Canon S70 w/ DC40 housing & Sunpak G-Flash stobe

I am looking to buy my first underwater camera set up. I like the Canon S70 a great deal (with the DC40 housing) but am very confused with all the strobe choices. A friend of mine suggested that I look at Sunpak strobes and I found that the G-Flash is rated to 148 feet (deeper than I will go). What are your thoughts on a set up like this?

With regard to the type of photographer I am:

1) I want something that is very easy to use – I have no interest in struggling with downloading the pictures or getting the strobe to fire.

2) I would like nice pictures but could care less if they are magazine quality.

3) I will use the camera mostly above water.

4) I most likely will not print too many of the pictures.

5) I would like to keep the cost for the full set up to less than $1500 USD.

When I got the canon housing for my s45, I was blown away by the great dive photos it took compared to my previous film rentals.

When I got involved and added a slave strobe the next year, it was more difficult and my results as a part timer were not as good. I found I was thinking too much about how I mucked up the photo and how to make the strobe and camera work right, and was not enjoying the dive. I only dive once, maybe twice a year; all above ground otherwise and I want to take it all in AND do some photos. If you want to really get into it, the strobe is probably best, but I found that from 12 inches to several feet away, the camera and housing were great all alone!!!

Try the camera alone first then go from there.

Hi Melissa,

Your photos will improve greatly if you start using an external strobe. It will allow you to get a LOT more color in your photos. I have to confess that I have not used a Sunpak flash, but I have used units by Sea and Sea (YS90DX), Ikelite (DS125) and Inon (Z220 and D2000). If you're looking for a budget unit, I'd check out the Sea and Sea YS25DX, Ikelite DS50 with manual controller, and Inon D180 or Inon D2000

Cheers

James

Hi Melissa,

I am very happy using internal stobe with my S30 and S50. There are lots of adjustments/settings to the Canon S series, more than you will ever use. Lately, I've been experimenting with flash power and more zoom shots. Sometimes, if I get it just right, the images are wall hangers and I don't have to tote a lot of equipment around. I like the coler rendition of the Canon better than SOME of the competition, although in shallow water, it can show too much green.

I'd suggest starting without the external strobe, you can take 70 images on a 128mbCF card, something good always comes out! In daylight topside, you will have great shots even on automatic.

Here is a link to a couple of my better shots:

http://www.wetpixel.com/PNphpBB2-viewtopic...ic-t-7571.phtml

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/member...1390_4101_1.jpg

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/photog...ries.php?s=6699

Topside autumn colors in MN:

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/photog...ries.php?s=6361

Melissa,

I have a similar setup (Canon S50 and Bonica strobe) and I would agree with James, you will get MUCH more color with an external strobe.

You have to think about this a little bit though ... an external strobe is expensive and bulky are you still going to enjoy your dive with that much bagage?

Maintenance on the UW case of the camera and on the strobe doesn't have to be neglected, are you willing to spend 15 minutes more before each day of diving putting together your photo gear?

If the answer to all those questions is YES, then, go for it, you will love it.

Buy your camera, case and strobe.

Make sure you know that you need to setup your camera for UW use with the strobe. The S70 may have an underwater seting but the S50 doesn't. You need to disable red eye reduction and preflash on the camera to have your strobe trigger at the right time.

Vlad