canon a85 help

[AmyJ]

sorry for bad typing keyboard is a bit different.

i am in mexico and need some help. shot about 200 shots yesterday at xel/ha... i think i got better pics with a disposable sigh... what am i doing wrong\=

tried underwater setting... ick... tried a variety of things... new to camera and photo stuff in general... so please speak plainly.... raw was suggested, but don't think this camera does that,.... or if so, please tell me how....

one thing.. just seemed so slow on shutter time... no not shutter i guess, but pressing the button until shutter time.. only fish i did get was fish butts... help.... my whole reason for diving is to take pretty picutres...

might spend one more day snorkelling and practicing.. have dive time scheduled on thursday

diablo divers dennis... if yo happpen across this.. we can communicate here to set up details.. or we can call...

any camera advice is greatly greatly appreciated. spent last night in tears after downloaded to laptop...

did get cool short video on a85 of ray swimming under me... thanks... about to be booted off, but will check back tonight for some of that wonderful scubabaord wisdome. love you all and hope to have pictues to post.....sigh

 

[Chocoholic]

one thing.. just seemed so slow on shutter time... no not shutter i guess, but pressing the button until shutter time.. only fish i did get was fish butts... help.... my whole reason for diving is to take pretty picutres...
any camera advice is greatly greatly appreciated. spent last night in tears after downloaded to laptop...
did get cool short video on a85 of ray swimming under me...

Hi there, I have a Olympus Camedia digital camera and it is so frustrating too because it takes a second or so before it takes the picture after I depress the shutter. I don't know a whole lot about cameras, especially underwater ones, but what I do is I set my camera to take three shots one right after the other in quick succession, then I hit the shutter just before I think I'm going to want the shot (the camera then takes three shots quickly) and i hope like crazy that I get it. I do a whole lot of deleting. It works with land animals but I haven't tried it U/W yet. That's a different story, I am having a real hard time finding an U/W housing for my camera. Good luck and safe diving.

 

[jonnythan]

What setting are you using to take pictures?

 

[alcina]

Sorry to hear things aren't going smoothly! You are finding out the hard way that there is a learning curve to a new camera - and that underwater photography isn't as easy as some make it look/sound! I have plenty of fish butts and assume I will add many more to my collection!

I am giving this advice based on my recent trip to Coz and on my use of the A70...some things may be a little different on the A85, but hopefully this will get you in the ballpark.

First, set your shutter speed for 1/250 or so. There is more than enough light down there in Coz, I found. A fast shutter will help freeze action and you shouldn't get too much blur.

I wouldn't use program/auto mode...the camera will select a shutter speed that is too slow and you will get blurry shots.

Next, try your aperture around 5.6 or so...you may have to change one or both of these settings during the dive if it looks like your photos are blown out. Remember, in most screens on digital cameras if the colours look nice and bright and well exposed they are actually OVER exposed and you need to adjust to make them a bit darker. YMMV but I use this as a good rule of thumb.

Now for shutter lag. You cannot control this, it's just one of those things you are going to have to work around when using any digital non-slr.

Prefocus by half press of the shutter then there shouldn't be any significant lag when you fully press to take a photo. This is one of the hardest things to "learn" when moving from film. You are going to have be patient and wait for the fish/creature to "pose" to take the shot. It'll be worth it.

Slow down. Even while drift diving it is possible to do this. Don't pursue the fish/creature...most of the time this will make them turn away. Have your camera & arms in position so you aren't making dramatic movements when you take a photo...this will also let you have a nice place to prefocus from.

Practice practice practice. If you can do shore dives or snorkelling or even in the swimming pool get in there with the camera. You don't have to keep your results, but practice is the only way you will get a feel for how long it takes for your camera to go from cold (no prefocus) to a worthwhile shot. Then you get to try to "time" that when you diving...it can be frustrating, but keep at it...you'll be surprised at how fast you get it!!

Good luck...I am looking forward to seeing your keepers and to hearing how things are progressing!

 

[lukeROB]

listen to alcina these are all good points.

I will add that either on land or in a pool or snorkling start using manual mode. Since you are calculating the exposure (setting shutter and aperture) this elimates the lag of the camera trying to do it. All the camera is worrying about is focus. Use the half press method it is the only way or you will never get a fish shot. Use the flash and get close (very close), be patient - one or two good shots in a dive will be far more rewarding than 50 average ones. Once you get a bit more experience try to increase this is 5 great shots in a dive - that is 50 great shots every 10 dives (your collection starts building quickly.

Turn off the AiAF (it now only focus on a centre square and doesn't stupidly try and pick what it thinks you are trying to focus on).

Now for some very important information. Don't try and shot fast moving fish straight away - look for nudibranchs, sea stars, corals, scorpianfish and other slow moving or non-moving life. Get some good shots there you will be happy and you can get the fish shots once you get a bit more experience. You do not need to take a picture of everything in a dive. Select a subject and spend 5 minutes trying to get a good shot - if uncooperative move on.

Don't be disheartened you are still enjoying great diving - so your shots werent perfect you had the experience. I had had some amazing dives and experiences which I didn't capture on camera or the shots were not first grade but who cares - these experiences will be with me forever and that is what diving is about.

Hope you have a great rest of your trip and cheer up your there to have fun!!!

 

[alcina]

Now for some very important information. Don't try and shot fast moving fish straight away - look for nudibranchs, sea stars, corals, scorpianfish and other slow moving or non-moving life. You do not need to take a picture of everything in a dive.

Good points...in Coz I saw 1000s of angel fishes of various types but only took photos of the ones that were hanging out under ledges, snacking on corals or otherwise not going anywhere in a hurry.

I have exactly two shots of eagle rays - and only one is any good - even though we saw them quite close on quite a few dives. Mostly I just enjoyed watching them glide by as I knew if I chased them they'd outrun me and all I'd get is a butt shot. And the shots that I could have taken just wouldn't have been great (in my mind's eye) so I let it pass and enjoyed the scene.

One thing I didn't take enough photos of was the scenery - there are so many cool colours and textures down there. I took a lot, but going through them now I wish I would have taken even more - especially at Palancar Wall. I never should have come up with shots remaining on my cards!!

Jealous...need to go back...

 

[AmyJ]

thanks all.. have taken notes... am off to yal/ku for the day.... diving tomorrow.. i will try new things and maybe let you know how it went tonight! thanks all so much... and please continue posting if you think of other things..... off to the water! yay! check in tonight!

 

[AmyJ]

just remembered... macro.... should use that or not... think i was told yes... will expiriment more today... fun fun fun fun fun fun fun

 

[alcina]

just remembered... macro.... should use that or not... think i was told yes... will expiriment more today... fun fun fun fun fun fun fun

I keep my camera in macro mode always unless I know I am going to concentrate on really big guys, like manta rays or whale sharks. And even then I have been known to leave it on. I believe that basically what the macro function does is tell the camera to start looking closer for your focus...and since we always want to be closer underwater, seems like a good plan of attack to me. You might find something else works for you, but I'd say my macro mode stays on 95% of the time....

 

[AmyJ]

I keep my camera in macro mode always unless I know I am going to concentrate on really big guys, like manta rays or whale sharks. And even then I have been known to leave it on. I believe that basically what the macro function does is tell the camera to start looking closer for your focus...and since we always want to be closer underwater, seems like a good plan of attack to me. You might find something else works for you, but I'd say my macro mode stays on 95% of the time....

Hi all... Well, I am hoping you have more patience and advice in store. I would like to share (cough) a few of my really pathetic photos (sigh) and hope you can tell me a bit about what I could or should do. What is the best way or place to put the photos for you to have a look at them? hope to hear from you soon.