Why its best to have two style viewfinders

In a Subal or Nauticam housing I use Nauticam viewfinders.  Both have advantages and you really need both.

The straight thru (gunshot) is great for finding fish on the move or also a night dives to locate things faster.

The 45 is my go to in most daytime situations shooting macro for example. You can get on the same eye level as subject and it easier to frame the view from above looking at subjects.I

Its not one or the other its both are needed for the best results for me..

In a Subal or Nauticam housing I use Nauticam viewfinders.  Both have advantages and you really need both.
The straight thru (gunshot) is great for finding fish on the move or also a night dives to locate things faster.
The 45 is my go to in most daytime situations shooting macro for example. You can get on the same eye level as subject and it easier to frame the view from above looking at subjects.I
Its not one or the other its both are needed for the best results for me..

why is the straight viewfinder better at night??  Couldn't you just use the 45 all the time?  I think once you get used to it, its fine for open water and other non-macro subjects.

20 minutes ago, rwb500 said:

why is the straight viewfinder better at night??  Couldn't you just use the 45 all the time?  I think once you get used to it, its fine for open water and other non-macro subjects.

the OP uses a DLSR for which viewfinders are required as the camera will not focus with phase detect using live view

For mirrorless the op post is less interesting and I do not think anyone with a decent mirrorless with a good LCD has even considered a straight viewfinder. I have not for example

My view is that you are much better placed getting used to one style of viewfinder and use only that so it is entirely second nature. 

23 minutes ago, Alex_Mustard said:

My view is that you are much better placed getting used to one style of viewfinder and use only that so it is entirely second nature. 

Totally agree. 

I shot the straight thru viewfinder for over 35 years  in every Aqutitica and Subal I owned and until I used and got used to the 45 for bottom dewelling subjects I did not know what I was missing. With the 45 you can put housing on bottom and really move in close for macro work. The Nauticams also have a adjustment for better optics than many other viewfinders

At night  dives I still prefer the 180 gun site as it a bit mor intuitive to find subjects till for me. Unless it all bottom critters I'm shooting at night.

If shooting faster moving subjects like fish the gunsite is easier to fast track. Say open water subjects as well .Yes I'm shooting a Nikon d850 now. Not a mirrorless.. 

Its my 40th year shooting housings underwater and yes you need to get used to whatever finder you have 1st before using another style finder, or for that matter any piece of underwater gear.

I shot the straight thru viewfinder for over 35 years  in every Aqutitica and Subal I owned and until I used and got used to the 45 for bottom dewelling subjects I did not know what I was missing. With the 45 you can put housing on bottom and really move in close for macro work. The Nauticams also have a adjustment for better optics than many other viewfinders
At night  dives I still prefer the 180 gun site as it a bit mor intuitive to find subjects till for me. Unless it all bottom critters I'm shooting at night.
If shooting faster moving subjects like fish the gunsite is easier to fast track. Say open water subjects as well .Yes I'm shooting a Nikon d850 now. Not a mirrorless.. 
Its my 40th year shooting housings underwater and yes you need to get used to whatever finder you have 1st before using another style finder, or for that matter any piece of underwater gear.

Not moving to mirrorless unless they get a bunch smaller and lighter (the housing and cameras) right now they are about the same as a dslr and they need to improve on action tracking as well

Not moving to mirrorless unless they get a bunch smaller and lighter (the housing and cameras) right now they are about the same as a dslr and they need to improve on action tracking as well

@onokai The Sony A1 is a much newer generation (both due to being mirrorless and other capabilities, including AF in some scenarios) than the D850 (I dive with both the D500 and D850, my daughter has been diving with the Sony A series for the last 5 years). The Sony A1 does have much better tracking... having said this - a better comparison would be the Sony A7RV, which also has better tracking, at a better price point. For these mirrorless cameras the straight viewfinders are less valuable given the quality of the LCDs, refresh rate, etc. Having said this, I have both viewfinders for my Nikons, however I use the 45 almost 90% of the time now, even shooting blackwater. I use them in part because of the adjustable diopter...

To move to a Sony A system that can get reasonable results shooting macro, he had to spend significantly more (for what some would argue inferior capabilities given lens limitations), over 2x in today's $.

53 minutes ago, oneyellowtang said:

@onokai The Sony A1 is a much newer generation (both due to being mirrorless and other capabilities, including AF in some scenarios) than the D850 (I dive with both the D500 and D850, my daughter has been diving with the Sony A series for the last 5 years). The Sony A1 does have much better tracking... having said this - a better comparison would be the Sony A7RV, which also has better tracking, at a better price point. For these mirrorless cameras the straight viewfinders are less valuable given the quality of the LCDs, refresh rate, etc. Having said this, I have both viewfinders for my Nikons, however I use the 45 almost 90% of the time now, even shooting blackwater. I use them in part because of the adjustable diopter...

To move to a Sony A system that can get reasonable results shooting macro, he had to spend significantly more (for what some would argue inferior capabilities given lens limitations), over 2x in today's $.

 

He mentioned action tracking. For me action tracking means fast moving subjects and to do better than the D850 it needs to support 10fps 

The A7RV with a sloppy 7 fps RAW can't really compete with the D850 today

@Interceptor121  Did you ask him or did you assume what he was shooting?

You could always look through previous posts to get an idea...

9 minutes ago, oneyellowtang said:

@Interceptor121  Did you ask him or did you assume what he was shooting?

You could always look through previous posts to get an idea...

He wrote

they need to improve on action tracking as well

The A7RV is not particularly good at action tracking it is not designed for it. No specific need to ask what is shooting from this sentence

I read lots of camera reviews and the action tracking is a constant issue. I'm sure it will improve with mirrorless  soon for sports and action shooters and surpass the DSLRs soon. Heck DSLRs are not being made anymore soon. For a old guy like me to change it now has to be lighter and smaller (the whole package,housing strobes camera) and work as well in all applications  including action tracking.

I am not even talking about the lens issues of all my SLR lens that I have and really would need to switch out slowly. 

How much action tracking goes on in u/w photography? Just asking…

How much action tracking goes on in u/w photography? Just asking…

4 hours ago, Interceptor121 said:

Very little

Yeah, that's what I figured. Maybe for fast moving seals or dolphins with wide-angle

Yeah, that's what I figured. Maybe for fast moving seals or dolphins with wide-angle

15 hours ago, Interceptor121 said:

He wrote

they need to improve on action tracking as well

The A7RV is not particularly good at action tracking it is not designed for it. No specific need to ask what is shooting from this sentence

What you wrote: "For me action tracking means fast moving subjects and to do better than the D850 it needs to support 10fps"

The A7RV was a different comment, mine was regarding the fact that you assumed he was talking about shooting video, you didn't actually ask for the clarification.

There are a number of folks who shoot with c-af on a DSLR, including @adamhanlon who wrote (3/22):

"I think that shooting the D850 (or D500/D5) in single servo mode is like driving a Ferrari at 30mph...

For the majority of my shooting, I use Continuous AF with 3D focus tracking" w/regards to shooting macro. 

I've also found it particularly useful for some blackwater sitatuations...