Which uw setup to buy Canon G11 or S90?

Hello everyone,

I'm so undecided which uw set up to buy. I already bought the Canon G11 and I love the camera topside so far. The low light photos with this camera are amazing! I also like the 5X zoom over the 3.7X of the S90. As well the G11 feels nicer in the hands. I was just about to buy the Fix G11 housing, Inon z-240 strobe, the Fix wide angle fish eye lens and macro lens, but then spoke with Ryan at Reef photo and he's talking me into going the S90 route with Fix housing. He's telling me its a better uw camera, faster, and I do like the fact I can change lenses uw with the S90 setup. This really sounds nice to be able to change lenses uw rather then be stuck with the wide angle, standard port, or macro lens for the whole dive. Really this is the only factor making me think of going the S90 route and the fact its a smaller housing.

I also read the Backscatter P&S guide http://www.backscatter.com/learn/articl ... .php?ID=80 and it says the G11 is the best P&S camera as well the best image quality they have ever seen in a P&S. Yet both of these cameras are using the same image sensor, so doesn't this mean the photo quality is going to be the same? And what about video quality, are they equal on these cameras? Its really not that big of a deal for me to buy an S90 and build my UW setup with this, and keep my G11 for topside fun, I just want to be sure I pick the right camera before investing in the expensive housings and lenses.

Anyone out there have both of these cameras or used them both enough to help me with this?

Vortexed,

i have a G11 for the same reason like you and i don't like to fiddle around with small cameras. If i would need a super small camera to stuff in my BCD-Pocket i would get a really small camera, but the S90 is already too big to do that. As you already have the G11 i see no sense in buying another different camera, it would be better to invest the "saved" money in a good housing, a strobe or some lenses. In any case i would strongly sugest you to go in a shop to see and touch both housings, as the most important thing is how you feel them and how the fit your hand and the setup of the buttons/dials.

Have a look at the Patima housing for the G11, ist a bit bigger and heavier, but depth ratetd for 120m/395ft, VERY sturdy and nicer built as the FIX. This housing comes with 2 ports, 1 wide angle port (67mm tread, no zooming) and 1 generic port (no tread) where zooming is possible. Have a look here: http://patima.nayana.kr/xe/2828

Regarding changing lenses under water:

The G11 Patima and Ikelite housing have both a 67mm tread to attach wetlenses, the Ikelite housing has no changable port, while the Patima housing has 2 ports and both can use their 67mm tread to attach the UWL-100 (100°) or with the Inon Dome Unit 132°.

The Austrian unterwater.at is manufacturing a slip-over 67mm adapter for the Patima zoom port to allow to attach macro lenses. 

Look here: http://www.unterwasserkamera.at/shop/catal...ma-g10-g11.html

The S90 and G11 share the same sensor while they have different optics and due the size also different controls and if the S90 has a better picture quality, well that is still technically and optically to verify and mostly a point of view. On the Scubaboard underwater photography forum are a lot of treads about the S90, but i feel that some of them are of "MAC or PC" quality and type.

Chris

Well the actual camera itself is only a small part of the total cost of an underwater system. If you throw together camera, housing, add-on lenses, and strobe, the camera is only about 25% of the total cost. So switching at this point - while a PITA - is not a huge financial impact, as you can get a good $$$$ amount for the G11 - probably enough to buy an S90.

Since they have the same sensor, the image quality will be about the same. With lenses this small, it's almost pointless to compare optics.

For underwater use, it's the controls ON the housing that you should compare, and the FixS90 is quite good.

I have the S90 and love it but I haven't tried either camera underwater.

Cheers

James

I don't think you'll find all that much difference in actual image quality between the two. And from everything I can tell, the video specs are equal, though not all that spectacular. I think it boils down to what is important for you and how the housings handle. Also note that the Backscatter article sidesteps comparing the two directly by putting them in different categories!

Since they have the same sensor, the image quality will be about the same. With lenses this small, it's almost pointless to compare optics.

 

 

 

Cheers

James

The G11/G10 and to a lesser degree, the S90 lens are optical marvels and several lens tests have shown this to be the case in particular regarding the G series lens.

The other James

The G11/G10 and to a lesser degree, the S90 lens are optical marvels and several lens tests have shown this to be the case in particular regarding the G series lens.

 

The other James

Yes the photos are amazing for a P&S from this camera. I think I'll keep the G11 for topside photography, and use the S90 mostly for UW and a pocket camera when needed.

I'm sure I'll be happy with either one of these cameras uw, but the wet lens idea really has me wanting to go with the S90 for uw photography.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

Well having bought and used the S90 in a Fisheye housing u/w I can say two thing absolutely.

The S90 handles much better in the housing - the rings are easy to get at and rotate and even the shutter is smoother.

The size of the above system is small enough to pack in an attache case vice lugging a bigger bag.

The lens and sensor combination produces good image quality though I am stlll dialing in my use of the autofocus to give bang on results.

One not so good thing is the lens zooms in steps not smoothly affecting tight compositions somewhat.

I have found the S90 is quick underwater but am still seeking the right settings to yield consistantly very good shots.

I'm off to Hatteras next week to shoot wrecks and sharks - hoping for best results.

These two Canon cameras are not the same. The lenses are different. The G11 focuses much closer at 1 cm compared to 5 cm. That equates to bigger macro magnification. Only a rigorous lens test will determine which has the better lens. And end results matter too. How are the jpg files processed? Are these the same? What are the RAW file write times and are these too slow for practical use underwater?

The G11 has a hot shoe, not that you'll use it with a slave strobe and the Canon UW housing. But it does allow use of an Ikelite housing with the direct connection, TTL controls built by Ikelite for strobe lighting exposure controlled by the camera. You don't need to use the built-in flash with the Ikelite housing and strobes because the strobes are connected to the hot shoe.. The Ikelite housing for the G10 has a dome port for better wide angle coverage. Not sure exactly how the dome attaches, but it is available. I suppose the G-11 housing is the same.

The G-11 has much better creative controls. Check how you adjust ss and f-stop with both cameras. You need to be able to adjust aperture with one button, not two, so you can do it with one hand while holding the housing bracket with the other.

These two Canon cameras are not the same. The lenses are different. The G11 focuses much closer at 1 cm compared to 5 cm. That equates to bigger macro magnification. Only a rigorous lens test will determine which has the better lens. And end results matter too. How are the jpg files processed? Are these the same? What are the RAW file write times and are these too slow for practical use underwater?

The G11 has a hot shoe, not that you'll use it with a slave strobe and the Canon UW housing. But it does allow use of an Ikelite housing with the direct connection, TTL controls built by Ikelite for strobe lighting exposure controlled by the camera. You don't need to use the built-in flash with the Ikelite housing and strobes because the strobes are connected to the hot shoe.. The Ikelite housing for the G10 has a dome port for better wide angle coverage. Not sure exactly how the dome attaches, but it is available. I suppose the G-11 housing is the same.

The G-11 has much better creative controls. Check how you adjust ss and f-stop with both cameras. You need to be able to adjust aperture with one button, not two, so you can do it with one hand while holding the housing bracket with the other.

Optics and sensors are important, less so underwater are creative controls. Write times are important but probably only significantly different when shooting RAW?

The S90 rings are easy to use in the Fix housing. Their ease of use aids fast shooting. The Inon WAL lens easily screw onto Fix adaptor ring and give a wide FOV. More so than Ike's dome?

Ikelite says this about their G11 housing:

"The WD-4 Wide Angle Conversion Dome corrects for refractive magnification to give 28mm angle of coverage underwater with the G11. The conversion dome may be removed and replaced underwater and requires no modification to the housing's standard port."

Bottom line its how fast one can take the picture of that moving subject that counts!

Yes, the lenses are different, but if you think you can get a decent macro picture at 1cm from the lens tip you're got a bad surprise in store ;-) Even 5cm (2") is difficult.

I think the "speed" will be the biggest difference. Shooting the S90 w/ optical strobe control you'll have to wait for the RAW file to write AND for the flash to recycle. There may be a big difference here between the S90 and G11 but I don't know as I've only used the S90.

Cheers

James