Requesting info on float arms vs. standard

[doctock993]

I'm down to the final aspects for the new gear to house a D90 with WA or macro set-up.
Nikon D90 in Nauticam housing with eyepiece
Nikon 105VR lens in Nauticam dedicated port
Tokina 11-16 2.8 with Nauticam zoom gear and Nauticam 6" acrylic port plus extension
Inon D-2000 x2 optical triggering

Probable addition for future: spotting/ dive lite on hotshoe
Possible change: 6" or 8" glass dome (If I can find one pre-owned)


Now to decide on the arms.

With this set up, should I do:
2x 8" UCLS float plus 2x 5" UCLS standard arms?
4x 8" UCLS float arms?
Other?

I would prefer to stick with one set for both ease of learning and ease of travel.

Prior photo experience is Olympus 5050 in Oly housing.

Prior dive experience is approx 50+ logged dives and 50+ unlogged in tropical (Caribbean: Jamaica, Cozumel, Turks, St. Lucia) diving. No deco/ no nitrox/ always divemaster guided.

Future dives planned:
April 2010: Cozumel to practice with all photo gear and some new dive gear in familiar environment (plus get GF on final open water dive/ certified / hooked on diving!)
May 2010: Belize
Oct 2010: Bonaire

June/July 2011: Turks

 

[Tim.]

Odd length arms imo give better strobe positioning options plus they pack to the side of the port better for transporting.

Whether to have two or four float arms will depend on how much buoyancy your rig needs. There are also two different diameters of float available giving more or less buoyancy. - Lots of different tunes to play. Ideally find a dealer who has some sort of pool or big bucket where you can get it right from the start. Its hard to understand why manufacturers seldom quote weights in water for their kit.

Note that if you have the larger diameter float arms next to each other you will need the longer style of UCLS clamp between or they won't fully fold together.

 

[dbh]

I would get the 8" & 5" ULCS standard arms and then some of the StiX floats that fit on them. Inons are negative and I would think as compact as the Nauticam is, it will be too.


Dave

 

[divengolf]

ULCS has bouyancy info:

Ultralight Control Systems

Then click on Arms & Clamps

But the only way do figure it out is get into the water with some arms and experiment.

I bought 2 14" (2" diameter) arms, then after several dives have bought 2 more 8" (2")arms. Going to test next month in Bonaire.

Good luck