Took my new rig to the pool today...

[ConchyJoe]

Good luck with the eagle rays using the 50mm lens! If you want to make a "Hail Mary" shot, go to P mode and fire away - but be warned that autofocus isn't going to be easy...

I don't know what the fastest sync speed is for the 420; look it up.

J,

It kinda tongue in cheek as exhibted by this photo that Laurie and I get a big laugh out of.

It was the first time Laurie had seen a shark, and didn't realize I was busy taking the following shot to see the shark, and completely missed it.

The bottom line is I hope I get a better shot than this one the next time something big cruises by...

Thanks for all the help, and keep the tips coming!

 

[jlyle]

Your fastest sync speed = 1/180 sec.

 

[gary-ramey]

The fastest sync speed of the E420 is 1/180 unless you're using the Olympus land strobe the FL50R. You can actually shoot pelagics with the 50mm...but it isn't easy. There's an old rule of thumb that says dance with the one you brought...er ...shoot the lens you have on...not the lens you wish you had on. I did manage a few nice shots of a Hawksbill and a large Green Sea Turtle along with other fish but you need good viz because you're definitely more than a few feet away. If I were shooting macro and saw some eagle rays I'd have to try though...just in my nature. Throw the strobes out wide, angled slightly out, set the aperture to as low as you can and shoot away. Digital frames are cheap...no reason to hold back. Shooting the lens you have on doesn't mean you can't take the photo...just means you gotta understand the limitations and shoot for a unique perspective. I'll post a few okay shots, nothing special but I was proud of the framing that big Green Sea Turtle from 10ft away, lighting it half way decent and managing a decent photo in 20ft vis. Not half bad for a hack like me. All of these are uncropped

I'll make a guess that after about 2 dives with the 50mm...the 14-42 may not see the water!

 

[gary-ramey]

Hope you don't mind...did a real quick levels black point adjustment as well as lighting and contrast.

 

[ConchyJoe]

Gary and all,

I don't have a 14-42, didn't buy it. I did get a 25MM, but no port yet. Is there one out?

How do I set the camera to shot at other speeds? Do I have to go M, set F16 and 180th, and the camera will adjust the flash through metering. I will try that here and see.

And Gary you are more than welcome to fiddle with my pics. I am reloading the OS on a laptop, and will use it just for UW stuff, and have Oly Master, and PS Elements on it along wth some other stuff.

I am also shooting JPG+RAW. My best friend is a 25 year wedding photographer and is going to work with my to learn some basic skill working with RAW.

 

[jlyle]

How do I set the camera to shot at other speeds? Do I have to go M, set F16 and 180th, and the camera will adjust the flash through metering. I will try that here and see.

To set the shutter speed, either use S mode (shutter priority) or M (manual).

 

[gary-ramey]

I always shoot in full manual mode and rarely move out of that. I'm unaware of a port for the 25mm. You won't miss a whole lot with the 14-42 underwater although I do take it if I'm uncertain of what I might see (first time on a site). Most of the time it stays back in the hotel while I mount the 50mm. If I see something larger, I just have to shoot a little differently and live with the results.