Subject:	Some ideas (+)
Author:	drdread
Date:	7/24/2002 9:52:05 AM
Message:

You got a pretty good deal on the setup. I'm sure the "new" price on those items would weigh in pretty close to $2k.

My advice regarding starting out is to start fairly simple: go with 'P' mode on the camera, full TTL, and shoot fish portraits and/or light macro. To this end, you'll want to use that 50mm lens. However, the right lens port to use for that lens is a flat port, so if you're willing to lay out a few extra $$, I'd start off buying the proper flat port for the 50mm lens. If you buy it from B&H, it shouldn't set you back more than $75 or $100.

Your first order of business is to get comfortable with diving with the big camera rig. Believe me: it will *not* be an easy task at first. Pushing a housing through the water and learning how to maintain proper buoyancy and trim while holding the camera is a totally non-trivial thing.

The 50mm lens will probably be your favorite lens initially, as it's the most versatile thing in the water. With it, you can shoot fish portraits, people (head shots, mostly), macro, etc. About the only thing you can't do with it is wide-angle work -- that's what the 20-35mm zoom is for! The other great thing about lenses in that focal range is that TTL works great, so you won't have to worry about manual strobe settings. This will free you to worry about other things: subject selection & composition, strobe placement, etc. Those items form the basis of good photographic skills for *any* situation, so working on them early is a good plan.

Anyway, congrats on your purchase and welcome to the infinitely frustrating and infinitely rewarding world of underwater photography!

D

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