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

[lungfish 0]

Hi guys im new here and have some Q's

[JUSTFORDIVERS 0]

HELLO, I PURCHASED A CANON REBEL EOS T4i WITH AN IKELITE 650D HOUSING ALONG WITH THE IKELITE SYNC CORD TO CONNECT MY SEA & SEA 110a STROBE. THE STROBE WILL NOT FIRE. IS THERE A CAMERA SETTING THAT I'M MISSING?

[merger 0]

Hi all, just moved onto dslr after a few years compact, Im starting at the beggining with a new gift of a cannon 1100D. I know you used to be able to get an ikelite housing for this model, maybe hoping theres one lying around still second hand.. any suggestions, as far as the diving bit goes Im a GUE diver of ten years, and love to study marine life.

[mblazer 0]

Figured I'd jump in after quite a bit of trolling. I've been into photography since high school (many many moons ago). I started diving 4 years ago (a bucket list item) and very quickly got hooked. Underwater photography was a natural next step. I started with a Sealife DC1000 with dual flashes. I got to the point this year where I outgrew that system and have now upgraded to a DSLR system. My rig is built around a Nikon D800. Working with Optical Ocean Sales in Seattle, I just bought a Nauticam housing and extension ring, Zen 9" dome port, Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobes, I-DAS arms, and miscellaneous bits and pieces. The principal lens I'll be using foe now is the Nikkor 14-24 (which explains the 9" dome). I'll eventually be adding the Nikkor 105 for macro.

[@!ex 0]

Hi, I'm looking for some expert advice. I have a 5D mkiii and would like to take some over-under shots (camera lens 50% submerged). I don't dive and wouldn't need much more capability than pushing the shutter for focusing ect, as I would most likely be able to just adjust things the way I wanted then submerge. I have the 14mm 2.8L II so I figure that will be wide enough to capture the wide-angle needed for these types of shots. Since I won't be submerging it very far I only need something that is rated for a few feet or less of water depth. I also would imagine that I would need a decent sized dome (maybe 7-8") to accommodate the 14mm, but I'm just not accustomed to how this works in an over-under scenario.

 

I have seen some "cases" that seem more like modified ziplock bags, but I'm not too sure if any of them would have a wide enough field of view, or how they would work in an over-under situation. I don't have a very big budget for this, as I don't live near the ocean and these would just be for specialty shots now and then (on vacation or in local streams and lakes). I figure you guys would have the type of experience and expertise to help me figure out what the options are.

 

Thanks in advance

[GhostDigi 0]

Hello Divers,

 

I am a newbie. I'm hoping this is the right place to ask for some advice. I am a professional shooter on land for 8 years. I do commercials and corporate video. I have recently booked my second underwater shoot. It's in a pool. I do not own my own rig. I rent. I got my client to give me some decent money this time for a camera. I am shooting pool cleaning equipment. Last time I did it with a 5D Mark iii in an Aquatica housing. I didn't mind the rig and got used to it fast but the problem was that it did not have a focus ring on it. With a 35mm sensor the depth of field was very shallow and I was most of the time guessing about the 1-3 ft that I had. Everything turned out fine, but I'd like to get something I will have more confidence in (better viewfinder, focus and iris control).

I was looking to maybe get something with a 2/3 inch chip to give me more depth of field. I'd like all depth of field all day! The opposite of land! It's just me so I don't have anyone to mearsure it out. Also these bots are moving all over the place. Does anyone have any advice for me?

I was super excited to learn about this website. I hope I have not posted in the wrong spot or wasted anyone's time. I will learn as I go! Thanks so much!

[RoatanMan69 0]

Hi everyone! Newb here and to UW photography! Jumped in with:

 

Olympus EPM1 camera

Olympus Zuiko II R 14-42mm lens

Olympus PT-EP06 housing

Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobe

iTorch Pro 5 video lamp

iDas tray and arms

 

I'm looking for tips, tricks and ideas. I was surprized to see that there is no Automatic Scene selection for UW photography on the EPM1. In addition I found out there is no zoom ring included with the PT-EP06 housing much to my chagrin at 65' down in Jaco, Costa Rica. So your thoughts on best settings and lens would certainly be appreciated.

 

Remember it with a picture, thanks!

[Ronyx 6]

Replaced my very old ikelight film SLR system with:

 

Aquatica 5D Mark III

YS-D1s

Macro port, 8" dome

Focus/video light

[cialowicz 0]

EDIT: never mind, it appears that I can post now... odd.

 

Mike: you can post topics now as you need to make a post to validate your account! You just did so. Welcome to Wetpixel Admin

 

 

 

I'm not sure where else to post this... but I can't start a new topic for some reason. I can only reply to existing topics. I've gone through the registration process, and have validated my account.

 

Why?

 

 

Thanks,

Mike

Edited April 6, 2013 by adamhanlon
Just explaining

[aydelette 0]

This is my first post (except for a couple of gear queries) on WP. What a great find. I've been shooting for a couple of years with a nikon d200/ikelite housing and strobe kit: a gift from a friend. Because I shoot professionally on land with canon I want to switch over now to canon underwater.

 

Which new system SHOULD I invest in? Take one of my precious 7ds down? Work with a used Rebel and a fancy housing? I'm reading everything I can everywhere about how to do this. Hours. But hello and thank you all for your generous posting and shooting.

Cheers

[Steve Williams 0]

Hi Aydelette and welcome to Wetpixel.

I like your option of using one of your 7D's. It's a great camera for underwater. If you're not in a big hurry you can pick up a good used system and save some money. The 7D Mk II will be coming out this fall and some folks have already started selling their 7D housings. Since you're in Florida you can check the classifieds here or give Ryan at Reef Photo a call. They have some preused gear that might be just what you need and they have all the new stuff if that's the way you decide to go. I'd recommend a weekend in Ft Lauderdale at Reef Photo anyway if you can swing it. It's only 3 hrs away from you. It's always better to try on a new housings and see how they fit your hands.

 

If you haven't read the Underwater Photographer by Martin Edge, I highly recommend it.

 

Good luck and you're right "negative space is misnamed".

 

Cheers,

Steve

[aydelette 0]

Hi Aydelette and welcome to Wetpixel.

I like your option of using one of your 7D's. It's a great camera for underwater. If you're not in a big hurry you can pick up a good used system and save some money. The 7D Mk II will be coming out this fall and some folks have already started selling their 7D housings. You can check the classifieds here or give Ryan at Reef Photo a call. They have some preused gear that might be just what you need and they have all the new stuff if that's the way you decide to go. I'd recommend a weekend in Ft Lauderdale at Reef Photo anyway if you can swing it. It's always better to try on a new housings and see how they fit your hands.

 

If you haven't read the Underwater Photographer by Martin Edge, I highly recommend it.

 

Good luck and you're right "negative space is misnamed".

 

Cheers,

Steve

 

Good tip. Good advice. Thank you!

[AVGoncalves 1]

I just bought one Aquatica 5D Mark II Housing with the Megadome 9.25 =)

[3scubakids 0]

Hello, Just joined. We dive at most 2 times a year and it always seems a struggle to get back up to par with shooting underwater. We are going to Fiji this August and I am looking at buying my husband a new underwater camera.

 

i am looking at the Sony RX100 with Naticam housing. Am looking at a compact camera for two reasons. 1. Is it is small to travel with; 2. I want to start with just a simple point and shoot and have it set to take the best underwater pictures before we start experimenting. We will also get a strobe, the 2 options are Sea and Sea or the Ion 2000.

 

Can someone help provide some feedback? As well as camera settings "rule of thumbs" that would be a good starting point?

Thanks

[mattia 0]

I'm a newbie myself, but I'll vouch for the RX100 as a great pocketable compact. It offers full manual control, so its not just a simple point and shoot. You may want to have a peek at wet lens options as well, since 28mm behind a flat port won't be terribly wide angle. There is quite a bit of info here and at scubaboards.com and so regarding the RX100 as an underwater cam. I'm starting with this as an all rounder (with wet lenses) to figure out if its really for me - next potential step would be the E-M5...

[Bunitj 0]

Hello every one,

 

I am going to begine this by appoligising for my spelling as i am typing on my tablet with my partner asleep on my sholder making it difficult to move without waking her.

 

I am a bit of a photographer and have worked with many different bits of gear. Mostly this gear has been other peoples. Mostly I use a Patima housing with a 450d, 500d or a 600d in it, but now i am looking to get a housing for my D800. There are so many different housing that I get over whelmed by them all so I was wondering if someone could help me with some gidance in this. I have looked at the websites for many housing like subal and sea&see, as well as ikalite. I really can't work out what I want.People say dont get ikalite they flood, but i have seen many others flood and alway because of user error.

 

Like most of you I like doing wide shots as well as macro stuff, though I rarely ever se any sort of auto setting except focus sometimes, so what i want to shoot doesnt help me narrow my selection at all. I want photos of everything. If possible it would be amazing if someone could direct me to something that could bullet point pros and cons of different brands that would be amazing.

 

cheers bunitj

[sanfairyanne 1]

I'm new to the forum and underwater photography. I just bought an old Sea and Sea housing for a Canon 5d Classic (about a 7 year old camera). I intend only to shoot half in half out of water photography or shallow shots. Consequently I hope to sell the YS-110 strobes and some macro kit that came with my camera.

[kristim12 0]

When I first starting dabbling in underwater photography I bought a Canon Powershot SD1000 camera and an Ikelite housing made for it. I still have the camera and housing that I would be willing to sell for $400 US. It has served me well and the housing was just completely serviced by Ikelite so everything is in perfect working order. I have taken lots of great photos with this system. It's very easy to use and I've been pleased with the results. The camera does not have the ability to shoot in RAW but that hasn't prevented me from taking several great photos. If you're interested in this system send me an email at kristi_bina@hotmail.com.

[PEDiamond 0]

just joined...great forum...am new to underwater but experienced nature photographer on land...have multiple canon SLR bodies but just bought Olympus E-PL5 with their dedicated housing and Sea and Sea strobe...was also surprised no idiot-proof underwater settings but custom WB seems quick and simple by assigning the record button to one-step WB so no big deal....anyone aware whether there is a way to preset exposure/wb/flash settings as a custom easily accessed setting similar to the canon G-11 C1 and C2 settings? Got the Oly cause I wanted faster AF than most compacts provide, wanted to shoot RAW, and didnt want the bulk/cost of an SLR system since I am just starting out.......aloha from Oahu...peter

[roughrider 0]

Hi all

 

I got fed up waiting too long for my Sealife DC1200 to take stills although love it for video. I'm currently in departures at the airport headed to Corsica with brand new Olympus Pen E-PL5 in housing I already fitted Zen dome port too for 14-42 lens.

 

No strobe yet I'm a freediver worried about bulk I'm going to start au naturelle and do white balance in RAW. It's hard to find a shop to physically see, feel strobes. Also I always took video before mostly because stills were not good with cheaper cameras (DC1200 my fourth already after trashing airplane special, then Olympus tough, then my fancy headcam) so hard to drop £600 on a YS-D1 and find out I should have bought a video light! This trip will tell.

 

Anyway glad to discover the forum which i heard of in my new Kindle book Underwater Photography for Compact Camera Users and look forward to bothering you all with questions and sharing my experiences. Maybe even pictures!

 

Off to find right place now to ask about Olympus UFL-2, I think by putting Zen port I have thrown out all benefit of automated zoom feature, YS-D1 obviously best strobe in my budget, unless it is too big for my style of freediving and one handed photography.....

[tamas970 12]

I am starting with this setup:

 

Olympus E-PL5 (700$)

MZD 9-18 (600$)

10bar housing with semidome port & gears (1100$)

Inon UCL165 (165$)

2x Inon S2000 (900$)

1x Archon D32VR video light (170$, might later buy its stronger sibling)

ULCS-clone arm+tray system (Digital Dive, Germany, 200$)

 

Also bought a couple of gel filters from ebay (Lee #176, #111, #121, #204, #205) for

experimenting.

 

My priorities were, when I decided for the gear:

#1: overall budget <4000$ (=OMD, Nauticam housing/ports, 600+$ strobes are out)

#2: good IQ -> I am considering to upgrade to the Pana 7-14mm & 14-45mm lenses, just need to figure out,

how can I fit them to my semidome.

#3: capability shoot macro & wide angle

#4: dual strobe

#5: Portability (definitely DON'T want to carry a DSLR gear, 2x700g stobes, 8" monster dome, etc... come on, I have to

bring along a full scuba gear and the "normal" travel package as well.)

Edited June 15, 2013 by tamas970

[HyperMac954 0]

Just picked up a Sony NEX-6 and going to grab a Nauticam housing this wkd. Now I need help here deciding on what dome and lens to use!

[chip182 1]

Hi Guys, first post here

 

Starting with a Nikon D200 in sealux housing. It may not be the most up to date camera but is definitely helping with the learning curve.

[Papa Hanu 0]

New Member to WP, but not to U/W photography. Registered to sell some photo gear and get advise on new travel destinations and photo tips. This is a great site.

Canon 7D, Nauticam housing, double Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobes, Tokina 10-17, Canon 60 MM, Sola 1200

 

Life is GOOD!!!!

[diveski01 1]

I am (still) making the transition from film amphibious S&S MMIIEX to digital. Bought a second hand Sony and Ikelite system a few years back and HATED the controls so I dumped it on eBay. I then bought a Fuji e900 and Ikelite housing with much better controls, took a short course, and thought I was on my way. I have only used it on a couple of trips 2007-2008. My eyes keep changing and I struggle with seeing the display with mono-vision contact lenses (one eye distance, the other reading). I reverted back to my film camera for a BlackBeard's trip in 2009 (not the best boat for film cameras but got good pics again), no trips in 2010 (pffft!), then tried the Fuji again in 2011 in Cayman with some decent shots but without any WA or macro nothing too exciting. Didn't get a pretty fishies trip last year either (small pft - got to spend a week in Akumal/PA as a non-cave diving spouse).

 

I've just gotten a big fat bonus for 25 years of service at work so I'm dumping it all into a new Sony RX100 and Nauticam housing! I am adding the LCD Magnifier with Dioptric Adjustment with high hopes of being able to see what I'm doing and returning to a reasonable frequency of dive trips. Only have 3 days in Cozumel planned for this year, maybe more dives in PA if I find a dive buddy while the cavers are doing their thing?? I am going to insist on a real dive trip each year - until our next major renovation project at least.