Al wrote:

>     Bjorn won the "Kewlest Toys" prize fer sure!!

The only one I'd never compete with in that category is Crusty :-) But I was
surprised at the many cool gizmos and rigs, and even more surprised that ALL
of them were digital, except Viv's. Validates an article I've written
recently, and the results were uniformly good for all divers on the boat.

I would venture a guess that if all had been required to use a Nikonos V
with a 35mm lens, there would be lots of heartache right around now, when
the film came back from the lab :-) But still, the prize for Best Novice, in
my opinion, definitely goes to Brad, who shot a few rolls of slide with a
rented Nik V, with STUNNING results!

- Of course, if all novices could start off in great viz with a 15mm lens
and accommodating turtles and eagle rays... :-)

> You'd think with the sophistication that's out there in the electronics
industry that they'd be able to make TTL work with digitals.  This one has
the Strobe
> hard-wired to the camera but it doesn't do anything other than fire the
strobe every time the trigger is pulled!! I've had to learn "Manual"
photography all over
> again!!

Some digicams, like the Nikon CoolPix series, make use of "pseudo-TTL",
where there is a "TTL" sensor located next to the lens. It works quite well
(at least on land with an external flash, which is the only place I've tried
it), but for real TTL to work, there has to be mirror behind the lens.
Still, with the increased light sensitivity of most digicams, the lack of
TTL is usually only a problem with close-ups, where the strobe or external
flash quickly overpowers the lens.

But you still have a lot of great shots, Al, so it couldn't have been that
bad!

I was incredibly pleased with the Fuji S1 and the usual high standard of the
Ikelite housing. Of the 250 pictures I took, I kept 56, an astonishing
keeper ratio which is testament to the camera's amazing color rendition and
light sensitivity. To increase the keeper ratio from my usual 5% to 20% is
phenomenal, not least when one calculates what this translates to in savings
on wasted film and processing in the long run.

And to once more sing Ike's praises (which I seem to end up doing every time
I interact with him), he is repairing and servicing my strobes and sensors
in time for Soyong to bring them back to Singapore next week! I'll be
pleased to pay for the service, but I half suspect that I will never see a
bill.

I'll try to get some pictures on the Web this weekend, other than the 3
which Capt. Tom very kindly put in his report.

Let me echo all the participants in saying that we had a wonderful time, and
that we can never thank Crusty enough for arranging this! As someone who has
arranged many live-aboard charters, I know how much hard work it can be, and
what it feels like to have a knot in your stomach until the last payment is
in :-)

Bjorn