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Here at AB Sea Photo, we have have been serving underwater photographers in both the professional and recreational arena for over 18 years.

Let AB Sea Photo answer your Real Important Questions on underwater photography.

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Questions and Answers (Q & A's)

From Alan Broder (from Ocean Realm Magazine)

Have digital cameras in underwater housings replaced Nikonos cameras and other film cameras in housings? ANSWER

I shoot TTL and am getting inconsistent exposures; mainly, a lot of my frames are underexposed from a little bit to as much as a stop. Do you have any suggestions as to what the problem or problems might be? ANSWER

What's the simplest way to bracket exposure with a housing system for those pictures that are really important, such as that rare whale shark or a macro shot of cleaner shrimp in the mouth of a moray eel? ANSWER

I'm thinking of housing my SB26 for use with my housed N90s camera. What disadvantages will I have over using my Ikelite AiN when using the housed strobe? ANSWER

I presently have a Nikonos V with a 35mm lens. I'm thinking about going to a housing for the type of photographs that I used the thirty-five for. What is the appropriate role for my Nikonos V? Should I keep it for wide-angle with the fifteen or twenty millimeter lens? How do these lenses compare optically to a housed twenty or twenty-four? ANSWER

I'm interested in getting into either underwater video or underwater still photography. Do you have any suggestions? Is one less expensive or easier than the other? I'm just interested in doing this for fun. I'm not looking to get professional results. ANSWER

What aperture should I use for the best macro shots? I'm going on a major trip and won't see my pictures until I'm back and it's too late to shoot them again. ANSWER

I recently purchased a Nikonos V with a 35mm lens and an SB103 strobe. I've taken about fifteen rolls of film and have had disappointing results. My pictures are not sharp and my exposure is mostly bad. I have to say I'm pretty discouraged. Can you offer any suggestions? ANSWER

I am looking for some video lighting for my Sony TR101. I have an Amphibico housing. I travel to remote dive locations frequently and weight limitation is a major consideration. Do you recommend one light or two, and how many watts do I need? ANSWER

I am currently using a Stromm housed 8008S with a 60mm micro lens and TTL flash for fish portraits and macro shots. Since I have no camera control once under water, should I be using program or aperture priority mode; matrix or center-weighted metering; and single or continuous servo autofocus for the best results? ANSWER

I have just started using an N90 in an Ikelite housing. I frequently get blurry photos even when using autofocus. I have heard (in this column and elsewhere) that autofocus does work underwater. How is this possible! Please be gentle. ANSWER

I recently returned from a live-aboard dive trip during which I blew up my only charger for my wide-angle strobe. Needless to say, this was very disappointing since I couldn't use my wide-angle lens except when I could borrow a strobe. Is there some way to check the current on the boat or to protect my charger to prevent this from happening again? ANSWER

I am trying to decide which strobe to buy. I want to get one powerful enough to do the job, but I am confused by manufacturers' model numbers and specifications. Can you make any suggestions which will help me decide? ANSWER

I own an Ikelite housing for my N90 camera, and I have a 35-70 zoom lens. I dive quite a bit locally out of San Diego and usually go on one big dive trip a year. I'm going on a trip to Palau for two weeks, and I want to get a wide-angle lens and a macro lens for this trip. Funds are limited, and I'm looking for value. What lenses do you recommend? ANSWER

I want to buy a Nikonos camera. I've heard that the Nikonos II or III are better to get because they are simple, have no electronics, and have fewer problems than the later models. Also, I have heard that they're easy to fix if they get flooded and that if you flood a Nikonos V, it probably isn't worth fixing. I'm going to work at a remote dive resort in the South Pacific and will have to service it myself. What do you suggest? ANSWER

I have a housed camera and I use a 60mm micro lens for fish and macro. I have trouble getting close enough to spooky little gobies, jawfish, and the like. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am considering the purchase of a longer macro lens or perhaps a zoom lens. ANSWER

I have decided on housing a Nikon camera, probably an 8008S or an N90. I don't want to spend the money for an F4. Can you tell me what I actually get for the $450 that I pay for an N90 over a 6006 and the more than $300 for an N90 over an 8008S? ANSWER

I've been using a Nikonos V for several years, and I think I want to go to a housing for my Canon EOS 650. Do you think this would be a good move for me? I know a number of divers that have housed their Nikon 8008 and N90 cameras. I would consider moving out of my Canon system if this would offer a significant advantage for my underwater photography. What is your opinion on this? ANSWER

I use an 8008S in a housing, and I'd like to know which exposure mode is best in general photography. ANSWER

Will the airport x-ray really damage my film? I've heard that it will and also that it son't from what should be reliable sources. ANSWER

I've been using a housed SLR system for a long time and I'm having more and more trouble seeing well enough through the viewfinder to focus properly. I've been considering switching to an autofocus camera. I'd appreciate your advice. ANSWER

I have an SB103 for my Nikonos V camera, and I'd like to get a second strobe so that I can do two-strobe lighting to eliminate shadows in my photographs. I don't want to lose TTL. What are my options, and what do you recommend as a second strobe? ANSWER

Backscatter has ruined some of my best shots. What can I do to minimize or, better yet, to prevent this problem. ANSWER

I've decided that I want to get a housing for my Nikon N90 SLR camera because of its versatility, but I'm concerned about putting my camera in a housing because I keep hearing that housings flood easily. How safe are housings, and do you recommend that beginners use them? ANSWER

How can I tell if my TTL is working? ANSWER

I am wondering about the ready light on my strobe. I wait for the light to come on, but when I shoot two or three photos in a row, although my first exposure usually is correct using TTL, often the second or third are underexposed. ANSWER

Can you use autofocus in doing video underwater or is it best to preset the focus? ANSWER

What's the proper way to determine the correct focus when using framers on my Nikonos camera for macro photography? I cannot tell any difference between focusing my 35mm lens at infinity or at 2.75 feet when I'm using extension tubes. ANSWER

I don't live near the ocean and only dive once or twice a year while on warm water one-week dive trips. I'm considering buying an inexpensive underwater camera, but I do want decent quality photos. I'd appreciate a recommendation. ANSWER

I have difficulty in aiming my strobe. Can you offer any tips? ANSWER

What's new and exciting in underwater camera technology these days? ANSWER

I frequently go to dive destinations where film processing isn't available. I have come to rely on this service to check myself and my equipment. Is it practical to do it myself, and if so, how can I get started? ANSWER

I've just started doing underwater video. My first attempt was disappointing due to an overall blue cast. I now know that a filter would probably help. What should I buy and when should I use it? ANSWER

I have a Nikonos SB103 strobe which I use with a Nikonos V camera. I have always used alkaline batteries. Can rechargeable batteries be used in this strobe, and is this a good thing to do? ANSWER

Can you suggest a method for cleaning my lenses? I have trouble getting them clean without a lot of rubbing, and I have been told this can damage the lens. ANSWER

I hear that most professional photographers almost always bracket their photographs. Is this necessary? I find it a big nuisance, and generally, my first shot is my best anyway. ANSWER

Why do my prints from the lab never look as good as the slides? ANSWER

Do scratches on my lens or port damage my photos? I've heard that water fills them in, and they aren't visible. ANSWER

 

 

 

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