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I've been thinking for ages about trying to get my system slightly more neutral for macro. With the 2x Retras I have just bought I reckon it's about 600gms negatively buoyant. That is with 2x 5" arms and 2x 8" arms fitted with a total of 8x Jumbo Stix floats which give about 1400 gms of positive buoyancy. I'm wondering about switching it from 2x 5" and 2x 8" arms to 4x 8" which would allow me to add 2x Stix Jumbos - an extra 360gms of buoyancy. Not ideal though. A bit more would be better but I'm not sure where I can put additional Stix. I don't want to use a collar. Hmmmm

Hi there, I am writing in regards to getting underwater photography gear neutral underwater. After a recent housing change i find my current set of arms and arms accessories unadequate, and before i order anything else, i'd like to give all this a decent thought, and hear some advice from others. I started shooting in 2008 with regular ULCS strobe arms (2x 8" and 2x4"), which i completed with 4x large Stix floats and 4x jumbo Stix floats. My feedback on this setup: obviously getting closer to housing neutrality made my whole shooting experience much better. Only painpoint was that those Stix floats take a lot of time to dry, but that's minor. Moving to another housing in 2013 (NA-EM5 + 45 degrees Nauticam viewvinder + subsee +10 diopter), these weren't sufficient anymore, so i put the Stix floats aside, and replaced the 2x 8" ULCS arms by 2x Nauticam carbon fiber float arms (200mm x 60mm). My feedback on this setup: benefits were getting the right amount of buoyancy & arms drying easily, but i wasn't totally satisfied as i felt strobe arms manipulation to be trickier than with the Stix floats: i had to screw the clamps very tight to avoid the float arms from going up, and then strobe repositioning got unpractical. Also, i must say my gear wasn't symetric: i had a flexitray left handle, but no right handle (handstrap), meaning the right arm was closer to the optical axis than the left one. I believe this contributed to the un-practicality. Now (2016) i am moving to a Nauticam DSLR housing (NA-D300s), complemented by my 45 degrees viewfinder. Photo here: When shooting with 60mm macro + focus light, i don't have adequate equipment to make my rig neutral: -my 2008 setup with Stix floats doesn't provide sufficient buoyancy, but i felt it provided great comfort in strobes repositioning. I tested it yesterday. Here's how it looks like one one arm: -my 2013 nauticam float arms make the housing (too much) positive One idea i have is to buy 4 extra jumbo Stix floats, and add them to my ULCS strobe arms (2x 8" and 2x4"), replacing some of the large floats possibly. I tested (on land) that i could squeeze 4 jumbo Stix floats on a 8" ULCS arm + 1 jumbo & 1 large Stix floats on the adjacent 4" ULCS arms, and this would bring extra buoyancy, hopefully enough! Here's how it would look like on one arm: Thinking/questions: Have any of you got the same feeling that very large float arms (like my 200mm x 60mm Nauticam carbon float arms) make strobes re-positioning too cumbersome, because they are just too buoyant? Would i workaround this problem and get a more user-friendly gear by spreading lots of Stix floats over the 4 arms sections? Any other solution(s) to offset the weight of a large DSLR rig while keeping strobe arms easy to re-position? thanks!! Nicolas

I have 10 jumbo floats for ULCS arms - 6 with the middle portion intact and 4 without. I also have 4 half size floats (a full size cut in half) also without the middle portions. Will sell the whole lot (14 total) for $40. I only accept PayPal and buyer pays shipping or can pick up locally in Naples, Florida. PS...I tried to upload a pic of them from my iPhone, but the Wetpixel uploaded kept giving me an error message stating the "file was too large to upload." REALLY?? A .jpeg pic from an iPhone?? Go figure... Will email photo on request.

Selling the following underwater photography gear: Aquatica 5D Mk III housing #20071-NK, purchased September 2012, used for total of seven dive trips, Nikonus type dual bulkheads, optional #19224 ISO lever installed. Aquatica #20023 moisture alarm. Backscatter installed Airlock Electronic moisture alarm, which has been used on three dive trips. Standard viewfinder installed. Will include the Aqua View Finder listed below free with housing purchase. Included is an extra housing o-ring, handles, ULCS handle ball mounts, ULCS ball mount for aiming/video light, and Aquatica #18789 body cap, lanyards. Extremely well cared for. New I paid $3780. Asking $1880 Pay Pal, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/My-SmugMug-Creations/Aquatica5DIIIHousing/47778347_f7bvQD Aqua View Finder. This is the earlier, original style with the smooth finish. Though, very well cared for and transported in my checked bag with my other fine glass, it shows moderate wear on the outer finish. Optically it's excellent. You'll possibly need to adjust to your own vision. Included is the instruction sheet, carry bag, and extra set of o-rings. New I paid $1150 Asking $220 Pay Pal, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/My-SmugMug-Creations/AquaViewFinder/47778649_vMfNnk Ikelite DS-125 strobes (2), batteries (5), and chargers (2). Strobes back from Ikelite three months ago with another clean bill of health after a ($100) annual preventative service/maintenance, which also included pressure testing. Strobes haven't been used since. Five NiMH battery packs included, four purchased November, 2012, with the fifth one purchased and used as a spare in 2010. Batteries charged monthly when not in use. Included are the owner manuals, diffusers, o-rings, ULCS ball mounts, dust covers, two chargers, and the international adapters. Will include the below listed Ikelite sync cords free with purchase of the strobes. New I paid $1875. Asking $620 Pay Pal, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/My-SmugMug-Creations/Strobes/47778070_wd9jNn One Ikelite dual sync cord and two Ikelite single sync cords with protective caps, Nikonos style bulkhead to Ikelite strobes, non TTL. Free with purchase of the above listed strobes. $40 Pay Pal, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/My-SmugMug-Creations/IkeliteSyncCords/47778563_f4h4x4 Aquatica 9.25" Megadome #18407. Glass was scratched, so it was sent to Aquatica. The BK-7 glass dome was replaced by Aquatica. Used on three dives trips since the replacement. Glass in pristine condition, as new. Normal wear on dome shade. Included are two neoprene covers #18506, protective port cap #18790, and two o-rings. New price $1820. I paid $1320 for the glass replacement. Asking $880 Pay Pal, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/Other/MegaDome/47780065_7QScPr Aquatica extension ring with focus knob #18465 (new style) for Canon 17-40 f/4L with the focus gear, zoom gear #48708 included, two o-rings included, minimal usage, excellent condition. Used this with the Aquatica 5D III housing and 17-40. New price was $550 Asking $220 Pay Pal, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/Other/ExtensionRing18465/47782851_9Ssmrn Aquatica extension ring #18457 with Aquatica zoom gear for 17-40 lens, great condition, with one o-ring. New price was $365 Asking $90 Pay Pal, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/My-SmugMug-Creations/Aquatica-18457port-extension/48297343_VjmDpR Aquatica macro port #18426 with the BK-7 glass, port extension #18453, and focus gear #18700 for Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM lens. Also rear port cap, neoprene port cover, two o-rings, ReefNet +10 Subsee with the corresponding adaptor kit for this port, and Stix float belt. The glass is in perfect condition. However, the port shows wear from the ReefNet adaptor attachment set screws. Neoprene cover also shows wear. Refer to pictures. New I paid $1280 for this setup. Asking $330, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/Other/AquaticaMacroSetup/48299429_FZ7Wn7 Aquatica extension ring #18458 (2:1 macro) with one o-ring, as new condition. New price was $290. Asking $70 Pay Pal, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/My-SmugMug-Creations/Aquatica18458macroextensionrin/48297652_BdvMPK Assortment of ULCS arms and clamps, normal wear: (4) DB-08 8-inch double ball arms (3) DB-05 5-inch double ball arms (1) DB-05 short arm (9) AC-CSF newer style clamps (2) AC-CSB long clamps (1) AC-CS standard clamp (1) AC-TCS triple clamp (1) spotting light adapter, smaller size Packet of new o-rings. I'll include free (not pictured), set of eight StiX Jumbo floats for the arms. New price for everything was $800. Asking $230 Pay Pal buys the whole lot, includes domestic shipping. http://www.donhughes.us/Other/ULCSArmsClamps/47802541_2Hv4Fg

For sale, set of four (4) StiX 9" buoyancy arms with 3.5 large floats. Only used on a couple of dives. The StiX system utilizes a non compressible foam float to adjust the buoyancy of your camera system. By adding or removing different sized floats from the arms, a camera system can be dialed in with the exact buoyancy a shooter desires. These arms with large floats have the following weight and lift in saltwater: Travel Weight = 5.5 oz Lift in saltwater = 7.2 oz I trimmed the float edges slightly at the ball end so they fold better (see pictures) Selling as set - $100 + shipping (USPS insured) via Paypal. US sale only please. Arms retail for $50 ea ($200)..... $100 savings Thanks for looking....PM me with questions

Hey all you underwater photographers out there I could use your help. I have a new Aquatica housing for my 5D Mark II that I will be taking to Grand Cayman this weekend. I am having problems with the ports on the front of the housing (both Macro and Wide Angle) causing the housing to rotate upwards. In addition, I have a new viewfinder that I have installed on the back of the housing that is a bit heavy. This further exacerbates the problem by tending to rotate the back of the housing downwards. I can see that this will cause undo strain on my wrists while fighting this rotation and was wondering if anyone has had a way to correct this problem. I am using STIX floats on UCLS arms with two 110 alpha Sea and Sea strobes on the ends. If I draw the strobes back far enough towards me then this tends to offset the rotation problem. However, it becomes a problem again if I want to move the strobes closer to my subject in that the ports rotate the camera upwards. Any help would be appreciated. Stephen

My underwater photography is headed in a new direction which means I have one kit too many. I am selling a turn-key Nauticam housing for the Canon 7D and all the trimmings. The kit is about a year old but I have only taken it on two trips. It is in like-new condition and truly is a complete package. Simply put your 7D and a lens in the housing and you’re ready to go! If you have done your homework, you already know that the nearly bullet-proof Nauticam housing and Canon 7D are a great and very popular combination. You can go to the manufacturer’s web site at http://www.nauticam.com/product.asp?id=48 for technical specs. I’ve added a few extras to the housing to make it a top-notch and versatile package - 180 degree straight viewfinder, moisture alarm, Nikonos bulkhead for Ikelite strobes. The housing also has two optical strobe connectors. I am providing an itemized list of the items in the kit and what I paid for them to show you how much money you can save. Everything pictured fits in the travel case although I usually only took two of the port covers when I traveled. Here’s what’s included: Nauticam NA-7D housing with standard viewfinder, handles, port cover, moisture alarm $3,200 Nauticam 180 degree straight viewfinder $1,150 Nauticam 8.5“ acrylic dome port with shade, neoprene cover, port cover $590 Nauticam macro port 94 for Canon 100mm IS, port cover $410 Nauticam zoom gear for Tokina 10-17mm $155 Nauticam zoom gear for Canon 10-17mm $175 Nauticam extension ring 20 with lock, port cover for Tokina 10-17mm $280 Nauticam extension ring 50 with lock, port cover for Canon 17-40mm $310 Nauticam single Nikonos 5-pin bulkhead $110 Two Ikelite sync cords (single Nikonos bulkhead to 2 Ike strobes) $320 Two Ikelite DS-160 substrobes with smart chargers, US & Euro plugs $1,800 Two Ultralight strobe arm kits (4 x 8” arms with associated clamps, connectors) $520 Pelican 1610 wheeled travel case with custom fitted foam $205 8 Stix jumbo strobe arm floats (not pictured, stows in dive bag, 3.2 lbs. of lift) $75 Owners manuals, blank warranty cards, extra o-rings, parts, grease, tools, etc. Total $9,300 In the interest of moving this quickly, I will knock off $2,000 and accept $7,300. I want to sell this as a complete kit so I am not interested in selling the pieces separately at this time. I will ship to US and Canadian addresses only. Buyer pays shipping. Please write with any questions you might have. I can provide additional photos if requested.

Nikonos SB-105 (used) $135 each 1 with AD-103 ULCS strobe adapter and diffuse 1 with TLC Strobe adapter and diffuser Nikonos SB-105 (used) $125 Nikonos sync cord for SB-105 (used) $75 each Nikonos Battery Tray/Holder (new in box) $10 ULCS Double ball arm segments - DB-08 Medium Length (used once) $40 each ULCS AC-CFS New Style Clamps (new) $20 each Dovetail Shoe Plate (used with SS screws) $5 each Woody’s Diopter 110mm port front diameter - an additional 20% image size (used) $50 Ansmann Photo Cam 4 battery charger AA or AAA 120V (used) $35 StiX Jumbo Float kit for TLC Arms (new – I order the wrong P/N) $25 Aquatica flip tray (Was for a Nikonos 5 - missing tray) $20 Sekonic Underwater Light Meter – Make offer All prices are negotiable (obo) plus shipping & PayPal fees.