eyeguy 3 Posted October 19, 2009 I've been diving for 5 years and recently upgraded my beginner Sealife DC800 w/ext strobe for a Canon G10 in a FIX housing w/ Sea & Sea YS-110alpha strobe on UL arms. Also have the flip macro lens and a FIX fisheye lens. I was recently in Cozumel diving for the first time with this set-up (less the strobe b/c the airlines lost my bag containing the tray and arms!) and REALLY enjoyed experimenting with the new system and got some great macros. I'm very disappointed in my WA shots though. I LOVE the perspective I obtained in many shots with the fisheye lens. However, many of my fisheye photos are out of focus and I have no idea why. I was shooting natural light but the ISO/shutter speeds should have been high enough (e.g. f5.6, 1/250 s, ISO 400) that I would not have expected focus to be an issue. I used the center fosus AF mode on the camera. Is there a specific AF mode I should be using to obtain focused images using the fisheye lens????? I expected huge DOF with this lens. My lens was a "loaner" since mine was backordered beyond the date of my trip, but the lens appeared to be in good shape but for one modest scratch on the dome,but perhaps there was something wrong with the lens. Any input/advice would be very appreciated! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
randini 0 Posted October 21, 2009 I've been diving for 5 years and recently upgraded my beginner Sealife DC800 w/ext strobe for a Canon G10 in a FIX housing w/ Sea & Sea YS-110alpha strobe on UL arms. Also have the flip macro lens and a FIX fisheye lens. I was recently in Cozumel diving for the first time with this set-up (less the strobe b/c the airlines lost my bag containing the tray and arms!) and REALLY enjoyed experimenting with the new system and got some great macros. I'm very disappointed in my WA shots though. I LOVE the perspective I obtained in many shots with the fisheye lens. However, many of my fisheye photos are out of focus and I have no idea why. I was shooting natural light but the ISO/shutter speeds should have been high enough (e.g. f5.6, 1/250 s, ISO 400) that I would not have expected focus to be an issue. I used the center fosus AF mode on the camera. Is there a specific AF mode I should be using to obtain focused images using the fisheye lens????? I expected huge DOF with this lens. My lens was a "loaner" since mine was backordered beyond the date of my trip, but the lens appeared to be in good shape but for one modest scratch on the dome,but perhaps there was something wrong with the lens. Any input/advice would be very appreciated! Are you shooting in macro mode? I just got a Fantasea fisheye lens for my P5000 and haven't had a chance to get it wet yet, but the manual specifically says to set the camera to macro mode when usung the lens. That's also what I've read in many other parts when it comes to fisheye lens use. If I understand it correctly, it has to do with the dome creating a virtual image right near the dome's surface, so you need to set the camera to focus closely in order to get that "image" in focus. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eyeguy 3 Posted October 28, 2009 Are you shooting in macro mode? I just got a Fantasea fisheye lens for my P5000 and haven't had a chance to get it wet yet, but the manual specifically says to set the camera to macro mode when usung the lens. That's also what I've read in many other parts when it comes to fisheye lens use. If I understand it correctly, it has to do with the dome creating a virtual image right near the dome's surface, so you need to set the camera to focus closely in order to get that "image" in focus. While flying home today I was reading Martin Edge's book and this exact answer was in one of the last chapters. Indeed you are absolutely correct that the dome port creates a virtual image close to the camera and that virtual image is actually what the camera must focus upon. I wish I had known to set it to macro BEFORE my trip to Cozumel! Thanks for the input. Stewart Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OCdiving Deb 0 Posted October 28, 2009 (snipped) However, many of my fisheye photos are out of focus and I have no idea why. I was shooting natural light but the ISO/shutter speeds should have been high enough (e.g. f5.6, 1/250 s, ISO 400) that I would not have expected focus to be an issue. I used the center fosus AF mode on the camera. Is there a specific AF mode I should be using to obtain focused images using the fisheye lens????? I expected huge DOF with this lens. My lens was a "loaner" since mine was backordered beyond the date of my trip, but the lens appeared to be in good shape but for one modest scratch on the dome,but perhaps there was something wrong with the lens. Any input/advice would be very appreciated! Eyeguy, I have been having exactly the same problems for months with my G10 and FIX Fisheye setup and was going NUTZ trying to figure out why. Finally talked it out with some diving/photog friends last week, switched to macro and got some focused shots from my fisheye port. The really annoying part was that the professionals were no help whatsover. Two things make me feel better about this. 1) that I finally have it resolved and 2) that I did not fly all the way to Cozumel to have such poor results. I am so sorry that you had the same problem. Let's hope we both get the results we expect from now on! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swadiver 0 Posted October 31, 2009 (edited) Eyeguy, I have been having exactly the same problems for months with my G10 and FIX Fisheye setup and was going NUTZ trying to figure out why. Finally talked it out with some diving/photog friends last week, switched to macro and got some focused shots from my fisheye port. The really annoying part was that the professionals were no help whatsover. Two things make me feel better about this. 1) that I finally have it resolved and 2) that I did not fly all the way to Cozumel to have such poor results. I am so sorry that you had the same problem. Let's hope we both get the results we expect from now on! ? Edited October 31, 2009 by swadiver Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swadiver 0 Posted October 31, 2009 where in Martin's book did you find this about setting to macro when using the fisheye lens? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crawdad 0 Posted November 2, 2009 Some people install a diopter for correction to avoid having to use macro modes which often limit camera functions Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
