Architeuthis

Here are some adresses located in Europe, where such masks are fabricated. There must be also companies in US, but these I do not know: When I remember correctly, I had my mask produced here (years ago): https://tauchmaske.de/international Here two additional companies with very good reputation among divers (unfortunately the pages are in German only, but I am sure they will be able to correspond in English): https://optik-pingel.de/ https://www.sehmeile.de/ Wolfgang

I use Dust patrol sensor cleaning kits (they have different versions, depending on sensor size), together with a special loupe (e.g.: https://www.amazon.de/JJC-Universal-Lupe-Reinigungs-Vergrößerung-LED-Beleuchtung/dp/B07MSH1WN7/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=22WEO3YGK3NCX&keywords=dust+patrol+sensor+cleaning+louper&qid=1702819366&sprefix=dust+patrol+sensor+cleaning+louper%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1) and sometimes a sensor cleaning pen ) including a sensor cleaning brush (e.g.: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/DIGI-KIT6D-F/dp/B004ZLJLTQ/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3UVX1GU2KEX7A&keywords=dust+patrol+sensor+cleaning+pen&qid=1702819436&sprefix=dust+patrol+sensor+cleaning+pen%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-10&language=en_GB). They also provide detailed videos about how to do it for different camera types. So far, in practice, it takes more trials as in the videos to get the sensor clean, but in the end it is. When you send the camera in, they will do it the same way and it will take time and $$$... Wolfgang

This lens is available for many weeks and I am curious, whether someone is using/testing this lens for Sony FF cameras. Would be interested to know how this lens performs generally UW and which dome size is required to get decent results... My background is that I have Sony A7R5 and use both Sony 20-70mm and Tamron 17-28mm behind Zen DP170. Both lenses perform very well behind this dome, but the zoom range of the Tamron 17-28mm is limited and 17-50mm would be much better with respect to zoom range... Wolfgang

According to Marelux, color temperature is 6200K without and 5500K with the dome diffuser. See below some basic properties that I have found in the Internet, for comparison: Wolfgang

Hi Landvogt, I burned out four(!) YS-D2 in the last years. For me Sea&Sea strobes are our of discussion, certainly never again. Inon Z330 is the direct competitor of YS-D2/3. Now I have four Z330 and they work, so far, ok (one has a loose contact at the "ON/OFF" switch, but works until now). Z330 are currently not available new, but a succesor product may be on the way... I do not have Retras, but with the circular flash tube (preferred by many), they are in another league. Also top price (I would expect top quality also). Maybe a cheap and much better alternative to YS-D3 may be the SUPE Pro max, that has also circular flash tube, but is priced similar to the YS-D3... Wolfgang

Last year I have tested multifocal plus astigmatic contact lenses on the surface. It did not work for me, I cold not see clear near and also not far. Maybe it was just a bad optician, but I abandoned the project... Wolfgang

The well needed, but still working flawless, housing is just taking up storage space. If needed, I can give with it also the EM5II camera body. This is a good occasion to start with building a MFT rig... #1.: Nauticam housing for Olympus EM5II (NA-EM5II). I bought the housing second hand and, after using it for myself, handed it over to my wife: you will be the fourth user and one can see it. Nevertheless the housing is in good condition and works without problems. Note also that I have modified the moisture alarm sensor to make it less sensitive, by clipping the yellow wire (before the moisture alarm was hypersensitive and turned on without reason at high humidity (e.g. rain day on equator; see second photo):o of housing). You get: #1a.: NA-EM5II plus N85 front cap. #1b.: Shutter release extension (SKU#25200; 80 Euros new; very versatile). #1c.: Vaccum valve installed (old model) plus pump (broken, but repaired and is working). #1d.: spare main O-ring for housing. #1e.: Padded travel bag. Asking 200 Euro obo (shipping worldwide at the expense of the buyer) #2.: Olympus EM5II camera body: I bought this body new in 2018. You get: #2a.: camera body with original accu. #2b.: charger with additional original spare accu. #2c.: Book about the camera (in German). Asking 210 Euros obo (shipping worldwide at the expense of the buyer). Both housing plus camera (#1+#2) go together for 380 Euros obo (shipping worldwide at the expense of the buyer). Personal pick-up (Austria/Europe) possible. Payment via PayPal or bank transfer... Wolfgang

For sale is a slightly used Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM (new 949 Euro) plus Nauticam focus gear (SKU # 19523; new 208 Euro). asking: #1.: lens: 400 Euro obo #2.: Focus gear: 55 Euro obo #1 & #2: 425 Euros obo located in Austria/Europe. Personal pickup possible. Shipping worldwide at the expense of the buyer. Payment via banktransfer or PayPal. Wolfgang

Very easy to feel at home here: not only similar, put improved, format as Wetpixel. Chris and Tim from the old moderator team and Davide as a new moderator - Just stay on the ball! Wolfgang

Regarding your initial question I cannot prove from real live, but e.g. the SKU # 32214 45° viewfinder is able to compensate -3 to +3 dioptries, so it should work with a mask with +2 or +3 glasses (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZXdgS9N8TIgeciMzXb9GHhORUeA-pL-b/view)... Having a permanent reading glass of +2 or +3 dioptries in the mask may be a cheap solution, but it is probably not comfortable considering that visual perception is the most important perception while scubadiving and also while taking photos UW... I personally prefer to have all my optical ametropias corrected by having glued-in and multifocal lenses in my mask, fabricated by a dedicated company. Vision is similarily perfect as with the glasses that I wear above the surface (nearsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia). One could even think about including extra + dioptries at the near end, to get some magnifying glass effect, but i did not dry this... Since I have such a mask, I just can forget about all my optical problems. I can read again finnimeter and diving computer easily. My 45° viewfinder is no problem with this mask. This comes at the cost of about 700 Euros for such a mask, but I think it was a very worthy investment. I have other, more expensive, items in my gear list that I could omit more easily... Wolfgang

I am a leasure time UW-photographer from Austria, glad to join here. Usually I make approx. 100 dives a year and never go without camera... Wolfgang