DSLR, starting from scratch

Hello,

I'm new in underwater photography.

My equipement :

D70

Micro Nikkor 105Vr 2.8

Strobe : SB800, SB600

What I want to do :

November 2007, diving in the great lake of the rift valley (Malawi).

Take photography (portrait) of fishes like this (It's my prior goal):

http://cichlidpress.pair.com/photos/aul-mamalela.jpg

What do i need :

Housig for my D70

Housing for my flash?

Still Ittl works with nocable?

105mm is ok?

Thanks for your help.

Sorry for my poor english.

One strobe will work with iTTL. If you want TTL for two strobes you will have to rig up a fibre optic cable to the second strobe. Fantasea and Subal make housings for the SB800. You should be able to get a good deal on a D70 housing as many have upgraded to the D200 recently.

The 105 will work well if you only want to take portraits of small to medium size fish, otherwise you will need something wider angle as well.

Be sure whatever port and housing you choose can accommodate the wider VR lens.

Hello,

 

I'm new in underwater photography.

 

My equipement :

 

D70

Micro Nikkor 105Vr 2.8

Strobe : SB800, SB600

 

What I want to do :

November 2007, diving in the great lake of the rift valley (Malawi).

Take photography (portrait) of fishes like this (It's my prior goal):

 

http://cichlidpress.pair.com/photos/aul-mamalela.jpg

 

What do i need :

Housig for my D70

Housing for my flash?

Still Ittl works with nocable?

105mm is ok?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Sorry for my poor english.

Hello,

If cableless doesn't work, I can forget my SB600 (no connector for cable :/).

One Sb800 in mastermode connected to the D70, another one connected to the first SB800?

It's allright?

Maybe 2 Ikelite DS-50(51) instead? Same NG for fishs portraits?

I haven't any housing for my dslr but I think Ikelite was a good one for 3weeks, everyday use?

Thanks a lot for your help

If you want a good resource to discuss your options, contact Ryan at Reef Photo (See their ad in the side panel) - he will give you all the pros and cons of the different options. You may also want to search this site for the thread discussing using two SB800's where someone described how he set up a fibre-optic cable between two SB800's to use both with iTTL

Hello,

 

If cableless doesn't work, I can forget my SB600 (no connector for cable :/).

 

One Sb800 in mastermode connected to the D70, another one connected to the first SB800?

It's allright?

 

Maybe 2 Ikelite DS-50(51) instead? Same NG for fishs portraits?

 

I haven't any housing for my dslr but I think Ikelite was a good one for 3weeks, everyday use?

 

Thanks a lot for your help

I think that an Ikelite housing and two DS-50 are probably your best option. It is complicated to house SB800s and they won't work with the Ikelite housing.

I think that an Ikelite housing and two DS-50 are probably your best option. It is complicated to house SB800s and they won't work with the Ikelite housing.

Thanks everybody for your help.

Could you look at this picture? http://cichlidpress.pair.com/photos/aul-mamalela.jpg

I think there is one strobe ... ?

The author doesn't speak about his setup but he seems use a Nikonos or a D1X with 105mm and SB105.

What do you think about this setup?

D70 + 105VR (or 60???) + (18-70??)

Ikelite housing ITTL

2 DS-50 (for remove the shadow)

2 Ev manual controler

Nothing missing for a full setup?

No ITTL if I use 2 strobes at the same time; ITTL if I use just one. That's OK ?

Thanks a lot!

Thanks everybody for your help.

 

Could you look at this picture? http://cichlidpress.pair.com/photos/aul-mamalela.jpg

I think there is one strobe ... ?

The author doesn't speak about his setup but he seems use a Nikonos or a D1X with 105mm and SB105.

 

What do you think about this setup?

D70 + 105VR (or 60???) + (18-70??)

Ikelite housing ITTL

2 DS-50 (for remove the shadow)

2 Ev manual controler

Nothing missing for a full setup?

 

No ITTL if I use 2 strobes at the same time; ITTL if I use just one. That's OK ?

 

Thanks a lot!

Hello,

With 60mm :

For a picture which is 15cm in length, I need to be at 43cm;

for one which is 30cm in length, I need to be at 86cm.

With 105VR

15cm : 74cm;

30cm : 148cm

So, I think 60mm macro is better for fish's portraits (5cm to 20cm), don't you?

Are Two DS50 OK for this kind of job?

Or do I need a strongest strobe like Inon Z240?

DS125 is not possible because I want AA battery pack.

I would like to have 2 strobes because of hard shadows.

Thanks for your answer

J-S

Malawi, exciting, It is one of my dreamdestinations!!!

As for your questions:

Yes I would definitele recommend an Ikelite housing for your camera.

The choice of two ds-51 strobes is also a good choice in my opinion. That way you get TTL underwater and you will not have to worry that much about this... It is not that difficult to learn how to shoot manual strobes underwater but If you have one thing less to think about why not choose a setup that gives you TTL.

Lens choice:

From what I have hear the 105 is a superb lens... It will probably be very useful if the smaller cichlids are shy, but I guess it needs more strobepower, but two ike strobes will probably do the work?! (ask someone who knows)

The 60mm is probably also a good choice if you can get closer (nightdive!)...

Do you have a wideangle lens? In that case I would recommend you to also invest in some sort of port for the wideangle lens. I dont think that I have ever seen any good wideangle pictures from lake malawi that is properly showing the enviroment, its always "fish portraits"

Good luck with your trip. I would be very pleased if you wrote a few word about how it is to shoot cichlids in lake malawi and maby show uss a few of your pics when you get back!

Hello,

Thanks a lot for your answer.

I think I'm going to buy an Ike housing iTTL + 2 DS 50 or 51 + 60mm or 105mm (or both) + 18-70mm.

If everything is ok, I'll come back with nice pictures.