Dear Carl,
Congratulations on going on-line! You continue to be the leader in dive travel.
I am on a plane headed home from Bonaire. Had a week teaching a Nikonos seminar. I know a lot of people have trouble believing this one, but I really do like the results I am getting with my Nikonos RS system. The latest generation of TTL (through-the-lens metering) provides great macro results. I rarely bracket with the RS and SB-104 strobe more than one-third of a stop, and I definitely get more keepers per roll.
Of course, when you shoot TTL, you have to be really disciplined to do pre-dive TTL test shots to make sure that the TTL exposure system is operating properly. Indo that by loading film, opening the aperture as wide as possible, setting the strobe on TTL, and pointing the strobe directly at the lens from only a few inches away. Obviously, the strobe should not dump full power. Then I put my hand over the lens,point my strobe away from my lens, trip the shutter, and look for a full dump indicator.If I get a full dump here, but not in the first test, I feel confident that my TTL system is working properly.
Of course, even in macro TTL is only a tool, not a crutch. Extremely white-bright highly reflective subjects can overexpose, and dark subjects that suck up light can lead to underexposure, but that is the same with manual systems. The A on the shutter speed dial stands for "aperture priority", not "automatic". It is easy to fall into the trap of turning the camera on and your brain off. Even with the TTL, the most important photographic variable is the camera operator.
One more TTL thought. I don't suggest using any generation in wide angle work.The size of the subject within the frame is a critical factor in TTL function, and foreground subject sizes vary dramatically. I suggest shooting wide angle manually,and always, bracket, bracket, bracket.
Regards,
Marty
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