Here are yesterdays results. these are different batches of eggs as the first ones have hatched. one batch is only 1 or two days old, and the second may be 3 or 5 days old but I am not sure. I paln to do daily dives and follow the development and with a lot of luck even get some shots as the hatch.

I have not actually calculated the reproduction ratio but maybe someone on wetpixel can. I know that it is at least 7:1 and possibly more considering the digital sensor and the flat port adds to the ratio. I have included the setup info.

Fufi S2 in Aquatica housing with the standard flat port + 3 extensions for the following lenses (Nikon 200 mm micro, nikon 12-24, sigma 14 mm)

Nikon 105 micro lens
Kenko 3x and 2x teleconverter (stacked)

dual SB-105 set at manual full power

The younger (red) batch was shot af f22, and the other at F16. both were shot using a 200 ASA setting. As before the F 16 results apperar to be a little sharper. I tried a few at F32 but these were too underexposed to correct in the RAW converter. in the future I will add more strobes to the rig.

Both shots are un cropped and unedited in photoshop other than a reduction in size.

Chris

Have you considered the 200mm with 3x and a +3 or +4 diopter? It would be a stop faster. What is your working distance?

Using the 200 with both teleconverters and a 6T diopter is my goal, but I am unable to do so as of now due to lack of extension rings.

I am currently having a custom adaptor made that will allow me to use my A80 ports and extensions. That will give me virtually unlimited versatility. It is unlikely that I will have the adapter before I return to Japan.

The working distance on the current set-up is about 6 inches. This is almost perfect as it allows easy strobe placement as well as allowing me to brace the rig using my thumb on the port barrel and my pinkie finger on the rock. this allows me to shoot while hovering above the bottom. I often turned blue holding my breath in order to maintain position.

I had to add a 3 inch extension to my focus light so the beam would clear to port.

Chris

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their eyes....

Nice detail on the first shot, Chris. What was your shutter speed? Must be tough to do the bouyancy/breathing gymnastics while trying to get the shot.

M.

Hi Mar

I shot everything at 1/90 I could have used ANY shutter speed 125 or slower as ambient light played no part in the exposure.

gymnastics, great description as I spent over an hour virtually standing on my head shooting!

hopefull I can give it a go again today. Digital makes the so easy and affordable

after a bit of photoshoping these images are quite nice!

Chris

If ambient doesn't play a part in the exposure, why would you shoot at anything less than fastest? Just curious. I shoot most of my macro stuff at 1/250.

Hi Eric

I had the camera set to 1/125 but I may have inadvertently changed it while struggling to find the eggs looking through the S2s itty bitty viewfinder and then achieve focus.

The one thing I do not like about the Aquatica S2 housing is that the viewfinder port is almost flush with the back of the housing. This makes it very difficult to use with a mask and regulator. I find I spend more time trying to get my eye close to the viewfinder than I do actually composing the shot. I wish I could use the viewfinder on my old A80 as it protruded about 3/4 of inch past the housing back and was almost 2 inches in diameter.


Chris