Seatool ND300

Can the camera flash be closed while installed inside the housing, i.e. is there a lever to push the flash close?

yes

Case closed!

Why would you want to close the flash while in use?

Quicker than turning strobes off and on for a silhouette. Also would allow you to use a faster shutter speed than the synch speed for that available light shot.

Alex

I used this a lot on my Seatool ND300 in the Galapagos last November, for switching between available light shots and strobe lit shots, depending on how close the animals were. It's definitely faster than turning off the strobes, and you can re-deploy it with a quick button press. Also save on camera battery (if you just turn the strobes off, the internal flash will probably full dump on all those shots).

I am looking to see if this capability is available in the new Sea&Sea for D700, as I'm considering this for my second system. If Seatool would make a housing for the D700, I would definitely go for it.

If Seatool would make a housing for the D700, I would definitely go for it.

Me too!

It has a button that allows the redeployment of the flash? Or do you switch to auto so the camera pops the flash up automatically?

Good point for silhouettes

At least for the D300. in the Flash Menu, set to Manual. The flash power setting is variable, from full to 1/128th of full. With fiber optics I use 1/100 power, with minimal drain on battery. Still get 6-8 dives, 600+ shots.

It has a button that allows the redeployment of the flash? Or do you switch to auto so the camera pops the flash up automatically?

 

Good point for silhouettes

It has a button specifically to pop up the flash

At least for the D300. in the Flash Menu, set to Manual. The flash power setting is variable, from full to 1/128th of full. With fiber optics I use 1/100 power, with minimal drain on battery. Still get 6-8 dives, 600+ shots.

Ah yes, I forgot that I had been setting it that way as well. With fiber optic connections, I like to use TTL on the internal flash for macro (and override by choice) and low manual power for WA. I have set up two banks of main settings, one for macro and one for WA (actually three, since I have a third bank set up for WA with magic filter), and sometimes I forget how I've set the individual settings!

So the battery savings is mostly a moot point. I do like to shut off and turn on the strobes using the internal flash pushdown/deploy, though, and now consider it when looking at new housings that support fiber optic connections. Among other things, I have started a dive and realized that I had forgotten to deploy the flash. It's nice to be able to correct my oversight underwater.

Linda

It has a button specifically to pop up the flash

Ahh the 40D/50D Canon housing does not. It think it's placement makes it very difficult to have thus my question on whether you have to switch the camera over to make it pop up using an auto function with the camera reading that it needs flash. Thus popping up the flash.

Good information for fibre use in this thread for folks too.

Cheers

Todd

Ahh the 40D/50D Canon housing does not. It think it's placement makes it very difficult to have thus my question on whether you have to switch the camera over to make it pop up using an auto function with the camera reading that it needs flash. Thus popping up the flash.

The original Seatool XTi housing did not, but XSi, 40D, 50D do have that control. It is one of the little square pushbuttons underneath your zoom control.

The original Seatool XTi housing did not, but XSi, 40D, 50D do have that control. It is one of the little square pushbuttons underneath your zoom control.

Yes, like Ryan says, the 40D/50D housing DOES have a control to pop up the flash. Here is a photo showing where it is!

Mike