A620 - Flash vs. No Flash

[huskychemist]

In my meanderings on this site, and with advice from folks about underwater photography, one of the common "words of wisdom" I hear is to avoid using the flash if at all possible.

So this weekend, I tried an experiment, taking some pictures both with and without the flash. I've attached an example of each...for side-by-side comparison. (I hope the attachment works.)

My memory tells me this clam was in maybe 40 fsw, Puget Sound...so obviously, in this case, using the flash is the way to go. It seemed to me that very few of my pictures turned out without the flash except for a couple that were very near the surface...

So...in using a flash...backsplatter is the issue, and strobes help? Guess I need to start saving!

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

[Kirgan]

My memory tells me this clam was in maybe 40 fsw, Puget Sound...so obviously, in this case, using the flash is the way to go. It seemed to me that very few of my pictures turned out without the flash except for a couple that were very near the surface...

So...in using a flash...backsplatter is the issue, and strobes help? Guess I need to start saving!
Thanks.

I have just recently gotten into underwater photography with an A620 as well & I have done similar experiments. I had a lot of backscatter issues when I used the internal flash by itself. However, when I use the diffuser that came with my Canon housing, they have been turning out fairly well - as long as I am within a couple of feet. Visibility has been fairly decent off of Miami Beach and the Keys for me (40-70ft)From what I have read, I am sure if I got an external strobe it would be even better, but until I get a little better with what I have now, I am satisfied with how my flash/diffuser combination is working.

I am currently using the Shutter Priority setting - starting with 1/160 and altering as needed. I haven't tried using manual white balance yet, or full manual, but I will be experimenting with each of those in time. I'll probably start experimenting with manual white balance next time. I want to try all the options out to learn more about how to take good pictures.

I'm looking forward to read what others have to say about this as well.

--Mike

 

[herman]

If your keeping your shots within a couple of feet with a solid backround like the photos you have here, then I would say use the flash. I got some really good close up and macro shots with my 5050's internal flash before I got my strobe. More than 2 feet and backscatter begins to become a problem. If you want to shoot pictures of large schools of fish or shots with lots of open water, its either a strobe and arm or no flash at all.....or spending many many hours with photoshop removing the backscatter, something I am getting pretty good at.
Also, go ahead and start learning to the use manual setting, sooner or later you will want to do pictures that only manual will allow you to do.

 

[havnmonkey]

Macro, 2ft or less use flash. Wider/farther shots require a judgement of available light. White balance will help take the green/blue out of the shots.

 

[Enigmatic]

With the A620, the manual white balance is the way to go-- quick and easy. Take a small white slate with you and use it to calibrate. I rarely use the flash unless I'm trying to get really vivid colors on something (using auto-white balance with flash), or if there's just not enough ambient light at all. Even then I always use the diffuser on the Canon U/W case.

 

[Jamdiver]

If it helps the last few threads that i've posted with pics in it, have been taken using manual white balance only, no flash..

 

[animian2002]

I have tried underwater photography for the 1st time at sipadan last week and these are the result of my experiment.

The 1st picture is taken with flash and diffuser and the 2nd picture without flash.
As you can see the colors in the 1st picture is not even, the bottom right hand corner is quite dark.

Appreciate advices on how to improve and is strobe the only way out to get better pictures ?

btw is there any macro lens for A620 ?

 

[ocrmaster]

animian2002

I suggest picking up a PADI Digital Photography book w/ white balance slate.

It helped me a lot to improve my shots.

How deep were you when you took these images?
Was it a cloudy or Sunny day at the time?
Did you use Manual Settings or Auto or SCR mode w/ Fish mode?

Do you have a Strobe yet?

 

[animian2002]

animian2002

I suggest picking up a PADI Digital Photography book w/ white balance slate.

It helped me a lot to improve my shots.

How deep were you when you took these images?
Was it a cloudy or Sunny day at the time?
Did you use Manual Settings or Auto or SCR mode w/ Fish mode?

Do you have a Strobe yet?

Thanks for your suggestion, i will consider picking up the course

I took these images at a depth of 15m right below Seaventures dive resort (Oil Rig)
and last week, sipadan was quite cloudy so hardly any sunlight to penetrate into water but in this case, there is no way sunlight could penetrate because i was right underneath the oil rig and there is quite alot of silt too

I have used Aperture Priority to take these images.

No, I have yet to get a strobe yet

 

[ocrmaster]

In that case you will definitely need to use a flash w/ diffuser.

I would also suggest taking higher resolution images.

Quoting from the Padi Digital book. You can down size a high resolution image to a smaller
image and retain the quality. But when converting from a low resolution to a bigger image... it wont look good.

I suggest picking up a 2GB SD card www.newegg.com is have sales. I got mine for $40.00 w/ $20.00 rebate 150X 25MB transfer rate and free shipping.

I take all my shots at the highest possible resolution. And take about 5 shots of each subject.