Dave_Hicks

This is the way. 🖖

I've been using the Nauticam MFO-1 lens for a few weeks and decided to fit it out with a Lens Hood and Cap to protect it from damage while in use and in storage. My previous close-up diopters took a beating over time, and I wanted to do better with the MFO. I've used it on a handful of dives and it works great. The hood is rubber so if you pump a rock, it won't break and just acts as a bumper protecting the glass and body. It can also help reduce lens flare from your strobes. The Hood is printed with TPU rubber and slips tightly over the MFO-1. The Nauticam provided cap won't work when the hood is installed, so I made a cap as well. Both soft TPU and hard PETG versions of the cap are available. Note: These will work with the Nauticam SMC and CMC lenses as well. https://makerworld.com/en/models/1320540-shade-cap-for-nauticam-mfo-smc-close-up-lens#profileId-1356631

What is your take on the 105mm AF-S vs Z mount lens options? I have stuck with my AF-S mount lens on the Z8 and continue to be very happy with the focus speed and image quality. Is there is a compelling reason to get the Z mount? I have a 60mm+20mm port already, so I'd just need the lens.

The MFO comes with a mounting ring that allows you to screw it directly to the port. I used that method a couple of days ago and found that it leaves a pretty big bubble of air between the glass. I had to unscrew and remove it underwater to clear the bubble. I was still near the surface and it is possible the bubble might clear at greater depth. I've used it a few other times and didn't notice a problem but also didn't check as they were night dives. A flip adapter is probably a better way to use the MFO-1.

Details please. Model of port and a photo. Flat, dome, glass, acrylic?

Business Class!

Maybe Palau as well? It's a short hop from Guam, and it's practically a US territory. Palau citizens can join the US military, interestingly.

I would consider Fiji or Guam. You are not interested in Hawaii I take it? Seattle is excellent in October as well but maybe you don't like cold water? I would not consider Indonesia at all, probably not the Philippines.

Wrap sandpaper around the end of a chopstick or pencil with a rubber band. Works great.

I typically leave batteries in my strobes when stored at home, and in active rotation. I've done that with Ikelite, Inon, and Backscatter strobes over the years. But some electronic devices can experience "phantom drain" which can drain a battery over time. If you are not going to be using your strobes for a month or more, I'd feel better removing all batteries. Across many months of storage, battery leakage is a possibility. With alkaline cells it's a near certainty, with NiMH and Lithium less so but not zero risk. Any strobe that is going to be packed for Flying should definitely have batteries removed. The risk of it turning on while packed is non-zero and could have very bad results. Drained batteries, overheating, even fires. Don't risk it.

Probably most of the time. But i don't need two MF-2s, and i do need two HF-1s. Good enough for me.

He shared a link to a generic shade designed for a top side lens. I just made a 3d printed tpu rubber shade for the MFO and will try it tomorrow. I will share the design after testing. I am always happy to send out copies for the cost of shipping.

Two words: Strap Wrench

Backlighting or just fill light at low power. I don't like the "Spotlight" effect you sometimes see in Snoot shots. The second strobe allows you to blend in some surrounding detail without emphasizing the background you are trying to hide with the snoot.

A fisheye lens still produces a Fisheye Effect at 15mm, with straight lines being curved. The 8-15mm party trick at 8mm is a circular vignette, and that's a whole other thing. I don't use the WACP, but the WWL-C with 24-50mm lens, and it's pretty much the same thing you get with the WACP. This configuration is very flexible and provides the ability to get sharp images at wide angles and some ability to zoom in to near-macro levels. Edge sharpness is good with these lenses, more so than older Wide Angle Zooms like a 16-35mm behind a big port. I also shoot with the Nikon 8-15mm FE behind a 170mm dome port. To be certain, this is sharper than the WWL (and maybe the WACP). The Fisheye can be very pleasing with some scenes and the corner sharpness is excellent, It's smaller and lighter than the WACP by a mile, and a bit smaller than the WWL-C but not by much. However, it is a lot less flexible than the Nauticam ports with their big zoom ranges. You use a Fisheye for situations that are going to benefit most. Big reef scenes, some very close up big animal encounters (Mantas, Whalesharks), kelp forests. You can get some nice CFWA opportunities when you run out of big scenery but have open water backgrounds and lots of light. If you are adding a teleconverter to the FE, then you might as well go with the WACP/WWL most of the time. You are seeking more range and that is not what FE is made for.