nOOb Question About Lens Logistics

[Rick Inman]

Just getting started with a beginner's camera (DC310, dual strobes), know less than nothing and I have a questions about all those lenses.

I've got 3 macros and a WA. I have no docks for the lenses. Where do you keep all the lenses when you're underwater? Right now I've got 'em hooked to the camera with the 4" string connected to the cheap plastic clips (the way they came). It's quit clusterish, all those lenses hanging off. I could keep them in a pocket, but that would make for rather slow lens changes. I could attach real bolt snaps and clip them to a D ring. But I'm sure this wheel has already been invented, so please educate me.

Also, the lenses are all in foam covers. Do you keep the covers on the lenses while in the water? They're quit a hassle to take on and off - another delay in lens changing. But without them, the lenses are unprotected.

Thanks!

 

[midwestdvr]

I don't know anything about sealife but I keep mine on an Inon lens holder that's screwed in to a tray handle. I didn't put a lens cover when I was diving on my last trip but always cringed when I was handing my camera back up the boat. Always afraid I'd find a big scratch on the lens when I get back on the boat to look at the set up. BTW, 3 macros? That's a lot of lenses to carry around.

 

[Rick Inman]

BTW, 3 macros? That's a lot of lenses to carry around.

Too many? I have the 3X, 8X & 16X. That's what I was thinking, that I should just take one macro and the WA.

Here's a pic of what I have.

 

[Bbarnes]

I hook all three of my macro lenses to the lanyard. Definitely leave the neoprene lens covers on. I have no problems "squirting" them out of the cover and attaching them, even wearing 5mm gloves. I flip between them, depending on what I am shooting so I wouldn't consider just taking one. I also have the wide angle lens. They now have come out with a lens dock to hook it to the bottom of the strobe plate so that it doesn't dangle around. Finally, I don't dive with the wand. It scares anything off that you are shooting so I didn't think it was worth the drag and the bulk. Just think, you can untangle your lenses and can entertain yourself after each dive!!

 

[pete340]

I've got 3 macros and a WA.

Unless you're an experienced photographer, that's too many lenses. Pick one and learn to use it.

 

[Bbarnes]

Did you have the little white plastic card that hooks to your lanyard too? It has the focal lengths for each of the lenses, just in case you forget. They are so easy to pop on and off that changing them is no big deal. They all operate on the same principle but just have different distances that you need to shoot from. Be sure to burp you lens if you get in the water with it attached to the front of the camera housing. Otherwise, you will have an air bubble in between the lens and housing that will make for some weird photos. If you don't have that card, let me know and I can email you what it lists for each of the 3 lenses. I don't know if Sealife would be able to send you another one as well.

 

[Rick Inman]

Unless you're an experienced photographer, that's too many lenses. Pick one and learn to use it.

Good advise. Which lens would you start with?

If you don't have that card, let me know and I can email you what it lists for each of the 3 lenses. I don't know if Sealife would be able to send you another one as well.

I downloaded the owners manuals for the lenses and wrote the focal lengths in my wet notes, thanks.

 

[pete340]

Good advise. Which lens would you start with?

I don't have much experience with underwater photography, so take this with several grains of salt. But for my next trip I'm thinking of a roughly normal focal-length, close-focusing lens (i.e. 60mm macro for Nikon dSLR, or maybe just the normal 50mm). That doesn't have the broad field of a wide angle, so the image is simpler, but it has more depth of field than a longer macro. Good for fish portraits, but not for some of the tiny things you see in more experienced folk's pictures.