Chris_Duncan

Last post: I have one Aquatica TLC set available that I posted on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=250546623661 I also have two fiber optic cables for the Sea & Sea YS-90DX strobe (not sure which other strobes they are compatible with). I am asking $25 each/obo. Chris

Don, the handle is yours if you want it. I sent you an email. The Canon 10D is sold. The fiber optic cables are available. I put the rest of the items on eBay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=250539195022 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=250539204057 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=250539209817 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=250539212360

I sold one of the strobes and am selling the remaining items individually. Below are the items for sale and the price that I am asking along with a link to pictures. Olympus C-5050 with housing, extra o-rings and accessories, custom camera tray to attach two strobe arms. $250 http://picasaweb.google.com/cdduncan/Olymp...feat=directlink Olympus Wide Angle Lens for underwater housing. $150 http://picasaweb.google.com/cdduncan/Olymp...feat=directlink Sea & Sea YS-90DX strobe, extra o-rings and diffuser. $225 http://picasaweb.google.com/cdduncan/SeaSe...feat=directlink Aquatica TLC arm sets. Two 8" segments, one 4" lower segment, one 4" upper segment, Sea & Sea strobe adapter, and two clamps. Two of these arm 'sets' are available. $125 each segment. http://picasaweb.google.com/cdduncan/Aquat...feat=directlink Aquatical TLC handle with dovetail base. $25 http://picasaweb.google.com/cdduncan/Aquat...feat=directlink Sea & Sea fiber optic cables to sync strobes. 2 available. Best offer. http://picasaweb.google.com/cdduncan/SeaSe...feat=directlink Canon 10D with Really Right Stuff camera plate, four batteries, and original packaging and accessories. $275 http://picasaweb.google.com/cdduncan/Canon...feat=directlink Send me a PM or email if interested in any of the items. I will be posting these items on eBay soon. Thanks, Chris

Hi everyone, I am selling my underwater camera setup that this forum helped me put together about six years ago. Everything has been used gently during this time and is still in great shape. This is a good setup for those just starting out or looking to upgrade to something a step below a DSLR. I would like to sell everything together, but will consider offers on individual components. Olympus 5050 (5MP camera - dated but takes great pictures and has manual controls) with all accessories (case, batteries, charger, strap, lens cover, etc.) PT-015 housing - made specifically for the 5050 Custom arm attachment - I had a machinist make a custom attachment for the housing so I could attach two strobe arms to it. The base is powder coated red. Wide angle lens - screws on to the outside of the PT-015 housing TLC Arms - multiple sections for use with two strobes, with one grip that attaches to the custom base. 2 YS-90DX Sea & Sea Strobes - Both work fine. One is indistiguishable from a new strobe. The other I bought used on eBay and has light scuffs. The one I purchased from eBay takes a little longer to turn on for some reason, but both work the same once on (same recycle time, battery life, power, etc.). 2 Sea & Sea fiber optic cables - connects to the camera to allow syncing with the preflash. 2 Sea & Sea strobe diffusers - white plastic filters to give a softer light to the strobe Pelican case - the foam has been tailored to fit the camera, strobe, arms, WA lens and accessories. I also have lots of extra o-rings and lubricant for the housing and strobes. I live in San Diego and would be happy to show the equipment in person if desired. Of course, I will also send any pictures along that are requested. Putting a price on all of this is challenging since I haven't been in market to buy equipment in years. If you are interested in purchasing the entire setup, I will part with it for $1,200 / obo. This is essentially placing some value on the strobes, arms, and the Pelican case and little value on the rest (I think). If you are interested in individual components, send me an offer and I will consider it. Just send me a PM or email to communicate. Thanks, Chris Links to equipment: Strobes: http://www.seaandsea.jp/products/strobe/ys90dx/index.html Fiber optic cable: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4736...Sync_Cable.html Fiber optic cable retaining ring: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4736..._Retaining.html Strobe diffuser: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4736...or_YS_27DX.html Camera: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/...ails.asp?id=890 Housing: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/...uct.asp?id=1407 Arms (pretty much the setup with an attachement for the Sea & Sea strobes): http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3775...20_Arm_Kit.html WA lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3878...Conversion.html Case (mine in black): http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail_storm.php?Case=iM2400 Description of the tray: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...art=#entry13078 Post where I detail how much I paid for everything! (except the case a few misc. things): http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...art=#entry12147

Here's a review of the gold core hyperstretch: http://www.scubadiving.com/index2.php?opti...op=1&page=4 Some online shops are selling the 7/5 gold core hyperstretch with hood for about $475.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I went to a dive shop today and tried on the Pinnacle 7/5 with the merino wool lining and an Aqualung Flex 7mm. They didn't have a 7mm Henderson Hyperstretch or any Gold Core suits. I liked the fit of the Aqualung better than the Pinnacle, but it didn't have the nice seals around the neck, wrists and ankles. The Aqualung was also much easier to move around in. The Pinnacle felt like it was doing my walking for me. I'm leaning towards getting the Aqualung 7mm fullsuit with a henderson gold core vest and boots. Thanks again for the info. I heard that visibility at La Jolla was 40' and that was good. This should be quite a contrast to what I am used to diving.

Hi Everyone, I just moved to San Diego and I need to buy an appropriate wetsuit (I only have 3mm and thinner). I was leaning towards one of the following wetsuits and was wondering if anyone had any experiences with them (or any other suit that someone would recommend). Your input is appreciated. Akona 7mm Fullsuit (about $150) Bare Hydrostretch 7/6mm Velocity (about $210) Henderson Hyperstretch Gold Core 7/5mm (about $380) Chris

Yeah, I don't think much more than a housed camera would work well with freediving. The arms would would probably flop on you each time you came to the surface unless you locked them down tight. I would also expect the drag while diving to be a hindrance. If you stay in the 20-50ft range you can usually stay under the water for an hour + without much of a problem while scuba diving. In Bonaire, we would scuba dive from the shore for 30 mins - 60 mins, and then if there was something of interest relatively shallow (20-40ft), we would come back in take our gear off and go snorkel around the reef for a little longer (I never took my camera snorkeling). Chris

Hi everyone, Thanks for the comments. No special lenses used for these three. They were all taken in macro mode at the longest focal length possible with the Olympus 5050. I do have the Olympus wide angle lens attachment, but only used it a handful of times on this trip. I agree that head-on shots generally are better, but in the case of the moray I think it makes for an interesting picture. I am still adjusting to swimming around with a larger setup than I am used to (two strobes, three arm segments, wide angle lens, camera), so I am extra conscious to my proximity to the reef. Also, a lot of the topography of the reefs we visited was gently sloping so getting down at eye level seemed to be difficult for me to do safely. I will just have to do a lot more dives to improve! The fish didn't turn into a meal for the moray. It was probably swimming 12" above the moray and I think the moray was just on breathing mode (during the day) and not hunting. I have never seen so many spotted moray eels in my life. We must have seen 3 or more on each dive, while we only saw 3 green morays for the entire week. On our last trip to the Caymans we saw predominately green morays and only a few spotted. I don't know if it is Bonaire or just chance. Chris

Here are a few of my favorite images from my first time out with the Oly 5050. I was using dual S&S strobes, and the PT-015 housing. Still have a lot to learn. These were taken in Bonaire, which is an awesome place for diving, but a pain in the rear to get to from Ohio (flew Columbus, to Atlanta, to Jamaica, to Bonaire on two different airlines). We only did one boat dive to Klein Bonaire with all of the rest being shore dives. Comments welcome. Chris

Thanks Mark. I agree the head on shots would be better, but there were few situations where I thought I could easily get down to "eye level" without being endanger of bumping into something. Maybe with more practice I will get more comfortable maneuvering around with all of the equipment. I also need to teach the fish to stay still. The shutter lag of the Oly is definitely there (esp. when compared to my DSLR), but it is not something that can't be managed. Practice makes perfect. Thanks, Chris

Hi Everyone, Well I finally got my underwater camera equipment wet last week in Bonaire. This was my first real life use of my underwater digital camera, and my first "real" underwater camera. Before I would just rent a Sea & Sea with a dedicated flash. Just point and shoot for the most part. Despite using an SLR on land for many years now, I still have A LOT to learn about u/w photography. One of the first things I need to learn is to turn my strobes on! Yes, I actually forgot to turn my strobes on during a couple of dives, remembering to do so 1/2 to 3/4 through my air! Many blue shots were the result of that blunder. I kept wondering why I had to dial the shutter speed down to properly expose the pictures, duh. Anyway, I put the pictures up at my website for those of you that are interested in taking a gander. http://www.chris-kristin.com/bonaire/ Some of the pics I converted to b&w because I was didn't like the blue cast from forgetting to turn the strobes on, or I had the strobes angled poorly, or I was too far away, etc. I welcome any comments or suggestions. I have the dive sites we visited written down, so if any one has a question on where a photo was taken at, I can probably figure it out. Also, I welcome any questions people might have about Bonaire in general. Regards, Chris One more thing. The pictures I post on my website are kind of big (90 - 120k) for full size (the link is to thumbnail images), so if you don't have broadband it might be painfully slow. If you really want to see my pictures, you can go to the Ofoto link here to view their compressed images.[

Yeah, I saw the x-drive on Computer Geeks for $182, but I have decided to wait a little longer to see what pops up on eBay or on the market. Before the comp. geeks deal, I could get an x-drive for about $120 without a hd, so I don't think I will lose too much if that deal isn't available a month from now. About two weeks ago they had the V-MP3H for $192 shipped without a HD (they have since sold out). I really want a unit that either has an LCD screen, or has a video out plug. I think I would want the ability to view all of the pictures I have taken on a trip via the player or a TV instead of just the ones left on my CF card. The only ones that come to mind right now that meet that criteria are the V-MP3H, FlashTrax, Nixvue Vista, Delkin Picture Pad, or the Cinema Disk. There are probably others, but I can't think of them right now. I have even thought about using a PDA to copy files to a HD (see setup here), so at least I will be lugging around a device that serves more than one purpose. I will probably end up getting a plain vanilla unit that copies the files onto a HD for a short-term solution and see what happens in the market over the next year or so. Chris

I have been holding out on buying a portable storage device until the Flashtrax came out. I got an email today from B&H saying they are in stock now for $500 (30GB I think). Ouch! I like the large flip down display, but $500 is a little steep. I can get the V-MP3H with a 40GB HD for under $300. The only difference between the two is the display size, USB 2.0 vs. USB 1.0, RAW viewing capability. Oh well, maybe it will come down in price in the next two months (I need something for my trip in July). Chris

Hi Everyone, I am cleaning out my camera bag to make room for my recent purchases, so I have multiple items for sale. Canon 24-85mm USM f/3.5-4.5 - absolutely perfect condition Package Includes: Lens ($280 at BH) Hood ($20 at BH) Hoya HMC Super UV Filter ($35 at Adorama) Selling Package for $270 + $10 shipping Canon 100-300mm USM f/4.5-5.6 - absolutely perfect condition Package Includes: Lens ($240 at BH) Hood ($20 at BH) Hoya HMC Super UV Filter ($30 at Adorama) Selling Package for $230 +$10 shipping Tiffen 67mm Glass Filters - all in mint condition 67mm Neutral Density .9 ($17 at BH) - Selling for $10 + $3 shipping 67mm Graduated ND .6 ($44 at BH) - Selling for $30 + $3 shipping 67mm Cicular Polarizer .6 ($50 at BH) - Selling for $35 + $3 shipping You can see pictures of all of these items here. Email me with any questions or offers at udpumpkin@yahoo.com (email also my eBay ID). Emails are prioritized in the order they are received. Regards, Chris