Diopters for the Gates

Curious as to what success folk have had when shooting macro with the Gates flat port and diopters. Using a 2, 3? Prior I always used a super macro port and now I will be using a flat port and diopters for a 'coming up quickly' trip to the Phillipines. Shooting with the A1-U and Gates housing.

Steve B)

Our results (well my wife's actually) suggest that the diopters (+2 and +3) are actually a bit better than the supermacro port, don't know why. DOF is vanishingly small but the closeups are stunning at least on the HC1

Bill

One other point, figure out how to actuate the release on the macro lens before you go under water. Ours gets a bit fussy underwater and some mechanical advantage is often needed.

Bill

Great, much thanks. Haven't used the diopters with the Gates but will need to do so in the Philippines in a couple of weeks.-Steve B)

Just curious Steve,

Do you have sufficient space enough in the Gates to be able to stack up on diopters like a +4, +2 arrangement?

Mark.

Haven't tried that. Using a #6 diopter(4&2) would be extremely difficult to maintain any steadiness. I am headed to the Philippines in a couple of weeks on a Fam and will try it for you tho and let you know.-Steve B)

ps. Is my avatar showing up. All I see on this end is a blue box and a question mark?

Steve,

When shooting extreme macro I use some kind of home made support or jerry rigged tripod system. I shot a lot, read seven month in total, of Mandarin Fish footage using the 4 and 2 arrangement, even a 10 for filming the gamets drifting in the water. So the steadiness aspect is covered. More concerned about the physical space between the camera and the inside of the flat port on the Z1 housing to allow for diopter stacking.

Your avatar is showing up no problems.

Mark.