Startup tips? New to underwater digital, w/new Ikelite.

I sold my Sea & Sea Seamaster Pro awhile back, and purchased a 300D with the intent to buy a housing 'someday.' Well, someday came, and as of this week I have a new Ikelite housing and a DS-125 strobe. My first trip with it is in less than a month, to Palau. I'm planning on just taking the Sigma 15mm FE and the kit lens with me, using the Sigma underwater. I figure it'll be best to keep things simple at the start in any event, and from posts I've read here it sounds like people have had good experiences with this lens.

Sooooo, my question is this: Anyone have suggestions for a digital newbie? (Yes, I know that's a very broad question.) I plan to shoot RAW only, and take 2 1MB cards with a 512 as backup, along with my G4 PowerBook. Most of the things I find myself wondering about are settings that are best to start with, how best to adjust for white balance, strobe positioning (I'm finding I'm much less limited than I was with the Sea & Sea setup). Am I shooting myself in the foot, so to speak, going so far with only these lenses? From prior experience, most of what I've done in Palau has been wide angle, so I guess I'm pretty comfortable with it, but I'd still really appreciate other views.

Also, I have another trip coming up in June to the Galapagos. Again, I'm figuring most of what I'll want to shoot will be of the wide angle variety, but again, going so far, I don't want to severely limit the possibilities by what I've brought with me.

I realize this post is kind of wide open in terms of questions, and appreciate any feedback you can provide. Since I'll be out of town for business for the better part of the next two weeks, I've got limited time to get familiar with the new gear before I put it to use. There's probably no way I'll have a chance to get it in a pool or more controlled environment with me before I dive with it in Palau. Not ideal, I know ... Maybe I'll have to take it out in the hot tub. :wink: Beyond that, the mid-20 temps we've been having in the evenings here in VA are not ideal for getting wet outdoors.

Of course, any and all hints/tips/ideas who anyone who is already using this setup would be immensely appreciated as well.

Thanks.

Ellen

Thanks for the link. That review was actually one that I read not too long ago that clinched my decision to go forward with the Ikelite (although I have the new housing w/TTL). Rereading it now I'm seeing more info than I noticed on the first read regarding lenses, but still not a whole lot on setting/adjustments. Any specific feedback in this regard?

Thanks.

Hi Ellene,

I realise this review by Matt Segal is of the Ike 20D housing, but it does talk a fair bit about settings/adjustments. And given the similarity of these to housings, it may be worth a look.

Thanks, Anthony. Lots of helpful stuff in that report. Thanks for pointing me to it.

Ellen

how best to adjust for white balance, strobe positioning (I'm finding I'm much less limited than I was with the Sea & Sea setup).

If you are planning to shoot RAW (recommended) I wouldn't worry about white ballance. I would set white ballance to auto and adjust this at home on the computer. This is the beauty of RAW.

I plan to shoot RAW only, and take 2 1MB cards with a 512 as backup, along with my G4 PowerBook.

If you have the laptop 2 x 1 GB (you did mean GB not MB?) is pleanty. You probably won't need to change cards during the day with a 1 GB card.

Am I shooting myself in the foot, so to speak, going so far with only these lenses? From prior experience, most of what I've done in Palau has been wide angle, so I guess I'm pretty comfortable with it, but I'd still really appreciate other views.

I think your approach of keeping it simple is a good one. There is a lot to think about with a new system and lenses get complicated fast. On the other hand I really like macro and fish portraits. I often find I get a higher success ratio with a 60mm (on Nikon 50mm on Canon) than I do with wide angle. Of course the subjects that you get with macro are completely different than WA. If it were me I would want to start with a macro setup, or at least bring one along as well. Of course the kit lens isn't terrible for fish portraits, but it doesn't have the sharpness or magnification of a true macro lens. If you have the Sigma 50mm or the Canon 100mm I'd bring one of those as well. If not I'd get the port for the kit lens at a minimum. How much diving will you be doing?

Good luck and enjoy your toys!

If you are planning to shoot RAW (recommended) I wouldn't worry about white ballance. I would set white ballance to auto and adjust this at home on the computer. This is the beauty of RAW.

That's what I was hoping! Terrific.

(you did mean GB not MB?)

:oops: (and believe it or not, I work with computers) :oops:

I think your approach of keeping it simple is a good one. There is a lot to think about with a new system and lenses get complicated fast. On the other hand I really like macro and fish portraits. I often find I get a higher success ratio with a 60mm (on Nikon 50mm on Canon) than I do with wide angle. Of course the subjects that you get with macro are completely different than WA. If it were me I would want to start with a macro setup, or at least bring one along as well. Of course the kit lens isn't terrible for fish portraits, but it doesn't have the sharpness or magnification of a true macro lens. If you have the Sigma 50mm or the Canon 100mm I'd bring one of those as well. If not I'd get the port for the kit lens at a minimum.  How much diving will you be doing?

The next lens I've been looking at buying is the Canon 100mm. My preference normally is to shoot macro, actually. I just thought that there would be more possibilities for wide angle given the location. Also, many of the shots from past trips that I've really liked are anemones/anemonefish, and I figured the 15mm would let me get close enough for some of those. Thoughts? I'll be there for two weeks, diving most days, typically just 2 dives per day. I'll also be kayaking/snorkeling 2 days and figured I'd take the camera along on those days as well.

Good luck and enjoy your toys!

Thanks!! (Now you've got me thinking about ordering the 100mm. Hmmmmm... :wink: )

Hmmm, might have answered my own question about the 15mm FE. Some of the smaller fish even with a bit of the surroundings may be too small for this lens, at least from what I've been reading. Might have to spring for that 100mm (or any other suggestions out there?). I'm trying to keep weight, etc. to a minimum as much as possible but don't want to get there and find out I'm wishing I brought other lenses. The dome port for the Sigma will fit my kit lens, so I'm good there.

Well, talking to myself, I've convinced myself that I need the 100mm macro. It should arrive by Wednesday or Thursday.

Any additional tips appreciated. Thanks.

I just shot it in the pool yesterday with the Ikelite TTL housing and it performed well. When you get the 100mm, you will want to get Ikelite's focus port for this lens. Lock focus with the * button, then adjust with the focus knob if necessary.

HTH

James

Hi, James -

Thanks. Yes I ordered the focus port with the lens. They both should be waiting for me at home when I get back from traveling on business this week.

I'm hoping to be able to get some pool time with everything before heading to Palau. I'll have two weekends free before going when I might be able to do that.

I'm curious whether I'll need the weight that came with the housing. Also, I noticed the handles were not situated evenly on the housing and was wondering if Ikelite did this by design or if I should adjust them (i.e., via the two screws on the bottom plate). I guess I may not really know until I get it in the water with the strobe.

Ellen

Hi Ellen,

You will not need the weight if you are using strobes

Feel free to adjust the handle locations to your best fit or reach to the controls :wink:

Karl

Thanks, Karl. Just to clarify: Even if I'm just using one strobe? (I need for my bank account to recover a bit before getting a second one).

Ellen

Even with 1 strobe, I'd be very surprised if you needed the extra weight

Karl

Thanks, Karl. Every little bit of weight I can exclude from my baggage helps. :wink: I still haven't figured out how I am going to pack everything. This setup is MUCH larger/heavier than my old Sea & Sea was. My goal is to take a rolling case and backpack with photo equipment, regs/computers, and notebook as carry-ons.

Ellen

Another question: This will be my first experience with a camera that has any automatic options. Should I stick with manual, use shutter priority, or play with the automatic settings (or all (or none) of the above?). In the interest of keeping it simple, what do you all suggest for starting out and then progressing subsequently?

Thanks again. I really appreciate all of the feedback.