ACHiPo

No info on DJI but GoPro is decent. I moved from a Hero 7 to a Hero 13 last year. This year I added a wet lens and HF1 lights, but I haven’t used the new rig yet.

Welcome! I’m pretty new here (and to underwater photography) myself.

Welcome. Fellow new member here.

Back Blaze seems to be a favorite of photographers. I’ve used Carbonite for years (well paid for it—never had to use it). It used to only cover one system, but now can cover a system plus a drive with no size limits. It’s about the same cost as Back Blaze. It seems like a big HDD as a local back up would make sense regardless as 24TB for ~$500 is pretty reasonable. The question is whether to insert a RAID/NAS as well? Definitely plan to use one portable SSD when traveling. Not sure about the second.

Thanks all. I already pulled the trigger on the 14” M4 Pro with 48 GB and 500 GB SSD. Also two SamsungT7 4TB SSDs. It should do the job. I actually got a few hundred off by going through Apple directly as part of the M5 launch. Now to figure out my back up strategy…

Bill, Thanks. I figured as much, but my buddy did stress that the M4 Pro was significantly faster than the M4 for LRC work. I assume the M5 Pro will be a similar step up. I just checked configs on the Apple site, and all the MacBook 14s max out memory at 32GB, so I think I'll wait a bit anyway. I'd like to get 48GB memory. Evan

What recommendations do you have for mobile editing hardware? I’ve avoided learning Lightroom and Photoshop, but it’s clear I need to jump in. I use my iPad for personal travel, but PC and Laptop for work. I’m retiring soon and contemplating moving to all Apple for synergies between iphone, ipad, laptop, and desktop. A friend recommended nano-texture MacBook Pro 14” with M4 Pro, 48 GB unified memory, 1TB SSD. Now that the M5 is out, but no mention of M5Pro, do I get the M5 or wait for the M5Pro? Thanks, Evan

Thanks Humu! The lights are big and heavy. I hope I’ll be happy with them. They are very awkward above water, but seem to work great with my macro bench set up. Yes I have floats. They are not Stixi, but similar non-compressible fishing-float foam from Amazon that were a lot less expensive. Looking forward to getting wet to figure out buoyancy and trim.

Nice review. Thanks!

I neglected to mention I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA.

Thanks, er grazie, Davide!

Hi, I’ve been diving off and on for over 40 years. I was certified as a rescue diver through YMCA (now SEI) when I was 17. About 6 years ago I got the bug again after a couple amazing dives in French Polynesia while on vacation. I picked up a GoPro Hero 7 back then, enjoying being able to show non-divers what I saw underwater. I returned to Polynesia a couple years later to Rangiroa and Tikehau. Wow! Tikehau is definitely my happy place! Again, pictures and videos captured with a GoPro—not great, but easy and good enough as souvenir video/pics. Last May I went to Fiji—Savusavu and Taveuni. I started wishing for the ability to better capture the amazing sights. Upgrading to the GoPro13 didn’t scratch the itch—I need lights and/or filters and/or a wet lens. As I plan to retire next spring, I looked for trips and adventures. I quickly latched onto Bali, Philippines, Indonesia—all great macro sites. Stuff I can’t really do with a GoPro. Now I’m down the underwater photography rabbit hole. I bought an Olympus E-M10 IV with AOI housing, 60 mm macro lens and port, two Backscatter HF-1 light/strobes, and a wet lens for my GoPro. Heading to Coco Dive for 2 weeks in March/April to study with Mickey Charteris and practice before heading to the west Pacific next Fall. I’ve decided it’s best to separate underwater photography from “social” diving on vacation where I’ll still use my GoPro and maybe a small camera/light rig to capture moments. Speaking of “social” diving, I just booked a vacation cruise with spouse and friends from Phuket to Langkawi with a week in Thailand before and a week in Penang/Singapore after.