A570IS - strobe and setting question

[Sharkdiver_Mac]

Total newbie underwater photographer here......

I bought an A570IS along with the Canon housing for a trip down to the Bahamas next month. I'm curious about the "underwater" setting - does everyone recommend that I use that being that this will be my first try at uw photography?

I've also set aside approx. $400 for a strobe - after researching, the 2 that seem to fall into my price range are the Ikelite AF-35 and the Sea&Sea YS-17. Any suggestions? 3 More questions on the stobe:

1. Do I turn off the cameras internal flash?
2. Is there a reason (other than the obvious) that I should use a left-handed vs. right handed? Didn't know that since the cameras' internal flash is on the left if that makes a difference.
3. I see alot of people on SBoard have taken some great pictures without a strobe. Do I really need it?

Any help would be very much appreciated - thanks!

 

[fel]

I am also looking for a strobe for my SD870 with canon housing and would be interested in the replies you get!

Regarding your three questions, these are my best guesses:

1) I would leave it on but use the flash diffuser
2) This would be in terms of comfort for you (the obvious), other than that I don't see a reason
3) You may not really need it to take good pictures as long as you can get very close to the subjects. I had a dive trip where I compared the pics from my still camera with internal flash with the expert's pics with a SLR camera and two strobes and it looked like we had been in two different places! It may just be my lack of ability though and I may have to play with the exposure and potentially compensate that way.

Hope this helps, have a great time in the Bahamas!

 

[diver 85]

Total newbie underwater photographer here......

I bought an A570IS along with the Canon housing for a trip down to the Bahamas next month. I'm curious about the "underwater" setting - does everyone recommend that I use that being that this will be my first try at uw photography?

I've also set aside approx. $400 for a strobe - after researching, the 2 that seem to fall into my price range are the Ikelite AF-35 and the Sea&Sea YS-17. Any suggestions? 3 More questions on the stobe:

1. Do I turn off the cameras internal flash?
2. Is there a reason (other than the obvious) that I should use a left-handed vs. right handed? Didn't know that since the cameras' internal flash is on the left if that makes a difference.
3. I see alot of people on SBoard have taken some great pictures without a strobe. Do I really need it?

Any help would be very much appreciated - thanks!

In answer to your last question I would vote no, but that's just me.......

 

[oceanbound]

Not trying to hijack your thread but I'm curious to know too and didn't want to start a new thread on the same subject.
I have the A570is as well and am looking into a strobe for it. also, what about the fish eye conversion lens. I've thought about getting that too but wondering if it would improve pictures enough to justify the purchase price.

I'm going to look into the strobes you listed, as well as the D-200 strobe.

 

[Nemrod]

As a owner and user of two 570IS systems, one in an Ikelite housing and one in the Canon housing I have to tell you to step up and get the Inon D2000 strobe. It is more money, it is a better strobe, it has more capability now and in the future, it has more power, more coverage and it works in multiple shooting modes and is of nice build quality.

No, you will not turn the camera flash Off, you will either select the camera flash to Auto and the the Inon D2000 to sTTL or Auto or you will select the camera flash to manual 1/3 power and the Inon D2000 to auto or manual or turn the camera flash OFF and leave the Inon set On, the Inon will not fire, you will then expose for natural light. Then as soon as you select the camera flash back to Auto or Manual and take a pic the Inon is ready to go. If you set the camera to flash Forced then you can operate the Inon in sTTL. There is a little more to it that above and it gets a bit confusing as to which mode you prefer.

I shoot in AE which is auto exposure, camera flash set to 1/3 power in Manual and the Inon on Auto. Camera Manual exposure is only one clcik from the AE position and so I can quickly click the camera to Manual and then set the Inon to match. I can also turn the camera flash off and shoot natural light without a lot of button pushing.

I do use the UW camera setting, all it does is reset the color balance which you could probably do better in Adobe so I may stop shooting in the mode.

Yes, you need a strobe for your close ups. For wide angle shooting and longer distance you will shoot natural light or use the strobe as partial fill.

If you get the D2000 also get the diffuser to spread the light to 110 degrees. I also highly recommend the Inon handle, tray, AD adapter and either the Inon 105AD WAL or preferably the Inon 165AD FE for amazing ultra wide angle photos and infinite focus from the port to infinity.

On every camera I have owned, several Nikonos and Ikelite housed 35 MM and both my 570s I have always used the handle and strobe to the left.

N

 

[oceanbound]

Thanks for the great information. It's helped me a bunch. I researched several hours last night on the various strobes and prices. I know I'm leaning toward the D2000. I found a package deal on two sites I'm trying to decide on. They are $100 difference and it may be due to arm and tray.

What about the fisheye lens? have you found it beneficial? I'm new to UW photography and still trying to decide on some things. I know when shooting the older film DSL's on land, I had various lenses that I thought I wanted and ended up rarely using.

 

[Nemrod]

I love the fish eye lens but I like super wide angle photos. It can also do some nice close up since it has focus right up to the dome. I use it so far about 90% of the time, the photo I included above is with the Inon 165 FE lens. Not trying to sell you on one but I love mine but you realize the 165FE will not work with the Ikelite housing but will with the Canon housing, the 100 WAL with the dome port will however I do believe work with the Ikelite housing.

Inon and 570 link:

http://inonamerica.com/news.php?news_id=87&pagenum=3&newscat=0

Our very own Captain with Nikonos II:

N

 

[RoyN]

Not to hijack this thread, but does anybody know can the UWL-105AD lens fit the Ikelite housing or there is an adapter for it? I really don't wanna get another wide angle lens but I want a better housing for the A570.

 

[oceanbound]

I have the Canon Housing already. I've been using it just not happy with my photos yet but I'm guessing that's just going to take time as I've only made about 15 dives so I had been concentrating on breathing and buoyancy more than photos
Are you saying you like the wide angle better than the fish eye? As right now I will only be getting one of them, maybe later the other.
and I've read some of the problems some are having with the Ikelite housing and I don't have any problems with the Canon other than when I push the button to take the photo, on land you would push it half way for the camera to focus but UW it does not seem to do that. But again, possible operator error (could be not used to the feel of the gloves)

and Sharkdiver, again, I apologize for hijacking your thread. really wasn't meaning too.

 

[Nemrod]

Not to hijack this thread, but does anybody know can the UWL-105AD lens fit the Ikelite housing or there is an adapter for it? I really don't wanna get another wide angle lens but I want a better housing for the A570.

Nope, you will need the Inon Type II 100 WAL 67 mm threaded lens. I wish I could get the AD lenses to fit as I have both the Canon and Ikelite housings but short of custom machining a new port and adapter it will not work, the Inon AD lenses will not mate to the 67 mm threaded Ikelite port. :depressed:

IMO, the AD165FE is far superior to the 105 WAL. I have noted minor vignetting with the AD105 WAL. I much prefer shooting with my 165FE. I guess I will have to spring the bucks and get the Inon 100 WAL and dome port converter for my Ikelite housing, drats.

The AD series:

N