Anilao 2024

[ChrisH]

A few pictures from my trip to Anilao (Philippines) in September 2024. Unfortunately the weather was very bad and we had high water temperatures, too. So there were not that many critters around as I was used to. Also Blackwater diving was not possible because of the weather.

 

Equipment used:

Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 105mm Macro, Nikon 8-15mm Fisheye with 1.4TC (first picture); Trioplan Copy (last picture)

Seacam Housing, Seacam D150 Strobes, Retra Snoot

[CaolIla]

Only one word :     WOUUUAAAHHHHH

[ChrisH]

@CaolIla Thank you!😊

Edited January 7 by ChrisH

[Giancarlo M.]

Nice works Chris!

[humu9679]

Super stuff Christian! That Trioplan is manual focus? Also, did that fit easily into your existing ports?

[ChrisH]

3 hours ago, humu9679 said:

Super stuff Christian! That Trioplan is manual focus? Also, did that fit easily into your existing ports?

Thank you! 
 

Yes, the lens is manual focus only. A hell to use with DSLRs, but with focus peaking on the Z8 it is much easier to use. Having a external viewfinder is also very helpful!
But everything must be set before the dive: you dial in the aperture and focus distance and then you search for subjects that fit the settings.  
Yes, the lens did fit the port (plus extension) I already had. The lens needs an adapter, as it has a M42 mount.

[Cutbacks_Ericeira]

Awesome!! Well done @ChrisH

[PeterN]

Nice work, I'm liking the colors and compositions.  I just got back from the Philippines and we also had bad weather in the form of heavy winds.  Still a magical place.

[Adventurer]

I like the Seahorse with blue bokeh very much and also the red bokeh behind yellow fish 🐟… but these two are not done with the TTArtisan 100mm soap bubble bokeh lens, are they?

 

Is the last one with the nudi really trioplan copy ?

It does not exhibit the typical soap bubble bokeh you can archive with it.

Also I am curious how you got along with the working distance of that 100mm vintage lens.

In total a very impressive trip portfolio.

Nice work Chris, as usual.

[scubadiggy]

Lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing.

 

Diggy

[canislupus]

As the others have said, fantastic photos. Impressive work!

[ChrisH]

On 2/2/2025 at 9:18 PM, Adventurer said:

I like the Seahorse with blue bokeh very much and also the red bokeh behind yellow fish 🐟… but these two are not done with the TTArtisan 100mm soap bubble bokeh lens, are they?

 

Is the last one with the nudi really trioplan copy ?

It does not exhibit the typical soap bubble bokeh you can archive with it.

Also I am curious how you got along with the working distance of that 100mm vintage lens.

In total a very impressive trip portfolio.

Nice work Chris, as usual.

 

Thank you! 😊

 

Regarding lenses:

- the first shot was taken using a 8-15 mm Fisheye with a 1,4x TC and a zoom-gear (for creating the effect)

- the last picture was taken with the TTArtisans Trioplan copy lens

- all other pictures were taken with the Nikon Z105mm Makro lens

 

For the last shot I tried to get something with the Trioplan copy at a higher magnification. For reducing the working distance I used a (strong) diopter. The nudibranch was actually quite small. I failed to recreate the "classic" bubble bokeh, maybe because the magnification was too high, resulting in a too shallow depth of field. But you still can see that it creates a different bokeh than my 105mm macro lens. If you look at the shot with the nudibranch with the blue background, you can see the difference. The Trioplan copy has a different "circle" at the edge of the "bubbles" and introduces a color-contrast at the edge of the "bubbles". And while it was not the shot I was after, I still liked the result.

 

[Dave_Hicks]

On 1/7/2025 at 2:58 PM, ChrisH said:

Yes, the lens is manual focus only. A hell to use with DSLRs, but with focus peaking on the Z8 it is much easier to use. Having a external viewfinder is also very helpful!
But everything must be set before the dive: you dial in the aperture and focus distance and then you search for subjects that fit the settings.  
Yes, the lens did fit the port (plus extension) I already had. The lens needs an adapter, as it has a M42 mount.

 

You made some beautiful and unique images! Very inspiring.

 

I have a buddy that is really into manual focus prime lenses, Lensbaby 56 & 28mm. I was able to design and 3d print a set of focus gears for his lenses in a Nauticam housing. It's made using his lenses a lot more practical. You are still restricted to a pre-set aperture, but at least you have some freedom with focus. I had made a bunch of zoom gears for my Nauticam setup, so I had a good starting point. Some of these lenses "telescope" as you turn the zoom ring, so gear needs to be multi-part to allow for the motion.

 

Nauticam Focus Ring for Lensbaby Velvet 56mm lens by AwkwardSwine - Thingiverse

 

[ChrisH]

Thanks Dave!

 

Very nice work with those focus gears! I think it can be very useful for those manual lenses and be the deciding factor as a lens is actually usable underwater or not.

[Joerg Arnold]

Hi Christian, wonderful shots. Which teleconverter works with the Z8 ?

[ChrisH]

On 2/15/2025 at 4:29 PM, Joerg Arnold said:

Hi Christian, wonderful shots. Which teleconverter works with the Z8 ?

 

Hello Jörg, thank you! Happy you like the pictures!

 

I use the Kenko "N-AF 1.4x Teleplus Pro 300", which is an older model from Kenko. The newer types from Kenko did not work on the Z8 (and Z9). I did not test the newer versions from Kenko with the recent firmware of the Z8, but I don't think that the compatibility has changed. So unfortunately, we will be limited to older versions of the TC with the Z8/Z9.