New and Very confused!!!

I love taking pictures and love to dive. However I am not ready to purchase the housing strobes etc...for my Canon 40D...nor can i afford or handle such a large setup.

Sea and Sea DX 1G....Olympus...NiKon D1X...Canon G6 with Ikelite...So many opinions and reviews....some good, some bad. What to do???

I see images that some produce and think..."well, this is for me, great quality...compact...can be used with or without strobe...fairly inexpensive when compared to..." but then another opinion.

Can anyone give me direction and help?

Hi there,

I only use a T series Sony and love it. It takes great macro images, fits in my pocket and doesn't need an external strobe. To see what I've done with it, check my own photo page at:

http://www.diving4images.com/graham_abbott.html

Simply try with a point and shoot and if you get some decent results, then look into upgrading, if this is what you want.

At the end of the day, think about what will be using the images for?

Here are a couple of images:

Hi there,

 

I only use a T series Sony and love it. It takes great macro images, fits in my pocket and doesn't need an external strobe. To see what I've done with it, check my own photo page at:

http://www.diving4images.com/graham_abbott.html

Simply try with a point and shoot and if you get some decent results, then look into upgrading, if this is what you want.

 

At the end of the day, think about what will be using the images for?

 

Here are a couple of images:

Wow, those are amazing shots, regardless of the setup used. If those images were all taken with a simple point and shoot with no external lighting, my hat is off to you sir!!!

As the saying goes, a good photographer can shoot good pictures with any system!

Thanks for sharing!

Wow, those are amazing shots, regardless of the setup used. If those images were all taken with a simple point and shoot with no external lighting, my hat is off to you sir!!!

 

As the saying goes, a good photographer can shoot good pictures with any system!

 

Thanks for sharing!

Wow, thanks so much for the generous comments.

The only problem I have is I can't quite get that sharpness, but at about $500, no excess baggage and a piece of kit that fits into my BCD pocket I ain't gonna complain about sharpness for an image that is only going to be seen on websites.

Hi there,

 

I only use a T series Sony and love it. It takes great macro images, fits in my pocket and doesn't need an external strobe. To see what I've done with it, check my own photo page at:

http://www.diving4images.com/graham_abbott.html

Simply try with a point and shoot and if you get some decent results, then look into upgrading, if this is what you want.

 

At the end of the day, think about what will be using the images for?

 

Here are a couple of images:

I live in Pensacola...Home of the "O" so most all the dives are deep 80' plus, so it needs to be able to travel that distance with me. I will be taking large wreck shots and macro images. I want to purchase a camera and housing that will be easily upgraded with strobes instead of buying a new system all together...thats why i was looking into the sea and sea and olympus setups but still need advice on what to invest in.

Is the Sony you have able to have wide angle lenses added on or strobes mounted....i guess i should have researched it myself instead of asking, huh?

Amazing pictures!

I live in Pensacola...Home of the "O" so most all the dives are deep 80' plus, so it needs to be able to travel that distance with me. I will be taking large wreck shots and macro images. I want to purchase a camera and housing that will be easily upgraded with strobes instead of buying a new system all together...thats why i was looking into the sea and sea and olympus setups but still need advice on what to invest in.

 

Is the Sony you have able to have wide angle lenses added on or strobes mounted....i guess i should have researched it myself instead of asking, huh?

 

Amazing pictures!

Hi Gracie,

I'm just getting ready to buy my first Point and shoot also. I've narrowed my selections to the Sea and Sea DX-1G and the Canon G9. Im leaning towards the DX-1G because of it's compactness, Wide angle, and macro capabilities. Without a strobe, you could stick it inside your BCD, you cant do that with bigger housings like the ikelite for the G9....not sure of the other housings offered for it, Canon has one, as does Patima. I was thinking Ikelite strictly because with a sync cord you could get True TTL with a strobe.

Anywho...if your like me...it's a bit overwhelming. But the DX-1G seems like a very nice, and easy jump in the water and shoot cam, with good results. Now you said most of your dives are 80' or more??.....if thats the case....and someone correct me if Im wrong, but shots at those depths would probably require a strobe?

Hi Gracie,

 

I'm just getting ready to buy my first Point and shoot also. I've narrowed my selections to the Sea and Sea DX-1G and the Canon G9. Im leaning towards the DX-1G because of it's compactness, Wide angle, and macro capabilities. Without a strobe, you could stick it inside your BCD, you cant do that with bigger housings like the ikelite for the G9....not sure of the other housings offered for it, Canon has one, as does Patima. I was thinking Ikelite strictly because with a sync cord you could get True TTL with a strobe.

 

Anywho...if your like me...it's a bit overwhelming. But the DX-1G seems like a very nice, and easy jump in the water and shoot cam, with good results. Now you said most of your dives are 80' or more??.....if thats the case....and someone correct me if Im wrong, but shots at those depths would probably require a strobe?

Thanks...thats about the same conclusion i have came up with based on my research and the other opinions in these forums. I also assume that at those depths i would be using a strobe the majority of the time...If i wanted decent shots! I have yet to see anyones pictures from the local area that are really nice except a few of a whale shark encounter...then again i don't know any good underwater photographers or anyone with quality equipment. Everyone that i know has a point and shoot but no strobes. This is why i need all the information i can get and every bit is appreciated!! I am leaning towards the DX-1G also, hopefully i will get good results at those depths....Any additional opinions are welcomed!

Thanks...thats about the same conclusion i have came up with based on my research and the other opinions in these forums. I also assume that at those depths i would be using a strobe the majority of the time...If i wanted decent shots! I have yet to see anyones pictures from the local area that are really nice except a few of a whale shark encounter...then again i don't know any good underwater photographers or anyone with quality equipment. Everyone that i know has a point and shoot but no strobes. This is why i need all the information i can get and every bit is appreciated!! I am leaning towards the DX-1G also, hopefully i will get good results at those depths....Any additional opinions are welcomed!

Gracie, you can definitely get nice shots with a simple p&s and a decent strobe, especially if you add an external wet lens. I just upgraded my camera last week to a more sophosticated p&s, but before that, I was shooting a simple p&s, most of the time with one strobe and the addition of wet lenses.

The camera I used to use was a Sony DSC-N1 in a Sony basic housing with an Inon Z-240 Strobe and Inon wet lenses. I'm not saying my shots were spectacular, but I think they were nice, considering they were taken essentially with an accessorized basic p&s. Here's a few shots I took with that system before I upgraded to two strobes:

Therefore, I'm not sure if you want your system to grow and give you more shooting options and capabilities, but if you do, you can certainly accomplish that with a p&s system. The key is finding a camera and housing option that is within your price budget and that will accept the addition of a mount base for wet lenses and stobe connections.

Adrian

Gracie, you can definitely get nice shots with a simple p&s and a decent strobe, especially if you add an external wet lens. I just upgraded my camera last week to a more sophosticated p&s, but before that, I was shooting a simple p&s, most of the time with one strobe and the addition of wet lenses.

 

The camera I used to use was a Sony DSC-N1 in a Sony basic housing with an Inon Z-240 Strobe and Inon wet lenses. I'm not saying my shots were spectacular, but I think they were nice, considering they were taken essentially with an accessorized basic p&s. Here's a few shots I took with that system before I upgraded to two strobes:

 

 

 

 

 

Therefore, I'm not sure if you want your system to grow and give you more shooting options and capabilities, but if you do, you can certainly accomplish that with a p&s system. The key is finding a camera and housing option that is within your price budget and that will accept the addition of a mount base for wet lenses and stobe connections.

 

Adrian

nice pictures!

This might sound silly but...by wet lenses you mean? i am familiar with the strobes and mounts but...macro or wide angle lenses...is this what you mean by the wet lenses?

nice pictures!

 

This might sound silly but...by wet lenses you mean? i am familiar with the strobes and mounts but...macro or wide angle lenses...is this what you mean by the wet lenses?

Gracie, you may know exactly what I'm talking about, but I may simply be using a terminology that you are not familiar with. By "wet lenses" I mean lenses that fit on the outside of the housing and are interchangable underwater. The lens mount goes attached to the housing, and is often used to attach the optical cables to the strobe. The lens mount is also used to attach the "wet lenses" to the housing.

With my system, I carry multiple "wet lenses" at the same time, and when I'm not using a lens, I attach it to the arms of my system with what is referred to as a lens caddy.

Here's a link to the Inon website that will give you a visual of what I'm talking about.

http://www.inonamerica.com/news.php?news_id=49&newscat=0

Adrian

Gracie, you may know exactly what I'm talking about, but I may simply be using a terminology that you are not familiar with. By "wet lenses" I mean lenses that fit on the outside of the housing and are interchangable underwater. The lens mount goes attached to the housing, and is often used to attach the optical cables to the strobe. The lens mount is also used to attach the "wet lenses" to the housing.

 

With my system, I carry multiple "wet lenses" at the same time, and when I'm not using a lens, I attach it to the arms of my system with what is referred to as a lens caddy.

 

Here's a link to the Inon website that will give you a visual of what I'm talking about.

 

http://www.inonamerica.com/news.php?news_id=49&newscat=0

 

Adrian

I understand a little better now...thanks

I guess what you are saying altogether is find the camera and housing that i want and can afford making sure they accept the lens mount so that the whole system can grow with me as my skills do. Do this as opposed to buying a "prefabricated" system that will be good for now but does not have the capabilities to be interchangeable or built upon!

Did i understand you correctly?

I understand a little better now...thanks

 

I guess what you are saying altogether is find the camera and housing that i want and can afford making sure they accept the lens mount so that the whole system can grow with me as my skills do. Do this as opposed to buying a "prefabricated" system that will be good for now but does not have the capabilities to be interchangeable or built upon!

 

Did i understand you correctly?

Assuming you envision your system growing with your skills, then absolutely yes!

However, some people have no desire and do not envision themselves ever taking their photography to the and system to higher levels and are content with the basics, so if that's the case, my suggetion may not apply.

Assuming you envision your system growing with your skills, then absolutely yes!

 

However, some people have no desire and do not envision themselves ever taking their photography to the and system to higher levels and are content with the basics, so if that's the case, my suggetion may not apply.

I am definitely not one who wants to spend money on something that will quickly be outdated or outgrown! Thank you so much for all your help and advice. I want to learn as much as possible about the equipment i will be using and the best possible ways to optimize my time under the water and the images i derive from my encounters. Any other helpful advice you would like to share?

Is the Sony you have able to have wide angle lenses added on or strobes mounted....i guess i should have researched it myself instead of asking, huh?

Gracie,

If you want to do wide angle kind of images as well, it may be best to go for the G9 or something similar to this. The Sony I have is only really good for macro, I have shot manta's and the likes, though without any white balance control the images are never really that good! I've seen some great photo's taken by shooters with the new G9!

I'd say, start off without an external strobe and get used to shooting smaller things first, the strobe will add a lot more difficulty when starting. To get used to shooting with the internal flash is all you need at first.

BIG HINT - don't try and shoot eveyrthing you see on a dive, pick one subject that doesn't move too much and keep shooting altering your setting till you get a great image....

Gracie,

 

If you want to do wide angle kind of images as well, it may be best to go for the G9 or something similar to this. The Sony I have is only really good for macro, I have shot manta's and the likes, though without any white balance control the images are never really that good! I've seen some great photo's taken by shooters with the new G9!

The G9 is a powerful and versatile camera, which is why I transformed my system last week to include the G9 as the heart of the system!

Just be careful, because if you chose to add external lenses to Canon's G9 housing, there are very few tradiditonal options to accomplish that, because the oval shape of housings front end really complicates that.

Consequently, if you plan on going with the G9, I would give serious consideration to the Ikelite or Patima housing - Personally, I went with the Patima housing, but it's a bit pricier.