Flat port manual focus tips

I've been playing around with the manual focus on my Sony A1 in an Ikelite housing and would be interested in people's thoughts on where to set the manual focus for general filming for wide and medium shots. I've tried various settings of 1.5m, 2.0m, 2.5m and also at the other end with 40m and infinity settings, between 1.5m and 2.5m seems to give better results. I'm using a UWL-100 wide angle lens without a dome port and also no additional lens.

Any info greatly appreciated.

Have you considered using their dome port...just slightly more expensive. The dome will increase the FOV, give better edges, but limit zoom through. The flat preserves zoom through but will limit FOV and yield softer edges. You may find it easier to find that hyperfocal point with the dome as well.

Regardless, I would get to a depth or lighting scenario where your iris is pretty wide (low light). Find a subject say 3-4 meters from you. AF on that subject then lock. Now test to see how far and close you can get and keep focus with that focus setting locked. In the shallower water, the focal distance setting should work even better.

Thanks for the autofocus tip, will give that a go later this week.

I did consider getting the dome port but it seems I can't then use a red filter. I'm kind of thinking that I'm not going to invest any more money in this rig and will put any money towards a new set-up.

I'm not sure what sort of an upgrade you are looking for, but there is an Amphibico EVO Pro with an HC1 for sale on ebay right now. I have my A1 in this housing, and really like it. There is also a review by Wagsy for this setup. The HC1 would make a good topside camera (no MWB). It is used, so make sure to ask questions of the seller if interested.

Thanks for the autofocus tip, will give that a go later this week.

 

I did consider getting the dome port but it seems I can't then use a red filter. I'm kind of thinking that I'm not going to invest any more money in this rig and will put any money towards a new set-up.

Cheers,

Mark.

Why can you then not use a corrective filter with the wide angle lens? A lot of this work / hobby, revolves around personal innovation. In Palau I had a VX1000 for a while and had a wide lens stuck behind a port. rather than use an externally mounted matte box type arrangement due to the potential for it to get ripped off in strong currents I came up with my own design. I basically carved a circular filter to fit exactly into the lip of the wide angle lens and jammed it in there. I had manual white balance capabilities so I could white balance through the filter at any given depth. White balancing just below the water line would also render great colors.....its all about thinking outside of the box.

 

Cheers,

Mark.

A good point and sticking a Magic Filter on the front of the camera lens would also work but I like the flexibility of being able to remove/flip-in and out the filter when underwater. Particularly as the A1 isn't the best in low light and sometimes will struggle to get a white-balance with the filter in place. It's a good idea though.

I'm not sure what sort of an upgrade you are looking for, but there is an Amphibico EVO Pro with an HC1 for sale on ebay right now. I have my A1 in this housing, and really like it. There is also a review by Wagsy for this setup. The HC1 would make a good topside camera (no MWB). It is used, so make sure to ask questions of the seller if interested.

Looks good and I could also put the HC-1 back on eBay with my Ikelite housing but by the time I'd got an external monitor and lenses I'd probably rather spend the money on a Z1 or EX-1. It is very tempting though!