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Showing content with the highest reputation since 05/24/2024 in Posts
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Anilao 2024
20 pointsA 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 Snoot20 points
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Bangka/Lembeh 2024 Part II
20 pointsA few more shots from my first trip to Bangka and Lembeh, including my first Mandarin diver ever 😬 Equipment used: Nikon Z8, Seacam Housing, Seacam strobes, Retra snoot20 points
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Kraken KR-S160 vs Backscatter HF-1 vs Retra
I have done multiple wide angle dives in the last few months with the Retra Pro Max, Seacam 160, Backscatter HF-1, Kraken KS160 (and Scubalamp SUPE D-Pro in December). They are all very good strobes. My preference is the Retra, but if I was forced to use one of the others I'd get by fine. I am always interested in testing gear that might expand by capabilities - but I won't test gear that I feel will restrict my photography in any way. I am not interested in wasting my dive time using lesser strobes - but the fact that I have done multiple dives with all of these - is a vote of confidence in them all. The Retra is my favourite because it has the nicest quality of light, lots of power and is two strobes in one (in Lembeh (May) I shot it small with 4 batteries, while in Raja Ampat (March) and Red Sea (June) I shot it with 8. None of the other strobes here are ideal for macro - so you probably need to budget for a second set of something else if you do dedicated macro trips. People make a lot of fuss about 8 AAs, but if you get good, fast chargers - they are super easy to live with and in real world UW photography you are never waiting for them to recycle. The battery life is a big step on from previous Retras. The controls are simple and excellent. Like the Bluetooth updates and I like how you can fix and change aspects of them by connecting to phone. Wished they made a non-TTL model. I own Retra Pro Max, totally reliable. I've not tried their sticky out Lithium battery yet, but I am not planning to get them (but will try some when I have a chance). The first Seacam 160s I tried (borrowed from he who shall not be named of Wetpixel) when they first came out were unreliable - and I didn't like them as a result. But I borrowed Erin's in March and had a very good experience with them. I find the light very, very similar to the Retras, just with slightly more throw and slightly less softness. The light output level is near as damn it the same as the Retras with real subjects. The batteries are nice, but that is a lot of money to pay and you need your own spares if nobody else is shooting these strobes. This is what is best about AAs - you can borrow them from everyone if you have a charging issue/flood etc. The power control was a bit annoying, without a deadstop - so you have to look at the screen all the time to know where they are set, and even worse the smaller increments are indicated by small dots on the screen which are hard to see without looking (closely). Erin's were set to 1/3 stop increments which was also annoying - but I presume this is an option. Anyway, very good strobes, but I wouldn't have them over the Retra even at the same price. Erin's were totally reliable. The Kraken KS-160 has a nice quality of light. But it does not have as much light output as the Retra and and Seacam. I know it has more stated WS-1 than the Retra - but this does not translate to light output. But they are still powerful strobes and capable of rapid firing with the Lithium batteries (although after you've shown off to your buddies - this really has limited uses in normal underwater photography, other than making everyone think you have no sensitivity towards the wellbeing of your subjects). The lithium battery packs are very nice to live with and charge straight from USB-C which is nice. I used them a few months apart, but I felt that the light and power from the "similar" SUPE D-Pro was identical. The SUPE I tried was not reliable and several of the power settings did not work. The Krakens were totally reliable. I think that they are correctly priced versus the Retras - cheaper - but a level below. I like that they are simple with no TTL. The Krakens weak point is ergonomics. The main power knob is in whole stop settings and then your have a turny dial to adjust within stops - I could say more, but this is not nice to use. They are heavy in the water, but have good buoyancy collars. The Backscatter HF-1 does not have the natural quality of light of the strobes above. But boy, does it have a lot of power. And it also has a well judged diffuser (the flat warmest one) that gives it a very decent quality of light, when attached. While still giving out more power than those above. It has excellent battery performance, which means you can shoot all day (not a big deal), but more importantly encourages you to use more of the power, more of the time. If you regularly shoot big animals/pelagics in bright conditions this would be my choice. If you shoot more close focus wide angle then you might favour one of those above with a more pleasing quality of light. The ergonomics are better than the Kraken and Seacam. They are a bit heavy in the water. They were totally reliable on my trip. They also have a video light. They are very attractively priced at present. They are my second favourite here. Alex16 points
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Upcoming Server Upgrade 😳
15 pointsHey everyone, I’m excited to share that I’ll be upgrading our forum software to the latest version soon. This is a major update focused on backend improvements, enhanced security, and overall modernization. While I’m working hard to make the front end as close as possible to what we’re all accustomed to for this initial migration, you will notice some changes. Here’s what to expect: Classic and Modern ThemesThe current look and feel of the forum will be called “WPX Classic” and will remain the default for now. After the migration settles, I’ll introduce a “WPX Modern” theme. You’ll have the option to switch between Classic and Modern based on your preference. Even in the Classic theme, the forum will gain a more modern, functional experience. Key ImprovementsWhile there is an endless list of little things that are improved on the front & back end, here are a few of the key improvments. Mobile: A significantly improved mobile browsing experience and App Setup. Dark Mode: A native dark mode option will be available from launch. My Streams Menu: A customizable view for sorting articles, posts, topics and even tags, moving beyond just showing “Unread All.” Performance Improvements: Along with the software upgrade, I’m also moving the forum to a new server. This upgrade to both the software and hardware should provide noticeable performance improvements. While things have been running pretty well, now is the perfect time to make these enhancements. Future Customization: This upgrade will enable us to introduce and customize future enhancements on both the back end and front end, giving us greater flexibility to adapt and improve over time. Temporary ChangesTags: Tags will be temporarily disabled at launch but will return soon as we digest how to use in the new system. The updated tagging system will be more useful, allowing features like creating streams based on tags and following your preferred tags. The store will not be available initially after the migration. A new store will be launched soon. Downtime InformationThis migration is a large and complex task. I estimate that the forum will be offline for up to 4 hours during the update. I’ll try to keep the site accessible in guest mode during this time, but you won’t be able to log in. Migration TimelineThe update will take place between April 12th and 15th. Once I finalize the exact date and start time, I’ll post an update here. I’ve already done a few dry runs, and I’m confident it should go smoothly. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to bring you these exciting updates. I’m confident this upgrade will not only enhance our community now but also set the stage for continued improvements and useful features in the future, providing a more secure and customizable platform for everyone. I think thats it for now.. Stay tuned for more details.15 points
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Nauticam USB-C bulkhead mini review
14 pointsBefore my most recent trip last year I purchased the Nauticam USB-C bulkhead for my OM-1 housing which uses the M24 bulkhead on the housing. The setup consists of an M16 bulkhead and a specific M24-M16 adapter that is machined so that the right angle USB plug will fit through. In summary it works as advertised, I can charge the camera without breaking the vacuum and also download images. Download is a little slow compared to using a card reader it seems the limit is set by the camera interface. I achieved around 28 Mb/sec, while I can achieve 150 Mb/sec with my card reader. Battery charging seems to be about the same as plugging the camera directly into a charger. I got the bulkhead as I shoot the Canon 8-15 with metabones adapter, which requires placing the camera in the housing then assembling the lens from the front placing the dome over the installed lens. This takes some time to pull apart and re-assemble, so being able to charge and download without opening is one less thing I need to deal with each evening after diving. Here is a couple of photos of the bulkhead installed, it seems to be a high quality cable. and externally the bulkhead uses a sealed cap similar to a vacuum valve to protect the USB terminal inside. It is sealed so holds a vacuum if the cap is removed. Overall I'm happy with it as it does what it's meant to do.14 points
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is wetpixel.com gone?
14 pointsHere is what I know, the hosting provider had a major datacenter move for a bunch of there servers. The notice was sent out weeks ago that this would be happening. Moved server account holders will be given a new IP address for their servers when the move happens. DNS records for domain will need to be updated to new IP address for the site to be reachable again. So this is where things are, the server was moved to new datacenter on new hardware & software and a new IP. Adam should have been notified of this multiple times and he will need to change and update the DNS records to reflect the new IP for wetpixel.com or the server will never be able to be reached. So I guess we wait and see if he ever updates that. I imagine even if it comes back, the days are still numbered when it does go offline permanently. In reflection of the last year and our actions to get this site going when we did and migrate as many members as we have.. I’m thankful we did it and thanks to all of you for helping rebuild the community here. 👏14 points
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It's Time to Talk About the Nikonos RS 13mm Again
With a small "dome" of less than 4in/100mm, the RS 13mm is never going to be as good for splits as a large dome. A large dome makes the water line smaller and easier to keep positioned where you want it - especially in wavy conditions. A large dome also decreases the focus difference between underwater and topside portions (so the topside is less blurry). That said, splits are possible with the RS 13mm, and a small dome actually has a couple of advantages in that you can do splits of smaller subjects and in shallower water. Here are a few examples. Note that I didn't stop down the aperture very much for these (f/5.6-f/.8). Obviously, shooting at something like f/16 would give a less blurry topside if that's what you're going for.13 points
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Nauticam SMC-3
13 pointsThanks to Dr. Mustard for sharing some of the first images of our new SMC-3 ! What I wanted to achieve was to make use of the experience I accumulated over the years to improve one of the best macro lens even further. While maintaining the same magnification, with the use of some extreme glass material (very high refractive index and special dispersion character), I was able to reduce 1/3 of the weight of the original SMC-1, 40% of the thickness, while increased the longest working distance by 8mm. Theoretically, internal reflection has been eliminated. Yet to be confirmed from extensive field tests. Edward13 points
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Strobe comparison table
13 pointsSince I've gone thourgh all the work of gathering this data from various sources and personal tests over the past few months, I might as well share it here in case other find it helpful. Corrections and additions welcome. Update on 24/06: I've updated the spreadsheet with three new sheets, one showing my detailed Power, Color Temperature and Flash Duration tests,other showing the recycling times / high speed shooting tests, and a final one with images comparing the beam cover with and without diffusers for the strobes I've tested. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hWG6Enh-ukiQXjN5y_3NMTFF8b4dhJ64YfZqyIdpFew/edit?usp=sharing13 points
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Tulamben, Bali
13 pointsHere's a few from a recent trip to the sites close to Tulamben 1. Frogfish 2. Donut nudi 3. Goby with eggs 4. The ever faithful Shaun the Sheep nudi 5. Velvet Ghost Pipefish 6. Leaf-fish hiding in coral 7. Juvenile batfish Mike13 points
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RETRA Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
13 pointsGuys I have the impression that this thread has reached a dead end. Everyone has had a chance to express their preferences on flashes and battery packs and in particular on the novelty introduced by Retra. We also had a direct feedback from Oskar. It is not often that we have the privilege of a manufacturer participating in the forum.... Long story short: now we all have an informed opinion and try to remember the old adage: agree to disagree 😉13 points
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Meet The Zeus Faber
12 pointsEven if I encounter them for the thousandth time, I still find these fish fascinating. They move almost magically, like ghosts, with an unexpected swiftness. In the depths of this dive spot, there’s a resident colony of about ten individuals. Speaking of rebreathers, thanks to the fact that we were diving in closed circuit, some individuals allowed us to get very close—a rare occurrence here. In the end, we were the ones who left, not them 👋🏼 Technical note: With the WWL-1B, I can't get this quality while zooming (perhaps also due to the flimsy 14-42mm kit lens), and the footage always has a slight wobble. I believe the camera’s OIS is thrown off by the focal length change caused by the wet lens. This dive confirmed my impressions. I was using the Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 with the 6" acrylic dome. It had been a long time since I used it, and this dive brought me back in sync with my camera. The footage is finally rock steady, with stabilization working perfectly, and the lens is incredibly tack sharp, especially when zoomed in. All the shots are at F4-5.6. Put on your headphones and turn up the volume!!! 🔊🔊🔊12 points
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"Bonfire" Dive - East Bali
12 pointsHere's a little something I shot over 3 "bonfire" (light-trap) style dives, a setup I've been experimenting with here on the shores East Bali's Lombok Strait. Being alone in this venture, my bonfire setup is really basic, with very little lure lights to work with... It's not really much of a bonfire to be honest, more a modest campfire than anything, but hey, it is what is is, right? 🙂 Despite being all on my lonesome with a very light-limited setup, these experiment have nonetheless been rather interesting, with some surprising encounters. The dives also brought-up very video-centric questions on lighting power, positioning, spot focusing, and the relationship between video lighting’s constant light output and the lure lights, something I'll be developing in this thread (along with details on the lure setup used) Please note that I shot in 30fps, because I don't have 4K 60fps on my compact, so this video is probably a little different from the ultra-slow motion often seen for such critters. While I certainly do wish I had access to 60fps and its smooth 50% slow-mo for lightning fast subjects, I find I'm actually ok with a little erratic critter movement, as the real-life action itself is rather chaotic at times - let's just hope it won't have you reaching for dramamine pills... 😉 Equipment used: - Panasonic Lumix LX10 (LX9/LX15 in some locales) compact camera in a NALX10 Nauticam housing, Inon UCL-165M67 +6 diopter - 2 Kraken Hydra 8000V2 video lights - Lures lights: Backscatter MW 4300 video light and Archon dive lights - Shot in Amed, east Bali, in 4K 30fps, CineD profile, manual focus, 400 ISO cheers! ben12 points
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'Le Grec' mediterranean wreck
12 pointsMediterranean wreck 'Le Grec' between 40m and 50m deep, close to Porquerolles, France. GoPro 11 and Keldan 4x.12 points
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Full Frame Bubble Burst
12 pointsLast bit of advice - You clearly want to establish yourself as a knowledgeable person with respect to underwater photography. You are trying on a regular basis to use science to back up your theories. Show us beautiful photos instead. You really, really, need to look and think about how you came across on the internet if you want an audience to respect your thoughts. Just once in a while, try listening to and understanding other peoples opinions and experiences - chances are you will learn something yourself. Look at both sides of a debate without being confrontational, you're sounding like a football fan who cannot see past his own team. The title here is Full Frame bubble Burst. It hasn't, and it likely never will. Maybe you don't feel the need to use it, and that's great- people get fantastic shots with compact cameras - but to not consider a huge portion of the genre and still try and defend your point really doesn't do you any favours. On that point, I think I'm done with this thread, Mike12 points
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Raja Ampat, Misool and Triton Bay with Emperor Divers
I've just got home from a terrific 12-night Raja Ampat trip on Emperor Diver's vessel, MV Harmoni. The itinerary started in Kaimana, covered Triton Bay, Misool and the Dampier Straits - and ended in Sorong. Others have written about the diving delights of the area so I won't rehash that. Suffice it to say that, my first trip to this part of Indonesia, I found the diving just fabulous. Abundance and variety of marine life was something else. Whale sharks and mantas included. I've been fortunate to have been on lots of liveaboards over the years. This was, by far, the best I have ever done. Harmoni has a crew of 21 for 24 guests and is spacious,. comfortable and relaxed. Lead by a first class Cruise Director, the entire crew were unfailingly helpful and considerate. We splurged and got an Upper Deck cabin. This was roomy with a ?king-size bed (depending on what side of the Atlantic you live), sofa, wardrobe and a bathroom that two people could actually use at the same time, tons of hot (and cold) water and quality shower and hair gels. I'm not sure if it is a blessing or a curse, but Harmoni has Starlink WiFi which is included in the trip price. So if the mood takes you, internet is available in the galley at all times throughout the trip. It reaches some cabins too. Diving was from a RIB with four guests accompanied by a dive guide. Nitrox was included in the price. Following the usual briefing, divers put on their wetsuits and only had to carry their mask and camera to the RIB. All gear was loaded by the crew with divers being helped into their BCs etc on the RIB immediately before a backward roll onto the divesite. No carrying heavy gear down to the RIB or down to a dive deck. Luxury. A dive guide was assigned to each group of four and rapidly understood what the group wanted to do in terms of photography, ease of the dive, avoidance of current etc. Dive sites were usually 4-5 minutes (enjoyable) RIB-ride from Harmoni with at least one RIB monitoring the dive with several ready for pick ups at the end of the dive. At the end of the drive, the crew moved dive gear, except mask and camera, from the RIB to Harmoni so, again, no lugging of gear. They even rinsed wetsuits after each dive. At the end of the trip, the crew rinsed all dive gear (apart from cameras), got it all dried and delivered into the galley for collection! Food was always excellent and a mix of Asian and European. The system was the classic light breakfast, dive, big breakfast, dive, lunch, dive and dinner. Harmoni had a well-stocked bar complete with barman and espresso machine (yay!) We used the Aston Hotel in Sorong and the Grand Papua Kaimana in Kaimana. Both were good. We flew KLM to Jakarta and then Garuda to Sorong and Wings Air to Kaimana. No problems with any of the flights and the service was always very good. On one flight there was a tiny charge for excess baggage. We applied for Indonesian visas online and were seriously impressed by the arrival formalities in Jakarta: a quick transit through e-gates. I celebrated an "x0-birthday" during the trip and cannot think of a better way of marking the occasion. I can recommend Harmoni highly.11 points
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Video: Tresher Sharks and more...
11 pointsHi, i went back to Malapascua Island after 17 years to see Tresher sharks. We saw up to 8 Tresher sharks cruising together in one spot. Luckily i spent 2 weeks in Malapascua, (compared to most other divers who stay only 2 or 3 days), because the viz varied from 25 to bad days 10-12 meters. Afterwards i visited Moalboal to get some Sardine school shots. Enjoy watching! Alex.11 points
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MFO-1 and focus limiter
11 pointsI shot my new MFO-1 last night with a Nikon Z8, 105mm F-mount, and Nauticam housing, dual flip with the MFO-1 and Subsee +5. Quick observations are that the Subsee is likely going on the shelf. The MFO both reduces and extends focus range to over a meter and reduces it beyond what the 105 can do by itself. The Subsee +5 has been my go-to macro accessory as it also reduces the shooting distance while not magnifying too much. However, it has a very limited range of maybe 30cm. I often have it flipped down and then mistakenly try to shoot something larger beyond its range, causing a delay to flip it up. The MFO can get in tight but also provides useful range. The first critter I spotted last night was a pretty large Pacific Ruby Red Octopus, about 12 inches long, This is about as big as they every get. I was able to take full body shots from about 1 meter away no problems. Here are two sample photos: f16, 1/200s, iso250 f16, 1/200s, iso10011 points
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Mauritius
11 pointsFirst day. We booked a private snorkeling trip - everybody was aware that the typical spots aren‘t private at all. But light was beautiful. The we went looking for whales, distance between us and other boats about half a mile. Suddenly he shouted - get ready, NOW! 3 Minutes that made the trip worth every penny. We just laid flat on the water, the mother and her calf approached us curious - and left, when another boat approached.11 points
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Question on Nauticam EMWL setup
11 pointsHi, quick update on my EMWL story! Managed to borrow a setup for my Sony A7RV with 60 & 100 degree lenses for a brief trip to Tulamben earlier this month. A few pics with the 100 degree attached here. I can definitely see the attraction - I'm considering the 60 and 160 degree lenses as a replacement for my usual 90mm macro & diopter setup as per my original post above. If I go ahead, I will definitely get the reverse viewfinder rather than the relay lens (which I found to be pretty unweildy). Appreciate the feedback!11 points
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[4K] - Night Diving Off Vancouver Island
11 pointsFilmed on a Sony A7Siii in an Aquatica Digital housing using a Sony 90mm F2.8 Macro lens and 2 x 18,000 lumen Kraken video lights. Also using an Anglerfish external monitor.11 points
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Testing Nauticam N120 Port Extension for 140mm and 180mm domes with wide angle lenses
I wanted to test to see the correct port extension for various wide angle lenses with the 140mm fisheye dome and 180mm wide angle dome for the Nauticam N120 full frame system. I also wanted to compare resolution of the different lenses and how the position of the lens and the size of the dome impacted the resolution. Lenses tested: Canon EF 8-15mm Fisheye Zoom Canon EF 8-15mm Fisheye Zoom + 2x TC Canon RF 14-35F4 L Zoom Canon RF 15-30 Zoom Canon RF 16mm Prime Laowa 10mm Prime All tests done with the Canon R5C. Here's the test rig setup -- a chessboard to see if the straight lines continue straight above the water (to determine if port extension is too long or too short), with some paper bills glued to it to eyeball resolution. I haven't gone through all the photos yet, but already some interesting findings. 1. EF 8-15mm zoom needs something like a 35mm extension with the 140mm dome, not the 30mm extension recommended by Nauticam. Here's the first image at 30mm, and the second at 40mm. You can see 30mm puts the entry pupil in front of the center of curvature of the dome, while the 40mm extension puts it slightly behind, and vignettes as a result. Here are the same images de-fished to highlight the effect. Look at the above-water portion. If the entry pupil is exactly in the center of curvature of the dome, the lines should continue straight above water. If it's too far forward, the above water portion appears smaller. If too far back, it appears bigger. 40mm extension is almost correct, so I'd guess 37-38mm is what would be perfect. Of course, the problem is (as shown above) that it vignettes, and removing the dome shade wouldn't fix the issue. It vignettes on the inside of the dome. A 35mm extension thus might be the best compromise -- or 38mm with a wider port, like Marelux's 125mm diameter ports. The incorrect placement of the entry pupil doesn't have much of an effect on the center sharpness (30mm on left, 40mm on right). Microcontrast might be a bit better though with the 40mm extension. But there is a noticable improvement with the longer port when it comes to the corners. More to come.10 points
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Video "Dreaming Of Raja Ampat - A Scuba Diver's Journey To The Last Paradise"
Video "Dreaming Of Raja Ampat" is about a scuba diver’s lifelong dream of exploring Raja Ampat, the “Last Paradise on Earth,” becomes reality. While daydreaming amidst the winter chill, she's magically transported to this underwater wonderland. There, she swims alongside majestic manta rays, quirky wobbegong sharks, and vibrant coral reefs teeming with life. This adventure captures the beauty and wonder of this marine paradise. Most of footage in this video has been filmed in the Dampier Strait area, which is our favourite part of the Raja Ampat. A few clips were taken during our trips to the Misool area. If you enjoyed the video please LIKE it and leave a comment. Make sure you SUBSCRIBE for more exciting travel videos. I will appreciate any constructive criticism on this video. My Underwater Video Equipment: Main Camera: Sony Professional Camcorder PXW-Z90 Housing: Gates AX700 / Z90 with Gates GP34A Wide Angle Port and internal UR Pro Red Filter Video Lights for Wide Angle: Keldan Video 8X 11000 Lumen, CRI 92 (5400K) Keldan Ambient Filter M1 (10-20m) for 4X/8X Camera Settings: 4K, 30 FPS Picture Profile: PP10 (HLG) Gamma: HLG3 Color Mode: BT2020 Drone: DJI Mavic 3 Pro https://youtu.be/g0FLQNyH-jw10 points
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Liveaboard Diving in Croatia aboard the Vranjak
null I’ve been hesitating for a while to post this trip here – UW-photography was not the prime focus here. But what the heck, it may be of interest to some. We had never done a liveaboard trip before and I thought that we should try something “easy” at first. The Vranjak is operating along the Dalamatian coast & archipelago in Croatia. There are very few liveaboards around there, we only met one other in the harbor once because of bad weather. So, wherever we were diving, we were the only boat on the site. That said, Croatia is not within the coral triangle, neither is it known for aggregations of Manta rays. But from southern Germany, the Cech republic and in particular Austria and Slovenia it is very easy to reach by car – and that may be a good compromise. Why is it an easy start for the boating experience? First of all, the sea is calm in between the numerous Croatian islands. Furthermore, the boat will stop in a harbor every evening, so the night is especially calm and you can also go for a stroll in the lovely villages or jump in for a swim close by. Here’s a view of Sali on the island of Dugi Otok: This was a diving trip but also sightseeing, and there were couples aboard with only one of them scuba-diving. We all really enjoyed the starry sky while anchoring for the night at a remote Kornati island. The boat is nice and we were comfortable but of course I have no point of comparison. The dive operation was fairly “hands off” – we had a briefing for each site, some security instructions on the first day but other than that were left to do as we wished. Fine for us (we dive together in the quarries at home as well) but for beginning divers I recommend inquiring about guides before reserving. The boat is often booked in full charter by travel agencies, which then sell the spaces on their trip. Some bring their own dive masters along, hence this can be different on a different trip (trips start on a Saturday and last for a week). It is by no means a photo-centric endeavor: No dedicated camera room, not a whole lot of extra space on the dive-deck and no rinse bucket for the rig – I could hose it down with freshwater, though. That said, I knew this before reserving, the crew was familiar with handing down a camera and they certainly made every effort to help me along. I have a M43 camera in a small polycarbonate housing, thus I do not need all that much space and it worked out well for me. So, what’s there to see? Croatia has a good number of wrecks and we dove the “Ledenik”, a former swimming fish-factory that capsized in 2008 on a calm day with no waves. Sometimes strange things happen in between these islands, and this incident even occurred magically to rest the boat at a perfect diving depth of max. some 20-ish meters deep. You can find different versions of the story on the web and I don’t know which one of those ended up in the insurance files… We were a bit limited by the weather and the captain could not always reach the best sites on the tour (Kornati islands tour). The zone between 10 and 30 meters depth is essentially sterile and the shallow areas are a mix of seagrass and rocks with some invertebrates but really not a lot of fish. null Deeper down (i.e. below 30 or even 35 meters), when we could get to the sites with vertical cliffs, life starts to re-appear: Gorgonians, sponges, and even some fish. The trip pairs quite nicely with an additional week on the Dalmatian coast, if you can spare the time. The Vranjak operates out of a smaller harbor right next to the ancient City of Zadar and if you hop a bit further south you can reach destinations like Trogir or Split. Here’s the “signature view” of downtown Zadar, at the site of where the forum was during the Roman period. Once again, this trip was not only about diving and rightfully so – I would not qualify the dives as “spectacular”, but not boring either. I suppose others on this forum can say a bit more about diving in Croatia. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and I did get to take a few shots, both above and below the waterline. However, if you are looking for a die-hard photography trip, then this may not be a good fit for you.10 points
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Underwater Photography with a Rebreather
10 pointsI don’t want to hijack Dave’s thread and spoil the next article, but I’d like to add my thoughts here, since I’ve been diving exclusively with a rebreather and camera since 2012. I’ve used three different rebreathers and logged over 1,000 hours of dive time. I can’t even remember my last open-circuit dive. I’ve heard that rebreathers are the future for over twenty-five years now. I have a 1999 issue of Aquacorps Magazine where PADI’s president at the time was convinced we’d all be switching to rebreathers within five years. PADI and SSI have tried several times to make rebreathers more accessible for recreational diving but haven’t really succeeded, at least according to their commercial plans. Nowadays, though, it seems like the time is mature for a partial switch and these machines are becoming increasingly popular among advanced divers. The cost of helium has skyrocketed, and if you want to do technical diving (even without going to extremes), a rebreather is a must—unless you’re a billionaire. But for recreational diving, there are important factors to consider: cost, logistics, and mindset. Cost To generalize and keep with the theme of our forum, the entry cost is about the same as a complete underwater photography kit. This cost raises the same issues we’ve discussed countless times about young people and underwater photography: only those with a high income can afford it, which often translates to an older average age. Mindset Even though today’s rebreathers are much more reliable than in the past, they still require attention and a certain mindset for care and maintenance, which not everyone has. Open-circuit gear is infinitely more resistant to rough handling and neglect. A rebreather requires the same care and upkeep as your very expensive photography equipment. Let’s be clear: it’s nothing out of the ordinary, or all that different from what many of us are already used to doing. Logistics There’s nothing to add for so-called "home" dives. If you’re used to bringing your gear to the dive center and mounting it on a tank right before your dive, with a rebreather, you’ll need to prepare it the night before (just like your camera gear) and bring it ready to go to the dive center. Before the dive, you’ll need to do some routine checks that I’ll skip for simplicity. As for travel, it’s a bit more complex. It mainly depends on the unit you have. Some are lighter and more compact and can even fit in a backpack, while others require a dedicated suitcase, with all the associated hassles and additional transport costs. Naturally, you’ll need to find facilities that can provide the necessary logistical support. Anything not available on-site must be brought with you. Without going into too much detail: dedicated tanks (if necessary, depending on the unit), oxygen, and filter material. Think back to whether you’ve seen rebreather divers at the dive centers you frequent, or if they offer oxygen refills, dedicated tanks, and (scrubber) filter material (like Sofnolime or equivalents). I’ve personally been diving exclusively in locations I can reach by car for years, so I’m probably not the best person to offer advice on travel. My current unit it's the side-mount version fo Dave's unit. It fits in a backpack but then I need tanks on the dive site. The most popular destinations are Indonesia and the Philippines. How many "rebreather-friendly" dive centers are there? Exercise I’d like to add a point I think is important—you can choose where to place it in your own considerations. IMHO, diving with a rebreather requires constant practice. Personally, I find it hard to imagine only using one on two or three trips a year. If I haven’t been diving for a couple of months, I need a few hours to feel comfortable with the unit again. Unlike open-circuit diving, experience in closed-circuit diving is measured by hours, not the number of dives. Bonus Point I hope I haven’t scared anyone. As Dave rightly pointed out, the benefits for a wildlife photographer/filmmaker are huge. Marine creatures generally let you get much closer without the noise and visual disturbance from bubbles. Bottom time is longer, and the diving comfort is unparalleled. Two weeks ago I made a multilevel dive for 180' with max depth 32m. I spent nearly one hour at 30m. The maximum deco time was 26'. About dive comfort, one thing Dave didn’t mention: in open circuit, we breathe compressed gas. Compressing the gas to fill the tanks nearly removes all the moisture. Plus, due to a known physical principle, when the gas returns to ambient pressure, its temperature drops. As a result, while diving, we’re breathing air that’s as dry as a desert and ice-cold. This leads to dehydration. Without getting into too much detail, in a rebreather, the chemical reaction that filters out the carbon dioxide our body produces, creates water and heat. So, in a rebreather, you breathe warm, humid air. This is why diving comfort is at its peak—even in tropical waters. Ciaoooo10 points
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Nauticam newest MFO-1
10 pointsThe MFO-1 (Midrange Focus Optimizer) was inspired by Dr. Alex Mustard and Ryan Canon. Ryan and I have been discussing quite often on how much our optical products elevate image quality, in terms of improved resolution as well as better color rendition, over a flat port or dome port - being able to reduce most of the aberrations induced by the glass/water interface of the port surface. So much so that we believes even if we build an add-on lens that only corrects aberrations (has no dioptric power at all) may well become a very useful product. I kept that idea in mind for quite some time......some how my instinct tells me something is lacking, as a stand alone lens. It was until the end of 2023 when Alex suggested a low power macro lens that I thought I got the answer, and decided to build some prototypes to find out how good these would work, by combining their ideas. In April/May this year both Alex and I were diving with the first 2 prototypes, and we came out with these observations: - Image quality is far better than shooting through a flat port. - Literally no noticeable focus hunting as the MFO converts the focus range of the camera lens. - (for Nikon Z105mm macro) focus range converted to 125mm-1100mm. - Slightly increases magnification at MFD (Nikon Z105mm macro ~1.2X; Canon RF100mm macro ~1.6X). Also, the first 2 prototypes had a bit more magnification power hence only focus to ~350mm and ~500mm respectively. Both Alex and I were very amazed of how versatile these lenses were but a larger focus range would be more useful, while magnification isn't that important. So another round of 2 prototypes having ~800mm and ~1000mm far focus targets were build and sent to a few dealers for final testing. At the end, most of us regarded it no sense making 2 very similar lenses so the ~1000mm one was chosen and named MFO-1. There is no MFO-2 at this moment. Right now our engineers are busy measuring data with different camera lenses, and we will upload these data soon. The MFO-1 will be shipping end of November. Alex T (our UK dealer) and Aey (our Thai dealer) have some very nice pictures from MFO-1 test batch lenses on Facebook. I believe a few more dealers will be uploading soon...... I am very thankful that Dr. Alex Mustard suggested a very inspirational and versatile lens to our society. This opens up another window of creativity. Edward10 points
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Pacific Electric Ray in Puget Sound
10 pointsIt's Six-Gill shark season in Puget Sound, and lots of divers hit the local shore dive "Redondo Beach" just south of Seattle for a rare glimpse of one. I went diving last night and found an even more rare and elusive creature, the Pacific Electric Ray. They are not generally seen in the PNW, so this was a real treat. These rays are documented to be about 4.6 feet (1.4m) long and this one was at least that if not a bit more. More impressively it was really thick, like a pitcher's mound. [Nikon Z8 w/24-50mm, WWL-C, f7.1, 1/60s, iso500, Pair of Backscatter HF-1 strobes]10 points
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Scamming Attempt
10 pointsGuys Sad to say we have just had another serious attempt to scam a member. Luckily through natural wariness and quick actions, this was headed off. Many thanks to the member concerned for drawing it to our attention so quickly. We've suggested some guidelines before and, given what just happened, it's worth repeating them: - be wary if someone offering you equipment is a new member - especially a brand new member. - be wary if you are offered equipment which has not previously been advertised for sale. - be wary especially if they then pass you on to a third party - even a fourth party! - be wary of claims a large purchase must be paid by PayPal Friends and Family and not the commercial route. - be wary if photos sent claiming to illustrate the goods are generic and not specific to the item. - be wary if there is some weird despatch route, payment system, avoidance of import rules. - be wary if internal alarm bells sound - respect those spider-senses! - look for Waterpixels forum membership history. - look for clear knowledge of the item for sale. - look for straight-forward, simple payment methods particularly ones that you know have safeguards. If in doubt, delay and drop one of the Mods a PM. We will do what we can (yes, a bit limited admittedly) to take a look at the seller if they are a member and we'll reply as quickly as we can So far the forum has an excellent record of fair and welcome sales and purchases taking place with a minimum of grief and satisfaction for both parties. Let's work on keeping that way!10 points
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Donuts and Coke for the win in Bali
10 pointsReporting a short dive trip to Bali couple of weeks ago. Stayed with Utama resort, and overall quite happy with the arrangement. My last trip to Bali was ten years ago, and in this period, it seems to have turned into much more of a macro, I might even say, ultra macro, destination. Guides compete to find the smallest of nudibranchs, it seems. My trip blog is here. Feel free to comment on the images - apologies if the download speed is a bit slow. I managed to flood the battery compartment of my YS-01 strobe on one dive. Upon opening, it was a total mess inside, I was not optimistic. But our guide, Jaya, offered to give it a shot.. a shot of good old coke. Soaked it for few hours in coke, rinsed, cleaned, repeat. And amazingly it worked just fine the day after. It was the first can of coke I have bought in a couple of years (being a carbonated water person) - and it was the best coke I might have bought in my life :-). Anyway, here is a teaser for the trip photos.. a Donut (Doto) nudibranch. Kind regards, Ajay10 points
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Backscatter myths
10 pointsThis topic could've been so much more... I was hoping for some actual and helpful tips on reducing backscatter, instead we have this. Does this forum maybe have the "block member" functionality, where you wouldn't see certain member's posts? I see that more and more topics here are polluted with this nonsensical bickering who's right and who's wrong. Instead of exchanging knowledge and experience, usual trend lately is just one person trying to prove other person(s) that they are wrong. To (hopefully) get back on topic, let me ask a question: does flash gun's tube type influence the amount of backscatter? I.e. circular vs straight. I own a set of Inon Z-330 and a brand new set of Retra Pro Max strobes. The first thing that I noticed is that Retras produce noticeably less backscatter than Inons. Positioning of the strobes is the same (I point Retras the same way as I did Inons - noting changed here), but I get noticeably less backscatter with circular tubes than with straight ones. Would a (lack of) diffuser play a big role here?10 points
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Video: Courting Sea Snakes in Okinawa
Hello all, I'm finally getting back in the water, and here's a little clip I shot in Okinawa on my aging GoPro7, with the AOI UWL-03 wide lens and a Rosco filter, in 4K 60fps. Water might still be a modest 23°C, but spring is here and ❤️ is in the air... Courting Ijima's turtlehead sea snakes (Emydocephalus ijimae) at Gorilla Chop, Okinawa main island, Japan To get into kitchen stuff - we are on an UW imaging forum after all - this is my second dive after a long moving-to-Japan-in-winter-life-stuff hiatus, and also I'm testing a brand new drysuit, so didn't bring my faithful Lumix LX10. But I did carry my old GoPro 7, mounted with the AOI UWL03 wide lens and a filter-gel inside the housing, with the idea of testing what is one of the most promising replacements for the illustrious UR-Pro Cyan. Alas, conditions were really not ideal to test the filter gel, with cloudy murky - if slightly blueish - water and a slightly ridiculous depth ranging between 2 to 5 meters... So yes, clearly in the no-filter zone, but it is what it is, as ruthless lawmaker Mr Murphy always says... The "deeper" shots, on the sand, didn't require as much as a stretch to re-white balance in post (which does affect the highlights), and show the filter's potential a little better. I need to confirm these observations on a ̶n̶o̶r̶m̶a̶l̶ ̶ deeper dive, with a side to side test, but the Rosco seems to be the one I was looking for 🤞 Cheers and happy bubbles! Ben9 points
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Waterpixels now has 1000 members signed up!
Hi everyone, Announcing that today our 1000th member joined the Waterpixels community. New member@Grega signed up to the forum a couple of hours ago becoming our 1000th member to signup. A warm welcome to Grega! Thanks to all those who have signed up since we started in Dec 2023. We reached our 500th member Feb 2024 and have seen a continuous stream of people signing up since then. It's everyone's contributions to the site and willingness to share experiences that has allowed the site to continue growing. Look forward to everyone's ongoing contributions and to many new members coming onboard.9 points
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The night at Fakarava
9 pointsI planned for two days of diving in Fakarava; however, the airport fire fighters decided to go on strike while my wife and I were on the island. It did not take too long me to decide to do some more divings as I had to stay 6 extra nights at paradise. I'm actually glad I could've stayed longer... At one point, we were the only guests for days! Most divings at night were 1 to 1. The instructor and I tried something new other people had not done. I am also posting pictures on my instagram if anyone is interested in day divings as well. https://www.instagram.com/dive._.97/ However, night divings were highlight of the trip instead of the famous wall of shark. I am planning to go back in June to do some more night divings with sharks again.9 points
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Modular Bumper and Macro Reduction Ring system for Backscatter HF-1 strobes
I've had the Backscatter HF-1 strobes since the early summer and have really enjoyed using them. They are fantastic for Wide Angle work, but I also use them for Macro photography. My typical Macro lighting setup uses a Backscatter MF-2 snoot-strobe as the primary and the HF-1 for fill lighting, usually on very low power. One of my dive photo buddies uses the Retra strobes and add their Macro Reduction ring when shooting macro. I was inspired to make a Reduction Ring that would work with the HF-1s. I've seen one other design for an HF-1 reduction ring, but this one allows the use of flat diffusers at the same time. I always shoot the HF-1 with the 4500k flat installed as the strobes light is quite cold otherwise. I've built and tested this setup now and used it on a Macro dive this week. I also did some wall shots for comparison purposes: These wall shots were done at the typical macro-settings I use, set to 1/4 power on the HF-1. The Reduction Ring is a two part system. A TPU rubber bumper ring that you can leave permanently on the strobe, where it will have the benefit on protecting the front leading edge from scratches and scrapes. My pair already has a number of dings in them after just a few months. The Reduction ring itself is hard ASA or PETG plastic and slips snuggly over the rubber ring. I used an aperture of 60mm for this design, which seems to work well. You can download and print your own set of HF-1 reduction rings from: https://makerworld.com/en/models/865305 A few photos from my test dive with the setup of the HF-1 Reduction rings and MF-2 snoot strobe:9 points
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Meet the Veretillum cynomorium
9 pointsThe Veretillum cynomorium is a colonial octocoral belonging to the class Anthozoa and the order Pennatulacea. This organism is anchored to the sandy or muddy bottoms of the Mediterranean and Atlantic, distinguished by its fleshy, elongated appearance and its ability to emit a faint bioluminescence. It is made up of a colony of polyps, each with specific functions, working together to feed and reproduce. Bottom trawling and fishing gear that touches the seafloor can destroy entire colonies, tearing them from the substrate or damaging their habitat. Additionally, climate change, such as rising temperatures and ocean acidification, can impact their delicate ecological balance, even through indirect effects like the decrease in plankton, which they feed on. To preserve this species and its valuable role in benthic ecosystems, it is crucial to protect the seabed with marine protected areas and promote sustainable fishing practices. The Veretillum reminds us of how fragile marine life’s balance is and how important it is to safeguard it. Shot on Lumix GH5MII, Panasonic Leica 45mm; CMC-2; lights: RGBlue + XDive9 points
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BackscatterXTerminator
9 pointsGuys, let's try not to be so polarized. We are not on Facebook 😄 Everyone can make his own judgment. Besides, we are not 7 billion Tom Hanks in Cast Away. We are a society. I am a sw engineer. Should I be willing to pay any amount of money for a steak because I don't know how to be a butcher? Come on... Maybe before I stop diving, someone will come out with a similar plugin for video. A dream.9 points
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Field of View Comparison Between Rectilinear & Fisheye Wide Angle Lenses
I'm sure this has never been done before 😉 -- but since I received my Lawla 10mm MF lens for Canon RF and Kenko 2x TC today, I figured I'd do a quick and dirty comparison at the rectilinear and fisheye field of view. Sharing it here in case it's helpful for others to visualize what you get with each type of lens and extreme rectilinear lenses in the 10mm range. All these images are taken with same setup I've been using recently to test strobes (and, indeed, are at F22, ISO 100 with an Ikelite DS230 firing at full power). Distance from camera to the front wall is 1.4m. First, the rectilinear lenses. 10mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 20mm There's a pretty obvious jump in coverage from 14mm to 10mm. The difference between 16mm, 15mm and 14mm is not so dramatic. Now for the fisheye lens, Canon 8-15mm, at 8mm, 15mm, and then 16mm (8mm + 2x TC). And each of those focal length de-fished using lens corrections in Lightroom. If you're going to de-fish the fisheye, do it at 15mm, not 8. While you do get a wider angle of view defishing a circular fisheye, the loss of resolution at the edges is pretty extreme. At 15mm, the de-fished image is acceptable in quality dowscaled to 1500 pixel, at least for web/social media use. The 15mm fisheye image de-fished is has a wider field of view than 14mm rectilinear - but closer to the 14mm field of view than the 10mm rectilinear. At the opposite end of the spectrum, here is the fisheye + 2x TC at 30mm between the 28mm and 30mm rectilinear. They're very close -- I guess basically same as a 29mm rectilinear lens. Note that the rectilinear is marginally narrower horizontally but wider vertically. At 30mm, the fisheye only shows a mild amount of fisheye distortion. And here is the 30mm fisheye de-fished next to the 30mm rectilinear. Not much between them in terms of angle of view. My conclusion is that the fisheye lens at longer focal length converges on the same angle of view as a rectilinear lens. This is especially once you de-fish it. Further, the 8-15mm + 2x TC combo gives has a very versatile range. It goes from a diagonal angle of view of 170 degrees at 16mm and 73 degrees at 30mm. That's very similar to the 170-74 degree angle of view Nauticam advertises for the FCP + Sony 28-60 combo. I'll take some shots with my WWL-C and 24-50 lens to see how the Nauticam conversion lenses fit into the bigger picture.9 points
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Tulamben, Bali trip report
9 pointsThere are many other Tulamben trip reports out there as it is a very popular dive destination so I will try to summarise the top tips mentioned in other reports and add some other tips that will make your diving more enjoyable in Tulamben. When to go From April to October for best weather with many people preferring September as the ideal time for diving. July-August is more crowded. October is also a good month for diving. We went in September and had sunny days and calm seas with good visibility in most dive sites. Where to stay There is plenty of information in this forum and others about resorts and where to stay. It all comes down to what your preference is in terms of level of luxury required, budget and wether you are purely photography focus or just happy to dive and take some pictures. For serious UWP there are two primary options: 1)Stay in a ‘luxury’ resort that allows you to dive with your own freelance dive guide. You can ask around this forum for names or you can also easily spot who they are in FB if you look around. 2)Stay in a UWP focused resort. We choose option 2 and stayed at Utama Villa which is literally perfect for UWP in all aspects. You get some of the best guides in Tulamben who can help with snooting and other techniques plus a perfect dive operation, perfect rooms with a separate entrance from the outdoor open bathroom, plenty of power sockets with no adapters needed, camera setup desk with led lighting and a towel etc. Diving and Subjects Most of the diving in Tulamben shore based in sandy rocky dark sand looking for critters however there are nice wide angle sites like the Liberty wreck and the Drop off for a change of scene, some nice soft corals and wide also photo opportunities. You choose when to dive and where to dive with your dive guide, it is good to have an idea of what you want to shoot so they can plan accordingly. After 21 dives I would say 90% of the subjects were within the macro to supermacro category in terms of size. This obviously depends on your dive guide and what you ask them to find but the vast majority of subjects are tiny nudibranchs and tiny shrimp so make sure you pack your macro lens and some strong diopters. Gear I was using my 60mm macro lens (MFT format) + diopters almost 90% of the time. For the Liberty wreck dives and/of reef dive I used the adapted Canon 8-15. For lighting I mostly used the Backscatter MF-2 Snoot for the small critters and Inon Z240 flashes for the slightly bigger stuff like the pygmy seahorse. Top dive sites currently From my last visit it appears the the best dive sites have changed so best to ask your dive guides for what you want to see and they will take you to the best spot. My favourites where Batu Niti Batu Ringgit Batu Gerombong Tips In calm conditions entry/exit is not difficult however some dive sites have big slippery rocks or small rocks that will hurt your feet if you don’t have a good bootie sole. Do consider taking a bootie with a hard thick sole for this trip. Torch - must have to spot critters day and night. Night dive - don’t miss it. Hood - I ended up renting a hooded vest as I was getting cold towards the end of long dives and not moving much. Consider bringing extra exposure protection. Black Water diving - Utama Villa can help if you are into it. Please tip your dive guide, they work hard and are really nice people once you get to know them better in between dives. Finally, here are some shots from the trip. More here https://www.flickr.com/photos/igorledolizarraga/albums/721777203204730529 points
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Philippines trip advice sort.
9 pointsLooks like I am late to the party. I lived in Manila for nearly 20 years and had a house in Anilao, and like others have dived all the locations mentioned. There is lots of good info here already but I will chime in anyway for future reference. (Tim / Chris / Davide / Rich: maybe a travel forum with one thread per destination would be a good way to document the collective wisdom of the group?) General info on Philippines destinations As for diving here, I can't say enough good things about it. There is much info online so I won't try to summarise beyond this: Anilao is a great macro destination that also has a few decent walls, but no pelagics to speak of. Further afield, diving in Puerto Galera, Bohol, Dumaguete and Apo Island are much the same as Anilao while Malapascua and Moalboal are great for sharks and turtles. Coron has wrecks. Cebu is overcrowded in my opinion. Tubbataha is a magic place with beautiful drift diving along huge walls passing through schools of barracuda, eagle and manta rays, tuna, sharks, and the occasional whale shark, it's liveaboard only, but well worth the effort. For those who want to see more than one area, be aware that moving around the Philippines is a huge pain in the neck and will always take all day no matter what anyone promises. If I had only a two week trip, I'd go to Anilao and either Bohol or Malapascua. I would not try to go three places as the transfer days would ruin my vibe. Resorts are available at all prices and qualities, and diving is just about the cheapest in the world. For those with non-diving partners, I do not know of a single resort that combines diving and photography, plus spa and high quality food. It seems to be one or the other. In most places, three or four dives a day would be considered standard, and night dives are easy and affordable. Arranging a private boat for two divers with a guide is in the range of $75-100 per dive total at Anilao and PG if you're staying a number of days and are a good negotiator. The best time of year is November - March when the water and air are a bit cooler and the vis a bit better. July - October (+/-) is typhoon season and unpredictable. You might get lucky or unlucky. Avoid at all costs the Christmas and Easter holidays, everything including dive sites get overcrowded and noisy. i'm a big fan of Anilao for macro for sure, where every site is target rich. There are three or four sites where you can get consistent WA shots and another three or four where you can get lucky with WA sometimes, of course a couple dozen sites for macro, and one or two fun drift dives. A big advantage is that if the weather turns, you can still get to good sites with slightly longer and bumpier rides. Depending on your approach to travel, an advantage or disadvantage is that, once back on dry land, you are limited to your resort - there is no town and no nightlife, and at most resorts you can't even walk to the nearest neighbour - it is a very quiet and relaxed destination. PG is pretty much the same diving as Anilao, as they share the same ecosystem across the strait. To be honest, from an UW perspective, I see little point in doing both unless you are a tech diver as that scene is very big there. The only real differentiation is that PG has a town in Sabang you can walk to from most resorts. So you have a choice of bars and restaurants (all fairly average), and a small strand were you can buy a few things and have a coffee or a beer on the waterfront. Just be aware that it turns into a very "adult" scene at night where many places are not so family-friendly. Should you decide to go to both Anilao and PG, you can easily find a boat that will do it by private arrangement (there is no scheduled ferry). A major advantage of that plan would be a dive or two at Verde Island, which is a bit too far for a normal day trip but perfectly sensible if transiting from Anilao to PG or vice versa. Arriving at Manila, it's a 2.5 to 3 hour drive to either Anilao or the pier for the 90 minute ferry to PG. Your resort will most likely arrange the transfer by minivan. Neither should be attempted after dark - please believe me on that point. Bohol has easily the "beachiest" resorts, with lots of white sand, lovely resorts with nighttime massage pavillions, great day trips and island hopping, and a quaint strand when you aren't underwater. Plus you can see tarsiers! Diving is very similar to Anilao and PG. Malapascua is totally different. It's tiny, and a step above basic, but the thresher shark diving is great (though at the start you're in dark water at 30m at 0500). The dive centers can also arrange a pre-dawn trip out to a seamount where there are often hammerheads. There is a small reef and a mandarin fish dive for evenings (as there is also in the others). Anilao - UW photo centric resorts There are resorts at every price point. Food is generally good but not gourmet quality, rooms are generally well above basic but short of luxury. Acacia: Lovely terrace and pool and outdoor dining, and the best photo and gear rooms I've seen anywhere. Small but AC rooms. Quality is upscale for the area. No good shore diving. Owned and operated by a photog Club Ocellaris: Haven't stayed there, but gets raves from local and international visitors for their dive and photo ops. Crystal Blue Resort: One of the better known, has a resident photo pro, the "go-to" place for local UW photogs. Small resort. OK shore diving. They regularly run blackwater dives now. Buceo Anilao: The newest in the area, run by European partners, attracts keen photogs. Larger than average rooms, good shore diving. Anilao - dive centric resorts (yes there are some that are not!) Dive Solana: The most tropical feeling resort in the area. One of the few with a halfway useable beach. Very solid dive ops, photog friendly. Rooms a bit bigger than average, decent quality. Good shore diving. Altamare: Same evaluation as Solana, a lot newer and somewhat nicer. Also on the beach. Used to be named El Pinoy, you will find more online using the old name. Dive Planet: Very popular among local divers, can get a bit busy. Haven't seen the rooms but hear they are a bit basic. Famous for unlimited shore diving at the site Twin Rocks. Anilao - upscale places that can arrange diving We know these from friends who go for relaxing beach weekends and rave about things like peace and quiet and spa services. All are a bit more upscale and can arrange full dive services but that is not their primary business, which may or may not appeal to hard-core divers. Aiyanar; La Chevrerie; Awari Bay; Casita Ysabel, Vivere Azure: Of these, Aiyanar and La Chevrerie are the only two that I have ever heard great reviews of the food. They are not dive resorts, so you would want to talk to them first about whether they could accommodate through a private boat and take care of gear properly. Casita Ysabel has the best spa services, though still pretty basic. Avoid Sea Spring Resort like the plague - it has a big presence on the web but is too big, crowded, noisy, and not very well maintained. Puerto Galera Out of the Blue Resort has a very good dive op, a great restaurant (something not very common at any dive destination in the country), and best of all has a 2-bedroom suite at the top with a full kitchen, lounge, and fabulous terrace for about the price of a nice room elsewhere. It is also just a bit around the bend from the night-time frenzy in Sabang but still quite walkable when you want some nightlife. There are good restaurants and bars in Sabang but beware there are also more than a few that are not family appropriate. El Galleon / Asia Divers is the best known but it is very busy and smack in the middle of the path of everyone walking to and from Sabang at all hours of the day and night. Atlantis is very well know but it is in the middle of Sabang, not on the beach, so I would not want to holiday there. La Laguna Villas is popular but not diver-centric. ' Malapascua Tepanee is very nice with lovely shady terraces and a pool, and a pretty good restaurant. I prefer Evolution though - it is a bit more basic but runs easily the better dive operation. Both have great beaches.9 points
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WTB: Nikonos RS 13mm lens, or converted lens by Isaac Szabo
I use a benchtop buffing machine with cerium oxide powder mixed in water on the buffing wheel. It removes water stains from glass very effectively. It can remove scratches from glass as well, though it does so very slowly. Since I'm doing it manually it is only practical for removing light scuffs and scratches - deeper ones would take too long. Care must be taken to not let the glass heat up too much during polishing, which means polishing passes of 5-10 seconds followed by immersion in cool water for at least the same amount of time before continuing polishing again. At some point in the future I hope to figure out an automated system so I can leave it running for hours/days and remove deep scratches. Back when I used acrylic domes I removed scratches from them with the benchtop buffer with a plastic polishing compound on the buffing wheel. It worked very well and didn't take too long. It was much easier than polishing by hand and gave me much better results. Again it was important to keep the dome moving so no particular area heated up too much and to take periodic breaks to let it cool down.9 points
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Mexico Underwater Camera "Tax" spread to Cancun
I think the broader issue here may be why underwater photographers. I have been traveling to Cozumel through Cancun for decades and I have never seen anyone taxed on a $5000.00 bag of golf clubs, custom surf boards, dive gear, custom bycicles or any of a number of other sporting goods. I seems that if you have expensive camera gear you must be a professional U/W photographer (whatever that is) but not a pro surfer, pro golfer and so on. For me this is simple, the Caribbean and Central America are littered with excellent dive destinations where I won't be confronted with these possible customs issues on arrival. I have dozens of friends in the Mexican dive industry and it concerns me that this customs problem is causing them to loose business but as a consumer why would I want this possible aggravation on my arrival for a relaxing holiday.9 points
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Backscatter In-Water Strobe Beam Testing
Now drawing some conclusions: 1. YS-D3 vs HF-1, both with flat diffusers -- similar coverage, but the HF-1 is almost a stop brighter. 2. YS-D3 with flat diffuser vs Retra Pro Max with no diffuser - very similar! 3. Retra Pro Max vs. DS230 - similar coverage, but DS230 is almost a stop brighter, and perhaps also brighter at the edges. HF-1 with flat diffuser vs. DS230 -- HF-1 is maybe 1/3 stop brighter in the center, but DS230 has a more even, wider beam. HF-1 with dome diffuser vs. DS230 -- Similar, but DS230 just edges out the HF-1 in terms of evenness. I'd really love to see Backscatter test the Seacam 160D and Marelux Apollo 3. Based on Retra's tests though, I would expect the Seacam 160D to perform pretty similar to the Retra Pro Max though. Maybe 1/3 stop brighter? My conclusion? DS230 has the best combination of power, coverage and color temperature. The price and weight are also attractive for a 'big' circular flash tube strobe. But HF-1 is also pretty impressive for versatility (and probably better recycling times and battery capacity). YS-D3 still has the advantage that at 730g it's considerably lighter than the other 5 strobes in this list, and also the cheapest. Retra.. well, it has a lot of different light modifying accessories.9 points
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A new definition of a split shot? 🙈😂
9 points9 points
- Full Frame Bubble Burst
9 pointsThis once again demonstrates the “right system” is a personal opinion and choice to that person. That’s why I used my Canon T2i APS-C underwater for 11 years. It did all I wanted it to do, and I was quite happy with the results, travel size, etc. I used compact flash, film, and SVHS-C with tape-to-tape editing for video underwater prior to that, and enjoyed those experiences as well. In 2020 I upgraded to my first Sony FF with a Nauticam water contact lens and have enjoyed the experience even more. I have made several other upgrades since then, but does that mean what I chose is for everyone or everyone “should” or “should not” buy what I did? Absolutely not. It simply means it has been a success and enjoyment for me and how I dive. With that said, there are certainly days I miss the smaller and cheaper APS-C format. I, like us all, am always happy to share my experiences, good and bad, with others that ask in their personal decision process. Personal experiences are not, however, “facts” that others should follow. They are simply personal opinions based on that user’s subjective results and/or methodology. All the numbers in the world do not prove or disprove what someone should buy. The questions around FF/APS-C/m43, best brand, lens, strobes, etc. are all subjective to what best fits an individual’s needs, budget, etc. When I’m on a boat I often encourage those with GoPros, TG-6s, etc. that they can do so much with what they have, and to enjoy the experience. I enjoy hearing the experiences from others. If the system someone uses and enjoys works for them, that is their right system for that moment. It is good that we have such a forum to share information surrounding such a subjective subject.9 points- MFO-1 and focus limiter
8 pointsI Just did around 30 dives in Lembeh and had the MFO for most of it, I think it's very easy good ot leave on for general macro shooting. You kind of don't notice it's on until you nee dit and it just allows you to get a tiny bit closer than normal. With regard to focusing quicker, I didn't notice that but I am pretty used to shooting macro and generally start off with the camera in pretty much the right place to make focusing instant. The image quality from it and it doesn't have any colour casts like some other macro lens such as the EMWL8 points- Help - strobe(s) not firing.
8 pointsEveryone take a bow. I went home amd went into that box of cables i never throw away, found a tos optical and gave it a snip and boom it works again. Returning the other set of cables i paid 100 euros for... Happy days.8 points- Inon Z-XXX Prototype at Paris Dive Show
I think we need to recognize a few things when comparing strobes. First GN is generally measured in the centre where it probably least useful and of course there is no standard for measuring and reporting GN, it will change for instance between indoor and outdoor test as the walls bounce light back in. GN are regarded with suspicion even on Land based flashes. Second to compare how much we are getting out of the strobe we need to include beam angle - the 580 EX which I own has a GN of 58 at maximum zoom concentrating the light into the field of a 105mm lens. It shrinks to GN of 15 when covering the field of a 14mm lens which is commonly what the UW flashes achieve for field coverage or a little more. Looking at the light required to fill a 100deg cone with light versus a 130 deg cone, and plugging the results into a lux calculator, then assuming 1000 lumens illuminating the circle at the end of a 110 deg cone gives 103 lux and a 130 deg cone gives 61 lux at the same distance of 1 meter. Back calculating, you would need 1700 lumens to achieve the same the same illumination on the subject (as a 100 deg cone) with the bigger coverage of the 130 deg beam angle. So this means to achieve the same GN, assuming even illumination over a 130 deg cone, as you get from a 100 deg cone you need 1.7x as much light and hence 1.7x the battery power. This compares apples with apples and shows that while a 130 deg field might be nice it has a price associated with it. So the INON doesn't need as much power to illuminate the same subject but you have to be more precise in positioning its beams to fully cover a wide field compared to a 130 deg strobe. this demonstrates why the Retra chews batteries faster.8 points- Video: Raja Ampat and Banda Sea
8 pointsHi, I went to Raja Ampat again, after over a decade absence since my last trip. I have been on 14 nights liveboard. It was a Raja Ampat-Band Sea-Triton Bay itenary. An amazing route with totally different habitats. We covered 740nM. Unfortunately it was only two days diving at Triton Bay (one day with whalesharks). cheers, Alex. Heres the outcome:8 points- Swimming Frogfish in Anilao, Philippines
Had a magical interaction with this frogfish while diving in Anilao. I was starting to film & still adjusting the composition & lighting, expecting him to stay stationery, when instead, he decided to yawn & then did multiple strange quick intakes of ‘breath’ & suddenly took flight! He traveled a long way! It’s amazing to me how a creature can be both graceful & clumsy at the same time! This was also one of the most ornate & beautiful ones I’ve ever seen.8 points- Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker on my Snoot!
I went diving last night near Seattle looking for Pacific Spiny Lumpsuckers. I found one very quickly and spent some time shooting with my MF-2 + Snoot and an HF-1 for fill lighting. This little lumpsucker charged at me and decided to settle down right on my MF-2's snoot! (you can see the aperture card sticking up) I carefully maneuvered the snoot in from on my 105mm lens and moved the HF-1 to light up the scene, trying not to upset the little fish the whole time. I got of a few shots as it squirmed around on the snoot, and this was the best one! I was also trying out a macro reduction ring I 3D printed for the HF-1. It seems to do a pretty good job! Nikon Z8 w/Nikkor 105mm lens, +5 diopter, f18@1/200s iso250 Backscatter MF-2 strobe & snoot + BS HF-1 strobe8 points - Full Frame Bubble Burst
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