digital solution for uw???

[jeffrey]

hi all,

am going over to sabah and kalimantan soon for some diving and was wondering how much would it cause to get myself a camera to go down with. okie okie... here is my questions:

1) getting olympus C5060... is it good? :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

2) should i get the base plate and strobe? if i have a budget of max $3k including camera? :bigeyes:

3) am a film F80d nikon user... would it be hard for me to adapt to this cam?

4) got 2 months from my trip... is it advisable to apend all this cash on the camera? :dunno:

hope u all can fill me in about my budget and also if i should put on hold the strobes and all... recommendations on better underwater cameras? and where can i get all this? i know funan and adelphi has some shops like sea and sea...

help help... haha... not sure what to do as i am not really willing to let go of my money without seeking some advise...

jeff :sweat: helpppp.....

 

[waisj]

First Off

Welcome and Enjoy your stay here

Please do go through the forum Guidelines prior to posting

Now to your Queries.

1) getting olympus C5060... is it good?

I believe the Olympus cams are quite adapted for Underwater Photography. I have also had a brief stint with the camera. IMHO it is quite a capable came. Quite an upgrade from the 5050z. The more attracting part is the TTL bulkhead which allows you to house the FL-20 flash(OLYMOUS Housings Only). You can also house the Wcon from OLYmpus, but the results are nott that satisfactory. This is mainly due to the moving front lens elements during Zooms and Wide settings.

How ever Ikelite has a solution for this with their Athena Dome. Check it out at www.ikelite.com

2) should i get the base plate and strobe? if i have a budget of max $3k including camera?

This is highly debatable, those that know me well, knows that i don't advocate the use of strobes untill you have more or less familiarised yourself with your cam. Do note that with external strobes, it might be an over-whelming experience for you, thus an over-whelming lot of task loading. You might find that there are too many variables just to get the exposure correct, needless to say getting the composition that you want.

If you want to get a strobe that *could* let you perform wide angle photography in the future, or you would more or less anticipate yourself doing wide angle photgraphy, or even CFWA underwater, then i would advice you to get a strobe that would give you a high GN inderwater and a wide coverage angle. IMHO Strobes that i'd recommend would be (in no particular order) INON D-180, Z220, Ikelite DS-50, 125 and Sea and Sea YS 90DX. With the cam , housing and a higher end strobe mentioned above, 3 K might be a little tight. Thus consider your options correctly. A good tray handle with strobe arms also costs you an arm and a leg.

am a film F80d nikon user... would it be hard for me to adapt to this cam?

Adapting yourself to the camera is not hard at all, expecially when you have experience with the F80, with any camera system for that fact. The more important thing you will have to perform is actually knowing the technique that governs good underwater photography, as what i always like to say Get low Get Close and Shoot UP. If you are not going the external strobe route yet, then knowing the 28mm focal length and the covergae of the little internal strobe, will be of use, as the internal strobe will not be able to illuminate the scene. (Just for example sake.)

If you are going for the external strobe route, then knowing effects of strobe placement to reduce back-scatter and lighting techniques will more of another interesting factor, besides getting used to the cam.

got 2 months from my trip... is it advisable to a spend all this cash on the camera?

Well if you are really serious then. Yes, Then again, have you tried underwater photography, do you, will you like it?

As for the rest of your queries, i'll let other forum members answer them.

Cheers
Moderator
Underwater Photography

 

[Photosmart]

Very well explained. Why not post this in the sticky thread since this is always the most common asked question. And also those threads on lens and strobes.

At ADEX, I have answered this question a least 50 times to those newbies. Maybe you can join me next time. :bsmilie:

 

[waisj]

:bsmilie: :bsmilie: .. haa haa.. i just might.....

 

[jeffrey]

hi guys...

i have tried underwater photography and also videography before and would love to start to get images of my own as a matter of fact... thats why need more advise before stepping in... ;p

so u guys really think that the olympus is a :thumbsup: good catch? haha...

about the external strobe... would love to have it cause i was considering to go sangalaki this june so wanna try to shoot some mantas... its a must rite? for external strobe... :lovegrin: mantassss.......

about where to get u/w camera equipment... do u guys know where i can go get them for the buget of 3k... a strobe... tray... case and camera.. haha...
so many things...

and would the system suffice for future upgrades? was looking at inon d-180 and the ones u mentioned above... hai.. still a greenhorn in this area...

is it hard to manipulate the external strobe? cause i used u/w video and cams before... but never with an external strobe... settings and such... are they really a hassle and does it take alot of time to get use to or learn them??

so many qyestions... haha... cause scared to part with my money...haha...
advise anyone??? help... i am drowning in my exams now and i need nitro... :sweatsm:

 

[jeffrey]

oh oh... and i did read about the guidlines... haha... hope everything i said has not broken any of them...

 

[waisj]

oh oh... and i did read about the guidlines... haha... hope everything i said has not broken any of them...

it is well within the guidelines.

cheers
Moderator
Underwater Photography

 

[waisj]

hi guys...

i have tried underwater photography and also videography before and would love to start to get images of my own as a matter of fact... thats why need more advise before stepping in... ;p

so u guys really think that the olympus is a :thumbsup: good catch? haha...

about the external strobe... would love to have it cause i was considering to go sangalaki this june so wanna try to shoot some mantas... its a must rite? for external strobe... :lovegrin: mantassss.......

about where to get u/w camera equipment... do u guys know where i can go get them for the buget of 3k... a strobe... tray... case and camera.. haha...
so many things...

and would the system suffice for future upgrades? was looking at inon d-180 and the ones u mentioned above... hai.. still a greenhorn in this area...

is it hard to manipulate the external strobe? cause i used u/w video and cams before... but never with an external strobe... settings and such... are they really a hassle and does it take alot of time to get use to or learn them??

so many qyestions... haha... cause scared to part with my money...haha...
advise anyone??? help... i am drowning in my exams now and i need nitro... :sweatsm:

For the record i do think the OLY cams are suitable for underwater photography, well if you really want to take good photos of mantas UP CLOSE, then a wide angle lense and a strobe or even 2 will be more suitable. but then again it depends on your budget

The systems would definitely suffice for future upgrades, but remember one thing though if you plan to use the OLY housings then wide angle photography *might be a problem* mainly due to the moving front lens element. But after saying that the cam inherently has goes as wide as 28mm

It might be a bit tight for 3K but none the less, i wouldn't IMHO recommendthe D180 , i'd go with the Z220. mainly due to the fact that it can accept sync cords. There will soon be 3rd party devices that let you connect your OLY cam's hot shoe to a nikon TTL compatible strobe/sync cord. (note not the FL20) but strobe like the Sea and Sea YS-60series

with strobes, you will definitely need to hit a learning curve and a rather high one, especially when you are not familiar with the camera. Strobe lighting and placement is an area overlooked by alot of photographers.

HTH

 

[kthan]

Hi Jeffrey

just to add a little.....

it seems to be you have decided on getting an underwater camera system, just a question of which one.

I also predict that u knew very well you want a u/w camera for your trip , given your choice of diving destination....

My advice - get the strobe. you will regret not having one somewhere along the trip. For $3k, you might just be able to get a decent system.

First, go second hand. My choice would be a C-5050. Reason being I have seen excellent images produced from them. Also u may not have enuff $$ left for additional Wide angle or MAcro lens, and with the super macro capability of C-5050, it will help one in saving one additional lens, not entirely, but good enuff. Price $700-800. Canon A70 is another good choice. Get second hand as well. It doesn't hurt as bad when it floods.

Next housing. A brand new one costs $300. Second hand $200-250

Strobe. S&S DX90. Why? Someone (kenneth76) selling his at $550 in this forum. PM Kenneth76 or do a search. The optic cable is going at $60 from him. Reason I suggest this strobe is that in the event u lost your optic cable, the strobe can still fire as a slave. I know becos I own one and I have tried it with my C-3040. Should he sell his strobes away already, u can get a brand new DX90 at $850 and optic cable at $100. Lets put the amt at $1000, a sum which u get an Inon strobe as well. For brand new, I'd go for the Inons.

Arms and tray : Try www.oceanicfocus.com Should be able to get something for less than $300, tray and flexi-arm.

So u have $800(camera), $300(housing), $600(Strobe and optic fibre cable) and $300 (tray and housing). Total $2000.

With $1000 left to buy come CF cards, batteries and kopi for me, Waisj, Photosmart and whoever helps u in your quest

Seems like I have added quite a bit.

eric

 

[waisj]

Well crafted reply, eric, was wondering where were you.
Given your route and if you are going for brand new then my advise would be a INON Z220. if the second hand one then the ys 90 DX

 

[kthan]

Well crafted reply, eric, was wondering where were you.
Given your route and if you are going for brand new then my advise would be a INON Z220. if the second hand one then the ys 90 DX

seldom logged on on weekends.....also i could only answer those queries which are "well crafted", else leads to nowhere....

u gining me confirmation tom rite? Email my office or PM me. I am pretty set for Sat to Wed.

Eric

 

[waisj]

seldom logged on on weekends.....also i could only answer those queries which are "well crafted", else leads to nowhere....

u gining me confirmation tom rite? Email my office or PM me. I am pretty set for Sat to Wed.

Eric

yeah will give you an answer tomorrow

 

[jeffrey]

yeah will give you an answer tomorrow

thanks guys...

was thinking of going second hand as well... but no one is selling such a system now... sigh...

can i ask if the ocean focus store cheap? is it reliable cause i think after my exams i may want to go down and ask them if they can put up a sys for me and try to learn something as well... which brings to me asking if they are "friendly"? :dunno:

well... i really dont mind a second hand sys... but is anyone selling? heh

and is there a site which u all know that i can go to to learn about u/w photography and strobe use as well...

thanks a mil guys... really appreciate ur comments...

 

[Photosmart]

seldom logged on on weekends.....also i could only answer those queries which are "well crafted", else leads to nowhere....

u gining me confirmation tom rite? Email my office or PM me. I am pretty set for Sat to Wed.

Eric

SAT ....iz this Sat ?? Dont forget...Manta waiting for us at 7 Skies leh..

 

[Photosmart]

thanks guys...

can i ask if the ocean focus store cheap? is it reliable cause i think after my exams i may want to go down and ask them if they can put up a sys for me and try to learn something as well... which brings to me asking if they are "friendly"? :dunno:
...

:think: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

 

[skyjuice]

thanks guys...

can i ask if the ocean focus store cheap? is it reliable cause i think after my exams i may want to go down and ask them if they can put up a sys for me and try to learn something as well... which brings to me asking if they are "friendly"?
...

:think: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

:bsmilie: :bsmilie:
Jeffrey, he is friendly, reliable and helpful. no worry

/me @ Photosmart

 

[Kira]

Hehehe.. Hi Jeff.

I'll recommend the YS-90DX too cos it allows me to save on a strobe next time when I want to get a Sea&Sea hosing for my F80 or maybe even the F5(price still a factor here). Kenneth strobes76 seems like a good deal but do note the number of dives he has on those strobes. I would have gotten from him the 90DX but I bought my strobes 1 week before he post his sale.

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.

I got a Sea&Sea sea arm 6 because I don't want a flexi-arm. I mean, what am I going to do with the flexi-arm when I switch to a SLR/DSLR housing? So here's something for you to consider.

I just got my whole setup for around 2.5K and saving the remanding 500 for CF cards. Am considering the ScanDisk 512mb and 1G CF cards for 445+. (Sorry guys, friend deal, don't think he can extend the offer to you guys)

 

[Kira]

:think: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

Hahahha... Jeff, fyi, Photosmart is from oceanicfocus.

 

[Kira]

thanks guys...

was thinking of going second hand as well... but no one is selling such a system now... sigh...

You'll have to wait if you're looking for a second hand set. I got my C-5060 and PT-020 all 2nd hand for $1280. Best buy was the C-5060, 3 days old for $1030. Compare that to a brand new set for $1200++.

 

[jeffrey]

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...