Ikelite Vacuums are Now Compatible with Non-Ikelite Housings

We love Ikelite vacuums because they are so reliable and easy to use. I, personally, have saved my camera half a dozen times when I plugged my Ikelite vacuum into my camera only to see that the seal had broken. At Bluewater, we have found that the simplicity of the Ikelite vacuums make them more reliable than vacuum systems that require electronics and we asked Ikelite’s engineers to produce an M14 and M16 version of their vacuum valve that could be screwed into the M14 and M16 bulkheads of non Ikelite housings. Once you screw in this vacuum valve to your bulkhead, the next step is to attach the Ikelite vacuum pump and pump the housing between 10 and 15 in. Hg. After a 15 minute wait, if you reattach the pump to the valve and if the needle hasn’t moved, your seal is good and you can dive with your housing leak free. If you attach the pump and the needle has moved, that means their is something wrong with your seal and you should not dive with the housing. This simple process and engineering ensures that you can have a reliable vacuum system in the field without worrying about electronic failure.

An Ikelite USB Charging and Data Transfer Bulkhead

Ikelite shooters will be thrilled to know that they can now leave their camera in their housing for the duration of their trip! Ikelite has developed a USB charging and data transfer bulkhead that allows you to plug a USB-C cable directly into select Ikelite housings. The camera is connected to the bulkhead inside the housing, so when a USB-C cable is connected to the bulkhead, your camera will automatically charger or you can download photos. Check out the bulkhead at Bluewater Photo to see if your housing is compatible.

IIkelite DL and DLM Housings Can Now Be Used with Fiber Optic Cables

And now for the grand finale….Ikelite DL and DLM housings can now be used with fiber optic cables! An Ikelite manual fiber optic transmitter has been designed to replace your Ikelite flash bulkhead and allow you to trigger strobes using fiber optic cables. The trigger screws into your flash bulkhead and is connected to a battery pack that produces an optical trigger via LEDs in the bulkhead. The trigger is compatible with most underwater strobes with a fiber optic sensor. This has been an innovation that Ikelite DL and DLM shooters have been hoping for years as some strobes are not compatible with sync cords. We are excited to see it come to fruition and can’t wait to try it out in the field!

The post Recent Ikelite Innovations first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

The future of photography is bleak… Just kidding! It’s actually looking pretty great. I’m not just saying that. 2018 and 2019 has seen innovation in photography at a rate faster than we have seen in the last decade. In a nutshell, the world has gone mirrorless. In fact, it’s pretty clear that full-frame mirrorless cameras are all that any camera manufacturer has been thinking about. And for good reason. Mirrorless cameras are just all around better systems than increasingly outdated DSLRs.

For those of you that have been out of the camera loop for the past couple years, a full-frame mirrorless camera is similar to a full-frame DSLR with a few key modifications. There is no mirror which means the autofocus system, viewfinder, and body design is quite different. Mirrorless cameras feature hybrid phase detection AF systems that work seamlessly in live view with the LCD. They also feature viewfinders with live video feeds instead of optical viewfinders. Finally, many of these systems feature top of the line systems like thousands of AF points covering 90% of the field of view, AF tracking, 5 axis in body image stabilization, 20 fps burst, silent shooting and more! It’s a great time to be a photographer. Although Sony was a few frames ahead in the full-frame mirrorless game, Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic are all in burst mode.

But as with any swift technological movement, there are whole spheres of photography slowly being left to the wayside. Some blame it on the rise of the cellphone camera, but it’s pretty clear that the lower end camera market is loosing steam. But in fact, I believe the mid-range camera market – like APS-C (cropped) sensor camera, micro 4/3rds mirrorless cameras, and entry level DSLRs – is in the most danger of decline. In the underwater camera world, compact cameras are become more and more advanced, making it a better option to gear up on accessories rather than switch to mid-range cameras. This has instigated a race to top the market in high end and low end cameras. In the high-end world, mirrorless has been opening new technology and innovation, and frankly the DSLR framework has not. This doesn’t bode well for DSLR shooters. Eventually, everyone is going to have to get used to and adapt their art form to some amazing advancements in photography. Here are my predictions for the future of underwater photography, but don’t quote me on this:

A wolf eel photographed with the new Olympus TG-6 compact camera

• DSLR cameras are going to be defunct within the decade.

An anemone captured with a Nikon D850 DSLR

There just isn’t enough innovation happening with DSLR’s anymore. The bodies are too crammed for essential tools like in-body image-stabilization (IBIS) and their mirrors can’t keep up with modern burst shooting speeds. But beyond that, even AF point are limited to the center of the field of view, and lens mount systems are being completely overhauled. It’s not a bad time to be a DSLR shooter since there are still amazing options available. However, sooner or later, every major camera company is going mirrorless and using new lens mounts at that.

• Compact cameras will get more advanced, but the market could shrink and get more expensive.

A wolf eel photographed with the new Olympus TG-6 compact camera

Compact cameras, because they share design similarities with mirrorless cameras are already getting some of the amazing features you can find in high end mirrorless cameras. The release of the Sony RX100 VII with the autofocus and burst capability of the Sony a9 mirrorless camera is a testament to this. Once a camera manufacturer develops a new technology, it’s in their best interest to integrate it in their compact systems to make their compact cameras more enticing to people that would otherwise shoot a cellphone. Because these new compacts are very capable, they are also rather expensive. Therefor the average price of compact cameras may go up. With more people taking cellphone photos, the compact camera market may shift towards more professional photographers who want a smaller tool to bring around. For underwater photographers this can be seen as a benefit. Instead of needing to upgrade to a mid range camera after getting used to a compact camera, since compact cameras will become more advanced it might make sense to keep your starter kit and upgrade with accessories. Image quality in some compact cameras is already approaching the level of 4/3rds mirrorless cameras.

• Mirrorless cameras will see leaps and bounds of innovation. Full frame will become more affordable and accessible. Higher-end mirrorless cameras will become even more high-end and unaffordable.

Clown dorid captured with a Nikon Z7 full-frame mirrorless camera

This is where we are really going to see amazing improvements in camera technology. Full-frame mirrorless technology, originally spearheaded by Sony, is the future. As I mentioned before, these cameras are already include tools that high-end DSLRs can’t adapt to. Because a lot of this innovation is on mostly full-frame cameras, full-frame technology is going to become more accessible and affordable. Already we are seeing relatively cheap full-frame models with amazing capability – like the Nikon Z6 and Canon EOS RP. When full-frame becomes affordable, the low and mid range mirrorless market, especially 4/3rds and APS-C sensor cameras, are likely going to become less popular over time. New lens mounts available for these new full-frame systems are going to produce some very high quality lenses. Overall the new mounts have a smaller flange distance which gives manufacturers more room for optical improvements and quicker glass.

• Medium format camera will become more affordable and accessible.

The recent release of the Sony A7R IV – a 61MP full frame mirrorless camera – is pushing the limits of how many megapixels you can cram in one sensor. Eventually, it just won’t make any sense to add more megapixels to a full-frame sensor, and people are going to start taking a look at medium format cameras. In fact, medium format is becoming more popular and affordable with the release of the Fujifilm GFX 50R – a camera that is at a similar price point as other high end full-frame cameras.

• Video will see even more innovation than photography.

Recently, video has seen even more leaps and bounds when compared with innovations in photography. I expect this trend to continue. Most photographic innovation recently has been in the area of megapixels and autofocus. Well many modern cameras have AF updates that provide just as much benefit to video functions. Moreover, video files are relatively primitive on many high-end cameras – even Log profiles. It’s only a matter of time that RAW video formats will become accessible to the general public and high-end mirrorless cameras will start matching the video capability of cameras currently 10 times their price. Of course, this is just a prediction….

The post The Future of Underwater Photography first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Hairy Frogfish (right)

Wise words from Mike Bartick/Wayne Gretzky 

The post “Snoot is life” – A first time snooters experience first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Best Cameras for Underwater Photography & Video

10 Ideas For the holidays of 2015

By Scott Gietler

Which underwater camera to get? With so many great cameras, lenses and housings out there, the decision is tough. Here are some models that you can’t go wrong with for all budgets, whether your shooting stills or underwater video- and we’ll mention some runner-ups at the end of the article.

#1 Best deal, $1500 off

Olympus OM-D E-M5 bundle

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 underwater housing bundle is the deal of the year, selling for $1,299 instead of $2,825. It includes the E-M5 mirrorless camera (which is an awesome high-end camera!), 14-42mm lens, housing, port, & zoom gear. The ports are WAY easier to change than the E-PL5 or E-PL7 housings, making this deal a no-brainer, especially as a back-up setup for your dSLR setup.

Not a good enough deal? Check out our half-off Olympus E-PL5 bundle for $799

#2 Entry Level, Snorkeling or Diving

Olympus TG-4

The Olympus TG-4 is well priced at $349, and is waterproof to 50 feet (15 meters). There is also an inexpensive Olympus TG-4 housing available for it for $299, which we highly recommend. The TG-4 even shoots in RAW, and can take quite good photos & video for such an inexpensive camera. It will work well with high quality wet lenses such as the UWL-04 fisheye lens, or the Bluewater +7 macro lens. Check out our great Olympus TG-4 packages on sale.

#3 Small housing- serious underwater photos

Sony RX-100 II for wide, Canon G16 for macro, Canon G7X a little of everything

The tiny Sony RX-100 II can take excellent photos, especially when combined with the UWL-04 fisheye lens for very good wide-angle. There is also a good selection of Sony RX-100 II underwater housings for it, including the inexpensive Recsea CW housing. We like the RX100 II better than the III & IV for stills. For macro enthusiasts, the Canon G16 is still king, with its long zoom range allowing for great prize-winning macro shots with a wet lens. G16 housing options include the Nauticam G16 housing, Recsea G16 housing, and at $399 the very well-priced Fantasea G16 housing.

The Canon G7x can take great video, and good macro & wide-angle, and is an excellent all-around compact camera choice. It has a better zoom range / macro capability that the RX100 III/IV, and a brighter lens than the RX100 II, and there are some very well-priced high-quality housing like the Fantasea G7X housing. See our G7x housings.

#4 Small housing- professional photos

Olympus E-M1, Pany GH4 or Olympus E-M10

The Olympus E-M1 is still the king of mirrorless cameras, with great E-M1 housing choices (read our E-M1 review) and an excellent selection of lenses. The Aquatica E-M1 housing is incredible. To save a decent amount of money, go for the Nauticam Olympus E-M10 and you’ll get the same image quality.

The Panasonic mirrorless cameras are also strong contenders due to their great auto-focus systems, with the GH4 and the new GX8 both being strong contenders. I recommend the GH4 due to the better features and better housing options. Here are some stunning shots taken recently with the GH4.

Sony A6000

The Sony  A6000 boasts a larger sensor than the E-M10/E-M1, resulting in spectacular video quality and dynamic range in wide-angle photos. The higher-end A6000 has an electronic viewfinder, and works well in the Nauticam Sony A6000 housing. The Sony A5100 is a great bargain with the Nauticam A5100 housing, and takes basically the same images.

#5 Small housing- professional stills & videos

Sony A7 II, A7s II, A7r II

The Sony A7 II series is considered the ultimate choice by some underwater photographers and videographers. There is a great selection of housings and lenses, and the full frame sensor produces incredible stills and videos. We recommend the A7R II, as the 42 megapixels will come in handy for both wide-angle and macro, high ISO performance and dynamic range are both great given the smaller pixel size, and the video features are almost as good as the A7S II.

The downsides are slower responsiveness in general compared to a DSLR, especially when using the Sony 90mm macro lens, and very poor battery life. Check out the housings from Nauticam, Sea & Sea and Aquatica – they support all 3 of the Sony models, or read our Sony A7 II / A7R II review.

#6 Best of the best

Canon 7D Mark II, Nikon D7200 or Nikon D810

With 36 megapixels, a full-frame sensor and amazing auto-focus, the Nikon D810 is the top choice – view our Nikon D810 housings, or our complete D810 review for underwater.  The advantage of the Canon 7D Mark II is much better auto-focus during video than most other dSLRs, view our Canon 7D Mark II housings. For excellent image quality and dynamic range, without the full-frame expense, check out our Nikon D7200 housings.

#7 Gifts for the GoPro Owner

Lighting packages, accessories

We have several GoPro lighting packages, including ones for best price, small size, and great power. We also stock most GoPro accessories & GoPro mounts.

#8 Best for Video

Sony RX100 IV, Panasonic GH4, Sony A7R II

The Sony RX100 IV has game-changing slow-motion video capability – see an example here, and great housing options for all budgets. For professional level video, the Panasonic GH4 is unbeatable for its size, price and lens selection – we like the Nauticam GH4 housing. Stills from the GH4 are also excellent – check out these killer hammerhead photos taken with the GH4. The full-frame Sony A7R II can take video at an ISO higher than any other camera we mention in this article, and we expect this camera to also be a top choice for pro film makers. The RX100 IV, LX100, GH4 and Sony A7R II all take 4K video. Last, but certainly not least, the Canon 70D and Canon 7D Mark II are the only dSLR’s to offer good auto-focus during video.

#9 Other options for underwater photography

Sony RX100 III, Panasonic LX100, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

There are other excellent cameras out there, like the Sony Rx-100 III, LX100, Olympus E-M5 Mark II, and the Canon 5D Mark III. All of them are very capable of excellent photos and/or video. The white balance of the LX100 during video is suberb – see our uw video and LX100 review. The E-M5 Mark II is a very close contender to the E-M1 – read our E-M5 Mark II review for underwater. The full-frame sensor of the Canon 5D Mark III and Canon 5DS R can result in spectacular photos, and Canon has some of the best full-frame wide-angle lenses on the market as options.

#10 In-depth articles on the best cameras

You can also read our three in-depth articles on the best camera choices for underwater photography for 2015 – best compact cameras for underwater photography, best mirrorless cameras for underwater photography, and best dSLR cameras for underwater photography.

#11  Sale! 20 – 40% off Focus & Video Lights Nov 26th – Dec 5th

20-40% off a large number of focus & video lights – see all the specials here, including the Sola 800 photo for $240, iTorch Venom 3800 lumen video light for $499, iTorch Venusian III for $139, and the FIX 2000 spot/wide/red light for $499.

Twelve Unbeatable Dive Travel Specials

Be sure to view our 12 crazy dive travel specials, all are for travel next year, courtesy of our sister company Bluewater Travel – who specializes in personal & individual dive travel. Already have photo / video gear? Give the gift of dive travel!

Cyber Monday Sales

Check out our sales & specials page for amazing Cyber Monday deals, which will continue on through Dec 5th. Up to 50% off strobes, housings, lights, lens and more from Light & Motion, iTorch, Recsea, Olympus, Sony, Sea & Sea and many others.

Sample underwater photos

The post Best Underwater Cameras for Christmas 2015 first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

It’s official – megapixels are back in style, at least for a good number of underwater photographers. Back in the old days, compact cameras were chasing “megapixels”, and people fought to get as many as they could. Ten megapixels? Great. Twelve? Even better. Fast forward a few years, and megapixels were out of style. Canon lowered megapixels from their G-series cameras going from the G10 to the G11. Underwater photographers were using cameras with 10  – 16 megapixels, staying happy and getting nice shots.

Oh how times have changed. Customers are lining up to get as many megapixels as they can cram into their camera sensors. Let’s look at the top 3 contenders, and what has changed:

Nikon D810 – 36 megapixels

Shipping as of:  August 1st, 2014

What’s great: Incredible dynamic range, fast auto-focus, solid feeling body.

Canon 5DS – 50.6 megapixels

Shipping as of: July 1st, 2015

What’s great:   It is the highest resolution dSLR available. It will work in the existing 5D Mark III underwater housings, although Nauticam, Ikelite and Aquatica did put out new underwater housings with additional features.

Sony a7R II – 42.4 megapixels

Shipping as of: August 5th, 2015

What’s great:   Underwater housing is smaller, shoots 4K video, decent auto-focus for stills/video in live view mode. Nauticam will have a housing for this camera, although it is not clear if it will work in the Nauticam A7 II housing. New Sony 90mm macro lens has great resolution.

What’s changed?

• Bigger, cheaper memory cards
• Faster in-camera processors
• Faster laptops
• Better lenses able to fully resolve these high-megapixel sensors
• Better high ISO performance for higher megapixel sensors

How do you make use of all these megapixels anyways?

• Use a fast prime (e.g. Canon 100mm F2.8) macro lens, or a high-quality wide-angle lens with the best possible port options
• Shoot through clear water at a close distance
• Shoot at F8 – F16

I switched to the D810 3 months ago, and I’m loving it. Every last pixel. Read my complete D810 review here. I have totally caught the “megapixel” bug, now the question is, will you?

Of course not everyone needs or wants 50 megapixels, and people shooting only 16 or 20 megapixels can get better photos than people with a 50 megapixel camera.

What do you think, is having 30 – 50 megapixels awesome, or it is way too much and a waste of pixel pitch?

Scott Gietler

Owner, Bluewater Photo

The post Megapixels are back! first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Aquatica just announced an exciting new development and partnership between them and Ikelite. Starting with the upcoming housing for Canon 7D Mark II camera, the two companies will be partnering to bring the world renowned Ikelite TTL control circuitry in the Aquatica housings. This new development means that you can have the high quality aluminum housing, known for its rugged construction and nice ergonmic design complete with full TTL control when using Ikelite strobes and sync cords.

Using sync cords allows you to take advantage of the lightning fast recycle rate on the strobes, and Ikelites TTL circuitry keeps up with that fast recycle rate, providing accurate flash metering to give you a well exposed image automatically.

TTL is great when you are shooting in situations where taking the time to adjust the strobe power and dial in the shot may mean you miss a fast moving or shy subject, so the pairing of the excellent Aquatica housings and Ikelite TTL looks to be a very promising solution.

The first housing to have this built in will be the Aquatica housing for Canon 7D Mark II which should be shipping at the beginning of 2015.

The post Aquatica Announces Ikelite TTL Control first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Best cameras for underwater photography & video

For the holidays of 2014

By Scott Gietler

With so many great cameras out there, it is difficult to select just a few for our holiday picks. Here’s some models that you can’t go wrong with – and we’ll mention some runner-ups at the end of the article.

UPDATED FOR 2015: Read our Best Underwater Cameras for X-Mas 2015 article

Best deal, $1000 off

Olympus OM-D E-M5 bundle

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 underwater housing bundle is the deal of the year, selling for $1,499 instead of $2,499. It includes the E-M5 mirrorless camera (which is an awesome high-end camera!), 14-42mm lens, housing, port, & zoom gear. The ports are WAY easier to change than the E-PL5 or E-PL7 housings, making this deal a no-brainer, especially as a back-up setup for your dSLR setup.

Entry Level, Snorkeling

Olympus TG-3

The Olympus TG-3 is well priced at $349, and it waterproof to 50 feet (15 meters). There is also an inexpensive Olympus TG-3 housing available for it, which we recommend. Although it doesn’t shoot raw, it can take quite good photos for such an inexpensive camera, and will work with wet lenses, such as the UWL-04 fisheye lens, or the Bluewater +7 macro lens.

Small housing- serious underwater photos

Sony RX-100 II or Canon G16

The tiny Sony RX-100 II can take excellent photos, especially when combined with the UWL-04 fisheye lens for wide-angle. There is also a good selection of Sony RX-100 II underwater housings for it. For macro enthusiasts, the Canon G16 is still king, with its long zoom range allowing for great macro shots with a wet lens. G16 housing options include the Nauticam G16 housing, Recsea G16 housing, and the well-priced Fantasea G16 housing.

Small housing- professional photos

Olympus E-M1 or Olympus E-M10

The Olympus E-M1 is still the king of mirrorless cameras, with great E-M1 housing choices (read our E-M1 review) and an excellent selection of lenses. To save a decent amount of money, go for the Nauticam Olympus E-M10 and you’ll get the same image quality.

Sony A6000 or Sony A5100

The Sony A5100 and A6000 boast a larger sensor than the E-M10/E-M1, resulting in spectacular video quality and dynamic range in wide-angle photos. The higher-end A6000 has an electronic viewfinder, and works well in the Nauticam Sony A6000 housing. The Sony A5100 is a great bargain with the Nauticam A5100 housing, and takes basically the same images.

Best of the best

Canon 7D Mark II or Nikon D810

With 36 megapixels, a full-frame sensor and amazing auto-focus, the Nikon D810 is up to any task. The Nauticam D810 housing and the Ikelite D810 housing are currently out. If you want to use the Canon 7D Mark II, you may have to wait for the underwater housings to come out in January 2015, but the advantage is much better auto-focus during video than most other dSLRs.

Other camera options for underwater photography

There are other excellent cameras out there, like the Sony Rx-100 III, Canon G7X, Panasonic GH4, Nikon D7100, Canon 5D Mark III and Sony A7. All of them are very capable of excellent photos and/or video. The full-frame sensor of the Canon 5D Mark IIII and Sony A7 can result in spectacular photos. The GH4, RX-100 III, 5D Mark III and Sony A7 are also top of the line for video. The Canon G7X does suffer in wet-lens selection, and the Sony A7 lens selection is not great yet – but none of these cameras is a bad choice.

In-depth articles on the best cameras

You can also read out three in-depth articles on the best camera choices for underwater photography for 2016 – best compact cameras for underwater photography, best mirrorless cameras for underwater photography, and best dSLR cameras for underwater photography.

The post Best underwater cameras for X-mas 2014 first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Light & Motion recently announced their new Sola Trade In Program. If you have an old Sola light and have been itching to upgrade, now is the perfect opportunity! Simply purchase a NEW Sola light from us with the trade in of an old Sola and receive a $100 discount off the new light. Its as easy as that! If you don’t live locally you can still participate by shipping your old light to us. Shoot us an email or give us a call if you have any questions!

All current model Sola lights are eligible (does not include Sola 500 for new purchases). No mounts included with the lights, please keep your old mounts before turning in the light. (Some older Sola users will need to purchase new mounts to fit the current Sola lights).

The post Light & Motion Trade In Program first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Polar Pro just announced a new version of the Switchblade, the popular underwater tool for GoPro Shooters.

The Switchblade is a combination macro / red filter tool for the GoPro which offers both color correction and improved underwater focus in one piece. You can flip off both the lens and filter to make it work for any underwater scenario you need. The macro piece allows the GoPro camera to focus closer that it will normally, and the red filter offers quick color correction for underwater images and video.

The new 2.0 version has been updated to address some issues that had been reported with the original design and to create a better overall accessory for underwater imaging with the GoPro Cameras.

Switchblade 2.0 Specs:

• 3 in 1 Red/Macro filter for Scuba Diving
• Ultra Powerful 10x Magnification Macro Lens
• Precise Tropical Water Color Correction with PolarPro Formula
• Rubbarized Coating for Added Grip
• Zinc Rivet for added Durability

The new Switchblades will be available at the end of September, call us to pre-order today. Retail price $69.99 (Original model switchblades will be available until the current stock is gone).

The post Switchblade 2.0 From Polar Pro first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Ikelite officially released their new lighting system today. This system includes a brand new ball arm system, that looks very familiar to popular ball / clamp arm systems used by many other companies.

From Ikelite:

The ever growing selection of lighting accessories on the market demands a mounting system that’s highly expandable, flexible, and streamlined. In answer to this need, the second generation of our 1-inch ball arm system provides improved ergonomics and versatility in a lighter, sleeker package. Possible combinations are virtually endless, with opportunities to mount an additional lightweight accessory almost anywhere along the length of the arm.

The 1-inch Ball Arm System Mark II features 1-inch ball components with a groove and o-ring to prevent slippage for improved holding power with less force. While underwater, clamps may be finger-tightened to keep lighting in place yet allow repositioning without loosening the clamp. All parts are hard coat type III anodized for a long lasting, scratch resistant finish.

This new design with 1″ ball and o-ring will allow the new Ikelite arms to be compatible with other brand arms like Ultralight, BTS, Nauticam and iDas. Contact us for more details or to purchase!

The post Ikelite Announces New Ball Arm System first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.