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Sokrates

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Posts posted by Sokrates

    9 hours ago, Nando Diver said:

    thanks

    what about park fees, ive read some liveaboard companies are supporting park fees (172$ day) for 2025, but no word for 2026/27

    Are the park fees paid in Mexico when we join ?

    This is a question better asked from your liveaboard operator.

    Offtopic, i had forgotten how ridiculous the park fees had become in Socorro... On top of camera tax and pricey liveaboard. Just better to go somewhere else.

    • Like 4
    • Thanks 1

    On 6/18/2025 at 8:42 AM, Dave_Hicks said:

    Totally different product. It magically turns a 90mm lens into a 60mm. 🤔

    Yes i see that now, and after Alex's explanation.

    I didnt even think in the photo that it would be that big, thought the SMC-3 in the photo was the new MFO-2 🤣

    But is MFO-2 appropriate name for it? Its not really mid range focus optimising anymore? More like VMC (Voodoo Magic Converter).

    • Haha 1

    ·

    Edited by Sokrates

    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.

    25 minutes ago, Barmaglot said:

    She's looking to reduce her travel weight; FCP-1 is a full kilo heavier than WACP-C.

    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

    8 hours ago, jlaity said:

    Nauticam prices went up last week. I was ready to buy an MFO-1 for $474 but it was $550 when I bought it this morning (~14% up.) And supplies might be limited as factories move outside of China, if they can. I wouldn't delay if you're thinking about buying something in the US.

    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.

    • Like 1

    On 4/20/2025 at 8:30 PM, rafiqd said:

    @Chris Ross Thanks for the suggestion for the Sulawesi region of Indonesia. Ill do some research on that area and see how it compares to PH.

    I haven't done much research on Sipadan, I've only done some research on the permiting system, but it worries me that I could be staying at a hotel there and not get a permit and wasting days not diving. Do you have experience with the system and how readily available the permits are if you're staying at a dive hotel?

    Is Fiji okay to do in november? I'm reading that it says november is the start of the tropical cyclone season for that region.

    Okinawa would be a nice one though. Japan is great, and Ill have to look more into that.

    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.

    27 minutes ago, OneYellowTang said:

    @dentrock

    Not our experience shooting with the 90mm and the MFO.

    It's both sharper, and helps with focus in a number of situations. We've found it to be significantly faster to find focus (in part, because it doesn't hunt nearly as much vs. without it).

    We do not have this issue on an A7RV.

    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?

    ·

    Edited by Sokrates

    10 minutes ago, Chris Ross said:

    The changeover is relatively easy in Singapore and there is a transit hotel inside security - kind of beats staying up to meet the 2:00 am flight out of Jakarta and trying to sleep on the 3-4 hour plane flight to Sorong. You could even spend a day or two in Singapore shopping and trying out the local food. Very easy to get around there.

    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.

    ·

    Edited by Sokrates

    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.

    1 hour ago, JohnD said:

    This is interesting.  Inon recommends, or at least used to recommend, that batteries not be left in strobes during travel to avoid risk of damage to the terminals in the strobe.  Does Retra not have this concern?   Packing would be marginally easier of I could put 4 or 8 batteries in each strobe during travel.

     

    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?

    ·

    Edited by Sokrates

    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.

    • Like 1

    ·

    Edited by Sokrates

    On 2/11/2025 at 6:08 PM, Raphael Gatti said:

    A friend of mine was afraid of the taxes too, he went to Socorro this year, he flew through Mexico City without any problem and then took an internal flight to Cabo San Lucas. He had not issues, there were two guys inspecting the baggages, but I think that is way different from customs inspections.

    Talking with another friend that run tours on Baja and Magdalena Bay, the main problem is to arrive on international flights at Cabo San Lucas International airport.

     

    I'm planning to go to Magbay this year, and quite interested on the taxes subject.

     

    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.

    • Sad 2

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