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.

Although full-frame mirrorless cameras like the Sony A7R IV and the Nikon Z7 have been grabbing a lot of the 2019 headlines, a number of very exciting crop-sensor mid-range mirrorless cameras have also been released in 2019, many very recently. There are 4 that we have recently looked at for underwater photography over at the Underwater Photography Guide (click the links to see the initial impressions/reviews):

• Nikon Z50 Initial Thoughts
• Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Initial Thoughts
• Sony a6400 Detailed Review
• Sony a6600 Initial Thoughts

Specs Comparison

There are a lot of specs to go through, and I find it’s easier when they are put into a convenient table.

Sensors

The first thing to look at is the sensors, both for resolution and sensor size. The OM-D EM5 Mark III is at a disadvantage here, as it has the smaller micro-four-thirds sensor, compared to the larger APS-C sensor of the other three cameras. Yes, it has similar resolution, at 20 MP, but when it comes to image quality, resolution is generally not as important as sensor size. Comparing the E-M5 III to any of these APS-C sensors, especially the Z50, the size of each pixel on the E-M5 Mark III sensor is noticeably smaller. This generally means lower image quality, as larger pixels allow for lower noise and higher dynamic range. As can be seen from the DXOMark ratings, the EM5 III has the lowest rating, while the a6600 has the highest, and there is a significant difference (80 vs 85).

Features

The features are fairly competitive among the cameras, though there are a few notable differences. The main things to consider are autofocus, image stabilization, video quality, size/build

Autofocus

The specs look stacked against the E-M5 III, but although it may have less autofocus points, that doesn’t mean it performs worse, especially underwater. We found that although the Sony a6400 autofocus works great topside, it did hunt a fair amount underwater, and overall seemed to perform worse than many micro four thirds systems. As the E-M5 III has the top autofocus system in the micro-four-thirds lineup, we expect it to perform better. We will have to see how the Z50 and the a6600 perform in testing. Based on Nikon’s Z6 and Z7 autofocus performance, we do expect the Z50 to perform quite well underwater; it may be the best of the bunch (that or the a6600). But don’t count out the E-M5 III!

Image Stabilization

Here, the more expensive camera bodies, the OM-D E-M5III and the a6600, carry the advantage; the cheaper a6400 and Z50 have no image stabilization. This can be a concern for underwater photography, though as long as you are shooting with strobes, it’s typically not a big deal. It’s a different story for underwater videography; underwater videographers will definitely want one of the cameras with in-body image stabilization.

Video Modes

Each of these cameras offers about the same video specs, except the Nikon Z50 has 1080/120p, compared to 1080/60p for the others.

Flash Sync Speed

The Sony cameras have quite a slow flash sync speed, which gives the advantage to the E-M5III and especially the Z50 (with high speed sync functionality) for sunball shooting and macro shooting.

Lenses

Lenses are interesting. APS-C cameras have generally been designed to just use full-frame lenses, where the smaller sensor size results in a crop factor of 1.5 (meaning that if you shoot a 60mm full frame lens on an APS-C camera, it’s the equivalent of shooting a 90mm lens on a full frame sensor). APS-C cameras have traditionally been targeted at consumers who mostly just want a nice camera they can use with the kit lens, so camera manufacturers have not put a lot of development into dedicated APS-C sensors.

That is certainly the case here, as with the Sony and Nikon offerings, the lenses that you will need for underwater use are all full frame lenses. This means they are larger and more expensive than a corresponding lens designed specifically for APS-C sensors. This is the big advantage of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 III; with all of the great micro four thirds lenses out, it has great native options for fisheye, wide angle zoom and macro lenses, and the smaller sensor size allows the lenses to be significantly smaller than their full frame competitors.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Nikon Z-mount lens lineup does not have any good lenses for underwater use (yet), so a Nikon FtZ adapter has to be used, alongside Nikon dSLR full-frame F-mount lenses.

Body & Build

All of these cameras are designed to be small with the OM-D E-M5 III the smallest camera body. The a6400 is a bit lighter, but when taking the lenses needed into consideration, this gives the advantage firmly to the Olympus. Battery life ratings are roughly comparable, and should be sufficient to get two dives in between battery changes, except for the a6600, which has so much battery life you should be able to get 3 or 4 dives between battery swaps.

One of the best things going for the OM-D E-M5 III is it’s small size and weight, as well as the small size and weight of its native lenses.

Overall Comparison

Wait, that’s it? Nothing else to talk about? Well yes, there are some other differences in specs, but really what matters most for underwater photography are sensor/image quality, autofocus, and lenses. This is weighed against cost, size and weight considerations, especially if you like to travel light. So let’s look at what it takes with each camera here to get a nice underwater macro photography system.

• OM-D E-M5 III with 60mm macro lens (120mm full frame equivalent): $1200 + $500 = $1700; 414 g + 186 g = 600 g
• Nikon Z50 with FtZ adapter and Nikkor F-mount 105mm micro lens (157.5mm full frame equivalent): $860 + $250 + $900 = $2010; 450 + 135 + 750 = 1335 g
• Nikon Z50 with FtZ adapter and Nikkor F-mount DX 85mm micro lens (127.5 mm full frame equivalent): $860 + $250 + $520 = $1630; 450 + 135 + 355 = 940 g
• Sony a6600 with 90mm macro lens (135mm full frame equivalent): $1400 + $1100 = $2500; 503 + 602 = 1105 g
• Sony a6400 with 90mm macro lens (135mm full frame equivalent): $900 + $1100 = $2000; 403 + 602 = 1005 g

OM-D E-M5 Mark III: Smallest and most compact

If you want the cheapest and lightest setup you can get, with a nice snappy autofocus system, the OM-D EM5 Mark III is the best option. However, this option is the same price as the Z50 with 85mm DX macro lens, though it is still significantly lighter. It is also only $300 cheaper than the Z50 with 105mm macro lens, or the Sony a6400, both of which will give better optics and better image quality (though in the case of the Sony, worse autofocus performance). The in-body image stabilization helps the case for videography, as does Cinema 4K video mode. Outside of 24 fps Cinema 4K, expect lower video quality than the competitors. It would be great if this camera were $100-200 cheaper though…the only saving grace here is the great native lens selection, as without that, the E-M5 III body by itself is outclassed for the price.

Sony a6600: Most expensive and best quality

If you want the best image quality and you’re willing to spend some extra money, the a6600 is a great bet. Same with videography; this setup will give higher quality video than its competitors, with a high amount of in-body image stabilization to boot.

Nikon Z50: Best Performance/Cost Ratio

Although larger, and either the same price as the E-M5 or a bit more expensive, the Z50 gives a bump up in sensor spec, and we expect also a bump up in autofocus performance. If going with the 105 mm lens, the optic quality will be better than the Olympus 60mm, though that comes at a cost (money-wise and weight-wise). But if you are willing to spend the extra $300 and carry around the extra 700 g, this is a high performing macro setup for a relatively low cost, and looks like the best value option of this comparison.

Sony a6400: Low Cost, High Video Quality

The a6400 takes great video, but unfortunately does not have in-body image stabilization. For videographers used to going to great lengths to keep their video rock stable (like macro videographers with large underwater tripod systems), this is a great low-cost option which will provide excellent high quality video. For stills, the Z50 and the E-M5 III may both be better choices on account of the autofocus and lens selection.

The post Mid-range Mirrorless Roundup: Z50 vs EM5 III vs a6400 vs a6600 first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

A few weeks ago, Ikelite sent me a Canon SL3 to try out. They were excited because the SL3 is the world’s smallest DSLR camera. Combined with the specially Ikelite housing, it becomes the world’s smallest underwater DSLR system. But John at Ikelite wasn’t just excited about the size of this camera. He told me I was going to be pleasantly surprised by just what this camera could do.

Decorated Warbonnet photographed with the Canon SL3 in an Ikelite housing with dual Ikelite DS 161 strobes and the Canon 60mm macro lens.

And I was hoping that John was right. In the recent year, as high-end mirrorless systems dominate the camera market, there has been a lack of innovation in mid to lower range interchangeable lens cameras. In fact, there’s a bit of a void where the only truly exciting update for underwater photography in the last year and a half at this price point is the Sony a6400. And indeed, the A6400 is a nice camera, but I felt that it had its limits, especially in lens choices. So when I heard that the SL3 was perfectly compatible with the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens and other Canon EF lenses, I was extremely excited for an entry-level DSLR that could access such high end glass.

Kelp crab captured with the Canon SL3, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens, dual DS 161 strobes, Ikelite Housing

I have to say, so far, the SL3 has met and exceeded my expectations! The biggest reason for this, in my opinion, is that glass is king. I believe that as long as you have a camera that can provide accurate focus, your image quality is mostly based on the lenses you can use. The Tokina 10-17mm fisheye and Canon 60mm macro are exceptional lenses. This isn’t to say the body isn’t exceptional for the price point – it is. Canon’s dual pixel AF is always a joy to use and on par with many other modern cameras. There are less AF area options then I would like and no AF tracking like with the Sony a6400, but the lenses compatible with the SL3 tend to focus quicker underwater. The SL3 is also a very easy camera to use so if you’re new photography and want to start small but semi-professional then this is a great starting point. The APS-C sensor is also awesome when it comes to image quality – especially dynamic range capability and overall detail.

Excellent dynamic range with the Canon SL3, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens, Ikelite housing, and dual DS 161 strobes

However, as with any other camera there are a few downsides. I found the AF in live view to not be 100% accurate all the time. So I recommend using a magnified viewfinder if you can or at least a focus light. Also, it’s pretty clear that this camera was designed for new photographers. Although ever important setting is easy to identify, the ergonomics are lacking compared to a higher end camera. It’s going to take a little more time to change your settings since there is only one dial for shutter speed. That being said, I had no problems changing my settings to get the shot I needed.

Finally, with the Ikelite housing, there are certainly some use features to keep in mind. The TTL circuitry is built into this housing which means you can get amazing exposure if you use Ikelite DS strobes. And although some DS strobes can bee larger, their recycling times are excellent. So you can take many shots in a burst mode with highly accurate exposure.

Sea star skin photographed with the Canon SL3, Canon 60mm macro, Ikelite housing, and dual DS 161 strobes

All in all, I think the Canon SL3 fills a gap in the camera market that is in sore need of innovation if new underwater photographers are going to have something available to them to get a strong foothold in to the world of underwater photography. And even though this is an “entry level” DSLR, I was be very happy to own the SL3 and likely shoot it for many years. You really can’t beat great image quality and on that front, this camera delivers.

Gear Links:

Canon SL3, Lens, and Ikelite Housing Bundle

Ikelite DS161 strobes

Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens

The post The Canon SL3: The Amazing Budget DSLR No One is Talking About first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

One thing that does not get talked about much, but is very important for an underwater photographer, is the bag or bags used to transport and keep your gear safe while traveling. Every experienced underwater photographer seems to have their favorite, but I want to convince you that you should think about the one that I use! I shoot an Olympus OM-D E-M1, with Nauticam housing, ultralight arms and foam floats, dual YS-D1 strobes, a GoPro 6 Black and a Sola 1200 photo light. So, a standard mirrorless setup; not as big as a dSLR package, but also not small. On my first underwater photography trip, to the Sea of Cortez, I had bits and pieces of this rig packed into any spare space I had in my other bags. After the trip I went looking around on BlueWater photo for a good protective case that would keep my rig safe during travel, but that would also not be too heavy or bulky. I was thinking about some kind of hard case, as I had seen other people on the trip with them, and that seemed the norm. As I was browsing around, I came across a very intriguing item – the AO Cooler Bag, for a cool $70 for the “24-pack” size. It’s an insulated, soft bag for keeping drinks cold, meaning that it is heavily padded, tough, and waterproof. It sounded like just the answer I was looking for, so I picked one up.

I thought it would be good, but I did not expect to become so attached to it. Here is why I like it so much:

• It’s the perfect size. It fits my complete mirrorless rig with some room to spare, and is a perfect size to be my second carry-on bag on the plane
• It is heavily padded, so it keeps my gear totally safe during travel
• It is easy to access – the wide zipper across the top allows me to easily unpack it at airport security and then pack it back up after the TSA officers have inspected everything
• It is waterproof, meaning that it is a perfect little portable dunk tank
• It has a decently wide base with good “grip”, so it does a decent job of staying put on a rocky boat deck
• It is large enough that I can fold up my assembled rig and fit it inside, making it perfect for keeping it safe from moving objects on boat decks (especially small boats)

I have taken this bag all over the world with me. Whenever I fly anywhere, I carry on my cooler bag. It slings over my shoulder in the airport, and fits perfectly in the overhead luggage compartment, or under the seat in front of me. It has protected my camera from people and rolling objects on a pitching boat deck while searching for orcas in Northern Norway in January, and also kept my gear safe when I had to check it for a flight on a very small plane. It has kept my camera safe and in one place on some rough and choppy boat rides in BC, Canada and in Mexico. It got my gear to the Galapagos and kept it safe throughout many long international flights, and it kept my gear out of the wind when ice diving in a snowstorm with a topside temperature of -15 C (0 F).

Most recently I took it ice diving in Greenland in April, where I really put it to good use. When taking a small plane from Iceland to the remote airport of Kulusuk, East Greenland, it was the only bag I had that could fit on the plane as carry-on luggage. While some people left their camera rigs on the ice between dives, I could put mine back in the bag, to insulate it and reduce the amount of battery drainage, as well as protect it from any gear being slung around by ice divers suffering some level of exhaustion after too long under the ice. After every dive day I zipped it up and put it on the snowmobile to take my gear back to our house, confident that even if it fell off the sled, it would protect my gear. And after the trip was all done, as other people were holding their camera rigs under the shower and trying to press every button to clean off their housings, I just filled my cooler bag up with water and left my rig to soak. Then I used it as a dunk tank to soak my regulators, and after that I was all set to go home. (link to Greenland article on UWPG)

So, if you want a cheap, lightweight and versatile bag for your rig, check out the AO Cooler Bag. You may find yourself liking it a lot more than you ever expected to like a camera bag. And don’t forget, it also doubles as a portable cooler for, well, a 24-pack of cans, or the equivalent!

Here are a couple related articles on uwphotographyguide.com:

• Greenland Iceberg Diving (for more info about my trip)
• In the Camera Bag with Ken Kiefer

AO Cooler Bag keeping my gear from freezing to the ice

Rinsing my rig in the AO cooler bag

Rinsing my regs in the AO cooler bag

AO cooler bag fitting nicely under the small seat of the plane from Greenland.

Iceberg photo from Greenland trip

Iceberg photo from Greenland trip

Iceberg photo from Greenland trip

The post One of My Favorite Underwater Photography Accessories – the AO Cooler Bag first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Diopter impressions – by Erik Lukas

On a recent trip to Anilao in the Philippines to lead the Bluewater Photo Macro workshops I was given the new Kraken KRL-05S macro lens. I was more than excited to give the lens a try while shooting the small stuff, and Anilao is the perfect location.

My macro setup includes the Canon 5D Mark III with the Canon 100mm f2.8/L lens. My most commonly used diopter is the Nauticam SMC-1, and occasionally I will reach for the Reefnet SubSee +10. While I am more than happy with the lenses I most commonly use, I was happy to give the new Kraken lens a try specifically for the additional magnification it offers, being a +13.

The lens weighs in at 410g, which is right between the SubSee +10 (370g) and the SMC-1 (456g). As far as the size, it is about the same as both of the others I use.

Getting in the water with the lens is where I noticed the most difference. The working distance for this lens is quite short. I was able to get my lens to less than two inches from many subjects and have the ability to really fill the frame with very small subjects. One of the tests I did was using the native Canon 100mm lens at its closest focus distance, and then flipping the lens down via the Nauticam Flip Adapter for some shots with the KRL-05S (the images of the mating Nembrotha nudibranchs, for example).

My overall impression of this lens is that it is powerful. The ability to bring subjects that range in the 2-10mm size and fill the frame is great. I had the chance to shoot many very small nudibranchs, hairy shrimp and other small subjects on this recent trip and I never felt that the KRL-05S was unable to provide me the magnification I was looking for. It also appears to offer quite good corner to corner sharpness and retains a very realistic color rendition.

I hope to add this lens to my personal collection soon as I know it will be one I would reach for in many locations that I most like to visit. It’s a worthwhile new contender in the diopter world for those of us looking to photograph the smallest of small subjects.

Interested in joining one of my workshop, and improving your macro photography? Check out my Lembeh photo workshop trip coming up this year!

Emperor Shrimp: Canon 5D Mark III with Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens and Kraken KRL-05S ISO 160 f/20 1/160

Purple Hairy Shrimp: Canon 5D Mark III with Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens and Kraken KRL-05S ISO 160 f/18 1/160 

White Nudi – Red Rhinophones (Chromodoris rubrocornuta) Canon 5D Mark III with Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens and Kraken KRL-05S  ISO 160 f/25 1/160 

Mating Nembrotha nudibranchs Canon 5D Mark III with Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens ISO 320 f/20 1/160 

Close up of Mating Nembrotha nudibranchs Canon 5D Mark III with Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens and Kraken KRL-05S  ISO 320 f/22 1/160

Lemon Goby Canon 5D Mark III with Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens and Kraken KRL-05S ISO 160 f/9 1/200 

The post First look at the KRL-05S Macro Diopter Lens first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

After collecting opinions from a number of underwater photographers/ the sales staff of Bluewater Photo, I’ve composed all of the ‘top benefits’ to the new Sea & Sea Nikon D850 Housing.

Take a look at some of the main points I found to be consistently mentioned:

Overall Design

The housing for the D850 is lighter then it’s predecessor, the Sea & Sea Nikon D810 Housing. (approximately 10% lighter), while still offering all metal parts which ensures sturdiness. It also offers more comfortable grips/handles that more easily cater to anyone with small or medium sized hands, and the handles are quite easy to remove, offering easier transportation when traveling. Last but not least, it offers a new smooth finish on the housing which provides a clean look.

Functionality

The ergonomics throughout the housing are spot-on. Nearly every person reviewing the housing stated that as one of their first review points. Love the buttons, love the locations, etc. Easy to access levers for the buttons on the back, the top clasp has been removed (in comparison to the D810) which ensures a safer closure to the housing, and glow in the dark buttons, are all great pros. The housing also includes a sync cord bulkhead and leak detector system in all standard models.

All in all, everyone was very excited to chat about the housing and all the great features they liked about it. It’s definitely a large contender for being one of the best options for a Nikon D850 housing!

Haven’t bought the camera yet?  Check out our full review of the Nikon D850.

Need some other housings to compare this to? Check out some other options below; Nauticam D850 Housing Aquatica D850 Housing Ikelite D850 Housing

Interested in making a purchase?  Contact Bluewater Photo at 310-633-5052 or email them at sales@bluewaterphotostore.com.

The post Sea & Sea Nikon D850 Quick Review first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Best Cameras for Underwater Photography & Video

12 Ideas For the holidays of 2017

By Scott Gietler, Owner Bluewater Photo

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 deals, up to $1,150 off

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II bundle or A6000 awesome package

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II underwater housing bundle is the deal of the year, selling for $1,299 instead of $2,444. It includes the E-M5 Mark II mirrorless camera (which is an awesome high-end camera!), 14-42mm lens, housing, port, & zoom gear for the 14-42/9-18mm lenses. The E-M5 II focuses much faster than any compact cameras. Additional glass and acrylic ports are available for most mirrorless lenses. We also have a popular E-M5 II package with a strobe and video light.

Our exclusive Fantasea Sony A6000 awesome package is a steal at $1,499 and includes the Sony A6000 camera, 16-50mm lens, housing, port and zoom gear. The huge advantage of this setup is that is has great wet-wide angle lens options, giving shooters the flexibility of doing wide-angle or macro on the same dive. The image quality of the A6000 is amazing, and the sensor size is the same as the Nikon D500.

#2 Best Entry Level, Snorkeling or Diving

Olympus TG-5

The Olympus TG-5 housing + camera package is well priced at $699. In fact, nothing at this price point can touch the quality of this setup. The TG-5 shoots in RAW, and can take amazing 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 exclusive Olympus TG-5 packages on sale at unbeatable prices, with strobes, video lights and ring flashes.

#3 Small housings, serious underwater photos

Sony RX-100 V for wide / video, Canon G7X Mark II for a little of everything

The tiny Sony RX-100 V can take excellent photos, especially when combined with the UWL-09 Superwide lens for very good wide-angle. There is also a good selection of Sony RX-100 V underwater housings for it, including the inexpensive Fantasea RX100 V housing.

The Canon G7x Mark II can take great video, and very 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/V, and a brighter lens than the RX100 II, and there are some very well-priced high-quality housing like the Fantasea G7X Mark II housing. See our G7x Mark II housings.

#4 Small housing- professional photos

Olympus E-M1 Mark II, Sony A6300 .

The Olympus E-M1 II & E-M1 Mark II are the king of mirrorless cameras, with great E-M1 II housing choices (read our E-M1 II review) and an excellent selection of lenses. The Aquatica E-M1 II housing is incredible. To save a decent amount of money, go for the Nauticam Olympus E-M10 Mark III and you’ll get the same image quality. The excellent E-M1 Mark II camera is the top of the line micro-four thirds camera for stills, here is our E-M1 Mark II camera review. The excellent Olympus 60mm macro lens is on sale now for a great price.

Sony A6300 & A6500

The Sony  A6300 and A6500 cameras boast a larger sensor than the Olympus E-M1 II, resulting in spectacular video quality and dynamic range in wide-angle photos. We recommend the A6500 for the image stabilization. Both cameras have an electronic viewfinder, takes excellent 4K video, and works well in the Nauticam Sony A6500 housing and the Ikelite A6500 housing ($975), and the Fantasea A6500 / A6300 housing.

#5 Small housing- professional stills & videos

Sony A7 II, A7s II, A7r II – or wait for the A7r III

The Sony A7r II 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 over the A7, 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 less than ideal 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.

The Sony A7r III is out in a few days, and it looks great. Read our Sony A7r III pre-review and initial thoughts.

#6 Best of the best

Canon 5D Mark IV, Nikon D500, Nikon D850

With 20 megapixels, 4K video, amazing auto-focus, and 10fps shooting speed, the Nikon D500 is a top choice – view our Nikon D500 housings, or our complete D500 review for underwater. For the unbeatable image quality that comes with a 46 megapixel full frame sensor, check out our Nikon D850 housings and read our D850 review for underwater. The D850 can truly do everything.

The advantage of the Canon 5D Mark IV is its full frame sensor, and much better auto-focus during video than most other dSLRs, view our Canon 5D Mark IV housings and our Canon 5D Mark IV review for underwater.

#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 V, Panasonic GH5, Sony A6500, Sony A7R II

The Sony RX100 IV & V both have  game-changing slow-motion video capability – see an example here, and great housing options for all budgets. For professional level video, the Panasonic GH5 is unbeatable for its size, price and lens selection – we like the Nauticam GH5 housing. Stills from the GH5 are also excellent – check out these killer hammerhead photos taken with the GH4- the GH5 performs even better.

The full-frame Sony A7S II can take video at an ISO higher than any other camera we mention in this article, and  this camera is a top choice for pro film makers. The RX100 IV / V, LX100, GH5 and Sony A7R II all take 4K video. Last, but certainly not least, the Canon 5D Mark IV is the best choice for a dSLR that offers good auto-focus during video.

#9 Other options for underwater photography

Sony RX100 IV,  Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, 7D Mark II

There are other excellent cameras out there, like the Sony Rx-100 IV, Olympus E-M5 Mark II, and the Canon 7D Mark II. All of them are very capable of excellent photos and/or video. 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 5DS R can result in spectacular photos, and Canon has some of the best full-frame wide-angle lenses on the market as options. The autofocus of the Canon 7D Mark II works quite well during video and live-view.

#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 2016 – best compact cameras for underwater photography, best mirrorless cameras for underwater photography, and best dSLR cameras for underwater photography.

#11  Sale! 20 – 50% off Focus & Video Lights during December

20-40% off a large number of focus & video lights – see all the specials here, including the Sola 800 photo for $239, Sola 3000 video light for $299, the multi-featured high end Kraken 3500 for $399 and the iTorch Pro6+ 2800 lumen video light for $299.

#12 Ten Unbeatable Dive Travel Specials

Be sure to view our End of Year 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! Locations on special include Fiji, Roatan, Komodo, Socorro, Cocos, Thailand, Bonaire, Philippines & more.

Holiday Sale Items

Check out our sales & specials page for amazing sales and specials throughout December. Up to 50% off strobes, housings, lights, lens and more from Light & Motion, iTorch, Olympus, Sony, Sea & Sea and many others.

Sample underwater photos

The post Best Underwater Cameras for Christmas 2017 first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Many customers love the Thinktank rolling bags for travel, but how do you pick the right one?

With a variety of options, its best to look at the size and features of each bag to help you determine what you need. Check out the three top Rolling Bags below and a sample packing configuration to help you decide which will be the best for your camera set up!

Why we love the Thinktank Bags

These bags don’t look like a heavy camera bag from the outside. They could easily be seen as a standard carry-on piece of luggage, meaning there’s a chance you may sneak through without being weighed in some locations. In addition, they are well padded and come with removable divider inserts, allowing you to pack exactly as you need for your camera set up. Special pockets for laptops and accessories make these bags great as an all in one carry-on.

Rolling Bag Line Up

Thinktank Airport International – This is the go to bag for many of our customers. It is designed to meet international carry on requirements, making it a no brainer for all dive travel. In addition it offers a large interior, capable of holding a DSLR system. The bag now features a dedicate laptop / tablet pocket and user replaceable parts (like wheels, should you have an issue). This is Scott Gietler’s bag of choice!

BUY THIS BAG!

In this bag:

• Sea & Sea D810 Housing (with D810 camera body inside)
• Zen Mini Dome
• Dual YS-D2 Strobes
• Sola 800 Photo Light
• Nikon 16-35mm F4 Lens
• Nikon 60mm Macro lens
• (arms & clamps packed in separate, checked baggage)

Thinktank Roller Derby – This bag is very similar in size to the International version (now that the International offers a laptop pocket!), but comes with 4 wheels instead of two. Four wheels make for a smoother, lighter push with more maneuverability. In addition, its easy to stack a lightweight backpack or shoulder bag on top for less fatigue when moving through the airport. The four wheel design does mean a little loss of space inside the bag, but it is still fairly large! This bag will easily fit a full mirrorless system, and can fit most of a DSLR system too. Kelli Dickinson loves this bag!

BUY THIS BAG!

In this bag:

• Nauticam OM-D E-M1 Housing* (with Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera body inside)
• Olympus 7-14mm PRO Lens
• Olympus 8mm Pro Fisheye Lens
• Olympus 75-300mm Telephoto Lens
• Nauticam 7″ dome port with adapter and zoom gear
• Nauticam 4″ Dome port and extension ring
• Dual YS-D1 Strobes
• Dual Sola 2000 Video Lights
• GoPro with Red Filters
• Backup hard drive, batteries, chargers, spare O-rings, grease and other accessories in zippered pockets
• Some arms / clamps pack in this bag, the rest packed in checked luggage.

*The handles were removed from the housing to make packing easier and packed separately.

Thinktank Airport Takeoff – this is one of the latest bags from Thinktank. The cool thing about this bag, is that it is convertible! This two wheeled, rolling bag turns into a backpack, with comfortable padded straps, when you need it! Slim and designed for traveling it meets most international airline requirements, has a laptop/tablet pocket and a customizable interior like all Thinktank bags. It is comparable in size to the Airport International Roller.

BUY THIS BAG!

In this bag:

• Nauticam A6500 Housing (camera body can be stored inside housing)
• Nauticam Battery Pack for A6500
• Nauticam Macro Port 45 and Zoom Gear for 16-50mm Lens
• Dual YS-D2 Strobes
• Venom 38 Video light with spare battery
• Spare camera battery, o-rings, 2 x 5″ arms, 2 x 8″ arms with Six Floats and more accessories too!
• Note – this customer even slid the Cinebags Work Mat into the front pocket!

Comparison of three Thinktank bags, packed for a trip to Galapagos! (Airport Security*, Airport International & Roller Derby)

*At this time we don’t stock the Airport Security as it is too large for many international destinations, however it can easily be special ordered, just give us a call!

The post ThinkTank Rolling Bags Comparison first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

In January I had a chance to take the new Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera  and PT-EP14 housing out for a spin while on vacation in Iceland. We were diving Silfra, famed for its extremely clear water. This dive falls on many must do lists, and I would highly recommend it, just not in the dead of winter! It was about 17° Fahrenheit (-8° Celsius) outside, making the 40°F (5° C) feel really inviting! If interested, definitely hit it up during summer, when the warmer air makes getting into and out of your drysuit easier, and the long summer sunlight will add to your photo taking experience!

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II however performed admirably! Even with the low light conditions of winter, the quality from shooting at a higher ISO is not noticeable, and the image stabilization for shooting at a slower shutter speed worked well. I was impressed with the Olympus housing in particular. It was comfortable and easy to use. Controls were placed where they were easy to access and the housing offered full camera control. The locking bayonet ring to attach the ports is so much nicer than the old push and turn style of the PEN housings, making port changes a breeze. All in all the camera was laid out well and the housing matched that.

With a full line of lens options to choose from and even a new dedicated macro port for the 60mm, the Olympus housing is a great option for someone looking to get shooting on the new E-M1 Mark II, but not ready for the expense of the higher end aluminum housings like Nauticam and Aquatica.

Here are a few sample images from the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II from Silfra!

A diver cruises through the chasm between two tectonic plates (ISO 800, F5, 1/80)

A silhouetted diver floating in the channel. (ISO 250, F5.6, 1/500, no strobes)

Carefully a diver fins across the shallow sandy lagoon. (ISO 250, F5.6, 1/500, no strobes)

Entering the shallow lagoon area. (ISO 250, F5.6, 1/500, no strobes)

Get the Gear!

• Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Camera
• Olympus 8mm Fisheye Pro Lens
• Olympus PT-EP14 Underwater Housing
• Olympus PPO-EP02 Dome Port
• Ultralight Control Systems Tray, Arms and Clamps
• Dual Sea & Sea YS-D2 Strobes

Contact us at sales@bluewaterphotostore.com with any questions or to get a full OM-D E-M1 Mark II quote!

The post Diving Silfra with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Best Cameras for Underwater Photography & Video

12 Ideas For the holidays of 2016

By Scott Gietler, Owner Bluewater Photo

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, $1400 off

Olympus OM-D E-M1 bundle

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 underwater housing bundle is the deal of the year, selling for $1,699 instead of $3,106. It includes the E-M1 mirrorless camera (which is an awesome high-end camera!), 14-42mm lens, housing, port, & zoom gear for the 14-42/9-18mm lenses. The E-M1 focuses much faster than any compact cameras. The ports are much easier to change than the E-PL5 or E-PL7 housings, making this deal a no-brainer. Additional glass and acrylic ports are available for most mirrorless lenses. We also have a popular E-M1 package with a strobe and video light.

#2 Entry Level, Snorkeling or Diving

Olympus TG-4

The Olympus TG-4 housing + camera package is well priced at $649. The TG-4 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 housings, serious underwater photos

Sony RX-100 V for wide / video, Canon G7X Mark II for a little of everything

The tiny Sony RX-100 V can take excellent photos, especially when combined with the Dyron Superwide lens for very good wide-angle. There is also a good selection of Sony RX-100 V underwater housings for it, including the inexpensive Fantasea RX100 V housing. People who prefer wide-angle over video can save money by getting a Sony RX100 II camera & housing with the UWL-04 fisheye lens – which is my favorite combo for underwater wide-angle with a compact camera. For macro enthusiasts, the older Canon G16 is still king, with its long zoom range allowing for great prize-winning macro shots with a wet lens. Check out, at $399, the very well-priced Fantasea G16 housing.

The Canon G7x Mark II can take great video, and very 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/V, and a brighter lens than the RX100 II, and there are some very well-priced high-quality housing like the Fantasea G7X Mark II housing. See our G7x Mark II housings.

#4 Small housing- professional photos

Olympus E-M5 Mark II, Sony A6300

The Olympus E-M1 & E-M1 Mark II are 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 Mark II and you’ll get the same image quality. The excellent E-M1 Mark II camera just came out, here is our E-M1 Mark II camera review. We expect underwater housings to arrive very soon, pre-order the Nauticam E-M1 Mark II here.

Sony A6300

The Sony  A6300 boasts a larger sensor than the Olympus E-M1, resulting in spectacular video quality and dynamic range in wide-angle photos. The A6300 has an electronic viewfinder, takes excellent 4K video, and works well in the Nauticam Sony A6300 housing and the Ikelite A6300 housing ($975).

#5 Small housing- professional stills & videos

Sony A7 II, A7s II, A7r II

The Sony A7r II 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 over the A7, 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 less than ideal 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 5D Mark IV, Nikon D500

With 20 megapixels, 4K video, amazing auto-focus, and 10fps shooting speed, the Nikon D500 is a top choice – view our Nikon D500 housings, or our complete D500 review for underwater. For the unbeatable image quality that comes with a 36 megapixel full frame sensor, check out our Nikon D810 housings and read our D810 review for underwater.

The advantage of the Canon 5D Mark IV is a full frame sensor, and much better auto-focus during video than most other dSLRs, view our Canon 5D Mark IV housings and our Canon 5D Mark IV review for underwater.

#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 V, Panasonic GH5, Sony A6500, Sony A7R II

The Sony RX100 IV & V both have  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. However, you may want to wait for the GH5 which is coming out soon.

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 / V, LX100, GH4 and Sony A7R II all take 4K video. Last, but certainly not least, the Canon 5D Mark IV is the best choice for a dSLR that offers good auto-focus during video.

#9 Other options for underwater photography

Sony RX100 IV, LX100, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, 7D Mark II

There are other excellent cameras out there, like the Sony Rx-100 IV, LX100, Olympus E-M5 Mark II, and the Canon 7D Mark II. 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. The autofocus of the Canon 7D Mark II works quite well during video and live-view.

#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 2016 – 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 during December

20-40% off a large number of focus & video lights – see all the specials here, including the Sola 800 photo for $239, Sola 2500 video light for $349, and the iTorch Venom 3800 lumen video light for $399.

#12 Ten Unbeatable Dive Travel Specials

Be sure to view our End of Year 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! Locations on special include Fiji, Galapagos, Socorro, Cozumel, Raja Ampat, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Bali & more.

Holiday Sale Items

Check out our sales & specials page for amazing sales and specials throughout December. Up to 50% off strobes, housings, lights, lens and more from Light & Motion, iTorch, Olympus, Sony, Sea & Sea and many others.

Sample underwater photos

The post Best Underwater Cameras for Christmas 2016 first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.