Ist Day in the Water with D400 & SeaTool housing

[Christi]

Well, after two test dives of the housing, I finally got in the water today with my Rebel XTi/60mm lens/Seatool Housing/Ikelite DS-125 and I had a ball...but I'm also so incredibly overwhelmed. This is an entirely different league fro my precious Oly 5050/Ikelite set-up.

So many questions for anyone who can answer

1. The LCD screen doesn't work at all when the camera is in the housing...only when the camera is initially turned on, if I go into a menu, or when I want to play back the photos. Anyone know a way I can make the photo appear temporarily on the LCD screen after the shot is taken other than hitting the playback button?
2. I cannot tell which mode I am shooting in since the LCD display doesn't show...although I assume I was in one of the auto/semi auto modes or shutter priority (I haven't taken the camera out of the housing yet...it's still doing the fresh water soak) Anyone know how I can get the mode to show up on the LCD?
3. Since I don't think I was in manual mode, I could not change f-stops...although I could change shutter speed...I am assuming that was simply due to the mode I was shooting in - nay thoughts/comments/suggestions here?
4. I cut alot of heads and butts off my fish...this is simply going to be a matter of me getting used to shooting through the viewfinder rather than framing my shot with the LCD display. Thoughts/suggestions/tips?
5. I was amazed at the capabilities with this camera - I was able to get shots of things I cold never get with the OLY die to the shutter lag!

I just have SOO much to learn. I'm sure ill have more questions/comments...but this is all I can think of at this moment

 

[Gudge]

The LCD screen doesn't work at all when the camera is in the housing...only when the camera is initially turned on, if I go into a menu, or when I want to play back the photos. Anyone know a way I can make the photo appear temporarily on the LCD screen after the shot is taken other than hitting the playback button?

The 400D has a sensor under the viewfinder that automatically turns the LCD display off you put the camera up to your eye. You have to disable this sensor when the camera is in the housing as the presence of the housing in close proximity to the sensor will cause the LCD panel to be always turned off.

In the first tools tab of the cameras menu system go to "LCD auto off" and set it to "Disable". You can then turn the LCD display on and off as required using the "Display" button on the back of the camera.

I cannot tell which mode I am shooting in since the LCD display doesn't show...although I assume I was in one of the auto/semi auto modes or shutter priority (I haven't taken the camera out of the housing yet...it's still doing the fresh water soak) Anyone know how I can get the mode to show up on the LCD?

Once you disable LCD auto off, this should no longer be a problem.

Since I don't think I was in manual mode, I could not change f-stops...although I could change shutter speed...I am assuming that was simply due to the mode I was shooting in - nay thoughts/comments/suggestions here?

To change the aperture you have to move the switch on the back of housing that locks in the button which changes the function of the dial on the top of the camera from changing shutter speed to changing aperture. As you usually change aperture more often than shutter speed I recommend leaving the switch in the locked in position and only change it when you want to change shutter speed.

 

[Christi]

Gudge....THANK YOU! I knew about the sensor, and I suspected that's what was causing it to be off when in the housing...I just didn't know how to work around that!

Thank you so much!!! I'm downloading photos now...but I can't promise there will be any to share Today was the first work out the kinks dive with this set-up.

I'm diving again Tuesday, so these tips will be a HUGE help! Thank you again!

 

[bfuqua]

I know you will enjoy your new camera. I just went from a C5060 to a Canon 40D. It was a whole new ball game. We spent a week in Roatan and had a great time with it. The dSLR should be much more fun on drift dives without the shutter lag. We will check your site out next time we book a trip to Cozumel. Hope to see some of your new pictures soon.

 

[txdano]

Hey Christi, I heard you got a new camera, did not know you got the Xti. That is what I am shooting too, and love it! So does that make 4 of us in Fiji with the same camera?