Using T2i/550D on a night dive for the 1st and have questions

[rickeyf413]

I'm not sure whether or not to use automatic or manual setting because of the quick action and recommendation? If manual, what settings should I concentrate on? If it helps I have a Sea&Sea housing and an Inon S-2000 strobe

I'm fairly new to the T2i I recently upgraded from a point and shot setup

So any tips and/or recommendations would be greatly appreciated

 

[bvanant]

Which quick action. If you are shooting mantas with a wide angle lens, the S2000 will not be terribly useful. What are you planning on shooting?
Bill

 

[rickeyf413]

I plan on shooting mostly video on the Manta dive with the light they set up and with my i-Torch Pro 4 I think I'll be ok from a lighting perspective. I only plan on shooting still when/if the Mantas get close so I can somewhat light them up with the strobe. I was going to try f/5.6, 1/60th or 1/30th, and ISO either 200, 400, or 800 in an attenpt to let in more light and if that doesn't work I'll just shoot video

For now I only have the 18-55mm and a 60mm

As I said just starting out with my first DSLR for underwater

I have the black water dive scheduled as well

 

[mjh]

Manual is the most consistent (typical) when shooting wide angle. The issues is going back and forth between video and stills may require you change the ISO and shutter speed. If this is the Kona Manta dive there can be a fair amount of artificial light down there. But I would say you can easily shoot stills ISO 400, f/5.6-8 and 1/80 -1/125. Anything less than 1/80 and you may get some blurring. Also to get focus you will need your focal point to be typically on the edge of the wing or head as the camera will have trouble just focusing on the white belly.

The 18-55mm may be a little narrow at times for this dive. Your strobe maybe a little underpowered for the combination of creature and lens. For close passes you can get face/eye shots. Think about shutting your strobe off and taking shots using the bank of lights they typically put on the bottom. Again ISO of 400, or higher, and slowest shutter speed possible, f/5.6 can work.

Regardless if the mantas show up in mass, last time we went we counted 12-14, it ranks as one of our favorite dives.