Reasons to look all around

[copperband]

...then you go and save the best 'till last (in this thread anyway).


Outstanding.

Paul

[Tim Ingmire]

Very Nice series of shots David. These are all the 15mm? Did you stop using the 12-24?

What autofocus mode are you using for these? They are all fantastically sharp.

[David A]

Originally Posted by Tim Ingmire

Very Nice series of shots David. These are all the 15mm? Did you stop using the 12-24?

What autofocus mode are you using for these? They are all fantastically sharp.

Hi Tim,
happy new year mate. The first time I did this trip I used the 12-24 exclusively, and had problems with very close focusing. I assumed it was because I was using a 6" dome, and that it would be better once I got the 8".
This time I had the bigger dome, but still had the same problem. In reality, although Ikelite say that a dioptre isn't needed with the bigger dome, I think a +2 would have made a huge difference. I switched after the first dive to the sigma 15mm, and didn't look back. It's a cracking little lens.
I also played about with the auto focus, and settled on dynamic. It seemed to provide the most consistent results.
I generally used shutter priority (although sometimes full manual), set at 1/125, knocked the exposure comp. down by 1/3, switched the strobes to manual and shot at 1/4-1/2 power depending on the depth and light conditions. I'm still not brilliant with quick exposure decisions though, so did end up with a few batches where I got it wrong.
I'm still working on sharpening techniques (not very good with selective masking), which means that these were my usual RAW files done with a simple unsharp mask. I'm determined to master selective sharpening, because it will make a huge difference, but I'm a bit of a photoshop thicky.

This is what I mean by close focusing. This shark is only a small one. When the big girls get in your face, it really tests the AF abilities of your lens.

[Sparky750]

B*ll*cks like coconuts but fanatsic pics to show fot it.

[Tim Ingmire]

Thanks David, Intersting stuff.

Did you try the 10.5 or did you just go for the 15mm?

[David A]

Thanks Sparky. I wish!

Tim, I'm going to try the 10.5 in Feb for the first time. I've heard great things about it, I just hope everything doesn't look like a dot on the horizon. I thought it would be a good choice if we find the humpbacks we're looking for. Do you have it? What's it like?
On a different scale, have you tried the 105VR macro? I've been looking at it recently.

[Tim Ingmire]

I do have the 10.5 and I think it is a great lens although a bit tricky to handle. I've been using it with the Green Magic filter which gets around the problems of lighting with it. I'll soon be trying it with the standard Magic Filter somewhere not too far from where these shots were taken. If the sharks get as close as the above shots demonstrate then subject size in the frame shouldn't be a problem. Anything further away and the subject shrinks quickly.

A couple of discussions on Digigreen:

Playing with the 10.5 fisheye - Digigreen - Photography in Temperate Waters

http://www.digigreen.net/forums/stro...een-magic.html

I've just bought a 105mm macro lens but not the VR. The non-VR versions can now be picked up at excellent prices on ebay and it is an excellent lens. TBH, I'm not that convinced by the VR lens - the benefit of the VR reduces as you get closer to 1:1, it's a massive lens and uses camera battery juice.

I actually played with the 105 for the first time yesterday getting fish portraits; I've posted the results here Playing with the Nikon 105mm Micro Lens - Digigreen - Photography in Temperate Waters I'm really pleased with the results.

[David A]

Thanks for that Tim. Nice shots with the 105. Gives me something to think about.

[Mr Scubatank]

Hi, any chance of sending me a copy in 1024x768?[/quote]

Many thanks.

[David A]

Originally Posted by Mr Scubatank

Hi, any chance of sending me a copy in 1024x768?

Many thanks.[/quote]

Which one do you want?