Eric,
If I'm not being too intrusive, I was hoping that you could give me a little better idea of your experience with the Macromate closeup lens. It looks like a good system to me, particularly with the flexibility it allows the diver. What do you do with the Macromate when it is off your lens? How much is your depth of field restricted? Is it difficult to establish focus if there is any surge or current? Anyway, if you could shed any light that might help me to make a decision regarding purchase I would be most appreciative.
By the way, I love the website and have found it the most enjoyable one going.
Sincerely,
Larry Segil

Well, I'm not Eric so I hope you don't my if I add a comment or two.
I recently completed a trip to Indonesia where I used the MacroMate in conjunction with a Subal-housed 20D and 100 mm macro lens. Unfortunately I don't have my shots online yet. I'll post in the gallery forum in a week or so.


The new version MacroMate stays on the port. A double hinge allows you to flip the optics out of the way.



The smaller the field of view, the smaller the depth of field. With the extra large GS viewfinder and a Fisheye focus light I had no problems in Lembeh. In fact, by the end of the week I was seeking out the smallest, most transparent shrimp I could find just for the added challenge. It was difficult photographing pygmy's on swaying sea fans though. I never considered asking somebody to steady the fan for me. For the first few days I captured just parts of the seahorses.

If you can swing it, I'd recommend the MacroMate.

-Brad

Thanks, Brad, for the comments. The field of view is really, really shallow with Macromate usage. I really with I could get even closer, though. I know that James has tried using internal diopters + macromate with his Sigma 150 macro. I couldn't even get good full-frame performance with an internal diopter on my Canon 180mm macro, and using the Macromate with it is difficult as well. I usually shoot 100mm + Macromate.

I love my Macromate, and I almost never dive macro without it, anymore, because 1:1 just isn't enough sometimes. I have the old version that requires physical removal of the entire thing (no flip up).

Hi Larry,

See the other thread in this forum about the Macromate results.

To answer your other question, I have a neoprene bag with a drawstring that I clip to my BC and use to carry the lens around. The thing is clipped up high with a short drawstring, so it doesn't bang around.

With my setup, even at f22 there really IS not depth of field. Neither is there focus. You just put it on and move in until your subject is in focus. I would guess from my seahorse shot that DOF was around 1mm.

Cheers
James