Thanks Matthew and Alex, looking forward to the new format and more videos to come. I think you've got the mix/style right with not being too instructive. Cheers.
Thanks. We hope to mix it up with the episodes. Some more technical, some more conversational. But the aim is that you should be able to have them on while you are doing things, like a podcast.
Thanks. I am excited to be doing it. I know a lot of people like this style of content, where you can relax and listen rather than feeling you need to take notes! Also pleased to be doing it with, Matt too. I have always found his reviews on DPG to be insightful and objective. There are so many infomercials out there these days, pretending to be reviews - but simply influencers repeating what they are sold in exchange for a few trinkets. Matt's definitely a straight shooter.
Thank you guys for sharing this useful information :-) I really appreciate it! What triggers work with electronic shutter on Sony? Why do you prefer optical signals over electrical to trigger strobes?
Alex here - I would say it is mainly because more flashes are optical trigger only these days, plus it is lighter and flood proof. But I have used electronic in the past and was very happy with it.
Glad to see you back in the saddle doing these, they are incredible informative and always love to see what you're using. If I was a full time underwater photographer I'd be all over the A7RV. However with the body, lens, housing I'm guessing we are talking well over $8k which is out of reach for most people. I know this video was a review of what you use and what you consider to be the best gear, but something I'd love to see in another video is what you'd pick if you wanted to shoot professionally but could only pick up used gear >5 years old and had a budget for a housing/body
Thanks Pete, these are exactly the sort of comments we want. We will definitely turn this into an episode (when I am back from Indonesia). Secondhand is the way to go - it is a real buyers market - so the deals on older housings are excellent. The accessories, though, are harder to find for a good price. I wouldn't restrict my housing choice to just one brand when looking secondhand. But I would want to buy quality brand - and also a reasonably popular one - so you can actually find the accessories etc on the secondhand market.
Well, if money was absolutely no objection, this would be close to the ideal setup. The Sony a7Rv is a fantastic camera also above water. And with the FCP-1 now, the lack of a proper fisheye for mirrorless is now almost a strength in combination with the tiny 28-60mm it suddenly becomes an underwater beast. For Macro there are also plenty of options. Personally I would probably stick with the 50mm as I like that it gives me the possibility for some medium sized fish portraits, and with 61mp, I can always crop down or use a diopter if the creates get really tiny. Now all I need is to rob a bank.
Great video, thank you Alex for sharing this information with us. I would like to know if you're using snoot which one you own? Which flash trigger do you use? What is your diving gear and how do you manage to travel with all that?😮
First, I (Alex) manage the baggage by carefully packing to the limit on each trip. I have lightweight luggage and pack knowing exactly what I need on a trip, and more importantly what I do not. I have 3 types of flash trigger for my housing. The one that is usually in there is an UW-Technics one. I also have the TRT-Manual one - which I have used on a couple of trips last year. And I have a Nauticam one as a travelling back up - but this one does not allow HSS with the Retra flashes. My diving gear is from Mares: - you can read what dive gear I use on each shoot on the official Mares Blog - blog.mares.com/author/alex (I always list it for my own benefit when I return)!
Thank you for sharing this useful information :-) What triggers work with electronic shutter on Sony? Why do you prefer optical signals over electrical to trigger strobes?
Excellent chat and one of my subjects would indeed be strobes - there seem to be a few new players in the market too, how do they compare bang (flash) for buck$
We will be trying them, when opportunities allow. I think there are a lot of optimistic specs being quoted - so most important is to see what they do in real world shooting. Hopefully now we have the channel launched we get some offers to try them.
Excellent chat and one of my subjects would indeed be strobes - there seem to be a few new players in the market too, how do they compare bang (flash) for buck$
Brilliant channel from both of you, keep it up!
I am beyond excited about this channel. Great content so far!
Thanks Matthew and Alex, looking forward to the new format and more videos to come. I think you've got the mix/style right with not being too instructive. Cheers.
Thanks. We hope to mix it up with the episodes. Some more technical, some more conversational. But the aim is that you should be able to have them on while you are doing things, like a podcast.
Thank you Alex, great to see you back in this interview format on a regular basis!
Thanks. I am excited to be doing it. I know a lot of people like this style of content, where you can relax and listen rather than feeling you need to take notes! Also pleased to be doing it with, Matt too. I have always found his reviews on DPG to be insightful and objective. There are so many infomercials out there these days, pretending to be reviews - but simply influencers repeating what they are sold in exchange for a few trinkets. Matt's definitely a straight shooter.
Great video! And great detail on the decisions behind each
Thank you
Thank you guys for sharing this useful information :-) I really appreciate it! What triggers work with electronic shutter on Sony? Why do you prefer optical signals over electrical to trigger strobes?
Alex here - I would say it is mainly because more flashes are optical trigger only these days, plus it is lighter and flood proof. But I have used electronic in the past and was very happy with it.
Glad to see you back in the saddle doing these, they are incredible informative and always love to see what you're using. If I was a full time underwater photographer I'd be all over the A7RV. However with the body, lens, housing I'm guessing we are talking well over $8k which is out of reach for most people. I know this video was a review of what you use and what you consider to be the best gear, but something I'd love to see in another video is what you'd pick if you wanted to shoot professionally but could only pick up used gear >5 years old and had a budget for a housing/body
Thanks Pete, these are exactly the sort of comments we want. We will definitely turn this into an episode (when I am back from Indonesia). Secondhand is the way to go - it is a real buyers market - so the deals on older housings are excellent. The accessories, though, are harder to find for a good price. I wouldn't restrict my housing choice to just one brand when looking secondhand. But I would want to buy quality brand - and also a reasonably popular one - so you can actually find the accessories etc on the secondhand market.
I'd also add that Matt's Gear episode is a lower budget, with the advantages and disadvantages that brings. It should be out soon.
Well, if money was absolutely no objection, this would be close to the ideal setup. The Sony a7Rv is a fantastic camera also above water. And with the FCP-1 now, the lack of a proper fisheye for mirrorless is now almost a strength in combination with the tiny 28-60mm it suddenly becomes an underwater beast. For Macro there are also plenty of options. Personally I would probably stick with the 50mm as I like that it gives me the possibility for some medium sized fish portraits, and with 61mp, I can always crop down or use a diopter if the creates get really tiny.
Now all I need is to rob a bank.
Great video, thank you Alex for sharing this information with us. I would like to know if you're using snoot which one you own? Which flash trigger do you use? What is your diving gear and how do you manage to travel with all that?😮
First, I (Alex) manage the baggage by carefully packing to the limit on each trip. I have lightweight luggage and pack knowing exactly what I need on a trip, and more importantly what I do not. I have 3 types of flash trigger for my housing. The one that is usually in there is an UW-Technics one. I also have the TRT-Manual one - which I have used on a couple of trips last year. And I have a Nauticam one as a travelling back up - but this one does not allow HSS with the Retra flashes. My diving gear is from Mares: - you can read what dive gear I use on each shoot on the official Mares Blog - blog.mares.com/author/alex (I always list it for my own benefit when I return)!
Thank you for sharing this useful information :-) What triggers work with electronic shutter on Sony? Why do you prefer optical signals over electrical to trigger strobes?
Excellent chat and one of my subjects would indeed be strobes - there seem to be a few new players in the market too, how do they compare bang (flash) for buck$
We will be trying them, when opportunities allow. I think there are a lot of optimistic specs being quoted - so most important is to see what they do in real world shooting. Hopefully now we have the channel launched we get some offers to try them.
Thank you and yes, I tend to agree about the fanciful figures @@Alex_Mustard
Excellent chat and one of my subjects would indeed be strobes - there seem to be a few new players in the market too, how do they compare bang (flash) for buck$