Questions to Jamesw (others feel free to jump in)

Hi, I send the message below to Jamesw, and he suggested I post it here.

(wich is actualy a good idea, thanks James, i dont know what i was thinkin)

I recently sold my Coolpix 990, Sealux house and Hartenberger flash.

Now I own a S2 and I love it, even if I only have one lens, a Sigma 28-105.

Plan is to take the S2 UW like I did the 990, but then with a real macro lens.

The 990 did a good job, but i did not like creeping up on gamba's just to get a decent macro.

My questions to you :

1. Will the 60mm Nikor macro give me more/enough space between me and object ?

2. Do you mis out on not being able to control all functions of the S2 underwater ? if so, what function do you mis most.

3. what settings do you use for those buttons you cannot reach while underwater. (specialy what metering setting, spot ?)

4. I Know there's a lot to do about flashes.

As i figure it out from the forums, true TTL can be done with a lot of flashes providing the S2 is in TTL mode, so SPOT or MANUAL setting, true ?

I read in one thread (jamesw) that the Coolpix 5000 should do fine with the flash in TTL.

My buddy has a C5000 with a subtronic flash, but it just doesnt work right, he needs to manualy set the flash for it will just flash flat out in TTL.

Are there any tips I can give him ?

:ph34r: UPDATE - he has a UK-Germany house, its metal and blocks his internal flash and sensor, maybe thats why is TTL metering is of ?

Hope you find the time to answer my questions, many thanks in advance

Harald van Buel

PS. UK-Germany offerd to make me a S2 housing ..... it would 'only' cost me 2900 Euro's. any idea's on that ? :ph34r:

Hi Harald,

Thanks for posting your question here. Now other members can see the discussion and people will be able to find it using the search feature on the bulletin board.

1) On the S2 with the 1.5x crop factor, I think you will get 1:1 macro at 9 inches working distance. If you want 1:1 macro from further out you'll need to get the 105mm

2) I would like to be able to change between RAW and Jpeg underwater. It would also be nice to be able to use the AE/AF lock button. Others have stated that they like to switch between manual focus and autofocus underwater and you can't access that w/ the Ike housing.

3) I use spot metering for macro. If you're shooting in manual then it doesn't really matter what metering mode you use though. But if you really want to use Aperture Priority, then it's easy to lock on a spot, half press the button to lock metering and focus, then back out till the eyes are in focus, then take the shot.

4) The S2 works with the Nikon SB105, the SB102, and the YS90DX. I know because that's what I have. Larry at Ikelite says it works with all of their strobes too.

How much is $2,900 Euros? If It's about equal to $2,900 then that's a little bit expensive for a digital housing in my opinion. But then again, it would be a custom job.

Cheers

James

Thanks James

Euro=Dollar so its a bit much in my opinion to, custom job or not.

Thing is, i know that when i let them make the house, there gonna need my S2 for measuring and development. (couple of weeks !)

After that every other poor sole behind me is gonna pay the full 2900 to, but then they have already programmed the CNC machine with my measurment.

Come to think of it, i might not even be the first 'custom' job for them !

Pro about the UK-germany house would be that I can decide witch buttons to feed thru the housing. (or can I ask Ike to modify the S2 housing to ?)

Maybe there are more people out there who want to join up, and ask for a

group discount at UK-Germany ?

I was a bit confused about locking the AE with the shutter release, but i see now that its a custom setting, found it, thanks.

Harald van Buel