new to dslr

[samgree1951]

I am new to digital underwater photography using a nikon D80. I need some basic help. Shoot auto or manual? What settings for using a ds 125 strobe? Do you force the flash like we did on the point and shoot? My shots under the ledges were non-existant. Thanks for taking time to share with a newbie.

Sam G

[Clay Coleman]

I am new to digital underwater photography using a nikon D80. I need some basic help. Shoot auto or manual? What settings for using a ds 125 strobe? Do you force the flash like we did on the point and shoot? My shots under the ledges were non-existant. Thanks for taking time to share with a newbie.

Sam G

Hi Sam. I'm also new to digital photography with a D80. For macro, I set the camera to manual and shoot (ISO 100) at a 200th shutter speed at around f20 with the strobes (I shoot with twin 125's) set to TTL. This works when the lens is within a foot of the subject. For wide angle I also shoot manual, f8, shutter speed set to get a nice ambient background (start at 1/60), both strobes at full power with diffusers on and set wide apart pointing forward from a distance of 3-4 apparent feet. Let me know if this makes sense to you. -Clay

[redkane]

I use a D200 in an Ikelite Housing with 1 DS-125. The strobe is set just to the left of the lens port about 6-10 inches and slightly behind it. I use a diffuser during the day. I do not use a diffuser at night.

I have set the camera for auto ISO and limit its maximum to 400 ISO, giving it a range of 100 to 400 ISO. The shutter speed is set at a minimum of 1/80th of a second. I use aperture priority and generally use between f/8 and f/16. I let the camera set the shutter speed and ISO within the limits set for the given aperture. The camera changes ISO and shutter speed based on the amount of light provided by the aperture I am using for a particular shot.

I use a Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR lens for macro photography and it is a great lens. It focuses extremely fast and has definitely had a positive impact on my pictures. It has enabled me to get some shots I don't think I would have got otherwise.

This seems to work pretty well. I have just started using this D200 so am still learning how to use it most effectively. I am debating going to an all manual mode but until I get more comfortable with using aperture priority and am happy with most of the shots I am getting now, I will stick with this set up.

[Clay Coleman]

Maybe it would be easiest to see some shots. Here are 2 that I took last week in Bonaire.

Seahorse with D80, dual Ike 125's, camera manually set to f20, 1/200, both strobes on TTL with diffusers on,Nikon 60mm:
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/c39d9bc0.jpg

Sharon with D80, dual Ike 125's, camera manually set to f8, 1/60th, strobes manually set to full power and positioned as widely as possible with standard Ike arms, pointed straight ahead with diffusers on, Tokina 12-24mm set at 12mm:
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/c7bbcd10.jpg
Clay

[sorvju-f]

Maybe it would be easiest to see some shots. Here are 2 that I took last week in Bonaire.

Seahorse with D80, dual Ike 125's, camera manually set to f20, 1/200, both strobes on TTL with diffusers on,Nikon 60mm:

Sharon with D80, dual Ike 125's, camera manually set to f8, 1/60th, strobes manually set to full power and positioned as widely as possible with standard Ike arms, pointed straight ahead with diffusers on, Tokina 12-24mm set at 12mm:

Clay

Clay, you are right...pic tells more than 1000 words!

What is the difference between diffusers on or off....when to use and when not?

Jukka

[Clay Coleman]

Clay, you are right...pic tells more than 1000 words!

What is the difference between diffusers on or off....when to use and when not?

Jukka

That's a good question, Jukka, and one that I've thought about. I'm new to digital photography, and I'm still experimenting. Diffusers result in an image with less contrast than you'd get with naked strobes. Less contrast means less chance of getting a highlight reflection that is totally white (spectral highlight). Of course, such a highlight can't be controlled later with software. Shooting digital is a lot like shooting black and white film--you think past the actual exposure of the negative (RAW file) and work to give yourself the best chance for a quality print. Once you have a digital file with good information, it's a simple matter to add contrast in the RAW file before opening it, which won't affect the histogram and won't result in the loss of any data. I guess the short answer is that it's easier to add contrast to a digital file than it is to reduce contrast, and a high-contrast exposure raises the risk of blown-out highlights. So I've been using the diffusers all the time for both macro and wide angle. -Clay

[sorvju-f]

That's a good question, Jukka, and one that I've thought about. I'm new to digital photography, and I'm still experimenting. Diffusers result in an image with less contrast than you'd get with naked strobes. Less contrast means less chance of getting a highlight reflection that is totally white (spectral highlight). Of course, such a highlight can't be controlled later with software. Shooting digital is a lot like shooting black and white film--you think past the actual exposure of the negative (RAW file) and work to give yourself the best chance for a quality print. Once you have a digital file with good information, it's a simple matter to add contrast in the RAW file before opening it, which won't affect the histogram and won't result in the loss of any data. I guess the short answer is that it's easier to add contrast to a digital file than it is to reduce contrast, and a high-contrast exposure raises the risk of blown-out highlights. So I've been using the diffusers all the time for both macro and wide angle. -Clay

I am the one who have always diffusers on, so I dont know the result (and thatswhy asking)....yet. So I like many others are having TTL, where camera gives info to srobe....if you put something front of strobe its more or less reducing amount of light to subject.

Maybe here would be couple of pics telling more than our words, but I dont have yet.

Jukka