Uwl-04 Wide Angle Lens

[Skeptic14]

With a trip coming up, camera upgrades were on my mind. I was leaning toward getting a second YS-03 strobe to help with lighting since wide angle scenes interest me more than macro. But after more research and examining photos and my goals I instead decided to get a WAL and down the road go with a more powerful strobe like the YS-D2.

I ordered my lens from optical ocean sales and it arrived right on time and mounts directly to the PT-056 case. I can't wait to try it out underwater!

TG-4, PT-056, YS-03, UWL-04

 

[JackConnick]

Thanks! Have fun with it. Try to stop the camera down as you will get sharper corners.

We look forward to seeing some great photos soon!

 

[Skeptic14]

Jack,

Could you elaborate a bit regarding getting sharper corners? Is this the same as zooming in a step to remove the slight vignetting?

Thanks again for fielding all my questions!

 

[JackConnick]

Yes you may need to zoom in slightly. You have two aperture settings, you might try the higher one (f/8?) and you will use more of the center part of the lens and the edges of the shots may be a bit sharper.

 

[jjwebster]

You will get some great close focus wide angle shots with that set up, around f4.0 and smaller will keep the corners sharp.

Probably need another strobe if you want nicely lit, wide reef shots.

 

[Skeptic14]

Thanks guys, I wasn't familiar with the terminology, I will definitely try the aperture priority mode and smaller f-stops.

I'll eventually add a second strobe, on this trip most of my dives will be in the 30-40 ft range so I'm hoping one strobe might do ok.

 

[JackConnick]

See this handbook:
https://www.opticaloceansales.com/files/Basics-of-CFWA.pdf

 

[kammel78]

Thanks guys, I wasn't familiar with the terminology, I will definitely try the aperture priority mode and smaller f-stops.

I'll eventually add a second strobe, on this trip most of my dives will be in the 30-40 ft range so I'm hoping one strobe might do ok.

So, how was the trip? How'd the UWL work out for you?

I've got the same setup and debating the same issue. UWL or another YS-03.

 

[Skeptic14]

The trip was awesome. I'd snorkeled in Maui before but wasn't dive certified, so this was my first time diving Kauai and Maui.

I'm very glad I got the UWL-04, as shooting WA is more my speed than macro. IMO if you aren't shooting WA with this setup the single strobe is probably sufficient, so I think it makes sense to add the WA first and then the second strobe, or both at the same time. In some of my shots I can tell that a second strobe would have produced more even foreground lighting/color but I was very happy with my results overall.

A couple of my favs from the trip:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/GpntCt][/URL]
http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/GpntC.../photos/skeptic14/]Skeptic14[/url], on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/HdG71P][/URL]
http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/HdG71.../photos/skeptic14/]Skeptic14[/url], on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/GpnuGT][/URL]
http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/GpnuG.../photos/skeptic14/]Skeptic14[/url], on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/GpnrUi][/URL]

You can see the full albums by following the link in my sig. As a beginner just learning some basics to UW photography and using a basic camera setup, I couldn't be happier. Of course, the incredible water in HI helped a lot

 

[stuartv]

Nice pics!

Just curious. In the 2nd and 3rd photos, how far would you say the camera was from the 2 turtles and the eel when you took the pictures? And are those pics cropped at all?

Thanks!