The Mask ???

Hi all,

Does anyone have any recommendations for masks that are especially suited for underwater photography?

My gut tells me that something with a single pane, low volume, and black silicone skirt would work well.

Joe Diver America advertises this mask as being suitable for photography (it's a black Mares Brama mask). Any comments?

Thanks!

I'm a rank novice who has finally decided to buy my own equipment after renting.

I (plan to) shoot with an Olympus Stylus 500 in the Oly underwater housing.

How it feals on your face and how you see through it is by far the most important feature. I recomend going to a dive shop and trying on a bunch of masks and picking out the one you find most comfortable in.

Definately use a black skirt on a mask it will take a lot of the stray light rays out of your face. IMHO

Tony

Yes fit is the most important, however there are less distractions when using black skirtted mask. I find that I can see much more of the reef, without all the extra light coming in from a clear skirt. You will need to learn how to clear with one hand, since the other will have the camera. I suggest learning to place 2 -3 fingers at the top center press slightly and blow easily as you tip head back.

If you get a really nice low volume black skirted high visoin mask you will love it ... I picked one up recently .. i forget the name of it but the mistake people make is getting freediving masks which are low volume but have small fields of view. I will come backwith some names when i have them my housemate is a dive retailer and a equipment geek .. he helped me find mine. And now that fit is important ... the bit to watch out for really is the nose. You want to be able to equalise (if youneed hands) with just fore finger and thumb and it has to be easy to get to with one hand .. this is the biggest problem with most masks right now .. i dont need to get into why but if you try some out you will see some are easier than othres.

As for the clearing the mask .. less important .. if it fits right it will barely leak .. 100% dry mask is almost non existent .. but if it fits right you will also be able to clear the little water that gets in just by breathing out of you nose after every breath in. You may have to tilt your head up but i am able to clear mine in any position. At the VERY most you may need one hand for a half to full flood.

names of models to come ...

Well, if you use a prosumer camera and hold the camera away from you, it doesn't much matter.

If you stick your eyeball up to a viewfinder, you want low profile and black skirt. Every brand seems to have one.

I use an Oceanic Shadow, frameless. They have two versions. Others use the ScubaPro frameless. Both provide great peripheral vision and low volume.

I haven't gotten around to trying any other brands.

If you stick your eyeball up to a viewfinder, you want low profile and black skirt. 

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I agree, I use a Sporasub Samurai.

I use an Oceanic Mini Shadow (frameless, with black skirt), and have seen lots of photographers using the various Shadow models (which only differ in size).

I use the Technisub Luna, great low profile mask, the only problem with it is that this model doesn’t manufactured any more, but I saw it form time to time in the market.

Well, if you use a prosumer camera and hold the camera away from you, it doesn't much matter. 

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I chose the Oly Stylus 500 and its housing in large part because of its 2.5" LCD -- hopefully it'll be easy on the eyes underwater!

Thanks all for the feedback. My wife and I are going to be doing some abalone diving in NorCal after I take the bar at the end of July; hopefully we'll be able to produce some interesting images to share!

If you have a big viewfinder on your SLR, it's not that bad using a high-volume mask. But the smaller the finder, the more you need a black skirt so you can make out the image through the viewfinder. However, a black skirt is useful for any viewfinder that requires you to cram the viewfinder into your mask.

Joe

Hi all,

If this has been covered SORRY !!

Which is the ultimate mask for filming / photo's.

At the moment I use a Technisub 'look' which has served me well for the last 8 years. But its dayglow green and yellow

Iv'e noticed a lot of peeps are using masks with black silicone seals..?

Any suggestions my aquatic chums.

Dive safe

DeanB

That is totally going to be user preference. Some pros like black, low profile masks to allow better viewing through the viewfinder. The black rubber prevents some degree of sunlight from getting into the mask, while clear silicone simply lets in more light. Low profile also places your face closer to the camera. Good luck.

Joe

If this has been covered  SORRY !!

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Hi Dean, it has been covered before, but since this topic is brought up several times I merged your topic with the most recent one. If we get much feedback here I will make this a "pinned" topic.

Thanks Luiz,

I thought it might have. Its me being to lazy to search..!!!

Back to basics I think..Just try before you buy..?

Dive safe

DeanB

Some of us also have the requirement for corrective lenses, and in my case, bifocal lenses. The Tusa Liberator mask with black skirt met all my requirments and could be fitted with bifocal corrective lenses. I never needed the bifocals until I had to start reviewing shots and data on my DSLR screen underwater. They're a lifesaver (shotsaver?)!

Hi:

Just picked up a Seavision 2000 black-skirted mask with built in +2.00 diopters. It was either a new mask or get a longer air line for the dive computer. As I couldn't find a a twelve foot air hose for the dive computer, I settled on the diopters for the mask.

Try before you buy as I could not get the new mask to seal in the dive store or when using a snorkel but when using a regulator it is dry as a bone inside the mask.

I have also moved up to the Seavision Anti-fog spray from the more traditional spit as a way to keep the mask from fogging up. It really does works wonders IMHO.

Everything seems so clear now! It really has made a difference in my diving and the pleasure derived from it.

Paul

With reefroamer, I'm also a TUSA Liberator fan and have been for years - I have two, both with prescription plates, carry both on every dive.

Frogfish

When freediving, as low volume as you can get comes in 2 forms - The Cressi Minima and the Aqualung Falco (same as Technisub Sphera)

For blowing bubbles - I absolutely love the Poseidon ThreeDee or the Technica all in Black Silicone and black trim.

Laz Ruda introduced me to a prototype from Atomic at the Florida Dive Show that I will own once it starts shipping in the spring. Now I use a Scubapro Frameless.