I just got back from a great week of diving in Cozumel. This is the first time I had my Oly SP350 camera+FL20 flash in the Ocean. I've done some fresh water dives in low visibility so I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm happy to report that the camera performed past my expectations. All of my dives were in current so you had to anticipate, frame and shoot a subject fairly quickly (that's my excuse anyway.. ). In most instances there was very little shutter lag. As with life, underwater moments happen quickly so you often find yourself pointing, shooting and praying it came out. In Cozumel, that happens with a 3 knot current washing you downstream. I found that in most cases it wasn't my camera that failed, but the photographer/diver. Although our visibility was good all week (20M+) it was overcast most of the time with intermittent sunshine. The cameras AF performed well in those conditions. It did struggle in those conditions to lock focus on a fast moving subject. Lighting seemed to be my biggest challenge. I was told that my flash diffuser might not stay on but I had little, if any, trouble with it once I had placed it correctly on the flash housing. I was also told that the beam was too narrow, however, I found that it performed adequately. I only found it to be inadequate when I put on the Sea&Sea 16mm wet conversion lens. Then I could notice a definite fade in the intensity of the flash as it failed to cover the lens adequately. Overall my analysis is that it peformed better than the photographer and I was pleased with my overall results which I'll post a few of later,
Gary
Good to hear the positive report. I'm learning to see how your setup works before I use mine in Fiji.
Any photos to post?
I'll post them in the photos thread. I'm just now converting them, filing them, backing them up etc... I should have a few posted tonight
Glad to hear you finally got to shoot in the Ocean! Wish I was in Cozumel. Loved it when we went last year. Possibility I might get to go to Grand Cayman in October. My wife has a business (diving) trip there. If I can take a couple of days off teaching I'll join her. Look forward to seeing your posts in the Photo section. The Oly flash works quite nicely in clear water, where the light can filter out. Too bad we don't get much of that here. This week, it's 5-8 feet of green gunge.
Cayman. I've been there once and it was the best. Simply incredible visibility. If you're wife has a reason to go and you're scheduled to teach....you get ill...really ill...5 days worth of ill. Because if you don't get ill and go with her...you'll be ill after she gets back and tells you how great it was. Besides...it'll be a welcome break from the true muck diving you do in California. BTW...I didn't have any problems keeping that diffuser on once I figured out how to correctly seat it. After that it only came off on 1 dive out of 10. The flash worked admirably in that setting even adequately covering some serious WA stuff. Granted it lacked some power but hey...that's what my 2nd one will be for when I get the cash to buy it...
Later,
Gary
Gary,
Nice photos!
Nice shots, Gary. The turtle came out great. How did your WA lens work out. Any problems? I'm looking at one right now. The turtle looks great as is, but if it was mine, I'd crop most of the sand out, lighten it a bit and enlarge whats left to the original size. Awesome picture just like it is, though.
Desert,
Thanks, I was happy with the results. I learned a ton about underwater photography and have a new-found respect for the guys on here who make it look effortless.
Larry,
Thanks, I'm completely thrilled with the WA lens. I couldn't have made a better choice. Its only drawback is its bulkly underwater and makes the whole rig more negative. Picture-wise, I found that I started keeping it on most of the time. The only time I removed it was for macro shots. Since you can remove it underwater, I just stuck it in a BC pocket. I had about 99% of the full zoom range with only the fullest WA showing vignetting. Clipping stops at an aperture of 2.9. With an aperture of 2.9-8.0 I'm only missing the 2.8 setting. I can zoom in or out at will with no noticable distortion in any position. All of the pics on my link are done with the WA in place. Thanks for the advice on the turtle pic...I saw a ton of turtles and got about 15 pics and that was the best one. I was looking the other way and floated (drifted) over a large turtle being cleaned by angel fish...unfortunately I was in a ripping current and couldn't get back in place for a good picture. Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I'm trying to plan one more trip somewhere for late summer.
later,
Gary
We had a couple of those "fly" dives in Coz as well. About all you can do is grab a rock with a couple of fingers and try to stay a bit. I managed to kick back about 5 feet to join my family and dive leader for a Nurse Shark visit on our night dive, but man, was I tired. I'm glad you like the S & S 16. I just bought one on E-Bay (50 pounds GB plus 12.7 pounds airmail and ins.) About $116. They go for $376 new on line. Now I'm thinking about one of those Epoque macro lenses, although I hear they're very difficult to focus due to the power (2X). I'm going to do whatever I can to go on my wife's Cayman trip, although I'll probably only get 2 days of diving-Fly in Thurs. night, dive Fri/Sat and Fly back Sun. night. Probably fly as long as I stay!
Larry,
You'll need a step up ring to adapt the lens. You can get one that goes all the way from 46mm to 58mm at your local camera store. Be careful screwing the lens on and off underwater. I was doing it once on the boat and actually managed to unscrew the red housing port off. I re-attached it and tightened it but I thought if that happened underwater it would be a disaster. I kind of hold onto the port while unscrewing the large lens now so that doesn't happen. I was also looking at the Epoque macro lens however I think they sit on that epoque tray with some sort of adapter which centers it on your housing. If I had a way to get to Cayman, I'd go. Even if I got 2 days diving in. It's simply awesome. Later,
Gary
Be careful screwing the lens on and off underwater. I was doing it once on the boat and actually managed to unscrew the red housing port off. I re-attached it and tightened it but I thought if that happened underwater it would be a disaster. I kind of hold onto the port while unscrewing the large lens now so that doesn't happen...
). In most instances there was very little shutter lag. As with life, underwater moments happen quickly so you often find yourself pointing, shooting and praying it came out. In Cozumel, that happens with a 3 knot current washing you downstream. I found that in most cases it wasn't my camera that failed, but the photographer/diver. Although our visibility was good all week (20M+) it was overcast most of the time with intermittent sunshine. The cameras AF performed well in those conditions. It did struggle in those conditions to lock focus on a fast moving subject. Lighting seemed to be my biggest challenge. I was told that my flash diffuser might not stay on but I had little, if any, trouble with it once I had placed it correctly on the flash housing. I was also told that the beam was too narrow, however, I found that it performed adequately. I only found it to be inadequate when I put on the Sea&Sea 16mm wet conversion lens. Then I could notice a definite fade in the intensity of the flash as it failed to cover the lens adequately. Overall my analysis is that it peformed better than the photographer and I was pleased with my overall results which I'll post a few of later,
Because if you don't get ill and go with her...you'll be ill after she gets back and tells you how great it was. Besides...it'll be a welcome break from the true muck diving you do in California. BTW...I didn't have any problems keeping that diffuser on once I figured out how to correctly seat it. After that it only came off on 1 dive out of 10. The flash worked admirably in that setting even adequately covering some serious WA stuff. Granted it lacked some power but hey...that's what my 2nd one will be for when I get the cash to buy it... 
