My camera setup

[zan]

Hiya

I've had requests from various people to post a photo of my camera setup, so I finally got round to it today.

Anyway, this is my 400d in its Ikelite housing with single DS51 strobe. I've taped a Q40 mini torch to the top to use as a spotting\focussing light (and actually works well as a main dive torch when it's not really really dark). It's got a 60mm macro lens in it at the moment, but I'm keen to get a port for my tamron 10-17mm fisheye sometime so I can try out some wide-angle stuff.

It attaches to me with 2 stainless steel carabiners - one is on an extendable lanyard, so it stays attached to me all the time but gives me room to move it wherever I fancy. The other is a short piece of rope which holds it closer to my body when I'm going in and out the water. It seems to work pretty well, although if you let it go it tends to tip upside down... I might add another small clip to the strobe arm if I can be bothered just to stop it floating about but it's not a big deal.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2247768743_0cd22cb21e.jpg

It takes a lot longer to get shots setup compared to my old point and shoot, but the image quality is in a whole other league (cost a *lot* though). Once I get the hang of the manual settings underwater and using the strobe correctly I think it'll get much smoother :)

I won't be diving for a couple of weeks at least, but I'll post some sample shots from it in another thread in a mo.

Zan

[Scuba-Doh!]

Impressive setup. I have to say that I love how compact the Fuji F31fd in the Fuji case is, it would even fit in the CD TBK (sport wing) pocket. My previous setup, Sealife reefmaster with strobe was combersome and positively bouyant which I disliked. Will definitely be a long time before I upgrade my camera.

[zan]

mmm, it's definately heavy and cumbersome :) Once underwater though, it's neutrally buoyant, so it never really gets in the way.

Here are a couple of shots from it:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/2219890783_df3f10465a_m.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2206543911_795525b2e5_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1229/1443763021_03ae1dc4d9_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1415/1173139865_23cd25b059_m.jpg

[dive granny]

They are stunning pics especially the 3rd one.:)

[shmeeg]

houw did you get so close to the peacock worm without it closing?

[zan]

I have no idea :) We were diving in shallow (about 3m) water
so they'd maybe got used to the waves at that depth and weren't so skittish as they usually are. Still, this was the only one that let me get really close in. Just a lucky shot I guess!

[olddog]

Very impressive set up and a serious investment. I will eventually upgrade to a DSLR, probably when I eventually kill the C7070 or perhaps the other way round. :eek:
Plus the days of the compact prosumer cameras are numbered. :( You can now get a low end DSLR for what mine cost. From now on it will be P&S or DSLR.

I would love to have the sharp lens configurations and faster lag times. However I would have to opt for a model that had live view. The angles I shoot at coupled with my less than ideal eyesight prohibit composing with an optical viewfinder.

Looking forward to you posting more beautiful images.:D

[chris]

Can anyone explain why a DSLR doesnt have live image on the LCD. I almost bought a Canon EOS350 or 400 until I found that out. I know there are loads of other benefits and the way you take images but for underwater the LCD just makes it soooooo much easier having an LCD. Surely the technology exists without reducing the benefits of not having it?

[zan]

Couldn't tell you. From what I've read, using the viewfinder used to be considered teh only way to really know what the camera was about to shoot because you were looking straight through the lens without any lag time etc. I think now things are starting to change, and there's more acceptance of live view (perhaps because the technology is getting much better) for manual focussing assistance\awkward angles etc. Canon's 1d Mk3, 40d and new 450d all have some form of live view now (the 450d might be the only one that uses it in autofocus mode though, but you'd need to check).

[olddog]

Can anyone explain why a DSLR doesnt have live image on the LCD. I almost bought a Canon EOS350 or 400 until I found that out. I know there are loads of other benefits and the way you take images but for underwater the LCD just makes it soooooo much easier having an LCD. Surely the technology exists without reducing the benefits of not having it?

Olympus E sytem DSLR have true live view http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/dslr_12806.htm
They do this by using another sensor chip just for display. Expensive bit of gear, but v.nice.:cool: Me want one:)