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Underwater Photography

Phineas
Posted 28/08/2010 - 15:24 Link
Hi fellow pentaxusers...

Is anyone of you into Underwater Photography. I am thinking of combining my two favorite hobbies, scuba diving and photography. However, I know that this increases the costs for a while. Therefore, I would like to ask for some advice.
I own a K20D the 18 - 55mm WR zoom, the 16 -45mm f/4 zoom and a FA 50mm prime. What kind of housing would you suggest or do you use? Which would be the best lens for UW? I am thinking of using the prime, because I don't think a zoom as applicable in a housing. Am I wrong?

Thanks for your help.
Dan
Anvh
Posted 28/08/2010 - 16:00 Link
The 16-45 would be fine that way you've a normal lens and a wide angle in one so you don't need to carry more lenses.
Or use the WR, if the housing does leak you've at least some extra protection, maybe enough to hold out till you're at the surface again.

As for housings, I've looked into them but they are quite expensive so didn't do it.
Therefore can't recommend you one.

This is a case for the K20D but the manufacture site is under construction so only have this for you link
Stefan
Comment Image

K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
Edited by Anvh: 28/08/2010 - 16:03
Pentaxophile
Posted 28/08/2010 - 16:30 Link
Doesn't the 16-45 extend too much at the wide end? Better with fast prime. Howabout a K-x with a 35 f2? Housings for the K-x are available and with that combo low light/high iso would be a breeze. Cos some things down there can't be lit by flash.
[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]
greynolds999
Posted 28/08/2010 - 17:03 Link
Unless you are really serious, the cost of a housing is far, far more than the cost of an underwater camera.

There is a lack of choice for Pentax but generally speaking, for an SLR you won't get anything under £1,000 (and to be honest, if you did I wouldn't want to put my camera in it).

I would suggest, unless you are planning to become a professional underwater photographer that you at least start out with a compact underwater camera and see how you get on.
geclinke
Posted 28/08/2010 - 17:09 - Helpful Comment Link
I've taken my K200D underwater quite a few times, there's ay least one picture in "My Portfolio".

The most important thing when taking photographs underwater is to get as little water between you and the subject. That means as short a focal length lens as you can get your hands on.

Most importantly though, the housing. I looked around at specialist housings, and they're very expensive - for something which may not be used that often, e.g. upwards of £1000. I settled on a Ewa Marine flexible housing. There are a number of options for different depths (easily enough to cope with the PADI depth limit).

Pentaxophile is right about the 16-45, it's physically longest at the 16mm focal length - that's going to cause a problem with any housing.

You might want to consider an underwater filter (red or magenta depending on water colour) if you're going to be deeper than about 10 metres.

It's also good to have the option of a flash. If you're diving in clear water then you're unlikely to get back scatter, and you'll have good results. If you're diving, or snorkelling, close to land / seabed then there's likely to be a lot of sediment - which is a pain to remove in post production.

A fast prime might be useful for a night dive, but otherwise the 18-55 is perfectly adequate I would think.
Personally I don't think it's worth going crazy on the lens, unless you've got a professional housing, with an optically matched dome housing.

I'm going on a trip soon, where I'm going to try out a polarising filter too, as it may add contrast. I'll report back if any of my other lenses get used.

EDIT: This photo's better link
k5, 50mm FA, 18-55mm Kit, 50-200mm DA, 15mm Fisheye Sigma, 10-17mm DA Fisheye, 18-55mm DA WR, DA* 60-250, DA* 16-50
Edited by geclinke: 28/08/2010 - 17:13
geclinke
Posted 28/08/2010 - 17:21 - Helpful Comment Link
Also, if you really want a solid housing, then this is the most cost effective option; Diveross.

It's not that easy to find it for sale though, and there aren't many (any) reviews for it yet.
k5, 50mm FA, 18-55mm Kit, 50-200mm DA, 15mm Fisheye Sigma, 10-17mm DA Fisheye, 18-55mm DA WR, DA* 60-250, DA* 16-50
Anvh
Posted 28/08/2010 - 17:25 Link
Pentaxophile wrote:
Doesn't the 16-45 extend too much at the wide end?

Some housing can take the length without a problem, just the problem of finding such a housing.
Stefan
Comment Image

K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
Anvh
Posted 28/08/2010 - 17:33 Link
geclinke wrote:
Also, if you really want a solid housing, then this is the most cost effective option; Diveross.

It's not that easy to find it for sale though, and there aren't many (any) reviews for it yet.

That one should take the 16-45.
The 16-45 is 92mm and doesn't seem to extend more than half the length.
The low standard port of the DRP200 is 158 mm and the tall one 178 mm so no problem for the 16-45 I think.

The price is around the £705 so that's quite acceptable, thank you for showing us that link geclinke
Stefan
Comment Image

K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
Edited by Anvh: 28/08/2010 - 17:50
mayday
Posted 28/08/2010 - 18:00 Link
This link seems to be quite good for further info...
Regards
David

Retired at last - now all that time for photography - you would think: wink:
Roscoe
Posted 28/08/2010 - 18:03 - Helpful Comment Link
Phineas wrote:
Hi fellow pentaxusers...

Is anyone of you into Underwater Photography. I am thinking of combining my two favorite hobbies, scuba diving and photography. However, I know that this increases the costs for a while. Therefore, I would like to ask for some advice.
I own a K20D the 18 - 55mm WR zoom, the 16 -45mm f/4 zoom and a FA 50mm prime. What kind of housing would you suggest or do you use? Which would be the best lens for UW? I am thinking of using the prime, because I don't think a zoom as applicable in a housing. Am I wrong?

Thanks for your help.
Dan

Hi Dan,

I used to dive but the old Arthritis finall caught up with me,
but in answer to your question, most scuba divers use the Nikonnoss.(If the spelling is wrong I'm sorry)

It is specifically designed for under water photography!

Ikelite make housings for most cameras, but do you really want to risk an O ring failing on your K20D, I would not!

My best advice, is to get along to the 2011 LIDS,(London International Dive Show.)

There you can get specialist advice on housings and lenses ect.

Go on the last day of the show that's when the bargains are to be found as most vendors don't want to cart loads of stock back!

Take only pictures, leave only Bubbles.

Kindest regards,

Peter
Don
Posted 28/08/2010 - 18:10 Link
sea and sea make some fine underwayer gear as well..
link

ewa marine:
link


and yes o-rings do need maintenance or they will fail...
Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.
Edited by Don: 28/08/2010 - 18:12
Anvh
Posted 28/08/2010 - 18:29 Link
mayday wrote:
This link seems to be quite good for further info...

Wrong model I'm afraid, you need the bigger DRP200 for the K20D according to the diveross site so this one link.
Stefan
Comment Image

K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
thoughton
Posted 28/08/2010 - 22:52 Link
How do you zoom the lens with one of these housings?
Tim
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
MF - Vivitar CF 28/2.8, Tamron AD2 90/2.5, MTO 1000/11
Stuff - Metz 58 AF1, Cactus v4, Nikon SB24, Raynox 150, Sigma 1.4x TC, Sigma 2x TC, Kenko 2x macro TC, Redsnapper 283 tripod, iMac 27”, Macbook Pro 17”, iPad, iPhone 3G
FlickrFluidrPPGStreetPortfolio site
Feel free to edit any of my posted photos! If I post a photo for critique, I want brutal honesty. If you don't like it, please say so and tell me why!
Edited by thoughton: 28/08/2010 - 22:53
Anvh
Posted 29/08/2010 - 12:53 - Helpful Comment Link
thoughton wrote:
How do you zoom the lens with one of these housings?

You can't but Like Giles said.
geclinke wrote:
The most important thing when taking photographs underwater is to get as little water between you and the subject. That means as short a focal length lens as you can get your hands on.

Since the DA16-45 is the widest and best quality lens that Dan has it's probably the most suited one and since you can zoom prior before putting it in the housing you've a range of focal lengths covered with one lens.
This way Dan can experiment which focal length is the best and he doesn't need to leave camera gear at the surface unattended.
Stefan
Comment Image

K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
geclinke
Posted 29/08/2010 - 13:59 Link
As far as zooming, one technique I've used with a flexible housing is pulling and pushing the front element. Absolutely not something I'd advocate on a good lens, but I'm not that fussed about doing it with the kit lens....
k5, 50mm FA, 18-55mm Kit, 50-200mm DA, 15mm Fisheye Sigma, 10-17mm DA Fisheye, 18-55mm DA WR, DA* 60-250, DA* 16-50

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