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

[FordTran 0]

hello, just introducing myself. I'm on here and on SPU (some of you might know). I started shooting surf on land, with a nikon dx body and the main lens which was a 300 2.8, even at 450mm equivalent, it was sometimes challenging to get a good shot as the point breaks tend to be very far away still. You'd need a 600mm with teleconverter which i do not have the money for. So i decided to get into the water instead. Got a second hand Essex housing, with a 50d and 70-200 F4L for when i want to stay a bit away from the action (big swells and zoo crowds), and a 10-18mm with dome port for mellow days i'm shotting longboarding. Then i picked up a nikon and ikelite and took it to hawaii, no strobes at the moment so california water is pretty much out of the questions for deeper dives. anyway, just saying hi to everyone, seems like a cool community.

Edited November 21, 2014 by FordTran

[jasonhung 0]

Hi All!

I am currently using Olympus XZ-1 with Olympus housing with Sea & Sea YS 110a Strobes. I have a Canon 5D ( mki) which I use for my land photography. Few months back, I saw and purchased an Ikelite housing for the Canon 5D. I am thinking if I should invest further in getting the ports, angled view finder and stuffs necessary. My concern is whether the TTL can be use with my current YS110a strobe. I read on ikelite website that TTL is only compaitable with ikelite strobes. Other than the ports and angle view finder, is there any accessories that I MUST have? Thanks.

[BengalBoy 2]

I just purchased a new Olympus OMD-EM-1 and I'm looking to buy a used Nauticam or Aquatica housing system for it. I've been diving for the past 32 years. I've caged dived with Great Whites in Guadalupe, snorkled with the Whale Sharks of Isla Mujares and spent the most wonderful times in the currents of Galapagos. In recent years, as technology has improved I've been bitten by the underwater photography shark and after using a Olympus TG-1 with a UFL-2 strobe and Nocturnal Lights focus light for the past 2 years in the ocean, I've ditched my land loving Nikon, purchased a "do it all" Olympus EM-1 and want to get a Nauticam housing with a port & gear for the 12-40mm M.Zuiko and 60mm Macro M.Zuiko lens before a trip to Komodo. I've been visiting this website in the hopes of finding a used housing for my camera, but, I can't seem to post a "Want to Buy" in the classifieds. How can I do this? Thanks for a cool website for underwater photography. Been an admirer of Eric's photographs for years.

Edited January 3, 2015 by BengalBoy

[SpartanLaw 0]

Hi ... I am a king time diver and in the process of setting up a gopro black light tray for travel.

[mcace007 0]

Ok here is my question of the day.

 

Have an Olympus EPL-3 with a 10 bar housing, ys-01 stobe, and 10x diopter. Was going to upgrade to the 60mm olympus lens (and flat port extension etc.) and a second strobe.

 

Talked to the guys at Optical Ocean Sales and they have a deal on the Olympus OMD E-PL5 w/ Olympus housing for what seems like a pretty screaming deal, they tell me that the E-PM5 is leaps and bounds better than my old E-PL3, I know that this sounds like up-sell but I have never gotten that from them and trust their advice.

 

Question is am I being up-sold? is there a real reason that I should wholesale upgrade my camera rather than throw money at my old kit?

 

I am not a world class photographer but I have really gotten in to the macro shooting as I become a better photographer, and I know that the gear does not make the photo/photographer.

 

Just want some thoughts. Should I stick to the addition of the port extension, second strobe, 60mm lens or launch in to this brave new world of the entire new camera rig?

[JP996 0]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and pretty new to photography, but not new to scuba. I have been using a goPro the last couple years.

I just bought a Sony A7ii and a 16-35 FE lens. I will be getting a Nauticam housing as well.

Someday I plan to get strobes, etc, but for now I don't know how to use them. I am heading to Cozumel in 2 weeks so I am hoping to learn as much as I can before the trip. I have a few other trips planned for hhe year so Cozumel will just be a chance to try everything out.

 

Anyone used Magic Filters instead of strobes, and got decent results?

 

Anyone one who has used the A7ii, please feel free to chime in with tips, and do's and dont's.

 

Thanks!

[worzel694me 0]

I having been using my Canon G10 with Canon's WP-DC28 housing for a few years and getting reasonable results. But after struggling with backscatter for too long I just got an Inon Z240 with an arm/tray etc. The aim is to upgrade the camera/housing in the next couple of years and probably add a second strobe, video light, GoPro for video (if my lotto numbers come up) but until then I need to work out how to bodge a connection with the fibre optic cable as I have no port. I understand it is a wet connection so is any sort of arrangement that sends light into the non-flash end going to work or does it need to be more substantial? I have read somewhere that black tape with a small hole in it to block the flash on the inside of the housing and some sort of velcro arrangement to hold the cable in place on the outside is the way to go. But I am looking for some guidance, ideally a short video, on how to do that.

[ioamnesia 0]

Greetings all,

 

I'm just getting started, haven't even got my equipment wet, but hopefully that will change this weekend. I don't do anything small and already had a Canon 6D so I went with the following:

 

Canon 6D

Canon 100mm 2.8L Macro Lens

Canon 24-105 4.5-5.6L Lens (Until I get my wide angle, this puppy fits just under the dome at 24mm.

 

Sea and Sea MDX-6D housing (I got the last one in the USA for $1000 off list , they've discontinued to pursue 7D owners)

Sea and Sea YS-D1 strobes x2

S&S Dome Port 240

S&S Macro Port 87

 

My strobe cable should be here tomorrow and I'm picking up the I-DAS arms tomorrow as well.

 

Not a bad way to drop eight grand....

[TimG 62]

Greetings all,

 

I'm just getting started, haven't even got my equipment wet, but hopefully that will change this weekend. I don't do anything small and already had a Canon 6D so I went with the following:

 

Canon 6D

Canon 100mm 2.8L Macro Lens

Canon 24-105 4.5-5.6L Lens (Until I get my wide angle, this puppy fits just under the dome at 24mm.

 

Sea and Sea MDX-6D housing (I got the last one in the USA for $1000 off list , they've discontinued to pursue 7D owners)

Sea and Sea YS-D1 strobes x2

S&S Dome Port 240

S&S Macro Port 87

 

My strobe cable should be here tomorrow and I'm picking up the I-DAS arms tomorrow as well.

 

Not a bad way to drop eight grand....

 

 

And so it begins, another lost soul doomed to spend thousands of pounds/dollars/euros, hours in front of a monitor, lugging tens of kilos of gear around the world, and gnashing teeth in frustration. For the occasional moment of utter delight.

 

So a bit like golf really.

 

Only wetter.

 

Welcome aboard, ioamnesia and welcome to Wetpixel. We're a fun crowd. Utterly mad. But fun.....

Hope you love the gear

Edited May 14, 2015 by TimG

[z_renzetti 0]

new guy here! the website so far is spectacular thanks to those who keep it up and running current.

 

*Sea&Sea DX-5D, YS-120 strobes

[Mosseltje 1]

Hello to you all,

 

After 20 years of diving I got a little bored underwater lately.

I really annoy my buddy when I start practicing underwater acrobatics or playing tag.

So she suggested underwater photography to keep me busy.

 

I got a good deal on a Canon G16 with a fantasea housing and 2 Inon probes.

As I dive in the Netherlands most pictures will be macro because visibility is often less than 6 feet.

 

I read something about ISO, shutterspeeds and dia somethings.

Got two probes too lighten up the water at any depth.

So how difficult can it be to snap some good pictures underwater?

 

2 dives later I realized it is not really easy.

From the 200 pictures I took only 2 were decent....

 

So it is a great succes!!

 

I am not bored anymore and my buddy is now annoyed as I am laying in the mud for minutes just to take a picture of a tiny sea creature I never noticed before.

I have a lot to learn and hope to post some good pictures in the future.

[TimG 62]

Hello to you all,

 

After 20 years of diving I got a little bored underwater lately.

I really annoy my buddy when I start practicing underwater acrobatics or playing tag.

So she suggested underwater photography to keep me busy.

 

I got a good deal on a Canon G16 with a fantasea housing and 2 Inon probes.

As I dive in the Netherlands most pictures will be macro because visibility is often less than 6 feet.

 

I read something about ISO, shutterspeeds and dia somethings.

Got two probes too lighten up the water at any depth.

So how difficult can it be to snap some good pictures underwater?

 

2 dives later I realized it is not really easy.

From the 200 pictures I took only 2 were decent....

 

So it is a great succes!!

 

I am not bored anymore and my buddy is now annoyed as I am laying in the mud for minutes just to take a picture of a tiny sea creature I never noticed before.

I have a lot to learn and hope to post some good pictures in the future.

 

 

LOL, welcome aboard, Moseltje!

 

Yeah, how difficult can it be, eh?

 

Next step is getting your buddy into underwater modelling....

 

Good luck!

Edited August 4, 2015 by TimG

[Mosseltje 1]

 

 

LOL, welcome aboard, Moseltje!

 

Yeah, how difficult can it be, eh?

 

Next step is getting your buddy into underwater modelling....

 

Good luck!

 

I think she is getting interested in UW photography as well.

And if she will be seriously interested I fear I can start searching for a merman suit....

[geo_lea 0]

Started with a Fujifilm XP60 a few years ago and was disappointed with image quality when compared with my land based DSLR. Figured I'd like to take my DSLR underwater so bought a complete underwater set up. Nikon D7100 with an Ikelite housing. Haven't taken it beneath the waves yet (I'm still figuring out how to put it together). I'm doing the PADI Underwater photography course next month. Here's hoping I've picked a good set up......

[geo_lea 0]

Started with a Fujifilm XP60 a few years ago and was disappointed with image quality when compared with my land based DSLR. Figured I'd like to take my DSLR underwater so bought a complete underwater set up. Nikon D7100 with an Ikelite housing. Haven't taken it beneath the waves yet (I'm still figuring out how to put it together). I'm doing the PADI Underwater photography course next month. Here's hoping I've picked a good set up......

[Piper 0]

I have just started underwater photography. I currently have a Canon EOS 5DS R and have purchased a macro lens. I am really after some advise on what lenses are commonly used as there is so much information out there on wide angle and fish eye that I don't know if these are right for me or if there is something else that I should be looking. Any advice would be great

[rivers 0]

Hello Photo People

 

I've resisted using a camera most of my adult life . I'm an aspiring free diver and have been doing scuba a year and a half now. And I live in the the Philippines . Having recently made my first muck dives , night dives , Im now hyper focused on taking pictures if not for the sake of art then to help me understand or document this so very interesting behavior of these so very ancient creatures .

 

I have a Olympus Tough TG-3 ( i break things and well that is why I bought it , it should be more difficult to break, I took my first photos this week with the Sola 1200 Photo light ( makes red light or the wide beam) .

 

I take good photos ( good for me ) on accident sometimes ( not so great when i browse photos of some of these guys )

 

My photos accidentally got better with the "focus light" , well some of them did

 

I"m now Gung Ho to get the Sea & Sea YS-D2 Strobe light .

 

Does the TG-3 , with the Sola 1200 and the strobe light above seem to be a package that makes sense and will work

 

I do not know how to use Aperture Priority , White Balance , Exposure Compensation nor have I messed with the settings and stuff,

actually I just read the manual .

 

using macro and tried the microscope

 

Maybe my question is will this package work , am I wrong to add this strobe to the TG-3 and Focus Light,

i got a Ultra Light tray and arm as well , I figure if I learn this camera then later on i could upgrade , I really love

the magnifying glass and light alone as well as using the camera , they are two activities that are distinct

 

in any case regards

[bigmaras 0]

Hi,

 

I'm newbee in underwater photo. I just started with Canon 50D + Canon 17-85 Lense.

 

My underwater stuff:

1) Ikelite house for canon 50d - 6870.50

2) Ikelite dome port for canon 17-85 - 5503.90

 

First of all I would like to receive information about correction filters dedicated to clod/green water and for strobes compatible with my system.

Edited October 18, 2015 by bigmaras

[phxazcraig 101]

I guess I'm no longer a newbie as I've been shooting underwater for about 150 dives now. But I am a newbie in terms of using a DSLR underwater as I've now bought the equipment but haven't yet used it.

 

I've gone through 3 phases of underwater shooting. (Not counting the first time, when I used one of those disposable film cameras underwater).

 

First, a series of increasingly-better Canon point-n-shoots in Canon dive housings. I think this is the best bang for the buck and easiest to use. You can get a new camera and housing for $400-500 new. I tried SD630, SD870is and s95. Each was significantly better than the last. I now have a new s120, but haven't had it in the water yet.

 

Second, I went to a Sony RX100 II (20mp) camera, which is basically a point-n-shoot with a bigger better sensor. This goes into a $1000 Nauticam housing. I have two YS-D1 strobes (another $1000 or so each, including arms and floats). While it isn't as easy to use underwater because of the strobes, it at least isn't hard to pack.

 

Third, I have a new DLSR rig. D810,Nauticam housing, 105vr and 16-35vr with macro port and 230mm dome port. Same two strobes. THIS rig is an absolute monster in terms of packing, and I'm still trying to work out how to get it packed, plus how to get it onto and off a boat, how to deal with rinse tank issues, etc. I'm sure the technical quality of the images will please me (finally), but the logistic of this rig are really daunting.

 

I might add that with the Canon point-n-shoot I had a couple of spare batteries and a charger. The Sony rig, with dual strobes and focus light requires me to charge TEN batteries between dives. One for the camera, one (big one) for the focus light, and 8 AA's for the strobes. So 20 batteries to bring and three different chargers.

 

I only do this because underwater photography seems to be my favorite of all kinds of photography. It's a ton of work outside the water.

[TimG 62]

I guess I'm no longer a newbie as I've been shooting underwater for about 150 dives now. But I am a newbie in terms of using a DSLR underwater as I've now bought the equipment but haven't yet used it.

 

I've gone through 3 phases of underwater shooting. (Not counting the first time, when I used one of those disposable film cameras underwater).

 

First, a series of increasingly-better Canon point-n-shoots in Canon dive housings. I think this is the best bang for the buck and easiest to use. You can get a new camera and housing for $400-500 new. I tried SD630, SD870is and s95. Each was significantly better than the last. I now have a new s120, but haven't had it in the water yet.

 

Second, I went to a Sony RX100 II (20mp) camera, which is basically a point-n-shoot with a bigger better sensor. This goes into a $1000 Nauticam housing. I have two YS-D1 strobes (another $1000 or so each, including arms and floats). While it isn't as easy to use underwater because of the strobes, it at least isn't hard to pack.

 

Third, I have a new DLSR rig. D810,Nauticam housing, 105vr and 16-35vr with macro port and 230mm dome port. Same two strobes. THIS rig is an absolute monster in terms of packing, and I'm still trying to work out how to get it packed, plus how to get it onto and off a boat, how to deal with rinse tank issues, etc. I'm sure the technical quality of the images will please me (finally), but the logistic of this rig are really daunting.

 

I might add that with the Canon point-n-shoot I had a couple of spare batteries and a charger. The Sony rig, with dual strobes and focus light requires me to charge TEN batteries between dives. One for the camera, one (big one) for the focus light, and 8 AA's for the strobes. So 20 batteries to bring and three different chargers.

 

I only do this because underwater photography seems to be my favorite of all kinds of photography. It's a ton of work outside the water.

 

LOL, this is a lovely description of the pain of it all (in terms of packing and lugging all that gear) and the hint of joy when you are actually in the water and taking pics

[sushiBoom 0]

Hi, my name is Colton I have been diving for years but am new to the Underwater filming game and I am having a great time with it! I am currently shooting with a Nikon D7000 in a Ikelite housing. I do not take many photos I only have been shooting wide angle video. I have been using my setup for about a year and Im getting more and more comfortable with it every dive. Here is a link to a video I cut together with some of my UW Shots mixed with my drone shots. https://vimeo.com/144931212 Let me know what you guys think and how I could make it better!

 

- Colton

[phxazcraig 101]

 

LOL, this is a lovely description of the pain of it all (in terms of packing and lugging all that gear) and the hint of joy when you are actually in the water and taking pics

 

And after my first trip with the rig, diving off a cruise ship, I can say that the rig is EVEN MORE WORK than I expected, until I got in the water. That 230mm dome port is just huge, heavy and unwieldy above water. I really had to reconsider whether a DX camera would be a far better choice for wide angle than an FX camera. After one day of carrying 60 pounds of camera and gear off and on a cruise ship, I abandoned the dome port until I get wheeled luggage to get it to a dive boat. Would be fine on a liveaboard, or a dive resort.

 

Love the pics I'm getting so far, and I see lots of room for improvement.

[Morton 1]

Hi all friends,I am new to underwater photography.

[J.Wal 0]

Got a Sony RX100 II for Christmas. Going to order a Nauticam case for it today. Will be running a ANO 1800 video light till I can get some knowledge in flashes and get me one.... Or two...

 

The first week of February I go on a cruise it Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel and will be my first time to get it under water. I am excited to be starting underwater photography. I am by no means a pro... But I have enjoyed shooting stuff on land for many years. Had a Nikon D40, then a Nikon D5000. Sold my D500 to get this started. Diving big bit me around 2 years ago and I can't get enough. I appreciate any knowledge that is passed on to me from y'all!

 

Here are some shots from my land photography days.

 

 

Sony RX 100 II

 

Sony RX100 II

 

Nikon D40

 

Nikon D40

 

Nikon D40

 

Nikon D40

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[phxazcraig 101]

Got a Sony RX100 II for Christmas. Going to order a Nauticam case for it today. Will be running a ANO 1800 video light till I can get some knowledge in flashes and get me one.... Or two...

 

The first week of February I go on a cruise it Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel and will be my first time to get it under water. I am excited to be starting underwater photography. I am by no means a pro... But I have enjoyed shooting stuff on land for many years. Had a Nikon D40, then a Nikon D5000. Sold my D500 to get this started. Diving big bit me around 2 years ago and I can't get enough. I appreciate any knowledge that is passed on to me from y'all!

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Since I have the same rig, and have dove in those locations (and even took a cruise with the same destinations) I thought I might comment with some tips.

 

Get to know that camera above water using settings you will like underwater. (Plus, check the recommended settings that Bluewater Photo has at their site.)

 

I dove with dual strobes instead of video lights. I made a few videos with the cam, but my V24 Fishlite was too underpowered to light anything for video beyond a foot or so away.

 

I have some issues with the RX100 menu system - it's confusing to find stuff, and it's hard to read underwater when you change settings. Text is small. What helped here was to crank the monitor intensity way up. Then I could read it underwater, but all the shots looked overexposed. However, it was just the LCD brightness. When I started processing the images they were fine. Trust the histogram when in doubt.

 

Initially I was getting soft or blurry shots. I realized that the aperture priority setting I was using wasn't working underwater for me, though it's the main way I shoot above water. The camera was allowing shutter speeds to go too low (1/30th), so I changed to shutter priority, set 1/200th speed and ISO 200 to 400. That worked out pretty well in Roatan in September. I was shooting dual YS-D1 strobes in TTL mode, and I found the best setting was to have the strobes at -0.7. No idea how that would work with video lights.

 

When diving with a point-n-shoot (or the RX100 without strobes, for snorkeling), I always put a wrist strap on to avoid losing the camera. I was on a Liveaboard once where a diver thought he had the camera tethered when coming up to the boat, but then realized he hadn't clipped it on properly. It was his first dive trip with his $900 rig (Sea and Sea with a strobe). He had done some bathtub testing before the trip and said the camera sank, so we organized an underwater search for the camera. For the next 45 minutes 12 divers did a pattern search under the boat (40-45 feet), but never found the camera. I think the camera only sank in fresh water, and while we were looking down for it, it was floating away. Bummer. Always have your camera tethered to you except when handing it to or from the boat.

 

Shoot in RAW...

 

If you've not dove with a camera that has lights on arms, be prepared for a different diving experience. You can't go as fast, nor take your hands off the camera much.

 

My RX100 II battery was good for at least two 40-60 minute dives. I never tried more than that to see what the limit was. On dive boats I would change the focus light battery and the strobe batteries, but I would leave the camera alone, mostly because I preferred not to try to deal with the camera on a rocking boat with damp saltwater hands.

 

Be sure VR is enabled in active mode, or whatever Sony calls it.

 

If you have strobes that trigger via fiber optic cable, be sure to put those on before you get in the water... I don't leave the cables on when getting to/from the boat because I'm afraid of damage, but I've twice gone on dives where I wondered for a bit why the images were so dark...

 

On your cruise, you have three great dive destinations, though I've not dove in the part of Roatan you are likely go (west end). When I did the cruise itinerary you are, we docked in Belize City, and then had to take a small boat quite a ways out to get to the reef, including crossing a pretty good set of breakers separating the harbor from the dive areas. Not so fun there. In Cozumel, you will likely do drift dives - lots of fun diving, but you don't get much opportunity for slowing down and taking multiple shots. Hopefully that will be the last port rather than the first one so you have time to get used to the camera.