Everything posted by Sokrates
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Interesting: Thailand "bans" u/w photograpy for newbies and training
Didnt Nauticam raise prices like 10% in november or december already. This hobby is getting way more expensive fast (like if it wasnt already).
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AOI UIS-P1 STROBE
Cheap flights to Europe for 500-600 and still profit when buying 2.
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Photographic Gear Prices in USA after Trump's Tariffs
Why would a Chinese company like Nauticam move factories outside China? Is the US market so big that it makes sense?
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NEW strobe / videolight OPTIMA-10000 from Underwater Technics.
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.
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South East Asia Recommendations for late November
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.
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MFO-1 and focus limiter
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?
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South East Asia Recommendations for late November
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.
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South East Asia Recommendations for late November
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.
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Upcoming Server Upgrade 😳
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.
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Retra Pro Max - Accu issue
To be honest, what is the difference leaving batteries inside strobes on a 8-10 flight to leaving them overnight inside strobes for a choppy ocean crossing on a liveaboard?
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Photographic Gear Prices in USA after Trump's Tariffs
Pretty sure they are made in China, but im sure some of the Marelux staff here will tell us soon.
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Has anyone used the Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di III
Going fresh into a Sony system shooting macro, Tamron over Sony 90mm would be the move? Also port-wise, Tamron seems in technical data 2mm shorter than Sony, Im guessing same port (Nauti) will work just fine?
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Nauticam USB-C bulkhead mini review
Housing will not flood. USB-C port will short atleast Canon R5, dont ask how i know 😉
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Nauticam USB-C bulkhead mini review
I got this and must say its one of the best bits of kit. Specially with mirrorless cameras (i have A7RV) using so much battery, i can comfortably charge from power bank on boat. Only issue i have is download speed. Maybe i have a sunday version of the cable or something. When i plug my laptop into the port, download is very slow. When i take out camera and plug camera directly to laptop with same cable as previously, speeds are 4-6x.
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Mexico Underwater Camera "Tax" spread to Cancun
Main problem is SJD, but there was reports it happening in MEX also. In this thread or some other. Of course not as big there, but still.
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Inon Z-XXX Prototype at Paris Dive Show
Here is the quick rundown of the post. This is a prototype of the new top end strobe from INON in the hands of INON Roving Ambassador, Takuya Torii. INON is still finalizing the design, but here are a few of the features Takuya has explained to me. Firstly, it’ll be a powerful strobe, with the final guide number still to be confirmed. Secondly, the S-TTL has been further developed. A secondary S-TTL mode is included specifically for macro photography to dampen down overexposure which can sometimes be a problem for many TTL systems. Thirdly, two LED modelling lights are built in, one white for normal use and one red. Red can be helpful for photography of shy animals found lurking in the shadows during the day or are nocturnal and that are disturbed by white light. The new strobe will be compatible with the light modifiers for the Z-330 and D-200, including filters, strobe light shade and snoot. It retains the same battery cap and O ring design as well and continues to operate from just four AA cells. For now, there are no delivery dates or price estimates.
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Video library sorting/path/naming/ect/ect/ect
Hi, Im trying to start my clip library. Im just totally clueless how to rename files, make folders per trip/day/site, rename per subject, rating. All of that. Just wondering if theres any helpful tips from good folks here how to set it up. Preferably solution that works OsX and Win.
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Inon Z-XXX Prototype at Paris Dive Show
Interesting. Of course not seeing it from the back, or have any additional info, its very easy to just speculate for now. So lets speculate 🤣 T shaped flash tubes and just the general appearance from this one picture gives me Z330 vibes, with nothing new? Obviously need to see from back if anything has changed (buttons to be better for one?)? Is it going to be Li-Ion powered or old Eneloop still? Really hope there will be more official or unofficial info soon.
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The end of Light & Motion
Probably where it says "Trump"?
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Lembeh and Misool Travel with Camera Gear
That only applies to flights on Batik, not others within Lion grp (Lion, Wings, Superair). And its 15kg with alot of paperwork, good luck with that. Garuda does have 23kg for dive equipment, but unfortunately they dont fly to alot of the dive destinations in Indonesia.
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Lembeh and Misool Travel with Camera Gear
I travel with Lion Air about 20-30 flights per year and never had any problems with luggage. I have 1x20kg checkin for dive equipment and clothes and 1x25kg checkin for camera equipment (excluding body/lenses/batteries). So about 45kg total to check in. Pretty much always bought that 30kg online and then its hit/miss at the airport will the charge for the remaining 15kg. If they do its about 100k per kg (depending on route), but sometimes they dont. Never hurts to be polite. My carryon is maximum size 4 wheeled that weighs about 15kg. Never had any problems taking that to the plane. Most locals have 2-4 bags with them. Best advice with carryon imo is to try to board early so you will get space in the overhead bin. Also a special mention if you are new to flying domestic in Indonesia, keep hold of you bag tags until outside yor destination airport. Specially at the smaller airports there is someone checking that your bag tags numbers corresponds to the ones attached to luggage. But like i said, this is more at the smaller airports anymore. All in all, dont worry about it and have cash for the excess luggage (bigger airports take CC).
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Increased Revillagigedo / Socorro Park Fees for January 2025
Thats one way to "protect" the national park, make it too expensive to visit. Socorro is nice, but not worth 180USD per day in park fees on top of liveaboard. Even the old 90USD per day was on the steep side. Thank you Mexico, trips were fun but no more camera taxes and ridiculous park fees.
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Upcoming Scubalamp-SUPE Mini Strobe
Lot of new "small" strobes at DEMA, Scubalamp, Retra, AIO. But no Inon that everyone is waiting for.
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marelux housing
What i think i remember, back in the days Nauticam was the cheaper aluminium housing when it hit the market. Now 15 years later, it has become one of the more expensive ones. I feel like Marelux is doing the same, offering aluminium housing cheaper than competition. (Disclaimer, i just checked some Blue Water prices). That being said, i havent tried Marelux housing underwater, but i have compared side by side A7RV Nauti/Marelux. Couldnt say anything bad about either, some different choices have been made in design, but i probably wouldnt have any problem picking Marelux if i started this hobby now. I just have been using Nauticam for 10+ years, and its hard to change with all ports ect hidden away from family 🤣
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Nauticam SMC-3
October is coming to end soon, has this started shipping yet? Everywhere i checked still says 1-2 weeks until shipping. I was hoping to get this for my next trip, but doesnt look like it.