U/W photography quandry!

Let me state (for the "record") that I am NOT trying to start a "debate"
as to which format is superior, but rather what might be best for ME and
MY OWN personal needs!

For the past few years I have always used a "trusty" Nikonos V and
SB-105 strobe with standard lens, and also have the Nikonos close-up /
macro outfits, all in superb condition. Generally, I am very satisfied
with my results (I've won several local competitions and received
"honorable mentions" in some nationally circulated dive magazines). I
understand the principles of using this set-up, and the advantages
/disadvantages of using film versus digital U/W photo equipment.

My real quandry is that I now have a Canon S45, and I understand that
there are a few very good housings made for that model (don't shoot
below 100ft / 33 meters) I have never really thought about using the S45
for diving before, but after lugging/ "schlepping" all the
above-mentioned Nikonos gear around airports and various remote sites in
S.E. Asia,(most of my diving is travel-related,as opposed to local
diving), I am now considering digital as a true alternate to film. (not
to mention the immediate user-friendliness of that format, no more
searching for E-6 developing etc..)

In order to get "similar" quality (or better?) from the S45, what is the
minimum I need as far as accessories (housings, lighting etc..)to get
into U/W digital, and can an SB-105 be somehow "modified" to work (synch
cord?) with a digital camera such as mine? And, what about macro
photography? Am I just "out of luck" in that area??

If I feel reasonably confident about the "switch",and can do so
affordably, should I sell all my Nikonos gear, or perhaps spend a bit
getting into the digital format, and than decide what works best for me?

Money IS a factor here, so I'm not sure if a "basic" housing / lighting
set-up for the S45 may REQUIRE that I sell my Nikonos gear first (which
would be a shame since I DO get a lot of pleasure/satisfaction out of
it) Maybe I'm just a "purist" at heart??

Any constructive ideas / advice would be appreciated.


HB (confused as to which "road" to take)

"Harley Baldwin" <harleybaldwin@att.net> wrote in message
news:3FF58980.5030504@att.net...
> Let me state (for the "record") that I am NOT trying to start a "debate"
> as to which format is superior, but rather what might be best for ME and
> MY OWN personal needs!
>
> For the past few years I have always used a "trusty" Nikonos V and
> SB-105 strobe with standard lens, and also have the Nikonos close-up /
> macro outfits, all in superb condition. Generally, I am very satisfied
> with my results (I've won several local competitions and received
> "honorable mentions" in some nationally circulated dive magazines). I
> understand the principles of using this set-up, and the advantages
> /disadvantages of using film versus digital U/W photo equipment.
>
> My real quandry is that I now have a Canon S45, and I understand that
> there are a few very good housings made for that model (don't shoot
> below 100ft / 33 meters) I have never really thought about using the S45
> for diving before, but after lugging/ "schlepping" all the
> above-mentioned Nikonos gear around airports and various remote sites in
> S.E. Asia,(most of my diving is travel-related,as opposed to local
> diving), I am now considering digital as a true alternate to film. (not
> to mention the immediate user-friendliness of that format, no more
> searching for E-6 developing etc..)
>
> In order to get "similar" quality (or better?) from the S45, what is the
> minimum I need as far as accessories (housings, lighting etc..)to get
> into U/W digital, and can an SB-105 be somehow "modified" to work (synch
> cord?) with a digital camera such as mine? And, what about macro
> photography? Am I just "out of luck" in that area??

I would thing that you'd need to get a housing and a strobe.
I have a Canon Powershot A40 and a Sea & Sea YS-25DX strobe and have gotten
good results from it.

http://www.seaandsea.com/

If the SB-105 can be modified, like the Sea&Sea YS-90DZ strobe so it can be
slave-fired then it may work.

>
> If I feel reasonably confident about the "switch",and can do so
> affordably, should I sell all my Nikonos gear, or perhaps spend a bit
> getting into the digital format, and than decide what works best for me?

Spend a little bit getting into the digital format. The option to sell the
Nikonos gear will be there if you like the results. Otherwise......

I think you'll only be looking at just a few hundred dollars more for the
housing & strobe.
I don't know if that'll require you to sell anything.

>
> Money IS a factor here, so I'm not sure if a "basic" housing / lighting
> set-up for the S45 may REQUIRE that I sell my Nikonos gear first (which
> would be a shame since I DO get a lot of pleasure/satisfaction out of
> it) Maybe I'm just a "purist" at heart??
>
> Any constructive ideas / advice would be appreciated.

Dennis
>
>
> HB (confused as to which "road" to take)
>
>
>

Post this to www.digitaldiver.info. There is a guy there that has developed
some hot shoe adapters for various camera/housing combos.

--
Ross
www.myoldtools.com
"Dennis (Icarus)" <nojunkmail@ever.invalid> wrote in message
news:vvcfere1tbuqdd@corp.supernews.com...
> "Harley Baldwin" <harleybaldwin@att.net> wrote in message
> news:3FF58980.5030504@att.net...
> > Let me state (for the "record") that I am NOT trying to start a "debate"
> > as to which format is superior, but rather what might be best for ME and
> > MY OWN personal needs!
> >
> > For the past few years I have always used a "trusty" Nikonos V and
> > SB-105 strobe with standard lens, and also have the Nikonos close-up /
> > macro outfits, all in superb condition. Generally, I am very satisfied
> > with my results (I've won several local competitions and received
> > "honorable mentions" in some nationally circulated dive magazines). I
> > understand the principles of using this set-up, and the advantages
> > /disadvantages of using film versus digital U/W photo equipment.
> >
> > My real quandry is that I now have a Canon S45, and I understand that
> > there are a few very good housings made for that model (don't shoot
> > below 100ft / 33 meters) I have never really thought about using the S45
> > for diving before, but after lugging/ "schlepping" all the
> > above-mentioned Nikonos gear around airports and various remote sites in
> > S.E. Asia,(most of my diving is travel-related,as opposed to local
> > diving), I am now considering digital as a true alternate to film. (not
> > to mention the immediate user-friendliness of that format, no more
> > searching for E-6 developing etc..)
> >
> > In order to get "similar" quality (or better?) from the S45, what is the
> > minimum I need as far as accessories (housings, lighting etc..)to get
> > into U/W digital, and can an SB-105 be somehow "modified" to work (synch
> > cord?) with a digital camera such as mine? And, what about macro
> > photography? Am I just "out of luck" in that area??
>
> I would thing that you'd need to get a housing and a strobe.
> I have a Canon Powershot A40 and a Sea & Sea YS-25DX strobe and have
gotten
> good results from it.
>
> http://www.seaandsea.com/
>
> If the SB-105 can be modified, like the Sea&Sea YS-90DZ strobe so it can
be
> slave-fired then it may work.
>
> >
> > If I feel reasonably confident about the "switch",and can do so
> > affordably, should I sell all my Nikonos gear, or perhaps spend a bit
> > getting into the digital format, and than decide what works best for me?
>
> Spend a little bit getting into the digital format. The option to sell the
> Nikonos gear will be there if you like the results. Otherwise......
>
> I think you'll only be looking at just a few hundred dollars more for the
> housing & strobe.
> I don't know if that'll require you to sell anything.
>
> >
> > Money IS a factor here, so I'm not sure if a "basic" housing / lighting
> > set-up for the S45 may REQUIRE that I sell my Nikonos gear first (which
> > would be a shame since I DO get a lot of pleasure/satisfaction out of
> > it) Maybe I'm just a "purist" at heart??
> >
> > Any constructive ideas / advice would be appreciated.
>
> Dennis
> >
> >
> > HB (confused as to which "road" to take)
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Harley Baldwin wrote:

>
> In order to get "similar" quality (or better?) from the S45, what is
> the minimum I need as far as accessories (housings, lighting etc..)to
> get into U/W digital, and can an SB-105 be somehow "modified" to work
> (synch cord?) with a digital camera such as mine? And, what about
> macro photography? Am I just "out of luck" in that area??


I was in your shoes two years ago when I switched to U/W digital.

I went with the Nikon Coolpix digital camera in an Ikelite housing. The
Coolpix has a TTL strobe connection, with an adapter cable built into
the Ikelite housing. You will probably need a new sync cable for your
strobe (can be purchased from Ikelite).

The only downside was that the Coolpix and the SB strobe "disagree" a
little on the TTL strobe setting. Camera tends to overexpose 1/2 F-stop.
I cured this by putting a polarizing filter on the camera.

Good points of digital:

- 250 exposures per dive, no more "36 and back to the boat and reload"
- can do 1 to 3 macro and wide angle on the same dive just by hitting
the zoom control.
- instant review of dive (on laptop computer) images while outgassing.
Allows re-photo of
same dive site on next dive.

Harley,
I use S45, canon housing, Inon add on lenses and inon strobe.
Results at:

www.DivingTheBlue.com

Shows Wide-angle, Macro Closefocus wide angle etc.
A few new pages going up to show equipment detail and comments in next 24
hours or so.
HTH
Tim



"Harley Baldwin" <harleybaldwin@att.net> wrote in message
news:3FF58980.5030504@att.net...
> Let me state (for the "record") that I am NOT trying to start a "debate"
> as to which format is superior, but rather what might be best for ME and
> MY OWN personal needs!
>
> For the past few years I have always used a "trusty" Nikonos V and
> SB-105 strobe with standard lens, and also have the Nikonos close-up /
> macro outfits, all in superb condition. Generally, I am very satisfied
> with my results (I've won several local competitions and received
> "honorable mentions" in some nationally circulated dive magazines). I
> understand the principles of using this set-up, and the advantages
> /disadvantages of using film versus digital U/W photo equipment.
>
> My real quandry is that I now have a Canon S45, and I understand that
> there are a few very good housings made for that model (don't shoot
> below 100ft / 33 meters) I have never really thought about using the S45
> for diving before, but after lugging/ "schlepping" all the
> above-mentioned Nikonos gear around airports and various remote sites in
> S.E. Asia,(most of my diving is travel-related,as opposed to local
> diving), I am now considering digital as a true alternate to film. (not
> to mention the immediate user-friendliness of that format, no more
> searching for E-6 developing etc..)
>
> In order to get "similar" quality (or better?) from the S45, what is the
> minimum I need as far as accessories (housings, lighting etc..)to get
> into U/W digital, and can an SB-105 be somehow "modified" to work (synch
> cord?) with a digital camera such as mine? And, what about macro
> photography? Am I just "out of luck" in that area??
>
> If I feel reasonably confident about the "switch",and can do so
> affordably, should I sell all my Nikonos gear, or perhaps spend a bit
> getting into the digital format, and than decide what works best for me?
>
> Money IS a factor here, so I'm not sure if a "basic" housing / lighting
> set-up for the S45 may REQUIRE that I sell my Nikonos gear first (which
> would be a shame since I DO get a lot of pleasure/satisfaction out of
> it) Maybe I'm just a "purist" at heart??
>
> Any constructive ideas / advice would be appreciated.
>
>
> HB (confused as to which "road" to take)
>
>
>