...I used a thin wrist sized flat rubber band around the zoom ring of the panny 7-14 instead of gaffers tape with the 14-42 zoom gear. Worked flawlessly and is MUCH cheaper than the actual zoom gear.
A rubber band, so simple. Phil Rudin suggested velcro tape for the same function. Both work. Thanks for the tips.
14-42 lens work just fine in the Zen port! Note - really want to pay more attention next time to softness/distortion on the edges when using this lens pulled back to 14mm in the Oly port v the Zen port. Now that I'm running through workflow on the pictures I'm seeing some softness/distortion when shooting the 14mm full wide in the Oly port. That may or may not go away in the Zen port. However, since this port doesn't allow macro I won't really ever use it. Shot my first every macro shots and really enjoyed it!
I believe you can shoot macro with the dome. Put a close up lens on your lens,
inside the dome. I believe the dome is a lens too, and it has the effect of moving the infinity focus closer to about 16 inches, and shortening the minimum working distance. Using a good quality achromatic close up lens, such as a Marumi +5 diopter lens, you should be able to focus over the full range, from 2 inches to infinity. I have not had a chance to try this, so I could be wrong. My next dive trip is coming soon and I will do so. I am mentioning this again in case someone wants to try it before me.
About changing ports, I had to use a strap wrench to get the original port started; it had sat for a while and needed a bit of force to start. Then it wiggled out but took some time. I did not find installing the zen dome port much more difficult, but I did add some silicone grease just in case. I did the final 1/8th turn to lock it using the strap wrench again. I don't think this is going to accidentally come off, so I really think the lock bracket and screw is a waste and requires another tool, but I did re-install it for security. I know they did not envision people interchanging ports so made this lock mechanism inconvenient; wonder if an ikelite style port lock would work just as well. Oh well, this is certainly secure.
On an unrelated note, I am working on putting a dome on the original port to try with a wider lens, if and when I get the budget. I have no use for the old port now, so the price is right. The trick is getting the dome, but I think I found a source. It won't be a Zen, but it won't cost $800 either. To be continued...
It was tough getting used to the 7-14 underwater. You REALLY have to get close to fill up the frame when you're shooting 7mm. Which means you can't be nearly as ham handed in approaching fish/critters. But the results were very nice.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this setup. Everything from the ease of use, small form factor (compared to dSLR) and quality of results I'm seeing thus far, really impressed with how it handles underwater, how easy it is to do semi-wide all the way to macro with the kit lens and macro adapter w/ Inon wet macro lens.
Damn! Stop it, I'm getting lens envy. I have bought the 9-18 and zen dome -- and for me that was a big expense. I'll see how it goes, the 9-18 is a sweet lens too.
I was the envy of the boat with the Sola 600. That red light feature is fantastic. If you've done night diving with Tarpon around you know how they love to follow you and attack the poor varmints in your white light beam from over your shoulder, generally scaring the hell out of you in the process. With the red light, had no such issues. It did still spook some critters but others were totally unaware of it or me. Squid, octopus and crustations most notably were unaware. At 600 white light it's bright enough to help fill in spots for aiding the flash and for video during the day. For night dives in clear water it is FAR too much. The red light is perfect and I don't see any need to have that adjustable. Was fine and when using a strobe you can't tell in stills that the red light is on at all. I used red light exclusively and a 600 lumen hand held light with tight beam pattern but big spill area for long reach critter spotting.
Double Damn! I know you are right, but the toys keep getting more expensive. There are certain fish that cocoon up in mucus at night so foraging crabs can't smell them, and if disturbed they withdraw the mucus but can't replace it, so they get eaten if I hit them with bright light. I feel criminal. I really think I should get this Sola 600 so I am not a murderer. Maybe I'll try a red filter first.
I did forget to pop the flash up before one dive and didn't notice until I couldn't figure out why my strobe wasn't firing. Dammit. I knew I would and I think it's a HUGE design flaw that there is no way to pop the flash once in the housing.
A good time to try the high ISO setting to save the dive. If you will note, the release for the flash is a slider and that's a hard motion to get right with actuators, but it could be done.
Thanks for the report. Love to see those pics when you get them "developed" in Lightroom.
