Gear Update Confusing! Any input appreciated

Hi All

I currently have a Canon G12, with a FixG12 housing. It has a standard lens and a fisheye lens for the housing. It also has two Sea & Sea YS110a strobes (I bought second hand last year and given both camera and strobes are discontinued models Im picking they are fairly old. I also have a Panasonic Lumix FT6 without a housing, GoPro Hero4 Black for video, and also have an EOS 550D without a housing.

Now, Ive been using this G12 setup about 6 months and can take some good photos, but I have the opportunity now to 'upgrade' my gear if I choose as some funds have become available. I have seen some awesome photos on the Facebook page taken on a G12 so I assume my sometimes lacklustre images is about my photography skills and not really understanding the settings properly more than the camera itself. But, i also know I can get better flexibility in settings and 18 MP (rather than 12 I think) if I was to get a housing for my EOS550D.

The Go Pros are staying, and I think the Lumix is a stayer even just using for snorkelling. But what Im wondering, is whether I upgrade to a Canon G16 set up or bite the bullet and buy a housing for my EOS550D along with the necessary strobes etc (if I sell the G12 set up all inclusive). The EOS gives me more control over settings so that is a plus, and is the G16 similar to the Lumix FT6 in being a 'point and shoot' or it is a bit more flexible. Ive tried reading reviews and comparisons online by my eyes just keep glazing over with all the information lol

Any thoughts appreciated

Sue

Hi Sue!

I guess what you need to consider is the pros vs cons of upgrading.

An SLR based system will make it easier to get better images, but it is a more complex and complicated animal. Understanding settings will still be a prerequisite to getting the images you want.

If you feel that you have exhausted the creative potential (for you) with the G12, it is definitely time to move on....

My feeling is that the G16 will probably produce marginally better images, but will not be a huge leap over the G12.

My only other thought is that if you are finding that camera settings and figuring them out is a challenge, perhaps try and get on a workshop or hire a pro photographer for a few sessions. This will also help you decide whether the upgrade path is one that you wish to embark on.

All the best

Adam

Hi Sue

If you'd like to post a couple of pics we might be help a bit on where you are going right and/or wrong on the images you're getting from the G12.

As to moving to housing your Canon, my view based on about 16-17 years worth of u/w photography, is that you can get very good results with the Canon G-series, but housing an SLR offers just so much more flexibility, accuracy, speed and quality in terms of image. But, there are lots of "buts". In general, more expensive, more gear to lug around, less flexibility in terms of (usually) having one fixed-ish view lens underwater (and it's always the macro when the whale shark hoves into view), more fiddly.

So you pays your money and you takes your chance. And, of course, it's the guy or gal behind the camera that creates the image - not the contents of the housing.

But given a choice, money no object, not worrying about volume of gear to lug: house your SLR.....

hehehe

Thanks guys - great advice from both of you. I moving over to Cairns next month and my thoughts were if I am going to upgrade, do it now so I can sell my G12 set up here in NZ rather than lug it over there, and just get the new stuff sent to my brother in Sydney...

I do like the idea of hiring a pro for some sessions - and maybe I should do the SSI specialty then I can add it to one I can teach! And, yeah Im leaning towards housing the SLR - have just sold my house and cashed up so figured I'd 'treat' myself.

That decision kinda made, the 550D is older now obviously - although the shutter count wouldnt be too high I dont think. Maybe I just think screw it and upgrade the camera now too and then I spend the money on an expensive housing for the new camera, not one that is getting a bit old....Will have to look at the specs for the newer models and compare them I guess

Get what will make you happy and what will not cause you to think in three months, "why didn't I get xyz.....".

Life is short. It's only money. Right?!??!

On the sale, why not advertise here on Wetpixel? Hard to tell how quick it might sell as these things are very price dependent (no surprise). But the G series cameras are quite popular.

I sold an identical setup Fixeye / G12 / Sea & Sea strobes system to what you have and went to an Olympus OMD-EM5 / Nauticam NA-EM5 based system.

I can safely tell you that the OMD-EM5 based system is fantastic. A massive upgrade from the G12 and yet reasonably compact and not overly complex, especially when compared to a full DSLR. From a cost perspective the Olympus OMD-EM5 / Nauticam NA-EM5 based system is less than half the cost of a full DSLR rig. I have several friends with full top of the line DSLR systems who have told me that they regret not going the Olympus OMD route instead.

For my money, I would explore those options before paying the costs for the DSLR based system.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Sue!

 

I guess what you need to consider is the pros vs cons of upgrading.

 

An SLR based system will make it easier to get better images, but it is a more complex and complicated animal. Understanding settings will still be a prerequisite to getting the images you want.

 

If you feel that you have exhausted the creative potential (for you) with the G12, it is definitely time to move on....

 

My feeling is that the G16 will probably produce marginally better images, but will not be a huge leap over the G12.

 

My only other thought is that if you are finding that camera settings and figuring them out is a challenge, perhaps try and get on a workshop or hire a pro photographer for a few sessions. This will also help you decide whether the upgrade path is one that you wish to embark on.

 

All the best

 

Adam

This would echo my advice. I think you say/admit that you are not exhausting the potential of the G12 since you see much better images taken with it. Instead of spending thousands on new gear, spend a few hundred and get some one on one advice from a pro. I did this a couple of years ago and besides the money I spent on my very first P&S housing, it was easily the most effective money I spent to improve my photography. I too did the G10 -> G12 -> G15 route and the gear made, at best, a minimal difference. When I did finally switch into a u4/3 system, honestly my images suffered for a trip or two until I learned my *new* system.

If you are having trouble taking the images you want with a G12, you'll struggle with something "better". Sure, some things become a bit easier, like focussing, but I'd really suggest you try to milk as much out of the G12 as you can and identify a real shortcoming of it that's holding you back before you spring for something new.

I suggest that you step back and decide what is broken before you try to fix things. You are unhappy with your results: is it a gear, technique or skill issue?

Start with a small set of your pics that you are unhappy with. Write down what you feel is wrong with them. Get feedback from others (this can be painful!). Then do some research and determine what caused the issue. Then figure out how to fix the issue(s).

Some personal examples:

I upgraded my camera once in order to get better (bigger!) macro performance - a 70mm Sea & Sea Dx1G to 140mm Canon G16. This solved my technical problem of my macro critters being too small.

I also was annoyed with cluttered backgrounds distracting my eye from my main subject. This was not a gear problem. I then learned to "shoot up" (skill!) and switched to strobe only lighting - no ambient light (technique).

The biggest thing you will notice if you upgrade is that there will no longer be shutter lag, other then that not that much unless you are printing very large. Sold my G12 and have been somewhat sorry every since.

Lots of good advice in this thread! I come down on the side of skills first, equipment second. I've seen great photos from all kinds of modest cameras and strobes so if you're not getting what you want out of your current setup then investment in education should pay off before procurement of something new (IMHO, etc).

One thing I would definitely not do is buy a housing for a discontinued camera. I also do not think that 18 MP versus 12 MP is a significant difference, certainly not enough to outweigh other factors. These things become obsolete rather quickly and you'll get nothing for it when (not if) you eventually upgrade.

I've had a number of camera housings over the years, casio's, canon's, olympus and now Nauticam with my GH4 and with each iteration the housing, the carryon bag, the weight has got bigger and bigger... (from under .5kg to almost 8kg!)

One thing I've noticed is that before I used to go diving and take the camera, now I go diving to take photos.

Are the photos any better? Yeah for sure. Are they that much better - not sure.

For my last holiday (with the wife) I got the Nikon AW130 - and enjoyed diving for diving again.

Just my 2c

I've had a number of camera housings over the years, casio's, canon's, olympus and now Nauticam with my GH4 and with each iteration the housing, the carryon bag, the weight has got bigger and bigger... (from under .5kg to almost 8kg!)

 

One thing I've noticed is that before I used to go diving and take the camera, now I go diving to take photos.

 

Are the photos any better? Yeah for sure. Are they that much better - not sure.

 

For my last holiday (with the wife) I got the Nikon AW130 - and enjoyed diving for diving again.l

 

Just my 2c

This all sounds eerily familiar......