Pooley

I think we're spoiled nowadays. I have a Sony A1 as I wanted it for topside work, where it shines. I then built a UW system around it which I love. However, if I was starting from scratch I would probably go M43 now for the size and cost advantages. unless you want to crop big or print huge then I struggle to see any advantage with modern AF capabilities, especially if you're half decent with PP

It depends on the entry for me. Most of my diving is shore diving so that's easy, enter the water with the kit fully in place then as I'm heading to the site underwater I just loosen and the click back into place each component. Really simple. For boat entries I take the EMWL off prior to going in, then enter as normal with my main rig, no different to any other entry. I'll then have someone on the boat pass me down the EMWL which I have all 3 parts attached to each other, and as I'm decending I'll put it onto the rig, then loosen and reattach each component as I'm heading to the site. Once you're used to the bayonets it's quite easy. Its not the kind of rig where you jump in and immediately shoot, like you might do with regular WA for dolphins or whales or seals etc so you can take your time. The swing arm looks useful in theory and probably works well, but for me I prefer to go in with the mindset of shooting in a particular way, knowing I might miss the occasional opportunity but it keeps me focussed on my pre dive photo plan. Others might do it differently Mike

Tim, I too was unsure of when I switched from Subal to Nauticam, I just felt my old Subals were so buttery smooth and well machined. I've never quite got the same feeling from Nauticam, but never once has a housing let me down, their system is superb, and I've had great support when needed from Alex T here in the UK. so whilst the smooth outer feeling is missing, the overall result has been spot on. I can't imagine you'll be disappointed If something happened to my A1 Im pretty sure Id go down the M43 route, and up until you blow up a picture to poster size on the wall I doubt you'll see the difference, especially on the web Enjoy (and up the blues!!) Mike

II find its rare I need to shoot at such speed that I need a faster card, so for underwater use I think most recent cards should suffice. I have 128gb cards and never come close to filling one on a dive, and that's shooting RAW on a Sony A1 Every night I download to a portable SSD and having sufficient memory on the cards gives me the option of leaving all images on the card whilst having the security of the files being on the SSD

Thanks Rune, much appreciated Mike

Wow, glad you're Ok Tim. Great words of advice

thanks for the comments, much appreciated Hi Luko, according to the boss we were in chops and hops on the 28th. Pity you didn't say hello - I'm sure my 5 words of Italian would have come in useful 🤣 Ajiex said similar to you, but said Batu Niti and Baturinggit were productive so we mainly went there Hope to see some of your shots Mike

I fully get that the big attraction of muck diving is to find tiny weird creatures but I'm consistently drawn to gobies, mainly because I think their environment adds an extra dimension to photos

I'm a Sony user with the 45 degree viewfinder, and I find reviewing everything through the viewfinder works best for me. For macro, it's not even a contest as it removes the need to back off the subject and then have to reposition again afterwards. All the info you need is there for you without having to move. I don't do a huge amount of wide angle but I'm that tuned into reviewing through the viewfinder now it just comes naturally I do find though that I change batteries after most dives unless it's been really unproductive. After an average much dive I'm usually around the 50% mark at the surface interval

Hi, thanks for getting back to me, but I've just landed back in the UK (soooo happy....) which is a shame as I would have been up for a chat Given that length of stay I'm sure you'll cover most sites but I found Batu Niti and Baturinggit to be the most productive sites this year for photography. Sheep nudis are at Melasti and Cantik point and rhinopia can be found a short boat ride away from Gerombong which normally involves a short jukung ride with a guide called Nengeh

Mere youngster here at 53 (!) but currently in Tulamben until the weekend. When do you arrive?

I shoot the A1 with a 90mm and am very happy with it. I use it bare, with the SMC and EMWL without too many issues. Even with nudibranchs I always use continuous AF, we're always moving slightly, and enough to move you off critical focus at such close distances. For me, the key is learning which AF mode to use. For macro I use one of the spot modes and move the AF area as necessary for framing, if I'm shooting moving fish with the 90 I'll switch to a zone / tracking mode Once you get the right setting I'm pretty sure you'll find the hinting drops dramatically Mike

I'm booked on a Maldives Liveaboard in April going through Doha as well Tim - making all sorts of backup plans! In regards to to OP, Id say go with the smaller dome, easier in currents and travelling , only pixel peeping to a serious extent will show up with the different dome sizes with the 10-17 behind it. I doubt very much all divers will be in currents and I will certainly be expecting to use my macro setup at times Strobes will be very useful with large subjects like mantas, maybe not so much if you get lucky with whale sharks

I'm lucky enough to go to Bali regularly, never had a single issue, but I know as Yorkie says above there are different rules around 'temporary imports'. Back there in May, I'll ask around, but certainly talking to other divers around Tulamben its never been raised before