Turks & Caicos with the E-20N/Titan

[Tio Loco 0]

At last I got this gallery finished. All in all I'm pleased with this rig and the first time results.

 

It's kinda strange getting used to using a viewfinder, but I actually prefer it in most cases.

 

Anyway, pix are here:

 

http://www.scubahound.com/index.php?page=gallery&galleryID=5 ://http://www.scubahound.com/index.php...ry&galleryID=5 ://http://www.scubahound.com/index.php...ry&galleryID=5

 

Richard

[SharpDiver 0]

I love the synchronized drumming shot.

 

I have had a couple of chances at a juvenile and an adult in the same frame, but I always seem to get so flustered that I miss the shot while fumbling with getting everything set up.

 

Why not strobe on the jawfish? Just curious.

[Tio Loco 0]

ohhhh busted!

 

I admit it... pure brain fart. I had removed the camera from the housing to shoot a few shots on the dive deck. When I replaced it, I neglected to reconnect the electronics in the housing, so this dive was natural light only.

 

Actually I intended to use this one (from another dive) in the gallery:

 

 

I'm thinking the wetmate lenses, particularly the macro, need to find their way into the budget this year.

 

Richard

[SharpDiver 0]

The reason I noticed is that I have about 2 minutes of video of a jawfish dancing up and down and around, in and out of his hole...and it all looks just like the shot you first posted.

 

I took off the filter because I thought I was too shallow and would get orange sand. Instead I got blue fish.

[Tio Loco 0]

It's a tough call. The pic above is underexposed, well the fish is anyway. The best exposure I got on the fish was oh-so slightly out of focus... just another excuse to go diving again!

 

Honey, I gotta go back! My jawfish shots didn't come out right! See ya in a week...

 

Yeah, like that's gonna fly!

 

Richard

[laz217 0]

Jeff,

I too am having the same problem with the video and using the filter. Supposedly the UR-Pro filter begins to work at around 20ft and deeper. Well, a lot of the diving in the Keys is near that so I'm constantly trying to decide whether I need to use the filter or not. Yesterday's video was all whacked out because I was in that 20ft zone. Welcome to the wonderful world of uw video.

 

Rich,

For what it's worth. I have had similar issues with trying to get those jawfish in focus. It seems that our cameras have a real problem trying to focus on their reflective white scales. My only solution up to now has been to focus on the rubble around the entrance to their lair. There's usually enough contrast there for the camera's focus to lock. I then recompose my shot and waahla!... perfect focus 90% of the time.

 

Your other solution is to tell the wife you'll be content with diving in the Keys in order to make up for that jawfish shot. I know a spot out here where the sand has a brownish color... perfect contrast for these little fellas.

 

 

Laz

[laz217 0]

BTW Rich...

 

Fantastic shots! Your shot of Mr. Happy is superb and your shark shots -- that's a little too close. The macro on this camera seems pretty dang good too and you're not even using any additional lenses--are you? I don't remember, does the E-20 have any shutter lag?

[Tio Loco 0]

Thanks Laz...

 

Like I said in the caption, the one shark did make me come up from the viewfinder to see how close he was (but only after I got the shot!)

 

And no, no macro lens yet, but it's on my wish list before a Fiji trip in January.

 

The E-20 has virtually no shutter lag, however, since its IR pre-focus is disabled in the Titan housing, there were a few times when the camera had trouble finding focus in a low contrast shot (sharks off in the blue and night shots when the subject was not adequately lighted)

 

But, for shooting small quick moving fish like the spotted drums, it's a dream camera after using the 3030.

 

Richard