dslr & wet mate lenses - split from RebelXTi/Ikelite thread

[Mr. Bubble]

I am in the same market, but have been looking at the Sea&Sea housings. I do not know if they allow changing lenses while submerged, like on some other models they have. That would be a BIG plus if it does. If anyone knows, please post with info.

Here is the link for the DX-400 for the Rebel XtI by Sea&Sea


http://www.seaandsea.com/

 

[alcina]

You cannot change lenses on a dslr underwater at all. You would need to take the port off to get to the camera and this is generally a bad thing

There are things like Woody's dioptre that you can put on the front of the flat port while underwater when you are shooting macro. This is a lens with a rubber skirt that slides over the outside of the port so it can come on and off whenever you want. You can find more details on Woody at www.reefphoto.com

 

[Mr. Bubble]

Yeah, I figured as much. They make one model that allows you to change lens underwater, but I don't remember which one. A dive buddy of mine has one. The camera has its own housing, and the lens have their own housings as well. You have to have a layer of H2O between the two for it to work (to eliminate bubbles in the final image) Pretty basic idea. I wonder why the SLR's can't use the same technology?

 

[alcina]

I'd guess your friend has a compact digital, not a dslr. The lens is built into the camera's body. The wet mate lenses are separate items and designed to attach to the outside of the housing. They are extremely popular and can really expand the compact's versatility. My favourite is adding multiple macros to my compacts FUN!

On a dslr you choose your lens and the lens attaches directly to the body. There is no way to change a lens like this underwater. Woody's dioptre is very similar to the wet mate lenses as it slips over the port so you can put it on and take it off underwater on a dslr. That's as close as you can get

 

[Mr. Bubble]

It would seem to me that they could make an adaptor to fit the lens port on an SLR (and housing) that would allow you to change lens' underwater. Hmmmm , maybe I'm on to something here ........

 

[alcina]

Interesting idea, but it would have to be bulky and unwieldy at the least.

You've seen how a lens attaches to a slr body, yes? And actually physically done it? It's not a one hand operation

How could you get lens one off and attach lens one without letting water in? Where would the second lens be stored for the dive?

Can't say I see this happening

Best to concentrate on getting the best out of your chosen lens for that dive and worry about fiddling lens changes during your SI. There are some great lenses out there for when you don't want to commit to one type of shooting - the Sigma 17-70 for cropped sensors is a treat, for example.

 

[bureau13]

It wouldn't be practical to try and swap DSLR lenses, but couldn't you use the add-on lenses in the same manner that you use them for the compact digitals? Well...housings would have to be designed to do that but I can't think of any reason you couldn't use add-on wet mate style lenses with a DSLR. Its not as ideal in terms of quality as changing lenses in the usual way, but its something.

jds

 

[Mr. Bubble]

Well, sorry for Hi-jacking this thread in the first place. Maybe we should start a new thread on this subject. Yes, my idea would be the same or similar to the wet mate. The only problem would be the battery connection for the auto-focus. I don't think it would work with water around it. Safe to say that no matter the situation, 9 out of 10 times, the subject will have lost its photo opportunity after you attempt to change a lens underwater.

 

[alcina]

You already CAN use Woody's on your flat ports - Woody acts the same way as the wet mount lenses.

I'll let someone else explain why adding a WA adaptor to a flat port won't work...

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Now, I'm a photographer, not a genius...but my understanding is that some DSLR's use a motor in the body for AF?

You could make a housing that would let you switch lenses. But it would be huge. And your lenses would all be "off" becuase they would be further from the body than normal. Lightleaks might be a problem. Where do you store the other lense?

The simplest thing to do is get a "walkaround" lense like that 17-70. That'll cover almost everything, I think. (I don't really know. All of my shooting is above water, most of my glass is MF only, and the only non-prime lense I own is also my only AF lense. I usually walk around with a f2.8 135 (200 with crop factor) lense. Underwater, I'd probably use a 50mm, as that's 75 with the crop and underwater things are bigger. Infact, I might use a 28 I have lying around, since that's 50 with the crop....hm...)