com.br/home/ http://www.litoralsub.com.br https://www.elitedivecenter.com.br https://www.h2oecoturismo.com.br/categorias/mergulho-com-cilindro-bonito-ms http://www.bonitoscuba.com.br
  7. At the time I bought my flat port they didn't have developed yet those new conical macro ports, which are by far a better and more elegant solution. Since I'm shooting WA 90% of the time I didn't consider upgrading the flat port to new one.
  8. I shoot both the 8-15 (which for me means 15 since I'm not keen to the circular fisheye look) and the 16-35 both behind a 230mm domeport. Rectilinear lenses gives a different look compared to the extreme distortion caused by the fisheye and I think they are very useful for sharks and pelagics in general. However, in my opinion a fisheye is lens that every WA shooter should own. Reef scenes with the rectilinear doesn't give me the "right feel". Another route, as Craig mentioned, could be the inexpensive Nikon AF 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 behind a Nauticam WACP. The new WACP-C sounds interesting and could be a solution that offers both optical quality, similar costs and a reduced size and weight compared to a 230mm domeport, plus flexibility with a great zoom capability. I don't know how the final product performs but I'm also considering to take the plunge.
  9. Hi, I'm a long time Hugyfot/Nikon user but I've never tried the Nikon 40mm. In order to make it work properly you have to consider the full extension of that lens and, eventually, add an extension ring in order to avoid it touching the flat port glass during focusing. The lens should be as close as possible to the flat port but extra room could be considered if you'd like to add an internal close-up lens, for example. I use the FLP L90 with my 60mm AF-S and this lens is 89mm long. If the Nikon 40mm fully extended is equal or longer 80mm I suppose you'll have to pair it with an L90 or L70 + extension.
  10. Hello Tung, I have an identical knob taken apart from my recently dead YS-D1. I can send you the knob free of charge if you will. Regarding the replacement, please note that opening the strobe is no easy task since there are a lot of parts that need to be disassembled and later reassembled properly. Also can be very dangerous due to the high voltages and electrical charge accumulated on the two capacitors inside. Attached some pictures of the knob. Although the strobe models are different, the knob looks identical to me. Please let me know. I'm located in Europe (Italy). All the best, Roberto
  11. Hi Karim, I'm coming from a trip where one of my YS-D1's flooded and bursted during the safety stop. After getting home I've opened it and the circuitry was badly damaged with signs of a really high short circuit current that burned SMD components and the PCB. Inside I've found the same silica gel package as show in your pictures. I've brought mine brand new, which means they were put there during manufacturing. In my case water came in from the electrical cable socket due to user error or a cable failure.
  12. All items sold! Topic closed. - Hugyfot D7000 housing - SOLD - Nikon D7000 body - 200 Eur - SOLD - Nikon D7000 2nd body (not in the photos) - 200 Eur - SOLD - INON straightviewfinder - 250 Eur - SOLD - Saga minidome 4" for Tokina - 350 Eur - SOLD - Tokina 10-17mm AT-X (Nikon mount) - SOLD - Sigma 10-20mm DC HSM (Nikon mount) - SOLD
  13. Update: - Hugyfot D7000 housing - 350 Eur (new price) - Nikon D7000 body - 200 Eur - SOLD - Nikon D7000 2nd body (not in the photos) - 200 Eur - SOLD - INON straightviewfinder - 250 Eur - SOLD - Saga minidome 4" for Tokina - 350 Eur - SOLD - Tokina 10-17mm AT-X (Nikon mount) - SOLD - Sigma 10-20mm DC HSM (Nikon mount) - SOLD
  14. Update: - Hugyfot D7000 housing - 400 Eur (new price) - Nikon D7000 body - 200 Eur - SOLD - Nikon D7000 2nd body (not in the photos) - 200 Eur - SOLD - INON straightviewfinder - 250 Eur - SOLD - Saga minidome 4" for Tokina - 350 Eur - SOLD - Tokina 10-17mm AT-X (Nikon mount) - SOLD - Sigma 10-20mm DC HSM (Nikon mount) - 150 Eur (new price)
  15. New Update: - Hugyfot D7000 housing - 500 Eur (available) - Nikon D7000 body - 200 Eur - SOLD - Nikon D7000 2nd body (not in the photos) - 200 Eur (available) - INON straightviewfinder - 250 Eur - SOLD - Saga minidome 4" for Tokina - 350 Eur - SOLD - Tokina 10-17mm AT-X (Nikon mount) - SOLD - Sigma 10-20mm DC HSM (Nikon mount) - 200 Eur (available)
  16. New Update: - Hugyfot D7000 housing - 500 Eur (new price) - Nikon D7000 body - 200 Eur - SOLD - Nikon D7000 2nd body (not in the photos) - 200 Eur - INON straightviewfinder - 250 Eur - SOLD - Saga minidome 4" for Tokina - 350 Eur - SOLD - Tokina 10-17mm AT-X (Nikon mount) - 200 Eur (new price) - Sigma 10-20mm DC HSM (Nikon mount) - 200 Eur
  17. Update: - Hugyfot D7000 housing - 500 Eur (new price) - Nikon D7000 body - 200 Eur - Nikon D7000 2nd body (not in the photos) - 200 Eur - INON straightviewfinder - 250 Eur - SOLD - Saga minidome 4" for Tokina - 350 Eur - SOLD - Tokina 10-17mm AT-X (Nikon mount) - 200 Eur (new price) - Sigma 10-20mm DC HSM (Nikon mount) - 200 Eur
  18. Update: - Hugyfot D7000 housing - 550 Eur - Nikon D7000 body - 200 Eur - Nikon D7000 2nd body (not in the photos) - 200 Eur - INON straightviewfinder - 250 Eur - SOLD - Saga minidome 4" for Tokina - 350 Eur - Tokina 10-17mm AT-X - 250 Eur - Sigma 10-20mm DC HSM - 200 Eur All prices are negotiable :-)
  19. I've recently upgraded to a D850 housing and I'm selling my Hugyfot D7000 kit. Everything works perfectly. Just a few water stains and very few signs of use. Housing will be sold complete with Hugycheck vacuum system and electric pump. - Hugyfot D7000 housing - 550 Eur - Nikon D7000 body - 200 Eur - Nikon D7000 2nd body (not in the photos) - 200 Eur - INON straightviewfinder - 250 Eur - Saga minidome 4" for Tokina - 350 Eur - Tokina 10-17mm AT-X - 250 Eur - Sigma 10-20mm DC HSM - 200 Eur I can sell all items separately as well. Please send me a private message if you are interested. Thank you! :-)
  20. Hi, Kmsellin! I already did it. That lens is not available anymore. Thanks!
  21. Hello Stéphane, Good to know you already got the lens you wanted! I used this lens in a Hugyfot housing with the Hugyfot dome port. The results were pretty good but it wasn't wide enough for me, since my camera is a D7000. Because this is a cropped sensor camera, I can't tell you about the optical quality in the corners, since the "real" corners didn't show up in the frame. So my experience with this lens and dome about corner sharpness is inconclusive. Apart from that, the optical quality in the part of the image that the D7000 sensor could capture was very good from corner to corner.
  22. Hi Stéphane! I am sorry, but the lens is not available anymore. I traded it with a 10-17. Good luck in your purchase! Thanks.
  23. Nice tip, John. Thanks! My experience with the vacuum pump is not good. It's very slow... I am able to do it much faster with my mouth, sucking air directly from the one-way valve. I tried it as an emergency solution and it become the way I normally do it.
  24. Item still for sale! Still looking for a Tokina 10-17mm fisheye or Nikon 60mm AF / AF-S...
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