Nikon D90 Video with L & M Sola600 and Tokina 10-17

[AussieByron]

I had the chance to take the Light and Motion Sola600 LED focusing/video light out (Light & Motion Underwater Lighting Systems - SOLA600) for dive today. I took my strobes off and just shoot video on my D90 with the Tokina 10-17mm. The Tokina 10-17mm was shot at 17mm as this was the best focal length for the spread of the Sola600's beam.

Had some rough conditions with surge and the vis had also dropped from the days before. But there was so much action in the water it comes in handy sometimes to shoot video from the Nikon D90 instead of video.

Here are some links to my first unedited video clips just to give you an idea of the setup:

DSC_0019 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

DSC_0008 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Regards Mark

 

[scuba e]

Nice.
How are you setting your white balance?

 

[AussieByron]

Nice.
How are you setting your white balance?

Using presets which have different levels of red and picking the most suited at the time.

The conditions were not the best today either so its a little work in progress at the moment.

Regards Mark

 

[Viz'art]

I just got that light myself, nice & small and a big punch fo its size.

You got what looked like a shark on the sea floor, is that a woobegong and we have an overstock of Lion fish on this side of the world, can we interest you in some, we would really like to do a clearance sale of those buggers if we could

 

[AussieByron]

I just got that light myself, nice & small and a big punch fo its size.

You got what looked like a shark on the sea floor, is that a woobegong and we have an overstock of Lion fish on this side of the world, can we interest you in some, we would really like to do a clearance sale of those buggers if we could

We have an overstock of Wobbegongs at the moment. They have been feeding on baitfish for past several weeks.

20100719 496 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Count the Wobbies in this clip

Cheers Mark

 

[Viz'art]

OK, thats a lot Woobies, are they genetically connected to rabbits?

 

[NotYetBent]

How do you like the Solas? I got a pair for my last dive trip...I can't imagine an easier to use light, nor can I ever imagine wanting anything brighter...they are almost too bright at night! Plus I have yet to need to recharge them during a dive day (4 dives / day inc. one night dive - with one used as my torch) and they are very very light for travel. Have you figured out the best way to use the red light yet? I can't tell anything apart when it's on at night...

But seriously, is there really a need for a more expensive / brighter light than the Sola600?

 

[AussieByron]

I havnt shot Macro yet with the Sola600. But i have been playing with the red LED with the local Grey Nurse Sharks. In low vis they seem curious and come in close for a good look.

I used it alot on a single dive at full power and that sucks the battery a fair bit. But when I was in a small cave I needed to drop the power down to the lowest as mid and full power was too bright especially with reflective baitfish.

How did the pair go together? enough spread for wide angle? Did you mount them wide?

Regards Mark

 

[deeper thoughts]

very nice

 

[Gymrat76]

May I ask if you adjust the focus manually? I've always gotten terrible u/w videos with my D90 cos everything seems out of focus. Nothing at all like my previous Canon G9... sigh