Alex_Mustard

The joy of returning stuff https://www.bsac.com/news-and-blog/here-be-treasure/

I realise I can no longer claim to be a typical underwater. But I shoot with full frame (through choice). Although I am no blind evangelist for the format, persuading people into M43, 1.5xcrop and full frame in fairly equal numbers when they come to me for advice. I have active underwater cameras of all three formats, but my main cameras are both full frame Nikons. The D850 is my most used camera, although stuck in the UK for the last 18 months, I have been regularly taking both out of boats with me and shooting them side by side. While I don’t feel I need the resolution of the D850 for any of my current image uses, I do like the reassurance of the future proofing it gives to images (resolution & image quality). Despite knowing, that even my D100 (6MP digital images - that many experts at the time (2003-2004) told me were useless) still sell today, I have this concern. I fear that ultimately as the world gets used to larger digital files, I concerned that there will be a time when customers demand such files, even if they really don’t need them (and the customer is always right, even when they are wrong)! For me, I have many lenses that are optimised for full frame (RS13, Zeiss corrector with 20mm, WACP-1, ENWL-1, Trioplan 100), which adds a reluctance to change. Also the cost of full frame and bigger strobes, big domes, water contact lenses etc - is not a factor for me (sponsorship, rather than size of bank account). But I have always understood what is right for me is not right for others, which is why I recommend such a wide variety of systems when people ask me what is right for them. Alex

Try it at different zoom positions. Some versions have sticky apertures when slightly over zoomed at one end or the other.

Yes, the most eye-catching WAM images are when we push the limits. Where you are able to push more than other people - so your pictures stand out more.

Very helpful.

I am really excited by this lens. Great to see some real innovation coming to a macro lens. Even more reasons to love the R5.

The issue is that it is also a moving target - as Retra keep coming up with new ideas. Each time someone approaches them with a new idea it might lead to a new lighting accessory.

Really looking forward to this one.

The press release just says this is happening. With nothing on still photo specs. So I’d wait and see what the sensor actually is and for the advances in frame rate and autofocus before forming a still photography opinion. If they are announcing later in the year, you would have to expect it to match/exceed the cameras from rivals that are already out there. Or maybe it does not, which is why they are not saying anything on specs! Alex

Adam and I don't typically use them. But lots of photographers definitely find them a big benefit. Well worth trying.

11:15 - invader!

The issue that is not mentioned enough - relating to this - is that the strobe position for both of these scenarios is very different. Just having the right strobe power is not all you need to change. We need a TTL-auto-strobe positioning control, that looks for uneven lighting or too much backscatter and moves your strobes as well as changing the powers!

Good discussion. A few things I would add. First please remember that Wetpixel Live is always intended to be a take on a subject, rather than a definite review of an issue. Adam certainly hadn’t done those calculations before we did it, although they do bear out what we were saying. Also WP Live is recorded in one take - and things often come out slightly wrong or get forgotten (there is no edit button like there is here). Although I don’t think there is anything wrong in this one. During the discussion we do comment that some people definitely prefer Mirrorless systems and some definitely prefer SLRs irrespective of weight. And this is definitely reason to choose. But the argument of a sideways move within a format from SLR to Mirrorless because of the weight saving does not usually stack up. The big saving is moving to the smaller M43 mirrorless format. Especially some of the smaller, lighter cameras, which can make a massive saving to system weight. Depending on the camera you are downsizing from this might mean a drop is potential image quality - but as we say while you might be able to see the difference on the computer, you probably won’t on the page and certainly not online. And the image quality is definitely still within the “professional quality” expected standards. So it is really up to the individual to learn to deal with that aspect.

I think that is a good point. That BBF is good both in situations where the lens struggles to focus. And also with lenses that struggle to focus!