We went down to Crystal River, Florida to check out what the compact Nikon D5600 DSLR camera can do with ambient light in the early morning sun. Needless to say we were very pleased with the results!
All manatee photos were taken with the new 200DLM/C Compact DSLR Underwater Housing for the Nikon D5500, D5600 # 6902.56 and Nikon 8-15mm Fisheye lens. The lens vignettes between 8-10mm, but the 11-15mm focal length is perfect for the manatees as it exhibits less fisheye distortion.
Here are a few shots from Bonaire with the same system. These were taken using the Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye, Nikon 60mm Macro, and Nikon 18-55mm kit lens. All shots were strobe lit with dual DS161 strobes and the DL1 DS Link Nikon TTL Converter.
ISO 100 • f/11 • 1/160 • Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Lens
The 10.5mm Fisheye is a really compact and lightweight lens which makes it a pleasure to travel with and handle. A fisheye gives a super wide field of view and great sharpness around the edges of the photo.
ISO 100 • f/8 • 1/100 • Nikon 60mm Macro Lens
ISO 100 • f/8 • 1/100 • Nikon 60mm Macro Lens
The camera's crop sensor is a major advantage in macro photography. A 60mm macro allows you to shoot smaller subjects with good autofocus and a comfortable working distance.
ISO 100 • f/14 • 1/40 • Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens
The kit lens does a fine job with portrait and macro photography underwater.
ISO 100 • f/11 • 1/160 • Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Lens
The compact DSLR housing for the D5600 is a fraction of the size and weight of a traditional DSLR set-up which made it very comfortable to maneuver around the surface of the water. The 45º Magnified Viewfinder # 6891.1 was essential for comfortable posturing and large, bright framing of our images.
Additional Reading
7 Tips for Photographing Florida Manatees
Planning a Trip to Photograph Manatees in Crystal River, Florida
