Everything posted by Architeuthis
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Manual focus at distances < 1.5m means that AF stops where UW photography (almost) starts and not even close to macro ... (maybe with diopters and/or extensions the AF could be brought to a useful range, but very questionable whether such a setup will have AF at satisfaction?) I really hope this rumor turns out to be wrong, otherwise this lens will not be very useful for UW...☹️ -
Seems I overread the statements about Retra and Backscatter (anyhow I send them a message, interesting to see whether the answers are still the same)... I did regular lighting with two MF-2s with and w/o diffusers on few dives (only six), but it was sobering for me. It works, but at maximum power one has to carefully collect every single photon and there is no room to play around with e.g. strobe positioning (that would require more strobe power in order to still give enough light). I believe, that a macro strobe should provide plenty of power for different techniques (e.g. diffusers, snoot, different strobe positions), not just closest position to get enough light and one should not have to help out by increasing ISO or open up aperture to values one would regard suboptimal for a specific setting. Strobe power should not be the limiting element in the setup. Too much compromise for my taste (I am now thinking whether to keep one plus snoot and put one to classified or whether I should sell everything)... It is a pity, since the MF-2 with snoot appears to be a very handsome and smart solution to macro photography in case it had more power...
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To my personal and subjective experience (no tests with test charts), Canon 8-15mm with Sony 2x TC is a bit soft, but WACP-C/28-60mm is not better... I cannot tell about the Sony 16-35mm GM II, but I have Tamron 17-28mm and use it behind Zen DP-170. Compared to WACP-C/28-60mm (and also Canon 8-15mm/Sony 2x TC)) this combination is clearly the sharpest (in the center). The Sony lens is certainly optically better than the Tamron per se, but UW it depends how good it works together with a domeport and which size is required.. Wolfgang P.S.: See also the shark photo of Fabian from August 10th (who was the first to use Canon 8-15mm with Sony 2x TC here) as an example for Canon 8-15mm&2x TC: https://waterpixels.net/forums/topic/2735-bluesharks-manual-or-s-priority/#comment-18172
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You are right, ISO 200 on FF is not an issue. Maximum light intensity of MF-2 is, however, really small (I could change from f/11 to F/16, but still I would have to place the flashes very close to the object, still no room for variation in positioning (reminds me at the reports from people using these "LED strobes")). For me this looks too much of a compromise... I would be happy with a good optical good snoot for HF-1 (either original from Backscatter or via adapter from others, e.g. Retra)... On the HF-1 system chart (https://www.backscatter.com/images/article/content/Hybrid-Flash/Backscatter-Hybrid-Flash-System-Chart.pdf), there is an optical snoot shown. Furthermore, Retra writes that they can make custom adapters to any strobe for their LSD snoot. I will inquire at Backscatter what has happened to this snoot and also to Retra and report here then... (Not everybody is so crazy to use these big strobes for macro, but maybe someone else is also interested here 😄)
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I thank you all (so far?) for your very interesting contributions...👍 It confirms me that the MF-2s are not really suitable for the way I personally make macro photos: (i) Making the maximum out of the strobe power by placing the strobes to the object as close as possible (and no headroom for other positions), (ii) increasing ISO (means to me I am wasting the IQ of my FF system, just because the strobe is too weak) and (iii) omitting diffusers (and snoot) because they eat up too much light. I find this pretty suboptimal and will continue to use the (not really handsome) HF-1s for macro... There was once a snoot announced for HF-1 from Backscatter. Did a high quality snoot appear so far? Is there a high quality optical soot existing (e.g. Retra) that can be mounted easily to HF-1? Wolfgang
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I am sure that the 230mm hermispherical domeport will work pretty well with both lenses... Sigma fisheye will very likely work very well with 140mm hemispherical domeport for FF (Canon 8-15mm does so in my hands )... I have Tamron 17-28mm and it works very well behind Zen 170mm domeport for FF (but this is not a hemispherical domeport; Canon 8-15mm fisheye works perfect behind this domeport, but I cannot tell for FF from own experience)... either appropriate Isotta domeports (I do not know how they translate to the Nauticams, but should not be a big deal to find out) or Nauticam with adapters... Wolfgang
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I am proud owner of two MF-2 plus one snoot and have used them recently on few dives in Croatia with A7R5 and Sony 90mm macro lens - I must say that I was pretty disappointed... ☹️ My experience was that, when I use the MF-2s with the diffusers that produce nice soft light, I can use the camera at base ISO (100) only up to aperture f/11. Without the diffusers I can go up to f/16, but in any case I had to place the flashes as close to the end of the port as possible (no reserves for creative lighting, e.g, placing the strobes aside to create texture). I did not even dare to dry the snoot, because the flashes were so weak... Did others experience similar problems with FF macro? I am just curious how other are satisfied with MF-2 for FF macro. I know I could increase ISO, but I think this is far from ideal for macro photos, flashpower should not be the rate limiting factor. I have two HF-1s and like them a lot (previously I had Z330). Last two years I used the HF-1s also for macro and, of course, they produce plenty of light for any kind of macro, but HF-1 is big and heavy and the alternative with two MF-2s plus snoot looked very attractive... Wolfgang
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I think you may mean this here: https://travel.padi.com/dive-resort/egypt/wadi-lahami-village-red-sea-diving-safari-wadi-lahami-village/ This Resort is also well known for housereef diving and is located in a wadi. In autumn 2023 there was heavy rainfall and the wadi flooded the reef that is widely destroyed now... There is no wadi in Mangrove Bay, but the bleaching affected the corals to some extend (I just heared it, I did not dive there after the bleaching)...
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When I am with Lisi at Mangrove Bay, we spend up to >6h/day net UW...😊 Since January 1st 2025 is a new diving center in Mangrove Bay: https://infinitydivingsafari.com/en/mb-e/ The former owners (Duck Divers (Essam, Marianne and Karim)) have moved to the Rohanou Resort at exactly the same date. Better to ask the new owners about the solo diving in advance...
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When I see it right there are two customization buttons less in A7Rc (2) compared to A7R5 (4) and the joystick is missing. In addition there is the semi-mechanical shutter in A7Rc, that makes bad bokeh with fast lenses when combined with very high shutter speed and brings 1/160s flash sync. (vs. 1/250s in A7R5). EVF in A7Rc is not as good as A7R5 (with my eyesight, I would not see much difference, whatsoever).. This is some difference for UW photography, but it seems small to me... Compactness and weight of the pure camera is better with the compact versions, but I guess the difference of comparable complete setups (A7Rc vs. A7R5 and A7cII vs. A7R4) is small in real life (just pure camera plus pure housing is different, the rest remains the same)?
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Thanks, I did not know that the A7Rc has four separate customization buttons (C1 - C4). Thought they were abandoned to make the camera smaller...
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Here are the extensions that I use with the Nauticam N120/100 35.5mm adapter and the 140mm domeport (ignore the Canon 100mm macro, this is just a part of a bigger table comprising multiple ports and domeports). Usually I add up smaller extensions to give the full length (e.g. 25mm plus 35mm for the Sony 2x TC): P.S.: I am using the Metabones V adapter...
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I can add that I have both Sony 1.4x and 2x TCs and used them on Sony A7R5. I did few dives with the 1.4x TC (a lot now with the 2x), but stopped using the 1.4x, since I did not see an improvement of IQ compared to the 2x TC... (IQ with both 1.4x and 2x is a softer compared to the plain 8-15mm, but not worse compared to WACP-C/28-60mm) Wolfgang
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I can recommend Mangrove Bay Resort and Rohanou Resort. I have been there multiple times. I find the housereefs perfect for UW photographers (in Mangrove Bay I repeatedly have met renowned UW-photographers). These resorts are, however, pretty simple, but everything I and Lisi need is there. I believe that non-divers/snorkelers will be bored to death. I would not go with family there... Bigger and with (little) more possibilities for non-divers is Utopia Beach Resort, that also has a nice housereef (I still would not go there with family)... If I would go with family (children and grandchildren), I would go to Akassia Swiss Resort. This is a huge resort, quite luxurious (still little money for us) and plenty of possibilities for non-divers. The speciality is that the housereef is a real drop-off. It is the only occasions in Egypt I know, where divers can make night-dives at a real drop-off and Spanish dancers are almost guaranteed (I have been once there for that reason). The drop-off means, however, that the housereef is often closed, when the weather is not optimal, but they have a protected alternative diving site for such conditions and divers are brought there by jeep... One must say that the bleaching events in 2023 and more in 2024 did a lot of harm to the corals at the housereefs (also number of fishes and biodiversity declined with the corals; only positive side is that nudies went up (I have been to Rohanou and Utopia in March 2025 and was close to weeping (really - no bad joke!))), but the outside diving spots reached by Zodiak or dayboat are in better condition)... Wolfgang P.S.: In the 80ies and 90ies I have been quite often at the Sinai, near Sharm el Sheik. Already at the end of the 90ies it was not worth any more. In 2022 we have been to Dahab and we will never come back. I had zero urge to visit the blue hole: it was visible from our hotel and one could see the masses of people diving and swimming there with plastic animals, playing waterball etc..., like a public bath in summer. I fear diving on Sinai today only lifes from the times gone long ago. Only exception are photograper Safaries to Ras Muhammed, Strait of Tiran and the wrecks in gulf of Suez, when the operator carefully selects the route and the times to avoid meeting other Safari boats (there are quite many). I remember e.g. a workshop with Alex Mustard few years ago where we had the Thistlegorm for two days just for our boat alone. But this is something you do not want to do with family..
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How is your experience, when you compare to the full size models (A74/A7R5) that are not so big when one regards the entire setup. Do'nt you miss anything , e.g. the customization buttons? Wolfgang
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Do you use the 30mm macro lens behind a domeport, for best IQ, rather than a flatport? I am not sure (careful reviews have yet to come), but likely the MFO-3 gives IQ comparable to a domeport - then the Zuiko 60mm +/- MFO-3 provides not only more flexibility, but also better IQ (of course no real WA at the same dive)...
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It seems to me that there is a problem in the production pipeline at Backscatter: I just had a look at my HF-1s that I purchased quite early, when they appeared on the market, and there is no sign that the O-rings are of different size and/or diameter, they are exactly the same (two identical grey O-rings; nothing like an additional third and smaller O-ring to protect against sand is there). I have now approx. 100 dives with them and there was never a leak (but this, of course, does not prove anything, the N number is too small to allow a meaningful statement). On the other side there are several reports about leaking battery compartments that disturb me. Some reports of O-rings of different size/diameter, it seems to be a real thing... Did someone ask at Backscatter from where these different size O-rings come from?
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Congratulations to this beautiful photo of the blueshark, Fabian...👍 Was it made with the Canon 8-15mm/2x TC combination? I cannot tell about bluesharks, but when I am snorkelling with dolphins or whalesharks, I always use fixed shutter (at least 1/160s, but 1/200s or even 1/360 is better), fixed aperture and Auto ISO for automatic exposure. So far this worked very well. On these occasions I do not have strobes with me... When I am scubadiving, I use strobes (manual settings) and manual exposure to give good water color. Never tested TTL (I saw a tread about TTL for sharks by user StuartV on Scubaboard, but i thik he did not become happy with it) The blueshark does not seem to be shy. Maybe one can leave out the TC to get wider aperture than f/8 (in case natural light is a problem)? Wolfgang
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What regards the title of this tread "Camera Prices: Have Manufacturers Lost Their Minds?", I think the manufacturers are mentally completely o.k. since they earn a lot of money by their strategies ...🙂 Maybe it is the mental health of us customers, who are diligently paying such prices, that is at risk...😄 Wolfgang
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I cannot tell about the AOI system, but had EM5-II and EM1-II in Nauticam housings (my wife is still using EM1-II in Nauticam). I was using both Zuiko 9-18mm and Pana 7-14mm together with Zen DP170. IQ (sharpness and microcontrast in the middle) was not very impressive, all images looked a little bit "soft" ... My wife now uses Zuiko 8-25mm behind Zen DP170 (a lot of extension is needed!) and IQ is very good - the best MFT/WA combination I personally have ever had in my hands... The question is whether AOI housing can use this or a similar domeport... ? Wolfgang P.S.: I, personally, would not like to "downgrade" from Nauticam housing to AOI (and there might be a lot of extensions/ports you could continue to use with your new camera (?) - this should be considered and added to the cost calculations). IQ and AF wise the EM10-III is pretty similar to EM1-II (I guess) and there might be a good second hand purchase available...
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Last year friends went to Pemba Island with Afrodivers in June (not the best time of the year, but they could not travel at another time, due to their jobs). They reported about substantial amounts of coral bleaching, just happening shortly before their visit, must have been May or June 2024. As far as I understood them, huge areas of hard coral were just white and not yet covered by algae and dead, what is the irreversible end stage. There is hope that the corals managed to recover - please have a close look on the corals and tell us...
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I have DAN for diving, "Fotofairsicherung" for the photographic equipment (I pay approx. 450 Euro/year and am insured for up to 14 kEuro per incidence (they pay what the replacement costs, not just the value of the, sometimes, old equipment) and a standard travel insurance by ÖAMTC (this is the local car drivers club, comparable to AAA in US)... Wolfgang
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I must admit we have not been on the "housereef" yet. The weather allowed diving with boat every day. This time I will not leave out this muck diving place (I have heard several positive comments about this place)... It is certainly not easy to keep up with the whalesharks, even with good fins. They are not moving and seem to rest, but still they glide with considerable speed through the water. E.g. at the second last photo of the feeding shark: it did not seem to move, but look at its dorsal fin and the air bubbles made at the water/air interface... Best luck I had at spots where there was a lot of krill in the water (resulting in even worse visibility). There I could swim with several sharks at once, sometimes even for few minutes, while they were feeding...
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Hi Caolla, How was Zanzibar? For us it It was the first time in Tanzania. First we considered Zanzibar, but then heard (and read) that the island is full with tourists and also divers - so we decided to go to Mafia (this was also recommended by two other divers that have been both in Zanzibar and Mafia previously)...
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Mafia Island is located in the Indian Ocean, off the East African coast of Tanzania. I learned about Mafia Island from reports of several scubadivers in internet platforms, who consider it an “insider tip”. In November/December 2024 three divers (Lisi, Franz and me) set out towards Mafia in order to experience firsthand the diving and possibilities for UW-photographers. Mafia Island is not difficult to reach via international flights from Vienna/Austria to Dar es Salaam/Tanzania. From there, the travel continues with a short 30’ flight via domestic airline. The airport in Kilindoni, the largest village of the island, is small and, accordingly, the airplanes are small too (the photo shows the main building of the airport and, to the left, the nose of the aircraft that brought us there). By default, only 15kg of luggage, including the cabine luggage, are allowed in the small aircraft. It is very positive to note, that one can book extra luggage in advance by EMail with the domestic “Coastal Airline” (https://coastal.co.tz/), in order to avoid unpleasant surprises when arriving with masses of unannounced luggage. This way, our extensive diving and photo equipment was “nullo problemo” (in order to avoid overload of the aircraft, we had to book an extra seat in advance, that remained empty). There are several resorts located on Mafia Island, but only a single one, “Big Blue Mafia Island Diving Centre” (https://bigblumafia.com/) is perfectly positioned within the Mafia Island Marine Park, where most of the diving spots are located (the marinepark fee, that has to be paid for every single day of the stay once upon entrance, is worth every single cent). This resort is owned and managed by Maura, an Italian, who is the friendly contact person for booking and payment. She is married to a local diving instructor, native to the island, who runs the diving base (their son is working as diving guide, one can say it is a true family enterprise; also the other instructors, guides and employees contributed to a very pleasant stay including safe and wonderful diving). Accommodation is simple, but corresponds to western standards, comprising tasty half (or, when required, full) board and aircondition. Cleaning and freeing the huts from mosquitoes with pesticides is done twice per day. At this point it is appropriate to mention that effective repellants and malaria prophylaxis are strongly recommended by our Austrian tropical medicine specialists. Diving is done using Dhow style boats, that provide plenty of space for the few divers. They are made from heavy tropical woods and are powered by an outboard engine. When winds allow, the boats are also able to sail along silently and swiftly. Chole Bay is the heart of the natural reserve and accordingly most diving spots are located within the bay. Depending on weather, diving spots outside the bay can be dived also. Since the tidal range within Chole Bay is substantial, departure times for the two-tank boat dives are dominated by the tide, are highly variable from day to day and were between 05:00 AM and 14:30 PM during the two weeks of our stay. Despite careful consideration of tidal times, substantial currents are possible. At low tide the visibility within the bay can be pretty modest (as low as 4-5m), but at high tide and also outside the bay it can be remarkably good (up to 30m). Taken together, the diving conditions are certainly not easy for UW-photographers. This is more than compensated by outstanding biodiversity and abundance of species that guarantee the presence of great motifs in high number, rewarding those that take up the challenge. School of common blue-striped snappers (Lutjanus kasmira), outside Chole Bay. Sony A7R5, WACP-C, Sony 28-60mm @28mm, 1/160s, f/10, ISO 100, 2* HF-1 (4500K diffusers): Also inside Chole Bay, the quality of hard coral is good. Sony A7R5, Canon 8-15mm @15mm, 1/100s, f/10, ISO 100, 2* HF-1 (4500K diffusers): Attracted by me, since I was using the macro setup (when I was equipped with the fisheye lens, mating Nembrothas were almost guaranteed), a giant Potato Grouper (Epinephelus tukula) shows up inside the bay. Sony A7R5, Sony 90mm macro, 1/200s, f/9, ISO 100, 2* HF-1 (4500K diffusers): The diving comprises plenty of motifs for wideangle photography, but Chole Bay can be regarded as a true macro destination for UW-photographers as well: Numerous nudibranch species can be encountered around Chole Bay. Noteworthy to state, our stay coincided with the mating season of the Golden Nembrotha (Nembrotha aurea). These seaslugs are hermaphrodites and mating takes place by connecting the sexual organs, located on the right side of the body, with each other in order to transfer the sperm. Sony A7R5, Sony 90mm macro, SMC-1, 1/250s, f/14, ISO 100, 2* HF-1 (4500K diffusers): Blue Pseudoceros flatworm (Pseudoceros bifurcus) moves leisurely over hard coral. Sony A7R5, Sony 90mm macro, SMC-1, 1/200s, f/14, ISO 100, 2* HF-1 (4500K diffusers): Shrimp city is a coral block located inside Chole Bay that is not only populated by countless camel shrimps (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis), but also glassfish, damselfish, anthias, muray eels and groupers. Sony A7R5, Sony 90mm macro, 1/250s, f/13, ISO 100, 2* HF-1 (4500K diffusers): Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) sitting on black coral. Sony A7R5, Sony 90mm macro, 1/200s, f/13, ISO 100, 2* HF-1 (4500K diffusers): Reef octopus (Octopus cyaneus) peeks out curiously from its shelter. Sony A7R5, Sony 90mm macro, 1/200s, f/18, ISO 100, 2* HF-1 (4500K diffusers): A report about diving at Mafia Island cannot be complete without whale sharks (Rhincodon typus). Outside the marinepark, between the African eastcoast, where the impressive Rufiji river ends up in the Indian Ocean, and the west coast of Mafia Island, the Mafia channel is formed. The high input of biomass from the Rufiji river delta causes plankton to bloom within this strait. This results not only in poor visibility (6-10m; and hence (again) challenging conditions for UW-photography), but, at certain times of the year, whale sharks gather for feeding. Snorkeling excursions by boat are offered and we were able to spot up to 15 different whale sharks on a single day (including a touching encounter with a female shark, closely accompanied by her half-grown up offspring). Whaleshark feeding on krill. Sony A7R5, WACP-C, Sony 28-60mm @31mm, 1/200s, f/7.1, ISO 200: Whaleshark fading away into the blue. Sony A7R5, Canon 8-15mm @15mm, 1/250s, f/6.3, ISO 250: It was an unforgettable diving trip and fond memories will endure. We already have booked flights and resort for another two weeks in November 2025, in order to visit again this little paradise… 😊
