Newbie Must Read: What new system did you just buy?

[river_walker 0]

The most asked question by any newbie is one that many ask or do research on. So in the tradition of Mr Wetpixel himself, we will (try) to restart this quarterly thread to give newbies the most up to date new rigs from members who have made the plunge themselves.

So members who have recently bought new rigs, please feel free to add your opinions and feedback on your rigs so that others may benefit from your knowledge.

Thanks and happy shopping.

 

Hello. I'm new to underwater filming and to WetPixel. I just purchased a used Amphibico V101 camcorder housing. I also just found out that Amphibico has closed operations while awaiting new owners. Sigh! Such is my sense of timing! If anyone knows where I could obtain a photocopy or pdf of the V101 owners manual please advise. Thank you.

[johnjvv 11]

Hi everyone!

 

My name is Justin and I have been diving for a few years and just started taking photos underwater. I am currently shooting with a SeaLife DC1200 but having some trouble getting the most out of it. I spent this summer as a biology research assistant in Wakitobi, and had a blast taking photos in the reefs when we had chances to do non-science dives. I also own a Nikon D90 which I use out of water, but don't yet have the money to buy a housing and strobes for it. Any recommendations as to what company's housing to buy, and what store to buy it from? I would now be able to survive my dSLR flooding!

 

-Justin

 

 

Hi Justin,

 

I used to use a G11 with the OEM housing. I got a Fantasea BigEye Lense which I was horribly disappointed with due to the flaring and clarity (pay peanuts get monkeys...). On top of this the G11 Macro function only works when you are zoomed all the way in. So I was basically stuck unable to go either wide or do close enough with the OEM housing. I started shopping around for other G11 housings that could fit other lenses such as FIX, Recsea, Patima etc.. and found that I was going to pay in the vicinity of $2,000 for the new housing and addons.

 

As yourself I was also using a D90 for topside and I decided that for a $2,000 budget I could get a housing and macro port for an slr housing. I added a bit to my budget and to get a 60mm macro lens as well. After shopping around I ended up getting an Aquatica AD90 from Backscatter plus the 60mm marcro lens. I will have to invest again to get the wide angle going but I have my hands full with the new system and very happy with the results, the quality of images and no shutter lag with an SLR. Just a note on Backscatter since you are asking for recommendations; I am very pleased with their response time, advice and service.

 

Even though it was a pricey to get the system, I have no regrets with the decision and would encourage you to take your D90 underwater...I am actually only really getting use out of mine since taking it underwater. I trust that when taking time in setting up the gear, o-rings + dunking it to check for leaks before diving that you should be alright.

 

Hope this helps in your decision!!

[bigwake 0]

I recently bought a GoPro HD camera and have modified it so the underwater pictures turn out clearer than with the curved lens housing. I'm looking into the red filters to help with the color instead of using a photo editing program on the computer. I'll post in the beginner section if anyone wants to help because I probably won't check on this thread.

[KatheK 0]

My name is Kathe and I have had an Olympus camera for snorkeling for a few years. I just recently became a certified diver with PADI and then bought a SeaLife DC1200 Elite package. It will be fun to get good at diving and photography at the same time. Since I live on the Costa Maya in Mexico I have lots of opportunities to go diving all year round.

[Sid the Sloth 0]

Hi everybody!

I'm a seasoned scuba diver and occasional UW-snap-shooter. I've been toying around with a Nikonos II and a Panasonic FT-1 (called that way in Europe, name may differ elsewhere) for some years now, but I'm just about to get serious. The FT-1 shoots some impressive video, too. Unfortunately it lacks manual controls for video and the stills are outrageously bad.

Finally I got bitten by the dreaded underwater shutterbug and got myself some quite decent, yet affordable gear:

 

Canon 550D

Nimar housing

Magic Lantern firmware hack

:fishblue: :fishblue:

Somewhat OT:

The Magic Lantern really adds some useful features to an otherwise basic setup. It adds manual focus control even though the housing allows for no such feature. Anyone shooting on a Canon 550D, 60D, 600D, 50D should consider installing it.

 

I'm quite happy with my gear so far and still shopping around for a pair of lights to complete my setup.

 

Greets,

Sid

[madtom 0]

Hi, I'm a newbie who dabbles in U/W video to document freshwater fish behavior. I'm using a sony cx550 w/ sony spk housing and only film at snorkeling depths.

[ragebot 0]

Hi All,

 

My name is Tom. I started SCUBA diving in Miami in 1959. I have used both the Nikonos II and the Nikonos IVA in years past. About six months ago I bought a Canon D10, which is OK for snapshots and compact in size did not provide the image quality I was looking for.

 

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Nauticam housing for my 7d along with a Zen 8in dome. So far I have only used it in a local fresh water spring and got some images of manatees, one that swam up so close to me I was not able to get its whole body in the FOV using my Tokina 10-17. When I showed the images to some other visitors to the park the most common reply was "wow an underwater camera that does not suck".

 

I still need to improve my skills as shooting underwater is much different than shooting on the surface. Here is a link to some of my pix on facebook, not all underwater http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1...2145&type=1

[jwood1 0]

It appears that the more experienced members don't read this thread. Thirty-two questions and maybe 3 or 4 "answers".

[aainslie 0]

Hi all,

 

I know a few members. After years of struggling with cheaper gear, I went nuts:

 

 

- Nikon D 7000

- Aquatica housing wtih 6" dome

- Tokina 10-17 (new purchase)

- Sigma 10-20 (already lying around)

- Nikon 18-55 VR (ditto)

- Inon Z240 strobes

- Salvo 20W HID's (lying around for ages) for video

 

Everyone's posts really helped - led to getting extension ring and gear for the 18-55, and to buying the 10-17 Tokina (Ken and Scott, your comments helped there).

 

Now for some pics...

[ktmadventurer 0]

Hi there!

New to WP....

I'm a South African in Australia and have a photography addiction which has made my diving interesting to say the least!

My first u/w set-up is a Canon S90 with housing and I've had it about a year now. Learning heaps every single day.

I also recently got a prescription mask which was amazing! The quality of my shots improved within the first dive!

Whilst I know I am a long way off buying an SLR, I can see the advantages of those lenses but I do believe getting the technique right is probably more important than the gear you use.

Have only recently started shooting in RAW as well as JPG, and now my next learning curve is the software side of things.

Two frustrations I have with the S90; slow shutter speed when you don't need it, limitations with macro settings and the fact the controls on the housing are so different to the actual camera - wish the little books were waterproof so I could check up on things underwater!

 

Looking forward to learning from the experts here...

Cheers!

[Matt D 0]

Hi

I live on the (Australian, New South Wales) Central Coast and been diving for over 20 years

I started with a Olympus C750 with a Olympus housing almost 8 years ago. I upgraded to Canon SX1 in late 2008 in a Ikelite housing and added 2 x DS-161 strobes as I could afford it.

My Wife got me a Canon 7D for Xmas 2010 and I just had to get a housing for it, which I got one a few months ago.The lens I have is a 100mm L series macro and a 17-70mm sigma.

So now I am learning how to use a DSLR underwater.

Regards

Matt D

Edited November 11, 2011 by Matt D

[sskyrm 0]

Hi All,

 

I am new to the forum and Wetpixel, have only been diving about 3 years and doing UW photography for about the same length of time. I have a Canon T1i camera in a Watershot housing, so was interested to see that someone else had Watershot as well. I like it, but have nothing to compare it to, since this is my first rig. Seems to work pretty well. Look forward to learning more from all the posts here and the website in general!

 

SSkyrm

[JorisMo 0]

hey all,

 

i'm new to this form and interested in Underwater Videography. i'm diving for about 4 years.

[pehrson 0]

Hi

Thought I'd refresh this topic for 2011.

 

The most asked question by any newbie is one that many ask or do research on. So in the tradition of Mr Wetpixel himself, we will (try) to restart this thread to give newbies the most up to date new rigs from members who have made the plunge themselves and why.

So members who have recently bought new rigs, please feel free to add your opinions and feedback on your rigs so that others may benefit from your knowledge. The more details the better.

 

For ease of reading and research for members, please refrain from off topic discussions

Thanks and happy shopping.

 

The older thread is here:

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=24887

 

 

I am new to the forum, purchased equipment and accessories (Oly E-520 and PT-E05 housing) I have yet to get the set-up in the water and do not think I will, I will be posting my setup in the classifieds.

[fijabee 0]

For my first underwater rig, I purchased a Canon S95,

 

Hi

I also just joined although been taking pics since the nikonos III. Just thinking of giving up with my oly SP350 since the second camera is looking a bit damp and was never as good as the first one somehow (which drowned in Socorro). The Canon s95 seems to be a recommended choice since i know that I will end up not carrying a bigger set up. Any suggestions on the best wide angle lens set up for that- if I get the ikelite housing will any of the 67mm wide angle or fisheye lenses work ok or are there limitations?

 

i will be selling my old epoque wet lenses now (being 46mm) if anyone needs them!

[DiverPam 13]

Sounds like the initial question - which rig did you buy - in order to help newbies - does not have too many answers. Or maybe I am missing the point too. But just in case - here is my "newest" setup. I went through the process of changing setups about 2 1/2 years ago - and any questions I had, I asked on here and got great feedback. So do not be afraid to ask. When I made my most recent change - I moved from a P&S in an Ikelite housing with one strobe and 2 wet lens.

 

Current Setup -

Nikon D90

Aquatica housing

6" dome - great for traveling - fits into luggage better than an 8" or bigger + ports/gears for other lens

Ikelite DS 161 and DS 125 strobes

3 sync cables (third one is for backup)

Ultralight arms

Tokina 10-17 lens (must have for any cropped sensor DSLR in my humble opinion) - great fisheye lens

Sigma 17-70

60mm macro

105mm macro

Big Blue focus light

 

If you can get your hands on a setup and play with it - in or out of the water - go for it.

 

 

Happy diving - DiverPam

[beoks 0]

Hi guys

 

I was pretty fortunate this year for the holidays and I recieved a Cannon T3i from santa. Ive used only little point and shoots (dc600, coolpixs l24) so most of this is all new to me.

 

So far i have been looking at the Sea & Sea RDX housing with the tokina fisheye lense. the big issue i see now is backscatter has a used optical dome port for a fairly good price but its the acrylic not the glass. Does anyone have expience with the acrylic or have any recommendations?

 

Thanks

Jon

[Herbdb 0]

Just replaced my old Olympus SP-350 with an Olympus XZ-1.

[cess102 0]

hi guys!

 

So glad to be part of your community! Learning new tips and techniques from other masters is a big thing for me! cant wait to share one of my photos!and BTW, you can call me lou!i love shooting wedding photography and that is one of my key edges in photography... i also love graphic designing. Ive started shooting 3 years ago with my Nikon d3000..and now im using D90.

 

rockpaperscissorsph.com

[Cicada Lady 0]

I've happily been using my Nikonos RS since 1993 but now received the Aquatica housing for my D700 for Christmas. So I'm getting my feet wet in digital at last! I just bought the 9 1/2" dome port so I can take advantage of my Sigma 15mm lens. I have 2 YS110a's to light up the field of view.

 

I'm really gonna miss my RS's 13mm though ......

[Neil_B 0]

New to the forum, although not totally new to u/w photography. If we forget about the SeaLife 35mm (and I'm happy to), I started with a Canon digital P/S (plus external strobe) 5-6 years ago and then about 2 years ago switched to a used D200 in a Sea & Sea housing, with S&S YS-110 strobes plus other S&S peripherals. I think going used was a great way to convince myself that I really did want to stick with it before dropping too much $$$. And now of course I'm hooked and will be upgrading soon to a D300 and some more better strobes and peripherals! Obviously a D300 isn't state of the art, but to me it will be a good step forward, and buying used is about the only way I can afford to play the game. My only alternative is to have some phenominal gear but no money for diving, and that ain't much of an alternative.

[bluerdeep 0]

Hi all. Stepping up from a G10 with Ikelite housing!

Just bought a Canon 7D. I'm very close to buying the Nauticam housing. Does anyone have any thoughts about this housing? Good/Bad? Should I consider Subal or Sea&Sea?

Also... am thinking of getting the Canon 60mm macro lens and a Tokina 10-17mm fisheye. Should this have me covered? Also looking at the Sigma 10-20mm b/c it's easier to find here in Australia.

Finally, I currently have a DS-51 Ikelite strobe. I'm going to use that for a few months. But will probably upgrade to a 2nd flash in a few months. Thinking having the Ikelite paired with an Inon. Is this a good/bad idea?

Thanks for your feedback!

Jay

 

Hi Jay - I just wondered how you got on with your housing choice? I am looking at possible housings for my 7D. I'm considering Sea & Sea or Nauticam (or possibly Hugyfot). I can find lots of reviews for Nauticam, but nothing for Sea & Sea - which seems odd?!

 

It would be great to hear how you're getting on...

[kritsm 0]

Hello,

I just recently go certified as a diver and have had a canon 400d/xti kicking around for a few years. when i found an unbeatable deal on a hugyfot housing for my camera and a hartenberger 250ttl strobe i couldn't resist so I'm now a new diver with a new camera hoping to learn a lot.

[elitedivers 0]

HI, just purchased Canon EOS 7D, Ikelite Housing + 2 x DS161 Strobes.

Should have it in the water in the next 7 to 10 days

[divergirl 0]

Went from Canon G11 to Nikon d70s in Nexus housing to Nikon d200 in Seacam housing with two Inon d2000 strobes, absolutely happy with it! Looking forward to a trip to Galapagos this year!! I've bought used equipment in wonderful condition which has allowed me to upgrade quite quickly.