Strobe and wide angle

[johndiver9824]

I'm shooting a basic A570IS with the DC12 housing and a Fantasea nano strobe... I'm looking to go with a bigger Sea and Sea strobe for more wide angle shots. The Nano is okay for the macro but it is too small for the more distant shots (6 feet or so). Any suggestions???

Also anyone shot the wide angle lens that mounts to the outside of the housing? Is it worth the money?

Thanks

 

[under water]

Is it worth the money??
It is to me, but that is a question that only you can answer for yourself.
I have a wide angle lens that I used on my last dive trip. However it is on an Ikelite housing with a short port, so it does not have the vignetting issues that some canon housings have with the wide angle, so take my answer as only a partial answer to your question. It was worth the money for me to upgrade to the Ikelite housing and the short port.
I found it to be a great improvement for certain shots. With a wide angle lens, you will be able to get closer to your subject for the same 'frame' which means that your strobe will need to have a wider angle. Other strobes will still work, but you will have exposure fall off on the edges.
An alternative is to use two strobes. It gives you more flexibility and creativity, but it gets a bit more complicated.

 

[Nemrod]

Yes, it is worth the money. The purpose of a wide angle lens is two fold:

1. To take a "seascape" or to include large objects.
2. To get close, very, very close and still be able to frame the subject.

Look for a strobe like the YS110a or my favorite the Inon D2000 that has wide coverage, both I mentioned cover over 100 degrees circular. Also the new miniature Inon S2000 has the same power and coverage as the Inon D2000.

Using the DC-12 housing you need the Inon AD adapter to allow you to mount either the Inon 105AD wide angle lens or the 165AD fisheye lens for true wide angle.

Without either of the lenses above the A570IS cannot shoot wide angle. No P&S can shoot wide angle without an accessory lens. Even a 28mm lens is not wide angle, especially underwater.

The Inon 105AD lens has a FOV of about 100 degrees underwater which corresponds nicely to the coverage of the Inon or YS strobes.

N

 

[SFLDiver3445]

Hi John,

I couldn't agree more the advice you received so far within this thread!

As far as I'm concerned, a wide angle lens underwater in practically a manditory add-on item, because the problem with shooting pictures underwater, is the difficulty in lighting your subject, without lighting up every little partical of matter floating in the water between your lens and the subject. So what's the solution...GET CLOSER.

Well, when you get closer, your camera either has difficulty focussing on everything within the picture or you cut part of the subject out of the picture, or both.

However, the problems caused by getting closer, are generally solved by adding on a wide angle lens. Wide angle lenses generally increase the depth of field your camera is able to focus on and ensures objects in view are in focus. Also, because a good wide angle lens will dramatically increase your angle of coverage, even when you get close, you can keep a greater area within the picture's view, even though you are very close.

Additionally, by getting closer, you are able to adequately light up items within the camera's view. One of the main problems with underwater photography is inadequate lighting. The light that your strobe(s) emits just doesn't travel very far underwater, even with a powerful strobe. Therefore, by getting closer to your subject, you have already won half the battle when it comes to lighting your subject.

And yes, lenses that you externally add to your cameras housing can produce a quality picture. Most of the folks within this forum, including myself, use external wet lenses. I've used both of the lenses that Nemrod sugested within his posting, and let me assure you, when properly used, those lenses, in conjunction with your camera and adequate lighting, will make a world of difference in the outcome of your underwater photography!

Adrian

 

[kaes]

Hi John -

I just went through the exact upgrade you are considering. I'm shooting with a Canon SD870 IS P&S camera and just recently upgraded to an Inon D-2000 strobe and Inon UW100-28AD bayonet mount wide angle wet mount lens. The UW100-28AD is essentially same lens as 105-AD lens Nemrod mentions below except its made for 28mm master lens cameras (like mine). It provides 90-100 degrees FOV underwater.

I just got back from a 7 day liveaboard trip to Great Barrier Reef and strobe & wide angle lens helped out tremendously. It was overcast several days and without an external strobe most shots would not be possible. I agree with other comments so far, you have to determine for yourself it its worth it but it definitely was worth it for me.

As mentioned below, these Inon wide angle lenses have a great focal distance. You can almost touch the subject with the lens and remain in focus. So if you want to shoot close-up wide photography than Inon D2000 and Inon wide angle lens combo will work great (you will want the strobe diffuser to increase coverage angle to 100 degrees). If you are wanting to shoot seascapes from great distances you may get some strobe fall off depending on how far away you are.

Kaes

 

[Interceptor121]

My GF has the A570IS with Inon 105 + Sea & Sea YS DS27 and I think this is as good as it gets with a single strobe, obviously you could spend more on a strobe with 105x105 but that is a detail.
As the A570 can shoot in complete manual actually the close focus wide angle is pretty good.
For full wide angle, the other option is a dual strobe but frankly you would probably looking at a camera upgrade once you have gone that far. Besides the wide angle is very good when you shoot with manual white balance and you have large creatures such as whale sharks.
Those are some shots with this combination Best of Thailand 2009 - a set on Flickr