Author Topic: Im about to buy ...  (Read 4060 times)

Im about to buy ...
on: July 10, 2009, 11:37:02 AM
Canon G10 Camera only 4 months old, still boxed.

Canon Leather Camera Case.

Canon G 10 Underwater Housing (upto 40m)

Epoque 230DS Underwter Strobe and Flexiarm

for £450 from someone at work to take with my to the Maldives.

I really like the look of the G10 and the case and flash should allow me to get some really nice unverwater shots.

Anyone got an opinions on the above before i take the plunge?
Formerly sexytw

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  • Offline Rivkid

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Re:Im about to buy ...
Reply #1 on: July 10, 2009, 15:10:41 PM
take the plunge - your slaying me...


Seems like a bargain. Whys he selling at such a loss when its so new?
Career, Wife, Mortgage... my sig was better when it listed guitars and PC's and stuff!

Im about to buy ...
Reply #2 on: July 10, 2009, 15:48:12 PM
Hes trying to offset the cost of a SLR underwater case.

I think hes fairly flush and looking for an easy sale.

Im not sure i need the flash and have no idea about underwatre photography but figure i dont want to miss getting photos of underwater stuff.

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  • Offline zpyder

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Re:Im about to buy ...
Reply #3 on: July 10, 2009, 20:17:31 PM
Hmm. Out of interest how dived up are you? Done a fair bit, or is it something you learnt to do a few years back and occasionally dive whilst on holiday?

I ask as your flash needs will depend on your diving ability/experience. The below is basically because you say you have no experience with UW photography, I have a little, but in no means a lot, but it might help.

If youre well into your diving, experienced/familiar with all your kit, taking the flash would be something new to play with underwater. If youre only an occasional diver and not familiar with your kit, youre better off not taking the flash.

Youll find that the flash on the camera will be more than enough for getting decent shots of 9/10 things, and for the other 1/10 shots itll only offer better shots if youve had the practice with it that comes from using it regularly. Theyre big and can get in the way, and can be an extra faff-factor on a dive. The flexi arm is there to offset the flash, as usually the sea isnt that clear so using the cameras flash results in all the particles backscattering in your shot, offsetting it reduces this. Also the flash is of course usually brighter than the cameras own, and considering how dark it gets in diving, this is a bonus. However one option is, if you have one, to use a decent dive torch. It can get a bit fiddly as obviously you need to hold camera and torch, but at the same time the chances are you probably wont need that extra light so it frees you up a little.

Obviously before you take it with you on the trip itd be ideal to test the housing out without the camera on a dive that goes to the max depth you anticipate going to. This helps you get used to the housing as well as double checking the seals.

Depending on the camera, you might have an ability to manually set white balance. You might find this useful, but again is a bit of a faff. Basically you need to take a small (A5 or bigger) white card/slate, with a small black strip of tape on it, on the dive. At the depth youre taking photos, you access the WB config menu, and calibrate the WB focusing the camera on the card. It helps eliminate the blue or green tint aquascape photos can get.

For most photos photoshop can really help, its amazing what can be done in terms of white balance and noise/plankton reduction after the trip.

The only other thing sounds common sense, but its amazing how often it comes true. The priority on the dive is safety and not trashing the reef/wreck your on to get a good photo. If youre drifting past your subject etc, let it go, or take your time and come back. Dont just empty your BCD and go smashing into the coral, or other divers for that matter. This isnt meant to be a lecture, its just amazing how really good divers can become so bad when given a camera, something I noticed on a dive club trip to the red sea, with people colliding with each other and almost kneeling on fire coral etc.

Hope that helps. My opinion is that unless youre dived up with 50+ dives etc, youll enjoy the dives more and take better photos without the flash. And as annoying as it is, the one time you could take your time to practice using it - snorkelling, is the one time when you really wont need it!

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Re:Im about to buy ...
Reply #5 on: July 13, 2009, 11:26:06 AM
Thanks guys, especially Zpyder.

Youre spot on with my experience, learnt years ago and havent been diving since. I think youre right about the flash too, with no underwater photo experience it will probably just make things harder.

I still going to buy the package (he wont sell seperately) but probably look at selling on the flash kit, hopefully get around £200 back for it, although im not sure where the best place to sell it will be.

The main use will be just snorkling and beach shots, waterproof compacts are too pricey for the quality of shots, DSLRs are obviously too pricey for waterproof housings so a good compact + housing is imo my best option.

Anyone want to buy a flash? :-D
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re:Im about to buy ...
Reply #6 on: July 13, 2009, 11:35:39 AM
No problem, if you have any other questions feel free to ask/pm.

If its mainly snorkelling and beach shots it might be worth looking at the Olympus SW range. Theyre shock/cold/water proof (to 10m on the high end one). You can get a housing for them to take them below 10m, but I think they are pretty good for a take anywhere/do anything camera. No worries when on the beach RE water and sand, you can fit it in your beach shorts, something you cant do with a housing, go swimming etc. You only need the housing for a proper dive then, and even then if its a shore <10m dive youre fine without, though it is a really weird feeling to be diving with a camera without a housing!

Re:Im about to buy ...
Reply #7 on: July 13, 2009, 12:52:13 PM
I did look at the high end SWs with 10m depth. They are tempting but from the reviews and price point it seems you sacrifice some of the picture quality for the ruggedness, add to that id have to buy a case for taking it on proper dives I though I might as well get a high end compact and a case.

Im also partially hoping the G10 will fend off my craving for a DSLR for a while.

Thanks again for the advice
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re:Im about to buy ...
Reply #8 on: July 13, 2009, 13:03:43 PM
Tbh I dont think the picture quality is half as bad as the reviews make out. Ok for the money you can get cameras which have slightly better quality, but Id say quality wise the Olympus is standard. The other cameras which offer better quality are those few brands/models which are pretty much at the peak of performance.

I mean, I dunno about you but I dont think this image is bad:



And a non-macro:


Im not trying to put you off of the G10, Im just a bit of an advocate for the Olympus, as I think the reviews are a little unfair, and get the impression some of them are basically copying what other reviewers have said, without really justifying themselves. The only real bad point is that the paintwork on the front does come off, but at the same time Im not bothered as no other camera would fair any better given how its used, and it makes it less nickable.

Given that you say you havent dived that much since qualifying, it might have been worth a consider. I dunno what the dimensions of the G10 are, but the Olympus is pocket sized and really transportable. So what if you need to get a housing for it for proper dives, you will hardly use the housing if you dont dive that much, and then for everything else its ready. Though if you dont need the ruggedness, as you say, the G10 might help stem the Slr craving...for a while ;)

Im about to buy ...
Reply #9 on: July 14, 2009, 13:54:31 PM
They are really nice pictures.

However id kind of made up my mind. Ive bought it now.

Havent had a chance to play with it yet.
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