Hello from Upstate NY

[scuba4fun]

Hi everyone,

My name is Andy and I don't yet have any underwater photography equipment of my own. I have been fortunate that my cousin has let me borrow his extra gear when we dive together so I've had the opportunity to use two different setups. A Canon 7D, 60mm macro lens in a Zillion housing with Inon S2000 strobes as well as a Nikon D3, 105mm macro lens in a Subal housing with Inon Z240 strobes.

I'm ready to purchase my own setup now. I already have a Canon 7D and will be making a housing purchase in the next couple of months. I'm currently trying to decide between the Nauticam and the Aquatica. I've read various reviews of each but haven't seen a side-by-side comparison. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd appreciate that insight.

I also need to figure out what to do with my existing topside lenses. I have a Tamron 90mm macro and a Tamron 10mm-24mm wide angle. I didn't see either of these lenses mentioned in the lens tutorial so am wondering if these will work or if I need to shell out more money to replace these lenses for underwater use. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I've only spent two separate one week vacations actually doing underwater photography but I'm definitely hooked. My cousin has provided a bunch of info to me and I could see a noticiable difference in my photographs from the first time to the last time.

For those interested, here are some photos from my first week:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andydeitsch/sets/72157624153229202/

Here are photos from my second trip:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andydeitsch/sets/72157624989379098/

I still have so much to learn and I can't wait to get back in the water! I also want to learn wide-angle photography which I have heard is a completely different skill set.

Anyway, looking forward to partcipating and getting all the great advice.

Andy

[scottg]

andy, welcome to the board. I'm originally from upstate NY myself.

I don't think you can go wrong with either housing for the Canon 7D.

The shots in your flickr account are looking great, excellent color and detail.

Here's one I like

[linky]

Hi Andy

Those pics are REALLY awesome...

Where did you take them? Id love to know how you got so close to some of those fish, like the lizard fish... I get about as close as 2 feet and they disappear!! ... guess I need to work on my stealth!

[scuba4fun]

Scott, thanks. How about the lenses? Any thoughts there? Do I need to buy new ones or are the Tamron's going to work?

Linky, the first set were taken in the British Virgin Islands. The second set in Bonaire. I haven't had a problem getting close to lizard fish. If you sneak up on them they let you get pretty close. For skittish fish, I find just staying a little distant for a while and slowly moving closer works. I also learned a good tip which is to setup your camera and strobes and take a shot nearby that approximates the exposure / shot you want to take. Get that right, then take your shot of the fish because you might only get one shot of it before it disappears. The other thing I sort of discovered on my own is that some fish like gobies have a pattern of behavior. Watch them carefully and they end up do the same things. You can use that to capture the fish in the position you want. I'm no expert but that's what I've figured out so far.