Are these any good?

I just bought a RX100 V and I am going to get the sony waterproof case for it. I was wondering if anyone has any experience of these lights and if they are any good?

Caution: both Sony and Meikon/SeaFrogs housings for RX100 series lack access to the rear dial. Fantasea housing is a bit more expensive, but has access to all the controls. Shooting aperture priority/shutter priority/manual without dials is quite cumbersome, as you need multiple button presses instead of a simple knob twist. The light you linked will function as a focus light at short distance, but don't expect miracles. You will also need a tray, or a handle, or at least a cold shoe mount to put it on.

Barmaglot_07 said:

Caution: both Sony and Meikon/SeaFrogs housings for RX100 series lack access to the rear dial. Fantasea housing is a bit more expensive, but has access to all the controls. Shooting aperture priority/shutter priority/manual without dials is quite cumbersome, as you need multiple button presses instead of a simple knob twist. The light you linked will function as a focus light at short distance, but don't expect miracles. You will also need a tray, or a handle, or at least a cold shoe mount to put it on.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the excellent advice.

Unfortunately the Fantasea housing in Europe is getting on for twice the price of the Sony one and there are no suppliers in Vietnam. Other than that I could get a return flight via HK on my next trip to London, as they are only $400 in HK.

I was thinking of buying two lights and a rig from eBay as they are quite cheap but it looks like I can attach a light to the top of the Sony case, so I'm not sure what I will do. I will probably buy one and that it from there as I can have stuff sent from eBay to Vietnam easily.

I'm trying to figure out how to assign the timer button to control the shutter speed. So far I can't figure it out.

I had no problem getting the flash button to control the ISO.

You can use the control ring (the one around the lens) to adjust aperture or shutter speed, though in manual mode, you'd have to go into menus to switch between the two.

Also, keep in mind that using a single light can result in undesirable shadows in certain circumstances. For example, shooting a hermit crab, if you light it from above, its shell will put the eyes and legs in the shadow, and if you bring the light down and to the side, you'll still have half the crab mostly dark. In my case, I was able to come back with two lights and put them down as low as possible, one on each side, and this provided decent illumination.

Barmaglot_07 said:

You can use the control ring (the one around the lens) to adjust aperture or shutter speed, though in manual mode, you'd have to go into menus to switch between the two.

Also, keep in mind that using a single light can result in undesirable shadows in certain circumstances. For example, shooting a hermit crab, if you light it from above, its shell will put the eyes and legs in the shadow, and if you bring the light down and to the side, you'll still have half the crab mostly dark. In my case, I was able to come back with two lights and put them down as low as possible, one on each side, and this provided decent illumination.

Click to expand...

How do I do that? I have been reading and can't figure it out. Can you link me please? I was hoping to be able to assign a button for shutter like I have assigned the flash button for ISO.

I am not sure how much need I will have for light as I will be either snorkelling or shallow diving in the tropics so hopefully there will be enough ambient light. I will do some prep dives in Vietnam to get some idea of the lighting before a planned trip to Polynesia.

Thanks for all your help

See page 160 of the camera manual here: http://helpguide.sony.net/dsc/1630/v1/en/print.pdf

I just came back from a month in Thailand, almost two weeks of that being diving (Koh Tao + a liveaboard to the Similans), and I'd say that while ambient light is certainly doable (as long as you shoot raw and fix the colors later), I do not regret bringing my Archon D36V lights, heavy and cumbersome as they may be.

Barmaglot_07 said:

See page 160 of the camera manual here: http://helpguide.sony.net/dsc/1630/v1/en/print.pdf

I just came back from a month in Thailand, almost two weeks of that being diving (Koh Tao + a liveaboard to the Similans), and I'd say that while ambient light is certainly doable (as long as you shoot raw and fix the colors later), I do not regret bringing my Archon D36V lights, heavy and cumbersome as they may be.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your help. I know this is going to read as me being really, really thick here, but when doing through the options I couldn't find the shutter speed option. What is it written as?

I haven't been to Tao in 12 years and I never dived there, just lazed about the beach. I looked at some of the videos of the Simians and they looked really good. How deep were the dives and did you see many large predators? I'm looking for simple dives as I haven't dived in years and will need to do some refresher dives in Nah Trang first and my wife will need to do her Padi.

Where are your photos and video of the dives, I'd love to see them?

Which ship did you go on? The prices seemed good at 40,000THB for 6 days. A bit more than I paid a few years ago in the Galapagos, but that was just snorkelling.

Roadrunner123 said:

Thank you for your help. I know this is going to read as me being really, really thick here, but when doing through the options I couldn't find the shutter speed option. What is it written as?

Click to expand...

To be honest, I don't know - I don't have an RX100 myself, this is me going on a half-faded memory of a post I saw somewhere months ago. Which mode do you have the camera in? If it's one that doesn't have shutter speed adjustment (like aperture priority, or auto), it'd make sense that the option won't show up. Try putting it in manual, then navigating the menus.

Member said:

I haven't been to Tao in 12 years and I never dived there, just lazed about the beach. I looked at some of the videos of the Simians and they looked really good. How deep were the dives and did you see many large predators? I'm looking for simple dives as I haven't dived in years and will need to do some refresher dives in Nah Trang first and my wife will need to do her Padi.

Click to expand...

Most dives at the Similans were around 20 meters, some (at Richelieu Rock) went to 30. Tons and tons and tons of fish - schools of trevallys, emperorfish, barracudas, etc, had one short glimpse of a tigershark (didn't get a photo) and an eagle ray (got lucky and did), three consecutive dives with whale sharks (two of them!) at Richelieu Rock. No mantas on my trip, although they're supposed to visit the area frequently.

Diving was not difficult most of the time, but on one dive at Koh Bon and another at Richelieu Rock we encountered quite strong currents. Me wearing el cheapo fins from aliexpress didn't help. There was actually a Chinese group on the boat doing their open water certification (I think - I saw PADI open water manuals spread around, but I didn't pry).

Member said:

Where are your photos and video of the dives, I'd love to see them?

Click to expand...

Didn't take any videos, as I don't have the first clue about editing them; did take quite a few photos, they're on Google Drive here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TM-PjIozEx3oMMwdi6ELasa0250KEPtS?usp=sharing

I actually do have a video shot by the divemasters and edited by the tour leader - it was free as part of the cruise (they claimed that they're the only operator in the Similans that does it for free; everyone else charges several thousand baht per person - can't verify the veracity of that claim) - I'll try to upload it to youtube tomorrow from work (got a lot more bandwidth there).

Edit: here it is, although youtube downscaled it to 360p:

Member said:

Which ship did you go on? The prices seemed good at 40,000THB for 6 days. A bit more than I paid a few years ago in the Galapagos, but that was just snorkelling.

Click to expand...

I went on MV Pawara, 32,700 baht for a deluxe cabin, 1800 baht marine park entry fee, plus I left a 4000 baht tip for the crew, so 38,500 total for four days, 14 dives. I originally planned to go on MV Oktavia for 5 days/19 nights (I think it cost 28,800 baht), but two weeks before I was due to fly out, they informed me that they don't have enough bookings on my chosen dates and that the trip is cancelled - I looked around, Pawara had last two spots open for the entire season, in a deluxe cabin, so I ate the cost difference and booked it. No regrets, Pawara is an excellent boat with a great crew. The pricing is on the higher end of the scale - there are many less expensive boats doing the same area, like the Manta Queen fleet - but you get what you pay for in terms of accommodation, food, etc, plus they have free nitrox. The actual itinerary was one day at the Similans (three day dives, one night dive), then on the second day, two dives at Koh Bon and two dives at Koh Tachai, then on the third day, four dives at Richelieu Rock, and on the fourth and final day, two dives at Boonsung Wreck shortly before docking back at Khao Lak.

I did a week on Koh Tao to prep for the liveaboard - Koh Tao diving is quite cheap by comparison (700 baht/dive with most operators, as long as you buy ten dives or more), I hadn't dived since October last year and I had new gear to break in, so I did a couple days in Bangkok, then took the overnight train to Chumphon and ferry to Koh Tao, spent a week (22 dives) there, then ferry + bus package to Phuket, five days on a beach there, and then the liveaboard.

One of the instructors at Koh Tao, a very old hand who used to work the Similans circuit, gave me a tip - if you're not too picky and want to save some money, you can go to Khao Lak where all the dive operators cluster and just walk from one to another, asking if they're going out tomorrow and if they have an open berth - such last-minute bookings can bring a significant discount.

Thanks for all your help. I don't think there is the option to set the shutter on the c button. I will need to study this further but I could just set the shutter and play with the ISO as is necessary. Perhaps when I fly back from the UK at the end of August I will grab a Cathay flight via HK with a long lay over if they are cheap enough. I always fly back via Bangkok as I get direct BA flights from there, but there is no reason why that can't change.

Thanks for the video and photo links. You got some great photos. I wouldn't have my wife do her Padi on the trip the fish are too good to waste time learning to dive when she could have much more fun just enjoying the dives.

I know the tip about waiting till you get to the islands to book. I did that in Egypt and the Galapagos and saved a fortune. One couple who booked in Europe paid 3.5 times as much as we did but our cabin was so hot I had to sleep on the deck! I spent a day and a half running around agents but it was worth it in the end.

I know what you mean about video editing. It is a very steep learning curve but it is doable to make a simple one. I did it with my go pro. It is far from professional but it was ok for a first effort. I have also tried Da Vinci Resolve a few times, it just takes patience and perseverance.

Once again thank you very much. I will keep you posted once I buy the case and let you know how it goes. I think the first dives will be in Nah Trang which isn't great for diving but it will get me acclimatised to using the camera and a refresher on diving as I haven't done it in about 10 years and that was only one dive in Argentina. It was a sea lion dive. The operator described it as being thrown into a room with puppy dogs. A very good analogy. The second we hit the water we were surrounded by seals and playing wasn't an option. If you didn't interact enough they grabbed you by the arm, fin, mask, anything to grab your attention. Amazing! Although I swam with many seals in the Galapagos they didn't interact at all. They swam close enough but didn't engage with us.

Roadrunner123 said:

Thanks for all your help. I don't think there is the option to set the shutter on the c button. I will need to study this further but I could just set the shutter and play with the ISO as is necessary.

Click to expand...

I didn't mean the C button - I meant the control ring, the one around the lens. You should probably post the question in the Cyber-shot forum, that's where actual RX100 owners hang out.

Member said:

I wouldn't have my wife do her Padi on the trip the fish are too good to waste time learning to dive when she could have much more fun just enjoying the dives.

Click to expand...

Member said:

Once again thank you very much. I will keep you posted once I buy the case and let you know how it goes. I think the first dives will be in Nah Trang which isn't great for diving but it will get me acclimatised to using the camera and a refresher on diving as I haven't done it in about 10 years and that was only one dive in Argentina.

Click to expand...

Koh Tao seems like a perfect location for both of you - it's got very inexpensive courses (there's like seventy shops on a small island competing for customers) on easy sites that take minutes to reach from the island. If you haven't dived in ten years, you definitely need a refresher, and not a small one - using a camera underwater is quite challenging. I would recommend Sairee Cottage Diving - they're a bit more expensive than other shops in the area, but it's a very well run outfit, very good rental gear, great DMs, and they have a pro photography instructor on the team - you can do half a dozen regular dives to reacquaint yourself with the water, then arrange for a photography course with Paddy. He only teaches one-on-one, and he tailors the course to each individual student's wishes and requirements. Costs 5000 baht a day, three dives per day + classroom work. In the meanwhile, your wife can do her OWD+AOWD certification, then you can transfer to Phuket and go on a liveaboard to Andaman Sea.

Member said:

It was a sea lion dive. The operator described it as being thrown into a room with puppy dogs. A very good analogy. The second we hit the water we were surrounded by seals and playing wasn't an option. If you didn't interact enough they grabbed you by the arm, fin, mask, anything to grab your attention. Amazing! Although I swam with many seals in the Galapagos they didn't interact at all. They swam close enough but didn't engage with us.

Click to expand...

Sounds like something to put on my bucket list

Wow, that is cheap! 1/3 of the price of Nha Trang. That has made me think. The cost of getting to Tao compared to the overnight bus to Nha Trang, especially with three kids, would come into play. I will have to do the figures. Great info thanks.

I remember the last time I took the boat to Tao, it was so rough they were handing out sick bags as soon as we got on. Fortunately Tao was the first stop as I was getting off anyway, there was no way I was staying on any longer than I had to. We were the last boat into Tao for about a week other than military ships dispatched to bring supplies.

I can't remember the flight but it was to southern Thailand and then the boat to Tao.

It will be a case of making the ring change the shutter and just leaving the lens wide open.

Many thanks for all the help and advice.

Roadrunner123 said:

Wow, that is cheap! 1/3 of the price of Nha Trang. That has made me think. The cost of getting to Tao compared to the overnight bus to Nha Trang, especially with three kids, would come into play. I will have to do the figures. Great info thanks.

Click to expand...

There are basically three ways of getting from Bangkok to Tao:

1. Lomprayah bus from Bangkok (Khao San road) to Chumphon pier, then boat. Runs twice a day - 6AM (arrives 3:45PM) and 9PM (overnight, arrives 8:45AM next day), costs 1100 baht for adults, 550 baht for kids. The bus is okay, but the seat pitch is quite narrow, and the seat backs recline way back, like 45-50 degrees, so passengers end up sort of stacked at an angle. Also, Khao San road is in an area of Bangkok that is not accessible by BTS skytrain or MRT subway, which makes it annoying to reach.

2. Train from Bangkok to Chumphon, then bus to Chumphon pier, then boat to Koh Tao. Thailand Railways don't sell tickets online yet, but there's an outfit called 12go that will buy the tickets for you. Their office is located right across from the big railway station, and also, conveniently, next to an MRT subway station, and you just come in an hour before the train is due to depart, pick up your tickets and walk across to the rail terminal. Costs 1700 baht per person for 2nd class train, where day seats unfold into bunks for overnight trips, looking like this:


Daytime configuration


Night-time - all the bunks deployed and curtains drawn


Inside the bunk - sharing it with my bags that didn't fit into luggage cubbies

3. Plane + bus + boat. Planes typically go from the old Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, to either Surat Thani or Nahkon Si Thammarat airport, then you get a bus or minibus transfer to pier, and then a boat transfer to Koh Tao. I did this with Air Asia in 2014, and they handled all the tickets in the single booking, but the outbound leg was via Surat Thani, which meant that the boat went to Koh Samui, then to Koh Phangan, where we had to disembark and wait for another boat to finally take us to Koh Tao.

Overall, my preferred way of getting there is the train - it's more expensive than bus, but considerably more comfortable, and overnight trip saves a hotel night. You get to the island on the first morning boat and can start diving right away, unlike a plane, where even if you leave with the first flight at 6 AM, you won't get to the island at least until noon.

Member said:

It will be a case of making the ring change the shutter and just leaving the lens wide open.

Click to expand...

Something like that, or stop it down a bit for extra depth of field. You can always go into menus and switch the control ring between shutter and aperture, but of course this takes more time than simply twisting a knob. My final choice of camera to take diving was between RX100 V and A6300, and this is on of the reasons that I went with the latter.

Thanks for the invaluable info.

The reason I went for the 100 was down to portability. I wanted a camera I would always have in my pocket. When I am out and about with the kids I knew I wouldn't be bringing the 5300. There was only a few £ difference in price between the two, the 100 was the more expensive. I was surprised how cheap they are in Vietnam.

One more thing I forgot to mention about Tao - check tide tables before you schedule your vacation. I've been there three times now, and I got lucky the first two, but on the third, I got there right on full moon, when the tides kicked up massive amounts of silt. I spent seven days diving there, and only on the last couple days did it begin to clear up. This persian carpet flatworm is probably the best shot I got there, and you can still see how full of silt it is.

Barmaglot_07 said:

One more thing I forgot to mention about Tao - check tide tables before you schedule your vacation. I've been there three times now, and I got lucky the first two, but on the third, I got there right on full moon, when the tides kicked up massive amounts of silt. I spent seven days diving there, and only on the last couple days did it begin to clear up. This persian carpet flatworm is probably the best shot I got there, and you can still see how full of silt it is.

Click to expand...

That is a great photo and a great tip. I wonder if it applies to everywhere?