A630 Possible U/W Setups?

[reggiehg]

Hi guys,

I've checked out many of the related posts (thanks to all the posters), but I'm still confused as to my available options for my A630:

If I use the Canon WP-DC8 u/w housing:

1. Can I still use add-on lenses u/w? (The posts I've seen don't seem categorical about this.)
2. Will it "really" matter if I can't? I've checked out jamdiver's gallery, & his shots look great, but are ALL those shots from the standard A610 lens? (Is there a way to know that just by browsing the gallery w/o pm-ing jamdiver?) If I could compare u/w wide-angle vs. standard shots, that would be ideal .
3. Are there other POPULAR strobe options other than Ikelite? Like can I use the HF-DC1 flash accessory u/w somehow?

If I use the Ikelite #6140.64 u/w housing:

1. Do I have other options than W-20 wide-angle Ikelite lens?

My basic concern is quality and price: will choosing the canon housing (about $250) SEVERELY limit my macro options compared to the ikelite housing and wide-angle lens combination (about $750)?

TIA guys,

Reggie

 

[The Mushroom King]

I want to echo what Reggie is asking. I picked up a A640 and am wondering where to go next... which housing to get? and Sea & Sea strobes seem popular in the area I'm in. Any advice would be greatly appreciated !!!
Cheers

 

[Vassilis Vlachopoulos]

Hi everyone,

Taking advantage of the post, I need some help. I am about to buy a A630 or A640 and I am being told that, for u/w usage, I should opt for the A630, on the ground that the 10 mpix of the 640 are too many for the small - 1.8 inch sensor. Apparently, I will get "noise" on high ISO settings in dark / deep environement.

Does any of you have experience on that issue ?

Thanks in advance

 

[alcina]

Good questions! I'll pop in my two cents.

1 - Can I use add on lenses with the Canon housing? Maybe. They do have the oval ports but I have heard rumour that Ed_Dman modified something to make it work for macros. I have my doubts about wide angle.

Only you can decide if what the Ikelite provides is worth the extra cost.

2 - Do I have to use wet mate lenses to get good photos? No. These are perfectly capable units on their own. Adding lenses gives you more flexibility on a dive and gives these cameras more room to grow as you develop your interest. They aren't vital. The camera itself will give you a good range of shooting options. Only you can decide if the added expense is worth it.

3 - What are my strobe options?Sea&Sea and Inon are as popular as Ikelite. All three companies make very high quality equipment. There are cheaper options, such as Fantasea's Nano, but strobes are never where I would try to save money. Photography is light so giving yourself the best possible light source just makes good sense to me. I don't know anyone who has bought cheap and hasn't upgraded pretty durned quickly, so to me it's false economy as you've now had to buy twice.

A good strobe will move with you system to system and as you grow in your photo skills/interests. Inon 240, for example, let's you use a fibre optic cable with your compact but also allows you to hard wire a synch cord for when you move to a system with a bulkhead (some higher end compacts and dslrs).

You can start with no strobe at all. Most people do. Learn how your camera works. Learn about white balance. Learn to shoot with your camera, not against it. These cameras are capable of very nice images without any extra bells and whistles - you just need to learn what works.

TMK - the above should help with your questions, too.

VV - MP is not everything. Cramming more MP onto a small sensor isn't going to help much. MP is a great marketing tool. In reality, I'd go with the camera with less noise and the other features I deem important. Noise is a real bummer so anything you can do to reduce that is a good thing.

 

[The Mushroom King]

the ground that the 10 mpix of the 640 are too many for the small - 1.8 inch sensor. Apparently, I will get "noise" on high ISO settings in dark / deep environement.

I had heard that too. But I read a few reviews and [FONT=&quot]comparisons[/FONT] online and it seems its a pretty small difference. Check this review.
In the end I went for the 640. So far its a sweet little camera, but have not yet taken it u/w.

I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

the macro feature (on land anyways) works really well. I'm more concerned with how the wide angle works, and worry that with the canon case, I may limit my options....