Need some advise with my G11

[LeeParrish]

Nice shots (except for the bluish fish picture )! And don't be sorry that we don't agree, it's valuable that we can discuss the issues and hopefully show both sides of the topic. From our discussion I've started to think about different ideas and it may help me change my future purchases. I really look forward to seeing what you can do with your new setup.

I don't agree on the G10/G11 being such a high end camera they "need" a high end housing or it is crippled but that may be because I chose the G11 over my current SD770 for a few reasons and none of them were so I could immediately buy a housing that takes wide angle lenses (yet ). I moved to the G11 for less low light noise, more manual control, ability to shoot RAW, and a few other more minor areas that my SD770 didn't offer. And from that I've seen so far it hits the marks in all of these areas. I'm amazed at how much better the low light performance is over my SD770. I was test shooting at ISO 400 - 800 last night and it looks at least as good, maybe better at the same distance and lighting as my SD770 at ISO 80. And if I ever get the desire for a more flexible housing, I have at least 3 others to choose from. I don't see spending a significant amount more a housing right now as something I can justify since I'm not ready to buy the associated lenses yet either. My next purchase is likely to be a better strobe. And then I'm hoping to spend a little money on a trip to Fiji next year.

I haven't experienced any of the button issues you mentioned with my Canon SD770 housing after taking it on 50+ dives. Maybe I'm lucky, or just stay shallow enough to not make the issue, and I'm sure I'd beel differently if I had problems, but we all tend to give our own experiences more weight than others.

 

[eazy11523]

WOW!
Well thanks for all the info everyone. I think I will just get the Canon Case. On a good year I will maybe get 2 diving trips so it should be enough for me to learn with. I'm just starting my diving and I've only had the G11 for about a month so it is all new to me. I think an extra battery is a good idea but should I get weights too? Maybe a strap? Thanks for all the advise again everyone. This site is sweet
R-Dizz

 

[skynscuba]

WOW!
Well thanks for all the info everyone. I think I will just get the Canon Case. On a good year I will maybe get 2 diving trips so it should be enough for me to learn with. I'm just starting my diving and I've only had the G11 for about a month so it is all new to me. I think an extra battery is a good idea but should I get weights too? Maybe a strap? Thanks for all the advise again everyone. This site is sweet
R-Dizz

I'd see how buoyant it is in the tub/pool when you get the case, then decide about weights. For my S50/Canon case, I used the simple wrist strap that came with it (or with the camera -- I can't remember). It floated just a bit, so I would often just let go of it and let it trail off my wrist.

 

[Puffer Fish]

The Canon housings are fine if you can deal with the severe limitations. That and the stuck buttons and seeping mold lines. I don't really see buying an advanced capability Porsche camera and then sticking it in a Pinto housing that limits what you can do. But, then most people just like to take the nice bluish fish pics and shoot nice snails so for that, I guess. N

Nemrod... shame on you. I have several hundred dives on a Canon housing... no leaks, no stuck buttons...and I am not known for bluish fish pics (guilty on the Nudi's though).

Over the dives (most of which were fairly deep) and thousands of images, the springs have gotten a bit soft, so it would no longer work below about 105 ft, but it has been a very reliable piece of gear.

If you are taking fish pictures... it works as well as any housing

 

[Nemrod]

I think the Canon and other OEM housings are a good value especially when used with lesser cameras. I am only thinking, and admit I am most likely completely wrong and defer to Puffer and others , that the G11 class advanced camera is not going to be used to it's fullest advantage without an equally advanced housing.

But, really, do what you can afford, if it leaks or for whatever reason you are not happy, life is full of hard learned lessons. And, sometime we luck out. A high dollar housing will not guarantee a dry camera (but you would hope )

I am just into getting very close, using external strobes and the getting close and yet preserving a large field of view and depth of field and to me that spells wide angle lens, the wider the better, the closer the better.

N

 

[Divingguy]

Do also get the weights. I use all 4 weights with the G10 and Canon case with no flash. I have a retractor attached to the case, and a D ring on my Ranger.

 

[Puffer Fish]

I think the Canon and other OEM housings are a good value especially when used with lesser cameras. I am only thinking, and admit I am most likely completely wrong and defer to Puffer and others , that the G11 class advanced camera is not going to be used to it's fullest advantage without an equally advanced housing.

But, really, do what you can afford, if it leaks or for whatever reason you are not happy, life is full of hard learned lessons. And, sometime we luck out. A high dollar housing will not guarantee a dry camera (but you would hope )

I am just into getting very close, using external strobes and the getting close and yet preserving a large field of view and depth of field and to me that spells wide angle lens, the wider the better, the closer the better.

N

In general, I happen to agree with you, but most of my diving is deep, with typically very limited vis. About half my pictures are in vis under 15 ft. You need a good camera, lights, arms to position them correctly and a bit of working distance (around 18 inches) to get clear looking images...the canon case works great (as would any other case)..

I don't get to take many general area images... so wide angle is not much use.

But, given the low cost of the canon case, if one does make a mistake, it is one of the least expensive ones you can make.

 

[Nemrod]

Photographs taken in same waters as photos in post above simply as a point of reference, a different approach, a wide angle perspective and solution to the low viz and dark, green water.

I did not quite frame this as I wanted, I wanted my wife in it more, off Destin, Hayward, 90 feet:

Natural reef off Destin, 85 feet:

On the tanks off Destin, 70 feet:

Tug Louise off Destin, 65 feet:

Heading back to the Whaler:

In my opinion, no matter what camera, this most important thing(s) are a wide angle lens and a good external strobe. A camera and housing that cannot use these pieces of equipment is of little value to me, simply my opinion. The dirtier the water, the dimmer, darker deeper, the more important a wide angle lens becomes.



N

 

[diver 85]

Do also get the weights. I use all 4 weights with the G10 and Canon case with no flash. I have a retractor attached to the case, and a D ring on my Ranger.

And for me, I say go the other way-----I have over 200 dives with my Canon housing(with it's supplied lanyard) , never with weights........Had over 700 dives with my (-)buoyant MM II with 20 mm WAL & ext. strobe, would take the +over -bouyancy anyday now.......I'm always reminded that God made chocolate & vanilla........lol...In reality, I think it helps me on 'holding still' on some shots---& to me, that's THE key to getting good, clearer closeup shots ie no movement & the critical trigger pull time....


btw. there's actually a post somewhere here on SB where a diver 'lost' his A570---somehow---while on a dive....He didn't have any weights on it & after a little searching, they found it--floating on top of the water...maybe another reason for not weighting it down??.....

 

[Puffer Fish]

And for me, I say go the other way-----I have over 200 dives with my Canon housing(with it's supplied lanyard) , never with weights........Had over 700 dives with my (-)buoyant MM II & ext. strobe, would take the +over -bouyancy anyday now.......I'm always reminded that God made chocolate & vanilla........lol...In reality, I think it helps me on 'holding still' on some shots---& to me, that's THE key to getting good, clearer closeup shots ie no movement & the critical trigger pull time....


btw. there's actually a post somewhere here on SB where a diver 'lost' his A570---somehow---while on a dive....He didn't have any weights on it & after a little searching, they found it floating--on top of the water...maybe another reason for not weighting it down??.....

I prefer floaty also...but anything works as long as I can hold and shoot with one hand.