D2x pictures - Key Largo

Hi all,

I am really excited with the new camera, not so with the sea conditions. The wind has been blowing a lot in the Keys, the visibility is bad, there is a lot of backscatter. Even with all that, I just wanted to post my first underwater D2x pictures. I am sure you can tell where I got the inspiration for those. I haven't done any postprocessing other than a few curve adjustments and sharpening. Those are from the JPGs, my laptop can't handle D2x raw files. Let me know what you think! Also, any tips to improve post-processing are welcome.

Luiz

Gray Snapper

Grunts

I really like the first one Luiz....have fun

Karl

The conditions don't look ideal. But the pix look nice. I would be interesting to hear what you think of the system. Alex

Hi Alex, I love the system, I had only one problem, sometimes the switch on the housing for the back command dial doesn't work. I always change the aperture of the sub command dial (front) and speed on the main command dial (back), but I couldn't do it today. I quickly inverted sub/main dials in the menu and was able to change the aperture, but I don't want to have to do this all the time. I think I will glue an additional layer of rubber on the place where the housing control touches the dial. Have you ever had this problem?

All the rest works perfectly. I didn't cut my green (ready light) wire, and the Ikelite flashes work fine, I took about 150 photos, the flashes fired every time and the picture was always written to the camera. I think it is because my second flash (100a) is a lot slower to recharge than the main flash (200), so they don't "compete" for ready light. I think that when you have two flashes and the second (the one on the right) recharges and sends the ready light signal first is when the problems occur. I say this because I accidentally turned on the second flash first and the camera (and flash) acted really weird. Everything was solved by turning it off, turning the main flash on and turning the second flash back on.

Conditions didn't improve, and there is still a lot of suspension in the water (vis. was about 10ft today), but I will post some more pictures later.

Luiz

I had only one problem, sometimes the switch on the housing for the back command dial doesn't work. I always change the aperture of the sub command dial (front) and speed on the main command dial (back), but I couldn't do it today. I quickly inverted sub/main dials in the menu and was able to change the aperture, but I don't want to have to do this all the time. I think I will glue an additional layer of rubber on the place where the housing control touches the dial.

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I think this is a common problem. You can solve it by pulling the left hand side of the camera backwards on the mounting plate! Alternatively put a spacer under the spring in this control.

Alex

Hi Luiz or Alex-

My D2x and Nexus just arrived... Are you guys shooting in Color Mode II or III? Has anyone tried the Group Dynamic AF?

Thanks!

M.

Here is one from today that I like a lot, the entire action lasted for maybe 3 seconds, that was all the time I had to focus, compose and shoot.

And I had to show one of those scary 100% crops :

Hi Luiz or Alex-

 

My D2x and Nexus just arrived...  Are you guys shooting in Color Mode II or III?  Has anyone tried the Group Dynamic AF?

 

Thanks!

 

M.

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I am shooting on Adobe color mode III, but I still have a lot to learn about post-processing, I ordered Ron Reznick's book, everybody says it is great for this. Weirdly, my pictures are looking better on the camera LCD than on my computer. I use continuous, single area focus (usually center).

Luiz

Weirdly, my pictures are looking better on the camera LCD than on my computer.

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Well, they certainly look pretty good to me. I'm impressed at how well you have done in such poor visibility! I particularly enjoyed the second picture - what ARE they doing??

what ARE they doing??

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Just establishing hierarchy within their social structure... In other words, fighting for the best spots in the schools

So sweet that they establishing hierachy by kissing one another...

Really looking forward to seeing more of your work Luiz.

Hi Luiz or Alex-

 

My D2x and Nexus just arrived...  Are you guys shooting in Color Mode II or III?  Has anyone tried the Group Dynamic AF?

 

Thanks!

 

M.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I shoot colour mode III (most saturated) in Adobe RGB. This tends to be a bit over saturated if you shoot JPG, actually! But is fine with RAW.

I used Grouped Dynamic AF a lot. I find I switch between the AF grouping modes regularly when i am shooting. But for fish n things nothing can touch grouped dynamic with closest subject priority. Makes moving fish photography embarrassingly easy.

Alex

Thanks for the comments guys. Here are a couple more of regular fish shots, but with tricky esposures. I never got anywhere near this shooting TTL with film, they were always overexposed.

Luiz

Nice shots and light,

I miss some sharpness in the last two.