Me and my equipment

Since this issue of my equipment has risen, I think it's worthwhile to talk about it separately. So start with my basic kit, which I have been using for many years. With minor changes you can see it in all the photos.

Canon 5dmk2 in the Nexus box plus a bundle of several different Inon flashes. The camera, went to me as a prize, following the results of the Golden Turtle 2009-2010. Before this was the first 5k from Canon, in a similar housing.
Although during this time has been replaced by a couple of generations of cameras, but photos that make my kit still competitive. And they can be printed in large formats, up to a meter and more.

But the main reason for such a long use of one set is that all its components are tied to each other. You can not use this box with another camera, as well as vice versa. Each lens needs its own port, which is also unique for each box manufacturer.

t's like a story with camera mounts. Having got attached to one, it is already difficult for you to change something. Adapters are required. And this does not add convenience, and in our case, safety. After all, under water, each junction is a potential leakage spot. Special O-rings are in every such place. Including for each control button.

For all of it you need to attend. Lubricate and change if necessary. In general, the topic of maintenance of underwater equipment is difficult, and requiring close attention. Since the price of error is great - the death of the camera, the lens and the inner electronics of the box. About myself, I will say that when choosing equipment I try to minimize the number of problem areas as much as possible.

So, let's go through the steps: I have a threaded attachment to the port (spheres, as in the photo). That is, instead of latches and latches, ordinary thread. And if I stick to the port, then I need to do more than one turn to break the tightness. With the latch everything is different. If it is difficult to fasten, then a small touch can be fatal.

The only change with the box that I did was change the connection via an electrical cable, to a fiber. The light guide is not afraid of water and it does not need to break the seal to connect it. In the photographs, you can see the old version with an electric cable. For 4 years of using the electrical cable, I changed more than 5 pieces. At the same time, light guides, for a comparable period, never had to change, no matter how complex the shooting locations were.

Another plus of light guides, is that they can be disconnected directly under water. After that, the flash can be carried aside and ignited already remotely. In general, variability is a very big plus. Especially on long trips. Find a rem-kit for underwater technology, somewhere on a small island in the ocean, almost unreal.

Many underwater photographers, because of this, carry in the journey two identical cameras. One is always in the box. After all, the less you open and close it, the more reliable. And the second at the same time you can shoot on the surface. Well, if a disaster happened and the camera sank, you can try at least somehow to restore the work of the kit with the second camera. The technique is of course a pity, but the lost trip is no less a problem. After all, there are places on the globe, getting much harder and more expensive than any photo-kit!