Reefs.org Forums

[jamesw]

Hi Folks,

I haven't gotten to put together my full gallery yet, but I wanted to post a few samples from my first trip with the Coolpix 5000 and Ikelite housint. Full gallery will be posted at www.reefpix.org

These first shots were taken using the Inon macro lens on a "rigdive":

Tesselated Blenny:


Orange cup coral (Tubastraes sp.):



White pearlescent hydroids:



Arrow crab and anemones:



On to East Flower Garden Bank:

Diploria and Featherduster:



Stetson Bank:

Scalloped Hammerhead:



Diadema Urchins:



Spotted Moray:



More pix and a full review/evaluation coming ASAP. In the meantime, fire away w/ any questions you might have.

Cheers
James Wiseman

[JohnL]

Very nice, James. Thanks for sharing.

[minime]

Terrific pics! How do you like the CP 5000 at this point? I have been researching digicams and the reviews of that one have been hot & cold.

[jamesw]

All of the things that make the Coolpix a "mediocre" topsides camera to some make it an excellent camera for underwater use.

It's 28-85mm zoom lens is PERFECT for underwater photo.

Underwater strobes can be connected directly to the camera's hotshoe which is essential.

The camera can focus down to 3/4" so it takes INSANE macro shots...as you can see.

Cheers
James

[AF Founder]

James,

Beautiful shots; makes me want to get out from hehind my PC and into the water.

Terry

[Louey]

James,

I left my coolpix 995 in a cab while vacationing in Chicago. Deep Sadness!

So now I am pondering whether to get a new 995, or should I get the new 5000. I have seen the 995 for as low as $369.00 on the internet. And I still have the majority of the accessories as I was only carrying a small camera bag.

So, what do ya think, 995 or 5000? BTW, I was very pleased with the 995.

Thanks for any advice you may offer!

Louey

[jamesw]

The 995 is a great camera and can be had for about $450.

The 5000 is top of the line and can be had for $800 or so.

The camera features are pretty much the same. If you like wideangle, the 5000 is better. If you like telephoto, then the 995 might be better.

The 5000 is also a little harder to use.

What specifically do you want to know? Of course the 5000 is a better camera, it's $250 more, right?

HTH
James Wiseman

[Louey]

What specifically do you want to know?

Well, I know that the 5000 is a 5MP camera versus the 995 being a 3.3MP. I don't think that really matters that much.

Does the 5000 has the same size lens and is it threaded like the 995? I bought an Eagle Eye 5 X's telephoto along with an olympus 1.7 teleconverter that fits the 995. I also have a 2X telephoto lense. Would these lenses fit the 5000? I want to reuse these with whichever camera I buy.

Mind you, I'm not to thrilled that I must spend money on a new camera since I just dropped $1500 on a top of the line camera (with all of the accessories) 1 year ago. But one year has past and if the 5000 totally kicks the 995's ass, I...of course...would spend the extra money!

This hobby was expensive enough before I decided to start taking pictures of it!

Thanks for your input.

Louey

[johns120]

Have you considering selling your pictures?
They are awesome-have seen terrible "professional" photographs for sale such as at www.Ocean-Gallery.com

[jamesw]

Thanks guys! I hope to share more photos with you and talk about them in the future. I really love photography.

Thanks Johns,

Yes, I have considered selling some of my photos, but I haven't gotten to that level yet.

Louey,

The CP5000 has a different lens thread, so you need something called teh UR-E6 to use the older lenses. Most will work.

Having 5 megapixels means I can print 8x10's and I can't tell it's digital. Neither can other people in "blind" tests. It's pretty cool.

The 995 is a nice camera. if I were you, I would wait for the "next iteration" before getting another.

Wait for 7 or 8 megapixels.

Cheers
James

[tfox]

Your Awesome! Wish I could have the chance to see all that with my own eyes.

[deukmedjian]

Where did you get the housing? Ihave seen them at B&H but they are cost prohibitive (ie cost more than the camera).

[jamesw]

B and H and Helixcamera.com are both good places to get underwater housings.

Cheers
James Wiseman

[Bob Gardner]

I went to the Red Sea last November using a cumbersome 35mm underwater camera. One of the other divers was using a Sony Cybershot in a Sony u/water case and the results were impressive. I have since purchased a Cyber-shot DSC-P5 3.2 mega pixel and a Sony U/water case for it. Unhappily I am not diving this year but hope to use it on a reef next year. The results above water are fine including some taken with the U/water housingin situ. This camera may not be appropriate for the proffesionals but may be of some interest to us lesser mortals

I would be interested to hear if any of you have used a red filter under water?

Bob Gardner

[jamesw]

Hi Bob,

Check out these two sites for info on Underwater Digital:

www.reefpix.org

www.wetpixel.com

The P5 is nice and small and it's good that it comes with a housing, but to get GREAT shots underwater, you need a big underwater flash. Unfortunately, it's not easy to rig one to the P5. I think Sony sells a video lite solution.

The red filter works OK in water depths up to about 30' on sunny days.

Cheers
James

[Joe M Damone]

Hi James,
allways wanted to dive the flower gardens any info on dive boats best time of year to go etc



joe