Basic settings for new G10?

[WOODMAN]

I just got my new G10, and am playing around with how to set it up. I have upgraded from my old C5050 (sniff..), and I had the benefit of a detailed settings guide from Splashdown Divers when I set that camera up. I was wondering if there was a similiar guide floating about for the G10? I would especially like to program the custom settings, and the manual is not too clear on all this. (Yes, I know the purists would have me sit in Manual mode for everything, but then why did they put the custom mode settings on there? I wish I had the opportunity to take it out every week and really learn the ins and outs of the settings, but 2 or 3 times a year is the best I can do from up here.) I am operating this unit from an Ikelite case with two wired in DS125 strobes attached, if that helps any. Many thanks for your help, and I am gonna run over to Spashdown Divers now and see if they have anything for the G10. (I should have done that first, I guess, but then I am so used to coming here for advice, you know.:kiss2 Woody

 

[Gilligan]

I am no expert on the G10 but this is what I do with mine. I shoot everything in the "M" mode, best quality JPEG setting. I don't shoot RAW.

I set the Custom 1 setting for strobe shots.
The white balance on cloudy, the F stop on F4 for starters,the shutter speed on 1/125 and the lens to "Macro". Since you are using a slave strobes set the internal strobe on the minimum output (assuming it will fire the slave strobes). The ISO is on 80 and you can't save that in the custom settings in the "M" mode. You have to turn the dial on top of the housing. After you have selected all these settings press the menu "button" and scroll up one to the "save settings" and choose "Custom 1"

I set Custom 2 for non-strobe shots.
Move the ISO dial to 100 or 200 depending on available ambient light. Higher ISO settings will result in a lot of digital noise. Set the white balance to custom (not to be confused with camera custom settings), F stop to 2.8, shutter speed to 1/80, lens to infinity (not macro). After you have selected all these settings press the menu "button" and scroll up one to the "save settings" and choose "Custom 2"

This will allow you to quickly switch back and forth between strobe and non-strobe shots. You have to remember to change the ISO settings and use a white card to calibrate the custom white balance in the Custom 2 settings. Otherwise use the Aquarium setting for white balance in the Custom 2 settings. Calibrating the white balance will yield far better results.

 

[Puffer Fish]

With a G10.. shoot raw or raw with Jpeg... resolution is better...

I shoot almost completely in some form of automatic.. but it varies.

However, keep this in mind.. the best images are at an F stop of around 5.....while using F8 gives better depth of field.. you loose resolution.

I have one position setup with basic auto...for macro... forced strobe...lens zoomed out to around an equivilent of 100mm.

I have one (appeture priority) set at F8

I have one (shutter) set a 1/500.

Only shoot ISO 80, unless it is a wide angle image.

Most of the time, I use the zoom for framing...to keep some distance from the object and to use roughly the same amount of light..

Strobes all the way to the side (not up)...turned down to provide reasonable auto adjustment.

You get something that looks like this:

If you go for non-macro.. the strobes have to move out...but as I dive in limited vis most of the time, don't take many images like that.

Having the strobe way out and pointed back in does run the risk of shadows... but even when that happens... it can be managed.. as in this image:

I also take a few images without the strobe, like this:

 

[CFordtran]

Hey, I didn't have a RAW choice. Are we talking PowerShot G10 or did you download something? Charlie

 

[FrankPro1]

Hey, I didn't have a RAW choice. Are we talking PowerShot G10 or did you download something? Charlie

Press the Function/Set button and scroll to the bottom option where you pick the image resolution. RAW will be the last option on the far right.

 

[promocop]

Can you set the C button to preset for 'movie mode' And how does the mode white balance?