The Mask ???

[orkspace 0]

Hi all,

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for masks that are especially suited for underwater photography?

 

My gut tells me that something with a single pane, low volume, and black silicone skirt would work well.

 

Joe Diver America advertises this mask as being suitable for photography (it's a black Mares Brama mask). Any comments?

 

Thanks!

 

I'm a rank novice who has finally decided to buy my own equipment after renting.

 

I (plan to) shoot with an Olympus Stylus 500 in the Oly underwater housing.

[acroporas 0]

How it feals on your face and how you see through it is by far the most important feature. I recomend going to a dive shop and trying on a bunch of masks and picking out the one you find most comfortable in.

[critter 0]

Definately use a black skirt on a mask it will take a lot of the stray light rays out of your face. IMHO

 

Tony

[DESJR 0]

Yes fit is the most important, however there are less distractions when using black skirtted mask. I find that I can see much more of the reef, without all the extra light coming in from a clear skirt. You will need to learn how to clear with one hand, since the other will have the camera. I suggest learning to place 2 -3 fingers at the top center press slightly and blow easily as you tip head back.

[Giles 1]

If you get a really nice low volume black skirted high visoin mask you will love it ... I picked one up recently .. i forget the name of it but the mistake people make is getting freediving masks which are low volume but have small fields of view. I will come backwith some names when i have them my housemate is a dive retailer and a equipment geek .. he helped me find mine. And now that fit is important ... the bit to watch out for really is the nose. You want to be able to equalise (if youneed hands) with just fore finger and thumb and it has to be easy to get to with one hand .. this is the biggest problem with most masks right now .. i dont need to get into why but if you try some out you will see some are easier than othres.

 

As for the clearing the mask .. less important .. if it fits right it will barely leak .. 100% dry mask is almost non existent .. but if it fits right you will also be able to clear the little water that gets in just by breathing out of you nose after every breath in. You may have to tilt your head up but i am able to clear mine in any position. At the VERY most you may need one hand for a half to full flood.

 

names of models to come ...

[scorpio_fish 5]

Well, if you use a prosumer camera and hold the camera away from you, it doesn't much matter.

 

If you stick your eyeball up to a viewfinder, you want low profile and black skirt. Every brand seems to have one.

 

I use an Oceanic Shadow, frameless. They have two versions. Others use the ScubaPro frameless. Both provide great peripheral vision and low volume.

 

I haven't gotten around to trying any other brands.

[Rocha 0]

If you stick your eyeball up to a viewfinder, you want low profile and black skirt. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I agree, I use a Sporasub Samurai.

[echeng 0]

I use an Oceanic Mini Shadow (frameless, with black skirt), and have seen lots of photographers using the various Shadow models (which only differ in size).

[Arnon_Ayal 1]

I use the Technisub Luna, great low profile mask, the only problem with it is that this model doesn’t manufactured any more, but I saw it form time to time in the market.

[orkspace 0]

Well, if you use a prosumer camera and hold the camera away from you, it doesn't much matter. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I chose the Oly Stylus 500 and its housing in large part because of its 2.5" LCD -- hopefully it'll be easy on the eyes underwater!

 

Thanks all for the feedback. My wife and I are going to be doing some abalone diving in NorCal after I take the bar at the end of July; hopefully we'll be able to produce some interesting images to share!

 

[Kelpfish 15]

If you have a big viewfinder on your SLR, it's not that bad using a high-volume mask. But the smaller the finder, the more you need a black skirt so you can make out the image through the viewfinder. However, a black skirt is useful for any viewfinder that requires you to cram the viewfinder into your mask.

 

Joe

[DeanB 19]

Hi all,

 

If this has been covered SORRY !!

 

Which is the ultimate mask for filming / photo's.

 

At the moment I use a Technisub 'look' which has served me well for the last 8 years. But its dayglow green and yellow

 

Iv'e noticed a lot of peeps are using masks with black silicone seals..?

 

Any suggestions my aquatic chums.

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

[Kelpfish 15]

That is totally going to be user preference. Some pros like black, low profile masks to allow better viewing through the viewfinder. The black rubber prevents some degree of sunlight from getting into the mask, while clear silicone simply lets in more light. Low profile also places your face closer to the camera. Good luck.

 

 

Joe

[Rocha 0]

If this has been covered  SORRY !!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hi Dean, it has been covered before, but since this topic is brought up several times I merged your topic with the most recent one. If we get much feedback here I will make this a "pinned" topic.

[DeanB 19]

Thanks Luiz,

 

I thought it might have. Its me being to lazy to search..!!!

 

Back to basics I think..Just try before you buy..?

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

[ReefRoamer 1]

Some of us also have the requirement for corrective lenses, and in my case, bifocal lenses. The Tusa Liberator mask with black skirt met all my requirments and could be fitted with bifocal corrective lenses. I never needed the bifocals until I had to start reviewing shots and data on my DSLR screen underwater. They're a lifesaver (shotsaver?)!

[Poliwog 4]

Hi:

 

Just picked up a Seavision 2000 black-skirted mask with built in +2.00 diopters. It was either a new mask or get a longer air line for the dive computer. As I couldn't find a a twelve foot air hose for the dive computer, I settled on the diopters for the mask.

 

Try before you buy as I could not get the new mask to seal in the dive store or when using a snorkel but when using a regulator it is dry as a bone inside the mask.

 

I have also moved up to the Seavision Anti-fog spray from the more traditional spit as a way to keep the mask from fogging up. It really does works wonders IMHO.

 

Everything seems so clear now! It really has made a difference in my diving and the pleasure derived from it.

 

 

Paul

[frogfish 5]

With reefroamer, I'm also a TUSA Liberator fan and have been for years - I have two, both with prescription plates, carry both on every dive.

 

Frogfish

[freediver 0]

When freediving, as low volume as you can get comes in 2 forms - The Cressi Minima and the Aqualung Falco (same as Technisub Sphera)

 

For blowing bubbles - I absolutely love the Poseidon ThreeDee or the Technica all in Black Silicone and black trim.

[Ryan 48]

Laz Ruda introduced me to a prototype from Atomic at the Florida Dive Show that I will own once it starts shipping in the spring. Now I use a Scubapro Frameless.

[onokai 20]

One that fits well and is black. It works for me. Mark

[ssra30 0]

I currently use black Mares X-Vison which fit my face very well and is very comfortable. I have a back up black Cressi Sub Big Eyes which also work very well for me.

[Kelpfish 15]

Speaking of masks, I could use some help. My eyes are failing me at 44, and now I use cheap reading glasses to read, even on Wetpixel. When I am shooting, I have a really hard time focusing my eye on the subject, relying on the focus lock indicator to tell me it is in focus. I happen to like the comfort of seeing what I am shooting. So the question is this. How do those who have this problem use a perscription mask? Do they make bi-focal masks? Seems very akward to have to sort of tilt your head back to look through your viewfinder. You certainly cannot have corrected face plate glass or you won't be able to see far away clearly. Any hints? I gotta do something soon.

 

Joe

[frogfish 5]

Joe,

 

I've been diving with a prescription mask for years - I carry two. It corrects for my near-sightedness, but does make reading gauges/computer displays with small text/numbers more difficult - one reason I rely mostly on computers with BIG display numbers. Not great for pygmy seahorses and the like, but I can see them. (I sometimes carry a magnifying glass, but with the 105 mm lens and an aiming/focusing light, the viewfinder usually does a better job.

 

It's fine for the viewfinder without adding any dioptic correction on the camera viewfinder or (on my older Subal miniflex housing) on the housing optic.

 

Frogfish

[Poliwog 4]

Hi Joe:

 

It took me a heck of a long time to realize the photographic optical system I employed actually extends from the frontmost filter over the camera lens right back to the actual retina of my eyeball. After spending a small fortune on top grade optics for the camera system (and the autofocus was also a big reason for doing it), I decided I should have my eyes checked to make sure they are operating at their best also. While there was nothing dramatically wrong with the way my eyes functioned, it did give me an idea as to why my pictures could have been sharper in some cases.

 

Doctors I have talked to, have said a person's eyes start to degrade in their mid- twenties. I am quite a ways past that. Regular eye examinations should be undertaken for such visually oriented people as ourselves. Most photgraphers take very good care of their equipment--their eyesight should be no different.

 

After buying and trying several different masks and even trying the stick on corrective lenses, I found a mask made by Seavision with built in dioptres at a local dive store. It allows me to see distant objects, as well as, being able to read my gauges again. The ability to really see well underwater has re-invigorated my desire to dive more and more.

 

Employing top grade optics (good eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and dive masks) for the most sensitive sensor in your camera system (your eyes) is probably the best money you will ever spend on Photography and Diving.