Scuba Diving – September 2019

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18 / SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 SCUBADIVING.COM

BUILDING A PRO SYSTEM

Essential considerations when putting together

your first pro-level camera rig

BY BRENT DURAND

Buying your fi rst advanced camera system is intimidating. Costs

seem to stack up as you wade through accessories that are con-

tingent on questions you don’t yet know how to answer. This ar-

ticle will cover the basics and serve as a starting point on your

camera-system journey.

ALL-IN-ONE:

THE DC2000 PRO

3000 DUO

SeaLife’s Pro 3000 Duo camera system in-

cludes everything you need to start shooting

underwater photo and video.

The new Sea Dragon 3000F Auto Light

packs 3,000 lumens and a wide-beam angle

in a small body. This light is easy to travel

with and ready for macro and wide-angle vid-

eo, lasting 60 minutes on full power. Power

can be controlled manually or with the Auto

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THE BIG DECISION:

HOUSING AND PORT

SELECTION

Underwater housings are de-

signed specifi cally for each inter-

changeable-lens mirrorless and

DSLR camera. Volumes can be

fi lled with info on how to choose a

camera body and housing, but for

this article we’ll assume you have

already selected both based on

your budget, shooting preferenc-

es and comfort level.

Lenses and ports are the next

major consideration. Tradition-

ally, underwater shooters have

opted for a macro and a wide-an-

gle—or fi sheye—lens.

A macro lens requires a spe-

cifi c port, while wide-angle and

fi sheye lenses generally fi t into

the same dome ports. Dome

ports use extensions specifi c to

each lens in order to space the

dome at just the right distance

from the housing.

But don’t worry; housing

manufacturers have detailed

guides indicating which exten-

sions should be used with each

lens and dome combo. A general

rule is that fi sheye lenses may be

used in all domes, from 100mm

to 240mm, while a rectilinear

wide-angle lens may only be used

in larger domes. In recent years,

wide-angle conversion lenses

have become a versatile substi-

tute for traditional dome ports.

According to Kevin Palmer, an

imaging expert at Reef Photo &

Video, “Wide-angle water-con-

tact optics or ‘wet lenses’ were

originally modest lenses de-

signed around the small sensors

of compact cameras. But in re-

cent years, advanced computer

design and manufacturing have

led to optics that are compatible

with systems all the way up to full

frame 35mm sensors. The end

result is often superior wide-an-

gle rectilinear performance over

a wider zoom range, with closer

focus and more aperture fl exibil-

ity. All with a smaller form factor

than large domes.”

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THE IKELITE SETUP:

» 200DL Underwater Housing for Canon EOS 5D Mark III,

5D Mark IV, 5DS, 5DS R

» Right-Hand Quick-Release Handle

» Shutter-Trigger Extension

» Compact 8” Dome Port

» Aluminum Top Handle

» DS161 Strobes

» Wide-Angle Ball Arms

» Dual TTL Sync Cord

» Gamma Lights with Ball Mounts on a Triple Clamp

» Light & Motion Sola lights on Sliding Ball Mounts