Sokrates

Laowa released 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye 10 minutes ago (Sony FE, Nikon Z, Canon RF) -> exited -> No AF -> :(

500 USD flights friday evening to AMS/BRU, saturday morning there, rent car for the day and drive to uwcamerastore buy strobes, sleep in car (its Europe, no problem), sunday morning flight back to US, arrival back home sunday evening. Surely works also to London and some UK supplier of the strobes. Profit.

Looks like the videolight has recieved little update again, now to 18000 lumens. [quote]Professional Video-light 18000 lumen, true colors CRI 92, Color Temperature 5000K. Video-light working time (at 18000 lumen): 45 minutes with large battery (8 cell), 18 minutes with small battery (4-cell).[/quote] Is the battery compartment single or dual o-ring? The cover (and thus the o-ring) will be very close to the buttons like many other strobes nowdays. I would love to see dual o-ring, but i suspect its single. Still thinking about this, if the 2 in 1 is really worth it (instead of separate systems). Price is of course something, also anxiously waiting for the snoots ect release.

Theres alot of fine print on the policies aswell. I had luggage stolen from a car (housing ect ect) and insurance covered only up to 3500€ as it was somewhere in the fine print that only up to 3500€ if its stolen from motor vehicle. Im sure theres other similar exclusions also.

1600$ for one... Definitely not the cheapest. Video light updated to 16000 lumens and maybe some other updates as well. Im sure mr. Kolpakov will update us soon.

Also the option with 140mm dome is not really cutting down from WACP-C (2.5kg with lens). 1.5kg 140mm glass dome 0.5kg 8-15mm 0.2kg Monster adapter 0.2kg TC 0.3kg N100-N120 adapter

Didnt Nauticam raise prices like 10% in november or december already. This hobby is getting way more expensive fast (like if it wasnt already).

Cheap flights to Europe for 500-600 and still profit when buying 2.

Why would a Chinese company like Nauticam move factories outside China? Is the US market so big that it makes sense?

Can you give some more info on the different size batteries posted on Facebook? Do you need to buy some battery compartment extension also like Retra booster because the info there is very vague? When will you release pricing info and availability of accessories (snoot ect)? Is July production still on track? Im looking at this and probably going to get new strobes sept/oct.

Regarding Sipadan, i think if you book like 5 days diving you get 3 days guaranteed Sipadan or something like that ratio. Mabul has great muck diving for the days you cant get to Sipadan. Also world class muck diving in Semporna (the gateway city), but accommodations are bit on the "meh" side. What Luko suggests with Bali-Komodo combo is really good, specially flight-wise since theres direct flights to Bali from all main hubs in Asia and Bali - Komodo has numerous flights per day. Alor is also a great place to dive (actually my favourite place in Indonesia) but combining it with Bali eats up alot from you days just in flights. There would be many overnights/redeyes and connections. If longer flying isnt too much, maybe Triton Bay could be an options also. You didnt specify would you holiday be 14-18 days including flights from West Coast, or 14-18 days in South East Asia. 14 days including flights is not that long, if thinking something else than North Sulawesi or Bali.

Is there difference in the 90mm manufacture dates/serial numbers like some other lenses have? It is an fairly old lens already. Has anyone used MFO with the newer 90mm from Tamron?

Yes, there is the option of course to stay overnight at the airport. Or do few days in Singapore, always a great choice. Also good place to buy gear now ;) Im just trying to see how to optimise the time spent somewhere else than diving. 14-18 days isnt that long if making stopovers. Specially if wanting to fly from YVR or SEA, even those direct to SIN are 16-17h flights (YVR has block time of 16h40min and SEA 17h) and then add 4h to MDC. With a 12-16h layover its already almost 2 days of travelling.

Like Chris Ross mentioned, flying into Manado on SQ/TR (AC/DL/UA/AA all fly from west coast direct to SIN) suits your requirement of flights quite well. Only thing is some flights arrive in the evening and thus require overnight before connection. TR SIN-MDC departs 9 am. I would probably pick Banka or Bunaken instead of Lembeh (you can do daytrips to Lembeh from there). Going to Raja is bit more tricky, but can be done if planned right. Flights to SOQ depart CGK midnight-2am, so arriving with onestop from westcoast around 8-11pm is actually no less time than going to MDC with one stop. Still might be a bit rough with flights. In November the season is just starting in Raja. Plenty of options from westcoast (YVR/SEA/SFO/LAX) to CGK with stops in TYO/HKG/TPE being most popular. Bali is similar but you can get onestop from west coast via most Asian cities. Maybe Mabul/Sipadan might be an option also? Flights very similar like to Raja, but instead of Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur. Not too much other things to do than diving tho. Fiji maybe? Or as a bonus, Okinawa. Clear water, nice diving and easy flights through Tokyo.

Opening the forum/opening threads/everything/this quick reply window loaded for 15sec/basically everything is like on a 2400 baud modem. Nevermind, started working after 5mins. Still trying to get used to the fonts.