Need Advice

[Iguana Don]

OK, here's the deal, dive shop loaned me a MX10 & strobe to go to Coz. to check it out to see if I like it. (That's the easy part).

Now I need to decide on what kind of and speed of film to use. Will be taking the usual reef macro photos but I want some really killer pics of the Cenotes at Akamul. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

Very Novice Photo Nut

:devilish:

P.S. I would also like to enlarge (8x10) if they turn out good.

 

[Warhammer]

Daveread.com has a wealth of info on taking underwater pics. Makes for good reading and he seems to know his stuff.

I usually use 100 or 200 in my Auto35, but me is no photographer.

 

[joewr]

Don,

If you want instant gratification, you can use color print film--Kodacolor, e.g. and go to the Kodak shop on the main street of Cozumel (Avenida R. Melgar) and have it processed in one hour. They can even make an 8x6 enlargement for you in one hour.

You can also use slide film--Ektachrome--and the same shop has several light tables that will allow you to examine your shots--good idea to take a loupe with you to magifiy the image. They can also make prints and enlargements from your transparancies. And the price is actually lower than in the US.

The ASA, ISO, or film speed is debatable. Purists (of which I am not one) will insist on 64 or 100 due to the very fine grain structure of the neg or trans. However, 400 or 800 allows much less precise focus and yields a greater depth of field--i.e., things are in focus because the aperature is stopped down(800 will make some folks gag, but it has its uses for those who have a difficult time manually focusing the uw camera).

A good comprimise is 200--which I tend to use about half the time. However, I suggest you try 400 the first time just to get used to the camera and, then switch to 200 (be sure to change the film setting on the camera!) to see which you prefer.

If this is truly your first experience with a this type of camera, why not use the color print film and see you results on paper immediately?

Hope this helps and that I do not offend too many people with my suggestions.

Oh yes, whilst in Cozumel, try a restaurant called "The French Quarter". I think it is the best in town--and the prices are in line with the other "better" restaurants in Cozumel.

!Muy buen viaje de buceo!

Jose'

 

[herman]

Hi Don,

I have used a MX-10 for several years. It will only handle 100 and 400 speed film so your choices are limited to those 2. If you want to do any enlargement then 100 is the best way to go. Film type is somewhat a matter of preference but I find that Fuji color gives me richer colors but if you want to enlarge then go with Kodak Royal Gold (NOT the regular gold) it is a lot sharper (less grain).It's about $1 more per roll but worth the difference in my opinion. While the colors are not quite as bold as the Fuji, they are closer to "real". Kodak also offers a processing service for divers. I can't remember exactly what it is called (will look for it) but the processing is done with the uw conditions in mind and the color balance comes out a lot better. The processing cost is about the same, you just have to send them off and wait.. IF you are going to be using any of the accessory lens for the MX-10 and intend to swap them underwater, by all means attach them to the camera by a string or the like. They are very easy to lose/drop and the piece of string is cheap insurance. Finally, get close and use the external strobe (leave the internal one off). Also, check the thread that Dee started about sharing photos, we have a couple of discussions there on the MX-10 you might find interesting.

 

[herman]

Don,

Took a while to find but here is the info on the Kodak processing.. http://www.kodak.com/US/en/consumer/sea/index.shtml

 

[Dee]

The MX-10 can only read 100 and 400 film. After lots of comparisons between the two, I much prefer the 100 speed film. Specifically Fuji Reala. Kodak Royal Gold is very good too but I prefer the color saturation of the Fuji. For a beginner, either will work great.

I also have to ditto his advice about tethering the lenses to the camera. Those suckers will just jump out of your hand when there's no bottom in sight! I used to use wide rubber bands and zip-ties...I'm sure you can figure that out. I now have Save-A-Lens kits on both of my S&S cameras.
http://www.gbundersea.com/ I frequently let the lenses dangle while changing them.

The link to Dave Read's site is the best place to go for understanding how a camera works. He has an excellent way to explaining the most mundane and confusing stuff into easy english! Best use of any spare time you may have. I've learned a tremendous amount from him, his tutorials and diving with him. A super guy.

I'm not familiar with the photo shop Herman referred to, but I can highly recommend Island Photo, located in front of LaCeiba Hotel. Depending on where you're staying, that will give you two choices. I usually have 1 roll processed on the island just to make sure everything is working fine. Then I bring the other 20 rolls home...lots less expensive at my local place!

Good luck...we want a photo gallery to look at when you get back!

 

[Iguana Don]

Thanks for all of your info,

The trip was great, took 7 rolls of film, 2 roll went into partner's purse, and 5 went into suitcase, suitcase got zapped and ruined the 5, only 2 rolls came out.

(Lesson #1, keep film in reg bag.)

Anyway "The Lord of the Deep" KN has my pics and I don't know what he's doing with them but when you get a chance I would like some truthful opinions, don't stroke me as that will not help me learn.

Some of them turned out quite well, got some with back scatter in them. But of the 2 rolls that turned out, I'm happy.

But it's what was on the other 5 that really makes me upset at myself. Bob the Moray apparently has a BIG brother.

More later.

ID

 

[joewr]

Hey, Don,

You should put out a thread warning all about the film disaster that lurks. I always carry my reg, cameras and film in my carry-on bag--which is why I shall probably develop a hernia before long. I do the above because I want to be able to dive with my own reg--even if the very competent (ha, ha) airlines baggage folks lose my luggage and I have to rent BC, etc., because my cameras are too tempting to thieves, and because lost negatives cannot be replaced. However, I have had no personal experience with the new x-ray machines used in AP's, nor have my friends.

By the way, if you pass through Miami AP on the way to the Caribbean and pack your camera in your check-in luggage, there is a fairly high probability that it will be stolen. My insurance agent told me that the Miami AP has the highest "loss" rate among US AP's. Of course, I learned this after my friend had her luggage "misplaced" and permanently lost somewhere in the Miami AP. Strangely, the only piece of luggage that was lost had her camera in it. Another valuable use of x-ray machines: they tell dishonest AP personal about valuables in luggage--as well as about bombs!

Warn the folks, Senor Iguana, because personal experience is more believeable than, "I heard that....."

Anxious to see your photos--one of these days I will have my son show me how to send photos over the net so I can share, too. I am one of those "old" computer guys (In college I used to carry punch cards in my shirt pocket and learned how to program using Fortran 4--and that really dates me! And, boy, did we generate chad in those days!) who has not yet mastered all this stuff.

At any rate, welcome back,massive collection of photos or not!

Joewr

 

[DivingGal]

Don too bad about the film, but your warning comes just in time for me. I'm off to Barbados on the weekend - with the loan of a MX10 from a friend.

I always carry my reg and camera with me (in this case my friend's camera), but I had not thought about my exposed film. That's going to in my carry on too now.

joewr
Punch cards eh? Did you ever "accidentally" trip someone while they were carrying cards, so you could get yours processed first? A girl's got to do, what a girl's got to do

 

[joewr]

DivingGal,

I would never trip anyone--however, a shoulder might find its way to a soft zone (I played football and, as you know, tripping is illegal in football), however. Don't those carry-ons get heavy in this sport? On of these days I am going to take up something that requires little or no gear...

Have a great trip. We are heading for Hawaii/Micronesia soonest and I can hardly contain myself....

Joewr