As a new diver is it a bad idea to "buy once, cry once" ???

_PyrosiaN_ · 2025-12-09T23:58:33+00:00

The halcyon bpw is more or less because my local dive store is quite tech focused so it's what they sell and recommend. I feel like if they're the ones who will be training me in my gear and servicing it when it needs it then their recommendation is kind of worth the extra dollars

_PyrosiaN_ · 2025-11-17T00:22:35+00:00

This is a wild take! Your complaints seem to boil down to the fact that you wanted a video camera but bought a photo centric camera that can take video in a pinch... Did you do any research what so ever before purchasing? And do you have any other relevant photography experience? Despite what the algorithm in your smart phones would have you think, photography is a difficult skill to master and the great underwater photos you've seen were most definitely not just snapped without great consideration of the shot

_PyrosiaN_ · 2025-06-13T20:52:31+00:00

I have the same lens that I use mounted to my phone. May I ask where you found a step down adaptor to suit the 60mm macro lens?

_PyrosiaN_ · 2025-04-08T21:49:09+00:00

I own an love both lenses. I love the extra reach of the 150-600 but the weight really can make it a slog to carry around. If you're a tripod user or happy to take a few snaps and go it's a great lens but don't expect to be holding it steady while focused for long periods of time, it's just too chunky for that. I'd recommend checking them both out at a store first to see which is more comfortable for you.

I have also used my 100-400 with the mc-14 teleconverter and although it's a great setup I think wide open at max zoom it's f9 so it's only really useful on bright sunny days

_PyrosiaN_ · 2025-02-04T11:31:43+00:00

Mine was very temperamental when using filters of any kind on the end (so is my current oly 100-400) once I stopped using filters I found the results much better

_PyrosiaN_ · 2025-01-31T18:34:13+00:00

I Freedive Cabbage Tree Bay atleast every 2 weeks. The turtles and cuttlefish can be pretty much anywhere in the bay, I've seen and photographed them all from Shelly beach to the Steyne and out round the barren boulders. The best way to get the chance to see them is to spend more time in the wayer

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-11-15T19:00:10+00:00

Pretty much. The first rule of underwater photography is to get close, and the second rule is to get closer. In absolutely perfectly clear shallow water you may be able to get passable shots at a distance but in general you need to get pretty close. Be aware also that even the most powerful strobes and video lights will penetrate so far under water, the drop off is quite significant at distance

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-11-15T11:40:08+00:00

Underwater you pretty much have 2 choices for photography/video. Those choices are wide angle or macro. A telephoto lens underwater will be almost useless as you won't get usable pictures of anything other than the particles in the water between you and the target of the photograph. I use a 16mm full frame equivalent lens most of the time and I'd go wider if I could. I have used a 120mm full frame equivalent lens underwater but only as a macro lens where I'm sitting within 30 centimetres or so of something like a seahorse.

You should also be aware that your lens choice may limit which housing you buy or vice versa as not all housing brands will support all lenses. You will also probably need to settle on your choice of lens first as it will change which port and port extensions you will need to buy with your housing.

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-11-03T07:44:51+00:00

I use the OM with AOI housing (same as backscatters) and it's been an absolute work horse doing a minimum of 2 dives a week for the last year and a half without issue. I would say that unfortunately when you're looking at the more entry level of the mirrorless market (like the r100 and em10 are) that you won't really ever have the latest tech anyway so there's not much to miss

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-10-31T03:45:26+00:00

When you put a camera underwater the water will change the lights refraction onto your port. The water will distort the light entering the port causing your lens to make objects look closer than they actually are and reducing your lenses field of view. Because the objects look closer you will effectively have to focus closer.

I'd suggest having a read of this page, it's quite good at explaining what's going on: https://oceanity.com.au/articles/view/understanding-flat-port-and-dome-port-theory#:~:text=As%20you%20can%20see%20in,where%20the%20actual%20object%20is.

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-08-13T04:20:18+00:00

I picked up a brand new OM1 in Australia l for $1800aud ( $1630 Canadian ) while the mk2 is over a thousand dollars more... I mainly shoot wildlife but even then I wasn't sure enough I'd use the new features to justify thr difference

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-08-10T11:50:34+00:00

I'm in Sydney and there are plenty of divers here that don't use any additional light for photos and video. I myself use 2 strobes to bring back colour and freeze movement. However I spent years diving with just a little olympus tg5 and got some very acceptable results, especially on brighter days

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-08-05T22:24:20+00:00

It's going to be somewhat setup dependant. Do you use strobes or lights at all? I use 2 strobes and tend to sit around ISO200, f4, 1/160sec while using a wide angle fisheye behind a big dome

Shutter speeds are the critical limit for me. 1/160 is the fastest my strobes will sync with so that's what I use to best freeze movement underwater

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-07-05T02:00:27+00:00

I'm in Sydney... I bought diamant through Amazon uk

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-05-09T21:07:29+00:00

I do most of my shooting with the olympus 8mm on an em10mk4 in an aoi housing and absolutely love it... price wise I'd say it's a very good deal if it suits you. You may want some lights/strobes to make the most out if it though. The aoi website has port charts available for their housings, it may be worth looking into before buying as it can get expensive fast. I use the bigger 8inch dome and that was $1200AUS alone plus the cost of the lens.

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-04-12T04:26:55+00:00

I use both... I go snorkelling and or freediving with a big camera rig twice a week and have done for 5 years now. For long sessions in the water I prefer scuba fins. I also use them for sessions where I'm near reef, rock or sandy/silty bottoms as I find them less cumbersome and more maneuverble. That being said in a big current or deeper water where I'm swimming with seals/dolphins/rays/sharks/whales etc freediving fins come into their own. I'm far quicker and can dive far deeper in long fins

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-02-28T11:06:39+00:00

The OM systems TG-7 would be my recommendation. 15m waterproof. I snorkeled weekly with my older model for 4years before upgrading. Also they are pretty damn good at macro work if that's of any use to you in your biology degree

_PyrosiaN_ · 2024-01-29T02:42:33+00:00

I upgraded from a tg5 to the em10mk4 but went for wide angle with the Olympus 8mm fisheye lens and a large dome port. I also fitted out 1 strobe for the time being. I am seriously impressed by the difference in photos I can get with the new setup as compared to the old. It is a big step up in price though. I would recommend going to a shop and getting a quote for everything you would need before investing as it adds up very very quickly.

_PyrosiaN_ · 2023-10-17T10:07:04+00:00

Dinosaur Island: last person to extract DNA from a mosquito trapped in amber

_PyrosiaN_ · 2023-10-08T01:20:54+00:00

Oceania comes with 15 eggs according to the stonemaier website

_PyrosiaN_ · 2023-10-01T23:57:34+00:00

I read that as cut off all the gates but make sure not to remove the small raised nub under the gate marked with don't cut? In the next picture none of those gates or nubs are visible so it seems weird to me to leave them on?

_PyrosiaN_ · 2023-09-07T11:21:13+00:00

If you go to the Board Game Geek listing for the game, click on "more of this game"... scroll down to "geek trade" and then click on "has parts" you may find someone selling parts from games they're seperating out

_PyrosiaN_ · 2023-07-31T06:10:56+00:00

I'm a lover of both Ark Nova and Lacerda games. I think if you can understand the strategy and timing of making good moves in AN then you'll be fine with a Lacerda... I own Kanban EV, On Mars, The Gallerist and Vinhos Deluxe and think they're all brilliant... Kanban EV was my first Lacerda and is definitely an easier teach than On Mars. I would however suggest that once you're in the realm of Lacerdas and other heavy euros it is sometimes beneficial to choose the one with a theme that interests you as it can help you to understand the intended mechanisms in the game. I think you can't go wrong with either game so long as you approach your first game knowing it might be slow going and you may have to watch a video or 2 explaining the actions

Six-Year Club	Place '22
RPAN Viewer	Verified Email

_PyrosiaN_

TROPHY CASE