digital solution for uw???

[waisj]

Inon strobes are good too, but they are mostly use for digital photography and I don't think can be use for SLR/DSLR housing as the main flash. Also, the D180 has a land GN of 18 whereas the 90DX land GN is 22. Don't know how much manual setting the Inon D180 has but the YS-90DX has 12 power setting. Maybe you'll want to check with Ivan regarding the Inon D180 as he's using one.

For the record, INON D180 does not have a Sync Cord bulkhead on the strobe end (thus purely a slave driven "digital underwater strobe" but for the size and the power it emits it is a force to be reckon with). BUT the Z220 and Z220-s Series were actually created for SLR, DSLR's and are perfectly adapted for "conventional" main flash (with sync cord bulkheads at the strobe end). As for the manual settings i think the D180 has 10, Lanxx? any inputs?

 

[ed9119]

well before everyone gets carried away with equiptment talk for u/w photography, might I suggest something else.... that once you have gotten your outfit that you rent a tank and hop into a pool to test the whole outfit to make sure you're comfortable and get the processes and procedures down. Bring a couple of toys or 'targets' into the pool as photo subjects.

Are u comfortable with the LCD/viewfinder?

How are the seals?

How're u handling neutral bouyancy with your outfit in hand?

Get to understand all those control knobs gloved and ungloved and with your eyes closed

Need to learn how to fin backwards face up? do it in the pool first.

Are the connections from housing to camera controls coming together easily?

Get a feel of how your strobe should be placed or angled

Do you swim better with the outfit in one position or another?

Get comfortable with maintaining neutral bouyancy with your outfit

Get familiar with how you hold on to the outfit when on the water surface

This will help in making your first dives with your new outfit more enjoyable, less frustrating and safer.

enjoy your trip!

 

[waisj]

well said ed..... where were y ou all these time?

 

[ed9119]

I'm more a land based photographer than u/w tho I've always been dabbling in u/w videography.......would prefer to just enjoy the silence of the underwater realm than work with reef hooks and camera outfits......anyway no street photography avaliable 40m under the waves....ha ha ha :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

Check my friend's website and email him if u have questions....... HE's an authority on u/w photography....Tony Wu http://www.tony-wu.com/

ed

 

[Kira]

haha... oops... thankfully was tactful with my words... haha..... :sweat:

second hand always sounds good... was thinking of extending it to an F5 setup and save a strobe.. kiras advise sounds logical.... haha.. mhmm... will think about ur comments.... haha.....

will post later... gotta go for a paper now... woohoo...

FYI, F5 Sea&Sea housing is $5k plus $6k. Compare that to the F80 Sea&Sea housing at $2k plus $3k. The price is only housing, haven't add ports which cost around $700-$800 plus per port. Sea&Sea has discontinue their F90X housing cos Nikon discontinue the F90X a while back.

That's why, price is alway a factor. Do I want to put in $3k more for better focusing speed, better functions? Sigh, it's alway a constant debate.

 

[Kira]

For the record, INON D180 does not have a Sync Cord bulkhead on the strobe end (thus purely a slave driven "digital underwater strobe" but for the size and the power it emits it is a force to be reckon with). BUT the Z220 and Z220-s Series were actually created for SLR, DSLR's and are perfectly adapted for "conventional" main flash (with sync cord bulkheads at the strobe end). As for the manual settings i think the D180 has 10, Lanxx? any inputs?

Actually, I'm still considering getting an Inon for my secondary strobe.

 

[waisj]

Actually, I'm still considering getting an Inon for my secondary strobe.

The INON strobes are really value, size and power for money, a good choice IMHO. HAve fun and let us drool over it
;p

 

[jeffrey]

well... i thought about all ur comments and i think that i will not venture too fast into the realm of slr housings... haha... :cry: :cry:

so a digital solution to my u/w needs i think is the most realistic approach... well.. i love photography as a whole esp street and portraits... so an slr for the needs on land.. and the digital for things under the waves... haha... :sweat:

actually got alot of questions to ask but my puny brain is saturated with facts... will get back to u all for more help...

cant wait for the exams to be over... arrgh...

oh oh... and thanks for all the comments!!!

 

[jeffrey]

hi all,
finally finished all my core papers.. aha... can relax now... okie okie.. can i ask u all some questions now?

1) what strobes are good for wide angle shots?

2) more impt... where can i learn how to use and read more about strobes?

3) where is a good place to look for such underwater equipment? is there any place that is worth checkin out before any buying takes place.. haha...

brain a little saturated... haha.. thats all that i can think now... any comments???

cheers
jeff

 

[waisj]

1) what strobes are good for wide angle shots?

OK, i'll try to make a go for this question. though i have not used alot of Strobes before, IMHO, the strobes that i have tried and used before, i'm personlly impressed with the Ikelite 200 and the Sea and Sea YS300. Yes,both are huge, heavy and negatively bouyant, but the strobe beam has a wide coverage with a uniform beam. Do note that for Wide angle photography underwater, it is not just the Underwater GN that counts, but the coverage angle and the uniformity of the strobe beam. Hot spots would normally render a stunningly captured wide angle shot useless. Again i could not stress enough on the uniformity of the strobe beam. Having said that, i guess only the IKE DS125 is the only newer digital strobes that come close to the pair of behemoths that i have tried.

2) more impt... where can i learn how to use and read more about strobes?

Wow that is a hard one. I'm actually in the process of coming out with a strobe placement and aiming article, 'till then watch this space. None the less have a look at "Interesting Articles" or here .

3) where is a good place to look for such underwater equipment? is there any place that is worth checkin out before any buying takes place.. haha...

Well if i am not wrong, there are a few players in Singapore, adn an up and coming one has been lurking around in our little forum as well Photosmart.
None the less, from my personal stand point, there are currently 3 housing/strobe vendors, Firstly Ikelite,

Dive Masters Pratama
Singapore
Pho: 65-2260991
Fax: 65-2273986
e-mail: divemstr@pacific.net.sg
URL: www.divemastersonline.com

Oceanic Asia Pacific
Singapore
Phone: 65-7793853
Fax #: 65-7793945
e-mail: info@oceanicasia.com.sg

Scuba Cam
Singapore
Phone: 65-68363089
Fax #: 65-68363782
e-mail: info@asiandive.com
URL: www.asiandive.com

Secondly Sea and Sea, Sorry i can't remember the shop units or contact at The adelphi, second floor, (anyone care to chip in?)

Thirdly INON
http://www.oceanicfocus.com/
and Scuba cam as above.