Some of my first photos with A6300

Hector1959 wrote:

Oh!!

I now understand. You were using a diopter on WA shots just to reduce the focusing distance of your lens to "match" with the virtual image created by the dome, not for macro shots. That' surely why the shop suggested a low diopter.

Yes, it was supposed to improve IQ on the wide angle, but I never noticed any particular improvements.  I shot with and without it.

I have never used "dry" diopters but I know there are some cheap ones (a few $) that most people say they are not good. I have always used for macro

I just remembered that I had previously used an RX100 II in a Nauticam housing, and I also bought a pair of wet lenses for it.  One macro and one dome, to extend the range of the 28-100 equivalent lens.

I don't think I even tried the dome port, but I did try the macro several times.  (It was on a flip holder).

I was dumb and didn't realize I could test it above water, though I'm still a bit unsure if things change significantly, from a testing perspective.

Certainly in the water the macro filter forced me to a VERY close distance, probably a couple of inches.  I was never able to get a shot in focus, probably because of the distance, and the narrow DOF.   In that respect it was the opposite of my TC experience, other than sharpness.   The TC allowed me to stand off.

But, now make me wonder if softness in my shots are due to focusing, kit lens quality or the use of a diopter, my camera is set to shoot only when in focus, but when pressing the trigger one can move the camera.

You should be able to compare the sharpness of your shots with and without the diopter to see if there is a significant loss of sharpness.   It may be equipment as well as technique.

...

I have been watching your shots from Roatan in your website. Indeed, I realized that I had visited your site some time ago. Nice shots, and as you said, most are the "same" (not talking of quality) as mine.

Yes, you can spot Caribbean shots pretty easily.

Interesting your before-after section.

I threw that together very quickly for a Facebook album I think.  I need to go find some extreme examples.   But those are pretty typical.

Hopefully my shots are getting better over time.  I'm not sure they are, but my post-processing skills have at least improved.  I had some back-sliding with the D850 partly because of learning a new camera underwater, but mostly because I was experimenting with new stuff - trying the TC for the first time, trying the Internal Correction Filter for the first time, trying to shoot some video with the DSLR for almost the first time (disastrous), using a non-TTL flash trigger the first time, and just dealing with little things like the shutter release lever moving between the D810 and D850 housings.