Bandit66

Hi All

I am an absolute novice so all advice welcome.

i have just changed from a Sony Alpha 350 to Nikon D500 as i am wanting to focus on underwater Macro.

Kit
D500
Nikkor 60m
Nauticam d500
Naticam 6mm Port
Nauticam ttl convertor board
Sea & Sea YS-D2

Problem:
1) I am not sure what i am doing wrong
2) most of my shots are over exposed
3) i still don't know the camera (D500) very well (or photography)
4) almost all shots over exposed but every now and then they come out ok seems like flash fired correctly.
5) i have comparison photos with (seemingly nothing changed and i don't, remember changing anything 'exif data refers' )


The 2 attached photos were taken within seconds of each other and the second one has far better exposure.

Most of my photos are turning out like the first one and it is almost as if the flash did not have time to power up completely.

I can post the original NEF raw files if that helps, attached are the JPG's.

I have posted the exif data below for the two files to avoid anyone having to download the 2 files unless necessary.

TIA

Regards

Brett


File 1 Exif Data
{
ColorModel = RGB;
DPIHeight = 300;
DPIWidth = 300;
Depth = 8;
Orientation = 1;
PixelHeight = 3712;
PixelWidth = 5568;
ProfileName = "sRGB IEC61966-2.1";
"{ExifAux}" = {
FocusDistance = "0.4731513";
FocusMode = 1;
ImageNumber = 1589;
ImageStabilization = 0;
LensID = "-7182020577775542778";
LensInfo = (
60,
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"2.8",
"2.8",
60,
60,
"2.8",
"2.8"
);
LensModel = "AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED";
SerialNumber = 8900776;
};
"{Exif}" = {
ColorSpace = 1;
ComponentsConfiguration = (
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CompressedBitsPerPixel = 2;
Contrast = 0;
CustomRendered = 0;
DateTimeDigitized = "2017:03:10 19:14:24";
DateTimeOriginal = "2017:03:10 19:14:24";
ExifVersion = (
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);
ExposureBiasValue = 0;
ExposureMode = 0;
ExposureProgram = 3;
ExposureTime = "0.01666666666666667";
FNumber = 3;
FileSource = 3;
Flash = 15;
FlashPixVersion = (
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);
FocalLenIn35mmFilm = 90;
FocalLength = 60;
GainControl = 0;
ISOSpeedRatings = (
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);
LightSource = 0;
MaxApertureValue = "3.2";
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PixelXDimension = 5568;
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SceneType = 1;
SensingMethod = 2;
SensitivityType = 2;
Sharpness = 0;
SubjectDistRange = 0;
SubsecTime = 63;
SubsecTimeDigitized = 63;
SubsecTimeOriginal = 63;
UserComment = "";
WhiteBalance = 0;
};
"{IPTC}" = {
Byline = (
""
);
CopyrightNotice = "";
StarRating = 0;
};
"{MakerNikon}" = {
FlashSetting = "NORMAL ";
FocusMode = "AF-F ";
ISOSetting = (
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);
LensType = 6;
Quality = "NORMAL ";
ShootingMode = 0;
ShutterCount = 1589;
VignetteControl = 3;
WhiteBalanceMode = "AUTO0 ";
};
"{PictureStyle}" = {
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Contrast = (
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HueAdjustment = (
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"{TIFF}" = {
Artist = "";
Copyright = "";
DateTime = "2017:03:10 19:14:24";
Make = "NIKON CORPORATION";
Model = "NIKON D500";
Orientation = 1;
ResolutionUnit = 2;
Software = "Ver.1.10 ";
XResolution = 300;
YResolution = 300;
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}

File 2 Exif Data
{
ColorModel = RGB;
DPIHeight = 300;
DPIWidth = 300;
Depth = 8;
Orientation = 1;
PixelHeight = 3712;
PixelWidth = 5568;
ProfileName = "sRGB IEC61966-2.1";
"{ExifAux}" = {
FocusDistance = "0.4731513";
FocusMode = 1;
ImageNumber = 1589;
ImageStabilization = 0;
LensID = "-7182020577775542778";
LensInfo = (
60,
60,
"2.8",
"2.8",
60,
60,
"2.8",
"2.8"
);
LensModel = "AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED";
SerialNumber = 8900776;
};
"{Exif}" = {
ColorSpace = 1;
ComponentsConfiguration = (
1,
2,
3,
0
);
CompressedBitsPerPixel = 2;
Contrast = 0;
CustomRendered = 0;
DateTimeDigitized = "2017:03:10 19:14:24";
DateTimeOriginal = "2017:03:10 19:14:24";
ExifVersion = (
2,
3
);
ExposureBiasValue = 0;
ExposureMode = 0;
ExposureProgram = 3;
ExposureTime = "0.01666666666666667";
FNumber = 3;
FileSource = 3;
Flash = 15;
FlashPixVersion = (
1,
0
);
FocalLenIn35mmFilm = 90;
FocalLength = 60;
GainControl = 0;
ISOSpeedRatings = (
100
);
LightSource = 0;
MaxApertureValue = "3.2";
MeteringMode = 3;
PixelXDimension = 5568;
PixelYDimension = 3712;
Saturation = 0;
SceneCaptureType = 0;
SceneType = 1;
SensingMethod = 2;
SensitivityType = 2;
Sharpness = 0;
SubjectDistRange = 0;
SubsecTime = 63;
SubsecTimeDigitized = 63;
SubsecTimeOriginal = 63;
UserComment = "";
WhiteBalance = 0;
};
"{IPTC}" = {
Byline = (
""
);
CopyrightNotice = "";
StarRating = 0;
};
"{MakerNikon}" = {
FlashSetting = "NORMAL ";
FocusMode = "AF-F ";
ISOSetting = (
100
);
LensType = 6;
Quality = "NORMAL ";
ShootingMode = 0;
ShutterCount = 1589;
VignetteControl = 3;
WhiteBalanceMode = "AUTO0 ";
};
"{PictureStyle}" = {
BrightnessValue = (
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"-124",
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);
Contrast = (
12,
12,
12
);
FilterEffect = (
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128,
128
);
HueAdjustment = (
"-124",
"-124",
"-124"
);
Monochrome = (
0,
0,
0
);
PictStyleColorSpace = (
sRGB,
1,
1
);
PictureControlAdjust = (
0,
0,
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);
PictureStyle = (
Standard,
3,
3
);
Saturation = (
4,
4,
4
);
Sharpness = (
"-127",
"-127",
"-127"
);
ToningEffect = (
4,
4,
4
);
ToningSaturation = (
0,
0,
0
);
};
"{TIFF}" = {
Artist = "";
Copyright = "";
DateTime = "2017:03:10 19:14:24";
Make = "NIKON CORPORATION";
Model = "NIKON D500";
Orientation = 1;
ResolutionUnit = 2;
Software = "Ver.1.10 ";
XResolution = 300;
YResolution = 300;
};
}

(Download)


(Download)

IBM

I don't know what's going by looking at this , but I would think you have a lot of studying to do about learning the camera , try it in program

And see what it does, are you setting every thing manual now ? , for get all manual , let camera pick f stop then let it speed

IHH61 Loc: Homestead Fl

What do you have the strobe set on? TTL underwater can be challenge to get camera, housing, and strobe all talking to each other.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

It appears that your aperture was set at 3.6 with a shutter duration of 1.6 seconds and ISO at 100 for both exposures. I'd give this a try in P mode with flash set to TTL. That suggestion is just to see if the camera and flash are actually chatting with one another. If they are, note the shutter and aperture used in P mode and make minor adjustments from there. That way you can dial in the appearance you wish of your photos.

Also, keep in mind that water has a completely different light transmitting quality than air. So, adjustments will need to take that into account, as well.
--Bob

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Are your photos, when not under water, properly exposed? If not, then you have to learn proper exposure ( Peterson's Understanding Exposure is the best book). If they are properly exposed I can't help as I know less than nothing about underwater photography.

Pixelmaster Loc: New England

Try the Under Water Forum: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-104-1.html

There is still hope of recovering some of your images in Photoshop.

IBM

Set iso and camera shutter and fstops on auto, and see what camera picks , if you get a picture, then set to manual the same settings
That the camera just took back to those settings in manual , and change each one back and forth , and write it down , you will find the best combo that you will be happy with , it won't be that far away than the auto but it will look better ,