TODAY with a 5060!

Thought I'd share some pictures from this morning taken with a new type of camera for me!

These pictures are all taken with an Olympus 5060 in a PT housing. With a INON wide angle adaptor and a INON D2000 TTL strobe. And yes, the strobe WAS set to TTL!

And just to get my excuses in first. I only got to Cayman last night. This is my first time with this camera - I normally use a DSLR. Its not mine, borrowed to do a review of the D2000 for UWP Mag. Also while I am making excuses, these were also my first dives this year and I my first here in Cayman since before Hurrcane Ivan so I did dedicate quite a lot of my time looking for damage.

All 5 images taken as JPGs and uncropped.

Alex

Ocean Frontiers boat Captain Dan Schaar in cave

F8 @ 1/8th sec. Flash TTL

One thing I really want to try this week is shooting sunbursts. Like many digicams (but unlike most DSLRs) the Oly 5060 has a virtual shutter and therefore is capable of flash synchronisation at high shutter speeds.

This makes it suitable for shooting sunbursts - the fast shutter speed lets you control the exposure of the sunburst so it doesn't burn out too much.

It wasn't great conditions for sunbursts this morning. But this shot is already better than my D100 could manage. I'll do better as the week goes on.

Gorgonian arms and sun

F8 @ 1/250th. TTL flash.

Standard wide angle image of seafan. This was my first picture. Aim and zap. The TTL works very well.

F8 @ 1/30th. TTL.

I thought that the silvery barracuda would be a good test for the TTL. It worked well. But the TTL may have been also been saved from burning out the barracuda by the longer camera to subject distance here.

F6.3 @ 1/60th. TTL.

Back in the East End's caves again. I would have much preferred two strobes for this shot. I'll rig that up later in the week - but because I don't have 2 D2000s I will be shooting manual. Which I prefer anyway. Although I have to say that the D2000 TTL is very conincing with the Olympus.

F8 @ 1/13th. TTL

One thing I really want to try this week is shooting sunbursts. Like many digicams (but unlike most DSLRs) the Oly 5060 has a virtual shutter and therefore is capable of flash synchronisation at high shutter speeds.

 

This makes it suitable for shooting sunbursts - the fast shutter speed lets you control the exposure of the sunburst so it doesn't burn out too much.

 

It wasn't great conditions for sunbursts this morning. But this shot is already better than my D100 could manage. I'll do better as the week goes on.

 

Gorgonian arms and sun

F8 @ 1/250th. TTL flash.

I'm a little surprised by your comment on the D100 comparison. You're only at 1/250 on this shot which is not far from the x-sync of the D100. The lower ISO, were you shooting at ISO 65, is also a factor, but you had smaller apertures on the D100 and could have achieved a lower ambient light exposure.

Alex,

Thanks for the update. I'm amazed at the negligible motion blur captured at such relatively slow shutter speeds. You must not be a coffee drinker : ). Are you choosing the shutter speeds or are you set to aperture priority?

D2000 angle of coverage appears similar to the WAL except for possibly the last image? Or is that vignetting?

thanks!

bobf

These pics say one thing to me: it's the photographer, not the camera that takes great pictures.

Thanks for sharing!

I'm a little surprised by your comment on the D100 comparison. You're only at 1/250 on this shot which is not far from the x-sync of the D100. The lower ISO, were you shooting at ISO 65, is also a factor, but you had smaller apertures on the D100 and could have achieved a lower ambient light exposure.

Fair point. I did shoot some 1/800 and 1/1000th shots too. But I preferred the compostion of this one - which is why I posted it. I'l try for some improved images as the week goes on.

Alex

I'm amazed at the negligible motion blur captured at such relatively slow shutter speeds.  Are you choosing the shutter speeds or are you set to aperture priority?  

 

D2000 angle of coverage appears similar to the WAL except for possibly the last image?  Or is that vignetting?

Hi Bob,

I often use very slow shutter speeds underwater. Especially with wide angle lenses anything above 1/4 is usually fine. So long as you squeese the shutter. I was shooting in Manual rather than aperture priority.

Coverage from the Inon was an area that disappointed me. You are right that it doesn't quite do the whole lens - and the Inon lens is not that wide. I don't have a diffuser BTW. Normally for wide ange with a single strobe I would not try and light the whole frame - instead I would leave part of it blue and only light the foreground (like the seafan shot).

Alex

Alex,

Thanks for the reply. Buoyancy is a skill that I'm always trying to improve upon. Your ability to capture images at those shutter speeds is inspirational!

Looking forward to more pics and I anxiously await your review.

Regards,

Bob

Hate to give away all my secrets...LOL! My favorite start setting was f6.3 @ 1/1000.

Wish I'd been able to make that trip. Maybe the next one.

Rand