@@axm2689 I haven’t. My plan is to keep the R5 as a topside camera only, saving money to purchase the essential RF lenses I need while waiting for the next version of the R5 to be released, then sell my current setup and lenses and house that camera. Will probably look towards another Sea&Sea or Aquatica housing as I’ve owned and loved both, but it will also depend on things like redundant camera body compatibility (e.g. could my R5 serve as a backup body instead of having to buy two of the new camera body). So much to think about and save for!
@@sevenrider860 Hi Brian, I do need to get a 2023 video going (for the new uw system), however that will likely take the form of a packing video. BUT, check out this article from Backscatter with everything you want to know about floats and system buoyancy: www.backscatter.com/reviews/post/Best-Buoyancy-Solutions-For-Underwater-Cameras?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM=
Hi! Thank you SO MUCH for the support. I commented earlier but hadn't realized this was a Super Thanks. Please let me know if there are more topics you'd like me to cover in a future video.
Thanks Khalid! For macro it will really be personal preference. I like to use 8" Ultralight arms because they provide maximum range. You can position them straight up for a larger subject or down angle, or you can position them very wide (horizontal) so that the camera is as low to the sand as possible. Hope this helps!
hey Brent hope all is well. I like the video. I was wondering if you have a list of all these items. I would like to get these same arms for my camera setup .
Hi Mario - There area number of links in the video description, but here are links to the arms and clamps specifically: - Ultralight New Style Clamp: www.backscatter.com/Ultralight-New-Style-Clamp-with-14-28-thread?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM= - Ultralight 5" Arm: www.backscatter.com/Ultralight-5-inch-Double-Ball-Arm?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM= - Ultralight 8" Arm: www.backscatter.com/Ultralight-8-inch-Double-Ball-Arm?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM= (If you click the affiliate link to make your purchase, you receive the best price and I receive a small commission for the work creating these videos). I hope this helps!
Brent, Thank you so much for the videos. I have learned alot just watching. Planning a trip to the Maldives later this year and will be getting a new camera soon. I haven't made a decision yet but leaning toward the Olympus TG6. I'm just recreational photographer. My big take away is practicing with the camera topside but I have a pool and will be practicing there also. Thanks again.
Hi Mike - Glad to hear it. The TG-6 is fantastic. And yep, the more practice before, the less practice during precious dive vacation time. Have a great trip!
Hi Khaled, both of my Sea & Sea strobes are backups I carry during photo shoots. One is YS-D1 and the other is a YS-D2 (not J version). I didn't discuss since they've been discontinued for several years. I use the Retras as my primary strobes.
I always struggle with deciding whether to bring a dome or set up for macro or video BEFORE the dive. Switching to various demands above water is easy, but you cant switch housings or ports once you get in.
One of the many struggles of underwater photography! If you want to most versatility you could look towards water contact optics that allow you to shoot both on the dive while swapping wet lenses underwater.
Hey Brent, I have an underwater housing which I can't get completely airtight. After pumping out air to achieve a vacuum of -10 inHg, I'm experiencing a leak of around 1 inHg ~6 hrs. Given this, would you expect my housing to flood at 30m? In general, in your experience what is an "acceptable" air leak that would still keep the camera safe at 30m?
Hi Will - I'm not very familiar with leaks like this, but most housings should be able to hold pressure overnight and through the next day diving (and beyond). I assume you checked your o-rings for nicks and o-ring grooves for any lint, sand, eyelash or other particle that could break the seal? If I were you I would have my housing serviced. If that's too much, you can try taking the housing down to 30m without the camera for a dive. Just stick some paper towels in there in case there is some moisture leaking in. If it leaks, fix it, and if not, you're probably good to go.
Hi! I do actually use Stix Floats on my Ultralight arms and vary the amount based on which port and lighting I'm using. I can't recommend buoyancy arms or floats enough! I don't use them on the tripod displayed on the table though, as I want my system heavy so the tripod and system won't be flipped by the surge.
Great overview/explainer video Brent! Future thought, maybe toss in an example photo or two when you start talking about a specific style of photo? Question: What do you do with your old gear after upgrading? I've been shooting my "starter" setup, Sony RX100 + UWL-09F Wide Angle, for a few years and picked up a Nikon z6 with the goal of making it my new underwater rig. I'm unsure if I should sell or keep it as a smaller(?) situational backup. I really like your topside shooter example but then the housing + dome would collect dust.
Hi Jon - Great questions, and thank you! Photo samples are a great idea - they add to the length but certainly would help show the difference in things like lenses. I sell my gear when upgrading, in various places depending on what it is. Scubaboard.com and Wetpixel.com forums are a great place to sell, forums dedicated to the camera brand (e.g. photography-on-the.net forums for Canon), and even some used camera Facebook groups. I've used a bunch of lights and strobes until broken but have also given them to deserving people if a company is generous enough to give me a new set. Pay it forward! Backups are a great idea, but I'm not sure it's worth traveling with a completely separate system. I might sell the RX100 system, and if you're going on a big trip where you want a second camera, you could invest in a GoPro or a SportDiver SmartPhone Housing as an affordable and easy-to-travel-with way to keep you shooting should the worst happen to your main system. Hope this helps!
@@BrentDurand Thank you for the detailed response! Ironically I'm building out the new setup out for a big Solomon Island trip. Backup GoPro in hand already too. So selling sounds like the plan. I'll take a look at those sites you mentioned! Keep up the great content!
Great video as always! I'm planning to dive Bali and Komodo next year and I'm really hoping to be lucky enough to see a Blue Ringed Octopus. Do you know a dive site where they're usually spotted OR where my best chances are to see one?
Hi Rawphael - Blue-Ringed Octopus are a very lucky encounter, meaning you can look for them in their habitat but aren’t guaranteed to see them like with something like a jawfish or seahorse. Rubble substrate and night dives is a good combination, slowly looking for movement. I’ve never been able to dive Komodo but you should be able to find (*via the talented guides) blue rings around Tulamben and Padang Bai. Hope this helps
Hi Brent, following you for a while, great videos, Thanks! Just a simple question, what lenght of arms do you recomend for dual light and strobes rigs? Nothing pro, I´m a recreational diver with a olymnpus g6 for photo and Gopro for video, with Sea & Sea YS-01 strobes and Backscatter 4300 light for video.
Hi Carlos - With this gear I'd suggest 8" and 5" double ball arms. I personally prefer the 8" arms close to my system and the 5" closer to the strobe/light. Some do the opposite though. You may also want to look at float arms if the camera system is heavy in the water, as they will provide float and make the rig more neutrally buoyant. I can provide suggestions if you like!
Hi..!! Brent very nice video. Im new in the marine sciences and love the photography, so i can bought a housing and a light for my sony alpha 6000, its will very cool if you can make a vidio with the first steps for underwater photography. Im from Ecuador and actually i studing Marine Ecology in Baja California, México.
Hi Rodrigo - Congratulations on the new underwater camera setup. The a6000 is a great camera. My suggestion is to read my "Ultimate Guide to Underwater Photography" linked below. This will talk you through all the important elements and link to all my articles and videos when they are relevant. tutorials.brentdurand.com/learn/ I hope this helps!
Hi, I'm not using any red filter. I find that red filters perform differently depending on the water conditions, depth, surface conditions, direction to sun, etc. and prefer not to use them. For video I use manual white balance. Hope that helps!
Hi Brent, Do you know if the backscatter mini flash can shoot in a burst mode? for example 4 images a second... it would not have to be on full power, but I wonder if it's possible :)
Hi - The Mini-Flash will continue shooting as rapidly as it will "recycle", which is the same as all strobes and flashes on the market. The Mini-Flash recycle time from full discharge (empty) to full charge again is 2.5 seconds. Like you implied, if you're firing at 1/2 power or less, the recycle time will be a fraction of this and you'll get more shots in sequence before seeing black frames. The actual number of shots will vary depending on power level, freshness of the batteries, etc. Hope this helps!
@@BrentDurand Hi, thanks for your opinion! Yeaahhh... so there's really only one way to find out to see if it works for my work case... buy and test it... thanks anyway!
I service my own housings however I recommend Pacific Housing Repair in California. Your local underwater camera retailer likely has a local recommendation.
@@BrentDurand 😲 really? 🥺 I don't think I'll ever learn. I don't even know how to dive... And I'm scared to swim in the ocean 😕. Well... I wanna swimm 5km in the ocean. But I'm scared. And I wanna learn to swim with sharks 🦈 ... 🤗 I think they're cute. But the ocean scares me. The parts were u swim and then u no longer see like there's a floor? 🤭🤭🤭 Scary 🤭🤭🤭... But I do wanna free dive like Alexey molchanov Thu. But just 60 m. 🤭🤭🤭 Not 130 m... 🤭🤭🤭🤭 well... One day, I guess 🤭🤭🤭
Hi David, Great question! I've used the same arms and Stix floats for years and they work well, so instead of buying float arms I save that money for the next camera upgrade. I also adjust the number of floats (buoyancy) depending on using the big dome, small dome or macro port, and video tripod, often all on the same day, so carrying floats is easier than several different volume float arms. But that's just my personal preference - there is no right or wrong.
Is there any gear I skipped over that you'd like to hear about? Any additional info on why I choose the gear I do? Let me know!
Have you chosen a housing for your R5?! 🤓
@@axm2689 I haven’t. My plan is to keep the R5 as a topside camera only, saving money to purchase the essential RF lenses I need while waiting for the next version of the R5 to be released, then sell my current setup and lenses and house that camera. Will probably look towards another Sea&Sea or Aquatica housing as I’ve owned and loved both, but it will also depend on things like redundant camera body compatibility (e.g. could my R5 serve as a backup body instead of having to buy two of the new camera body). So much to think about and save for!
I know it is late to the game, but for your 2023 Camera Gear, can you talk about floats, how do you get the rig neutral with the macro port, etc.
@@sevenrider860 Hi Brian, I do need to get a 2023 video going (for the new uw system), however that will likely take the form of a packing video. BUT, check out this article from Backscatter with everything you want to know about floats and system buoyancy: www.backscatter.com/reviews/post/Best-Buoyancy-Solutions-For-Underwater-Cameras?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM=
We are sending this as a way of saying "Thank you" for posting all of your knowledge and experience on-line, it is very help!
Hi! Thank you SO MUCH for the support. I commented earlier but hadn't realized this was a Super Thanks. Please let me know if there are more topics you'd like me to cover in a future video.
How do you transport all this gear? do you put it all in a pelican?
Hi Adam - I break down two different packing methods in this article: tutorials.brentdurand.com/packing-underwater-photo-gear/
Hope this helps!
Great and funny as usual .. keep it up Brent ..
Thanks Manea! More videos to come...
Excellent...as always! Brent is a guru.
Too kind coming from a Legend, thank you Marty!
Great Video as usual Brent! I do have question regarding the Tripod. What is the recommended leg sizes to shoot a macro footage ? Thanks 😊
Thanks Khalid! For macro it will really be personal preference. I like to use 8" Ultralight arms because they provide maximum range. You can position them straight up for a larger subject or down angle, or you can position them very wide (horizontal) so that the camera is as low to the sand as possible. Hope this helps!
hey Brent hope all is well. I like the video. I was wondering if you have a list of all these items. I would like to get these same arms for my camera setup .
Hi Mario - There area number of links in the video description, but here are links to the arms and clamps specifically:
- Ultralight New Style Clamp: www.backscatter.com/Ultralight-New-Style-Clamp-with-14-28-thread?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM=
- Ultralight 5" Arm: www.backscatter.com/Ultralight-5-inch-Double-Ball-Arm?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM=
- Ultralight 8" Arm: www.backscatter.com/Ultralight-8-inch-Double-Ball-Arm?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM=
(If you click the affiliate link to make your purchase, you receive the best price and I receive a small commission for the work creating these videos).
I hope this helps!
Brent, Thank you so much for the videos. I have learned alot just watching. Planning a trip to the Maldives later this year and will be getting a new camera soon. I haven't made a decision yet but leaning toward the Olympus TG6. I'm just recreational photographer. My big take away is practicing with the camera topside but I have a pool and will be practicing there also. Thanks again.
Hi Mike - Glad to hear it. The TG-6 is fantastic. And yep, the more practice before, the less practice during precious dive vacation time. Have a great trip!
You didn't talk about sea and sea strobe , so that mean you will change it to retra?
Hi Khaled, both of my Sea & Sea strobes are backups I carry during photo shoots. One is YS-D1 and the other is a YS-D2 (not J version). I didn't discuss since they've been discontinued for several years. I use the Retras as my primary strobes.
Yay! Thank you...I just switched to canon mirrorless from Nikon DSLR.
Looking to get a nauticam housing.
Hi Janina - Canon mirrorless is a great choice! Beautiful color underwater, just like their reputation on land 😎
I always struggle with deciding whether to bring a dome or set up for macro or video BEFORE the dive. Switching to various demands above water is easy, but you cant switch housings or ports once you get in.
One of the many struggles of underwater photography! If you want to most versatility you could look towards water contact optics that allow you to shoot both on the dive while swapping wet lenses underwater.
You're always excellent!
Too kind, thank you!
Hey Brent, I have an underwater housing which I can't get completely airtight. After pumping out air to achieve a vacuum of -10 inHg, I'm experiencing a leak of around 1 inHg ~6 hrs. Given this, would you expect my housing to flood at 30m? In general, in your experience what is an "acceptable" air leak that would still keep the camera safe at 30m?
Hi Will - I'm not very familiar with leaks like this, but most housings should be able to hold pressure overnight and through the next day diving (and beyond). I assume you checked your o-rings for nicks and o-ring grooves for any lint, sand, eyelash or other particle that could break the seal?
If I were you I would have my housing serviced. If that's too much, you can try taking the housing down to 30m without the camera for a dive. Just stick some paper towels in there in case there is some moisture leaking in. If it leaks, fix it, and if not, you're probably good to go.
Hey, just out of curiosity why don't you used a buoyancy floating arms in your camera gear?
Hi! I do actually use Stix Floats on my Ultralight arms and vary the amount based on which port and lighting I'm using. I can't recommend buoyancy arms or floats enough!
I don't use them on the tripod displayed on the table though, as I want my system heavy so the tripod and system won't be flipped by the surge.
Great overview/explainer video Brent! Future thought, maybe toss in an example photo or two when you start talking about a specific style of photo? Question: What do you do with your old gear after upgrading? I've been shooting my "starter" setup, Sony RX100 + UWL-09F Wide Angle, for a few years and picked up a Nikon z6 with the goal of making it my new underwater rig. I'm unsure if I should sell or keep it as a smaller(?) situational backup. I really like your topside shooter example but then the housing + dome would collect dust.
Hi Jon - Great questions, and thank you! Photo samples are a great idea - they add to the length but certainly would help show the difference in things like lenses. I sell my gear when upgrading, in various places depending on what it is. Scubaboard.com and Wetpixel.com forums are a great place to sell, forums dedicated to the camera brand (e.g. photography-on-the.net forums for Canon), and even some used camera Facebook groups. I've used a bunch of lights and strobes until broken but have also given them to deserving people if a company is generous enough to give me a new set. Pay it forward!
Backups are a great idea, but I'm not sure it's worth traveling with a completely separate system. I might sell the RX100 system, and if you're going on a big trip where you want a second camera, you could invest in a GoPro or a SportDiver SmartPhone Housing as an affordable and easy-to-travel-with way to keep you shooting should the worst happen to your main system. Hope this helps!
@@BrentDurand Thank you for the detailed response! Ironically I'm building out the new setup out for a big Solomon Island trip. Backup GoPro in hand already too. So selling sounds like the plan. I'll take a look at those sites you mentioned! Keep up the great content!
Great video as always! I'm planning to dive Bali and Komodo next year and I'm really hoping to be lucky enough to see a Blue Ringed Octopus. Do you know a dive site where they're usually spotted OR where my best chances are to see one?
Hi Rawphael - Blue-Ringed Octopus are a very lucky encounter, meaning you can look for them in their habitat but aren’t guaranteed to see them like with something like a jawfish or seahorse. Rubble substrate and night dives is a good combination, slowly looking for movement. I’ve never been able to dive Komodo but you should be able to find (*via the talented guides) blue rings around Tulamben and Padang Bai. Hope this helps
@@BrentDurand Thanks for the advice! I’ll be watching out for them BROs 🐙
Hi Brent, following you for a while, great videos, Thanks!
Just a simple question, what lenght of arms do you recomend for dual light and strobes rigs? Nothing pro, I´m a recreational diver with a olymnpus g6 for photo and Gopro for video, with Sea & Sea YS-01 strobes and Backscatter 4300 light for video.
Hi Carlos - With this gear I'd suggest 8" and 5" double ball arms. I personally prefer the 8" arms close to my system and the 5" closer to the strobe/light. Some do the opposite though. You may also want to look at float arms if the camera system is heavy in the water, as they will provide float and make the rig more neutrally buoyant. I can provide suggestions if you like!
Hi..!! Brent very nice video. Im new in the marine sciences and love the photography, so i can bought a housing and a light for my sony alpha 6000, its will very cool if you can make a vidio with the first steps for underwater photography. Im from Ecuador and actually i studing Marine Ecology in Baja California, México.
Hi Rodrigo - Congratulations on the new underwater camera setup. The a6000 is a great camera. My suggestion is to read my "Ultimate Guide to Underwater Photography" linked below. This will talk you through all the important elements and link to all my articles and videos when they are relevant.
tutorials.brentdurand.com/learn/
I hope this helps!
@@BrentDurand Thank you..!!!
Great Video
Thanks!
Are you shooting your rig without a lens red filter (IE Keldan spectrum SF-2)
Hi, I'm not using any red filter. I find that red filters perform differently depending on the water conditions, depth, surface conditions, direction to sun, etc. and prefer not to use them. For video I use manual white balance. Hope that helps!
Hi Brent,
Do you know if the backscatter mini flash can shoot in a burst mode? for example 4 images a second... it would not have to be on full power, but I wonder if it's possible :)
Hi - The Mini-Flash will continue shooting as rapidly as it will "recycle", which is the same as all strobes and flashes on the market. The Mini-Flash recycle time from full discharge (empty) to full charge again is 2.5 seconds. Like you implied, if you're firing at 1/2 power or less, the recycle time will be a fraction of this and you'll get more shots in sequence before seeing black frames. The actual number of shots will vary depending on power level, freshness of the batteries, etc. Hope this helps!
@@BrentDurand Hi, thanks for your opinion! Yeaahhh... so there's really only one way to find out to see if it works for my work case... buy and test it... thanks anyway!
@@learn.iris.photography Yep, it will depend on the power level and battery. Good luck!
Once you get your hands on the R5 you're really gonna want to take it underwater haha
For sure! Luckily my wallet won’t let me act on that yet, plus for work the camera will be more useful outside of the housing 📸
Who services your camera housing?
I service my own housings however I recommend Pacific Housing Repair in California. Your local underwater camera retailer likely has a local recommendation.
@@BrentDurand that who services my camera housing as well
😱 omg. nd i thought a monochrome and a dslt were too much 🤭🤭🤭
And some underwater photographers have so much more gear than I'm using!!
@@BrentDurand 😲 really? 🥺 I don't think I'll ever learn. I don't even know how to dive... And I'm scared to swim in the ocean 😕. Well... I wanna swimm 5km in the ocean. But I'm scared. And I wanna learn to swim with sharks 🦈 ... 🤗 I think they're cute. But the ocean scares me. The parts were u swim and then u no longer see like there's a floor? 🤭🤭🤭 Scary 🤭🤭🤭... But I do wanna free dive like Alexey molchanov Thu. But just 60 m. 🤭🤭🤭 Not 130 m... 🤭🤭🤭🤭 well... One day, I guess 🤭🤭🤭
@@BrentDurand do u swim with sharks, sir 🦈? 💕
@@DeeDeeLecter The first step is the hardest
@@DeeDeeLecter I have, yes
Hey, just out of curiosity why don't you used a buoyancy floating arms in your camera gear?
Hi David, Great question! I've used the same arms and Stix floats for years and they work well, so instead of buying float arms I save that money for the next camera upgrade. I also adjust the number of floats (buoyancy) depending on using the big dome, small dome or macro port, and video tripod, often all on the same day, so carrying floats is easier than several different volume float arms. But that's just my personal preference - there is no right or wrong.
Great Video
Thanks Geir!