ornate_wrasse

I am using the Sigma 17-70 on my D300, which is clearly a cropped sensor camera. The following image was taken in Grand Cayman in January with this lens on my D300. I was quite pleased with this lens on my D300. You can also use a diopter (+2 if I recall correctly) although I did not use one. Ellen

Your shots are simply stunning! That's a great shot of the flambuoyant cuttlefish. My shot, taken at Lembeh Resort, pales in comparison to yours. Thanks for sharing these awesome images. Ellen

The 85mm is a bit slower than the 60mm since the 60mm is 2.8 and the 85mm is 3.5. Just one more thing to consider :-) As far as Lembeh Straits, you will want a lens that can get images of the smaller things. As it happened, I flooded my 105mm (older non-VR version) at Wakatobi so didn't have it available at Lembeh when staying at Lembeh Resort. I used my 60mm as that's all I had, but I was a very unhappy camper that I didn't have my 105mm available! I had even brought my Nikon 2T and 4T diopters for use with my 105 as well as the required step-up ring, but could not use them as the lens was flooded. You might also want to look into the Sub See Magnifier, a wet mount diopter that mounts on the 105 and can get images of very tiny creatures. I don't know if they are made for the 85mm, but I know they are made for the 105mm VR as I have one. When I get home, I'll try and post some images taken at Lembeh Straits with my 60mm lens. Ellen

In the past, for most folks who shoot underwater and who use Nikon cameras, the choice has been between the 60mm and the 105mm lenses. I think the 60mm lens is easier to use and therefore I usually recommend it as a first macro lens. It's generally used for fish portraits and, since the working distance is less than the 105mm, is better in water with low visibility. The 105mm lens excels for creatures that are shy, where the longer working distance really comes in handy. A lot of it depends on the kind of diving you do and where you are going to be diving. For example, I'm in the Pacific Northwest, where visibility can be low compared to other dive locations. The 60mm lens is best since there is not as much water in between the camera and the creature being photographed. Particulate matter in the water (called backscatter) can be a consideration in the choice of lens. However, if you are going to a location with viz in the 100' range, and are going to be photographing tiny creatures that are shy, the 105mm VR lens may be a better choice. Be aware that the 105mm VR lens has a large diameter and doesn't always fit into the ports for macro lenses which work well for the 60mm lens. For example, I have the 105mm VR lens and needed to buy a dedicated port for this lens to use with my Subal housing. Others have drilled out the inside diameter of the 60mm port to allow the 105mm VR lens to fit. In that case, a port extension is used for the extra length of the 105mm VR. Also, with the 105mm lens, some uw photographers use various types of diopters for photographing very tiny creatures, often little more than the size of your fingernail. This, as you can imagine, requires a bit more skill to get the shot right. In my experience, the 105mm lens will hunt more than the 60mm lens to lock focus. However, I must say I have only used the old version of the 105mm lens underwater. I now own the 105mm VR lens but haven't yet used it underwater. FWIW, Nikon uses the term "micro" on its macro lenses. The two words micro and macro mean the same thing. Let us know what type of diving you plan to do and we could probably better advise you. I haven't mentioned the 85mm lens at all because it's so new I don't know anything about using it underwater nor do I know of anyone else who's used it underwater. . Possibly others can jump in with regard to using that lens. Ellen

Here you go: Subal Port for 105mm VR lens It can be purchased at Reef Photo for $720. Hope that helps, Ellen

I think that's your problem in a nutshell. You don't have enough RAM to run this program without experiencing frustration in using it. I had this problem on an older computer that didn't have enough memory. Once I upgraded the RAM, the problems in running Capture NX2 went away. You might want to shoot in jpg only until you can upgrade your memory. Although it's far preferred to shoot in RAW, given all the controls you have and the non-destructive nature of the files, if the software to use RAW files is running too slowly, then it's probably best to shoot in jpg for the time being. The good thing is that memory is cheap so it may be relatively inexpensive to upgrade the memory. Ellen

Ditto on the LaCie Monitors. I recently bought one from the following site: LaCie Monitors Most of the time the reconditioned ones don't come with a hood or calibration software, however, I was fortunate to get one that had both. I bought the LaCie 724 Monitor. They are a bargain when purchased in the Outlet Store compared to new. I was told that often, the only thing that differentiates them from new is that they were used once for display purposes at a trade show. Ellen

Very nice video! I also enjoyed the Blue Corner video. As far as WWII history goes, my father actually fought with the 1st Marine Division when it invaded Peleliu in September 1944. That's one of the reasons I've always wanted to dive there and explore the island. On a slightly related note, HBO has an excellent series going on now on the war in the Pacific. I believe tonight's episode will cover the battle at Peleliu. Again, thanks for the well done videos. Ellen

I can't speak highly enough of Reef Photo. Their service and support are impeccable and I don't think you will go wrong when you do business with them. I've purchased items from them for quite a while and have never had a bad experience. Two words says it all "Highly recommended". Ellen

I am using this configuration for the most part. At any rate, it's close enough to answer your question. To be specific, I have the exact same lens (Sigma 17-70, not the HSM version) and dome port (Subal FE2). I am not using the Canon 500D diopter. I have the B&W +2 diopter instead. I would answer a slightly qualified "yes". I brought my Sigma 17-70 to Grand Cayman in January. I had with me the EXT-33 extension and the B&W +2 diopter. When I attempted to use this combination, behind the Subal Dome Port, it seemed a bit too close for comfort. Alex Mustard, the workshop leader, took a look at it and suggested that it might be a safer idea to use it with the 40 extension instead of the 33. I just didn't want to experiment and risk scratching the dome port so I used the lens without the diopter for the week I was at the workshop. I am planning on getting a 40 extension so I can use the Sigma 17-70 with the diopter for my next dive trip. I never tried it with the diopter mounted on the lens. However, without the diopter I was able to zoom as far as 70mm without hitting the dome. I wouldn't hesitate to zoom to 70mm if I had been using a longer port extension than the 33. Although I haven't used it, I don't see why it wouldn't work just as well as the B&W +2 as long as the strength of the diopter is +2. As long as the filter size matches, it should be suitable. Alex Mustard, one of Wetpixel's moderators, likes to use the Sigma 17-70 and is very knowledgable about its use for uw photography. You might also want to contact him if you have further questions. Hope that helps, Ellen

Congratulations! My twentysomething daughter graduated from University of Miami not too long ago. It is truly a beautiful campus. I hope your daughter has a larger $$$ scholarship than my daughter had. Even with a one-half scholarship to attend the University of Miami, her father and I still had to come up with over $17 thousand. The tuition was about $35 thousand when my daughter went there. Needless to say, I didn't do any major dive trips during the years she attended college. At least you won't faint from heat due to thirst at the graduation. They passed out bottled water to all the attendees at the graduation ceremony Ellen

Sympathy is hereby extended to you! Your support group is right here on Wetpixel and we are indeed a very supportive group as many of us have "been there, done that, worn the t-shirt". I flooded my Subal housing when in Indonesia. My camera, 105mm lens and 1.4x teleconverter were all toast. I can understand some of what you are experiencing. Shock, denial and eventual acceptance were processes I had to go through. As others have said, if you can learn why the flood happened and take steps to make sure it never happens again, you will have gained an important piece of knowledge that should serve you well in the future. In the meantime, I offer you my heartfelt sympathies. Ellen

In addition to the classifieds here at Wetpixel, you might check with Reef Photo & Video, one of the sponsors of Wetpixel. They have used housings come up from time to time, including housings for the D300. I purchased a used D300 housing from them a few months ago. As always with Reef Photo, service & support were outstanding. Ellen

I don't think you need to let the other photographers and videograqphers get the blue corner shots. It's a lot more fun if you can take those shots yourself Have you considered the Sigma 17-70 zoom lens? I bought that lens based on Alex's recommendation before my trip to the Cayman Islands for his UW Photography Workshop and was very pleased with it. He had recommended using the +2 diopter with it, I did purchase this diopter but, due to the length of the port extension I was using, did not get a chance to use it. Even without the diopter the shots came out quite decent. I found it to be a very versatile lens that was not too expensive. If you want to see some images taken with this lens, some of them can be found in the link in my signature. Hope that helps, Ellen

Congratulations on your accomplishment! Ellen

Although it's not specifically an UW Photo Store, I recommend going to Alan Photo Trading in Singapore. Alan Photo Trading I went to their store in Sim Lim Square when in Singapore for a stopover and ended up walking out with 1) a cool umbrella with Nikon on it and 2) an incredibly useful photo vest that I now use all the time when I travel on airplanes. The vest was well made and very inexpensive, especially after I bargained him down from the original price. As far as the umbrella goes, it was a Nikon promotion item. I walked out of the store and was halfway down the block only to find a store employee running after me with the umbrella, making sure I didn't walk off without it. Sim Lim Square is a fun place to shop with dozens of shops and you could easily spend several hours there. Ellen

I could not agree more. Ellen

I'm guessing that a considerable amount of time and practice has gone into learning how to shoot with snoots. When I was at Alex Mustard's workshop in Grand Cayman in January, he offered all of the participants in the workshop the chance to work with snoots. He did state, though, that everyone who tried it at his last workshop gave up on it pretty quickly as it was too difficult to get good results. I didn't even try it, based on what Alex told us. Based on that, Keri must have had difficulties when he tried it initially, but then practiced and practiced until he got the shots he wanted. That rates at least 10 in my book for working at a task in underwater photography until it's perfected. Bravo for Keri! Ellen

While I haven't used the Tamron, I strongly recommend you buy the Tokina 10-17. Your corners will be very sharp with this Fisheye lens. It is really an amazing lens underwater. I used to have both the 10.5mm Fisheye and 16mm Fisheye (both Nikon lenses) but I sold both of them once i got the Tokina 10-17. When I had my 10.5 and 16, I used to be able to "de-fish" the lenses if I didn't want the Fisheye effect with Nikon Capture NX software. My software won't defish a non-Nikon lens such as the Tokina, but I've heard that there is software out there that can defish fisheye lenses if you want the images to look like they were taken with a rectilinear lens. Over the years, and especially soon after the Nikon 12-24 lens came out, I've seen post after post by uw photographers who were unhappy with the effect of the rectilinear lenses behind a dome port. And they were still unhappy even after using a diopter. Another lens to consider if you want a lens, although not as wide as the Tamron or Tokina, that can be useful for uw shooting, and which is rectilinear, is the Sigma 17-70. I learned about this lens from Alex Mustard and used it at his uw photography workshop in Grand Cayman in January for the first time. I was very pleased with it and was glad I bought it. That's my two cents, Ellen

Nikon doesn't make a 15mm Fisheye lens. I think you are either referring to a Nikon 16mm FE or a Sigma 15mm FE. Both accomplish nearly the same thing, although the Sigma 15mm focuses closer than the Nikon 16mm. Ellen

I would not assume that if I were you. It doesn't hurt to ask. Maybe Nikon will send you an SB-105 to replace the recalled SB-103 even though the recall was many years ago. That's if they still have one in stock, which may not be the case. But, for sure, go ahead and ask. Let us know what happens. Ellen

The Nikonos SB-103 strobe was recalled a number of years ago and was replaced by the SB-105. See the following link: SB-103 Recall I don't know the value of the strobe in today's market but I can't imagine a strobe that was recalled would have much value. When I was on a dive trip many years ago, a friend was telling me that Nikon sent him a brand new SB-105 to replace the SB-103 that he had. If you're able to get a hold of an SB-105 strobe, it could be used on manual with today's cameras. I used this strobe with my D70S some years back and still keep it as a backup strobe. Ellen

Carol, A big huge congratulations to you! It's an awesome image for which you richly deserve to win the top prize. I look forward to hearing about the further avenues to which you aspire. Ellen PS If you're ever in the Pacific Northwest again, don't hesitate to let me know. I'd love to hear about those further avenues in person!

Predrag, That's a fantastic collection of images you have on your web page. Thanks for sharing them. I enjoyed meeting you at Alex's workshop. It certainly was a most memorable experience. Regards, Ellen

Hi, I'll make an attempt to answer some of your questions although I will admit I'm not real familiar with that particular housing and camera. A slave strobe fires from a signal from another strobe. In other words, it will go off after another strobe, or the camera's flash, goes off. This is one way, but not the only way, to make a strobe fire. Fiber optics is one way of making the strobe fire without it being hard wired to the housing/camera. It is less prone to failure (e.g. flooding) than using a hard wired electrical connection. That is a hard question to answer! I would say "sometimes". But getting nice glossy prints requires so much more than just using a strobe. There are many, many things that go into making "nice glossy prints you see in magazines". Your chance of producing a print like you see in a magazine is MORE LIKELY achieved when using a strobe (or two strobes, as many are shot using two strobes) but it is not absolutely essential. I'll leave that one to others more familiar with that setup. Hmm, I'm going to guess you are referring to what's known as "depth of field" though I could be wrong. Could you be more specific? - All I can say is that if you have to be very smart with the way you take photographs, I would not be able to take any photographs But seriously the camera connects with the strobe usually by either a hard wired electrical connection (e.g. cables) or by fiber optic connection. As mentioned earlier, they can also be fired in slave mode. - I am not familiar with the strobe you mention but perhaps someone else here will jump in with some information. I recommend that you get the book The Underwater Photographer by Martin Edge. The Third Edition has been out for some time but the Fourth Edition has just come out and I understand it is shipping now. Also, you might want to give Reef Photo and Video a call. They are one of the sponsors of this site and they can provide answers to all of you questions. They are a great source of information and many on this forum use them for all their underwater needs. Above all, feel free to ask additional questions as they come up. Cheers, Ellen