Canon G? S? Keep the Sealife? Help...

[cvchief]

Ok, here is my issue. I have a Sealife 1200 with Sealife strobe. The missus is using a Canon SD850IS in a Canon box, no strobe. We dive Cozumel. I fiddle with Lightroom for mine, but am not particularly an expert.

So often she gets much better photos than me. And I like the one button white balance. My best are never as crisp as hers and ALWAYS need WB.

In addition to the strobe, I have the sealife wide angle lens, which I use alot and seems to have approve things.

I tried using the Sealife camera on the land. The pictures didn't look good to me so I don't bother with it outside the case.

So I am thinking I want to transition from the Sealife to a Canon, cuz I have always kinda liked Canon and had good results.

I have read a bunch and am left confused.

I was thinking of maybe trying to pick up a G12 used? and then maybe shop for a used case? I do not want a crazy expensive big rig. I like the sealife hanging in the crook of my elbow while I am looking for the next shot.

Then I read stuff on here and think maybe I should be looking towards a S110 or S120?

Do I care about the TTL thing? I mean I might start with using the Sealife strobe and then later buy a strobe for that TTL thing.

I do like trying to take photos of macro stuff. My blennies never come out crisp.

What about this RAW thing? Will it help with light room for the amateur? Do I have to be GOOD at photo editing for it to matter?

Then some more reading, I wonder if I should have try adding a LED light to my Sealife to improve the focusing before I dump it?

Where is the 'next' step for me underwater photography? Should I just hold off until I am ready to blow 1500-2k or what?

 

[ShootingUnderwater.com]

Canon vs Sealife

CVChief, are you shooting in automatic mode or using manual mode? If you're using an automatic/program mode to shoot, this could be why your photos are not "crisp" or tack sharp where you need them to be.

You can't go wrong with the G series, they work very similar to an SLR with plenty of creative control. The ability to shoot RAW means that your image is captured and stored with all pixel information, uncompressed. Jpg images are compressed which doesn't give you a digital negative to work on post-processing.

In lightroom, you can process your images with a few simple steps with a RAW image. The result is better than processing a jpg. We can talk about this subject for some time, there's a lot to know if you wanted to.

I'm not saying that shooting jpg is bad if all you want is to look at your pictures on the computer or show your friends but if you want to make any corrections related to exposure, you should shoot RAW. I shoot both, my SLR allows me to do that. I use the small jpg to share online if I don't want to correct anything and the RAW goes into LR and I work on my favorites.

TTL is useful but not necessary. If you are already accomplished at strobe placement, you don't need TTL - it's a preference.
~R

 

[cvchief]

Canon vs Sealife

CVChief, are you shooting in automatic mode or using manual mode? If you're using an automatic/program mode to shoot, this could be why your photos are not "crisp" or tack sharp where you need them to be.

You can't go wrong with the G series, they work very similar to an SLR with plenty of creative control. The ability to shoot RAW means that your image is captured and stored with all pixel information, uncompressed. Jpg images are compressed which doesn't give you a digital negative to work on post-processing.

In lightroom, you can process your images with a few simple steps with a RAW image. The result is better than processing a jpg. We can talk about this subject for some time, there's a lot to know if you wanted to.

I'm not saying that shooting jpg is bad if all you want is to look at your pictures on the computer or show your friends but if you want to make any corrections related to exposure, you should shoot RAW. I shoot both, my SLR allows me to do that. I use the small jpg to share online if I don't want to correct anything and the RAW goes into LR and I work on my favorites.

TTL is useful but not necessary. If you are already accomplished at strobe placement, you don't need TTL - it's a preference.
~R

As far as I know the Sealife doesn't do manual? I know it won't white balance. It just has like blue or green settings for underwater. The missus is using our old digital elph and with her slate and one buttons she can white balance at depth, which seems to me to make it easier to touch up later. I seem to get lots of blue and lightroom sometime can bring in around and sometime it just doesn't come out natural. I also never have the crisp focus she does.

Well, maybe I will go looking for G16 and a case to start. Might try to get by with the Sealife flash for a bit and see what happens. I am interested in trying this RAW thing and see what that does for me. I like the idea of a 'few simple steps' as that is right down my alley.

Thanks for the insight!

 

[DreaminOfSand&Salt]

CV,

You saw my pictures (I am no professional,but the G15 has got some of the best pics I have ever gotten with not much work ) the RAW does make a big diff. in what you can do post processing - also what I did with my G15 was to set both of the custom buttons to copied settings I found around the web ... one for macro and one for wide angle - made it really easy. I have not had the sealife so can't give you a good comparison, but I do like the G15 over my previous UW Cameras - Brian

 

[ShootingUnderwater.com]

If you're looking for a good package deal on the G series, check out our site. I believe Fantasea has decent package deals. I had the G10 and used it for topside (happy-snappy) shots and between-dive shots while scooting around on a reef. It did a GREAT job.

 

[cvchief]

DofSS,

I might be hitting you up for those settings. On the Fantasea housing, can I run the little fiberoptic line from the Sealife flash in there? It is just kind of a fiber optic with the end cut off to catch the light of the internal. The sealife has a little face piece around the lens that holds it in the right spot.

 

[KeithG]

From my perspective, you have already answered your own question. You appear to be limited by the technical capabilities of your camera and strobe.

So the correct answer is "upgrade".

The hard part is "to what?".

This will require more thought and questions as one size does not fit everyone. I ignore RAW since I never post process (too lazy...). Others live by post processing. I mostly shoot macro, others not so much.

So instead of asking "which camera is best?" I suggest you work up a prioritized list of features and functions that are right for you and then go find a camera that best matches.

P.s. regarding re-use of your sealife strobe: does it have technical limitations that mean it is unsuitable to be included as part of your upgraded rig?

 

[crabbyfiddler]

If you don't want a terribly complicated camera, the G series gives the option of greater user control without getting too complex. I love my G12. The man has a huge expensive rig, and sometimes we talk about upgrading mine to something more complex, but we always come back to "why mess up a good thing".

I would make one suggestion if you get a G series. Go for a better housing than the Canon. They have a single clip that gets wonky pretty easily, and aren't nearly as reliable as an Ikelite, etc.

 

[DreaminOfSand&Salt]

DofSS,

I might be hitting you up for those settings. On the Fantasea housing, can I run the little fiberoptic line from the Sealife flash in there? It is just kind of a fiber optic with the end cut off to catch the light of the internal. The sealife has a little face piece around the lens that holds it in the right spot.

Cv,

Yes, the fantasea can accept stripped or plugged fiber optic cable into the flash cover - while you're looking I also got the fantasea macro lens with adapter ... I have the settings written down if you need them.

 

[cvchief]

Using the law of auction sniper knows best, it has decided I need the G16.

Giff, Thanks. I read and read and read. With my limited knowledge of 'real' photography 'stuff', it sounded like the Sony RX thing might have been the best in the point and shoot crowd, but the missus uses a Canon that I used to use. I have used a Canon at work and I just feel a little brand loyalty with them. I have just kind of liked them over the years. The controls look the same too. I am trying to minimize the hit overall though. If I bought a 4 million dollar rig, I would have to study all that camera stuff and who wants to do that. That being said, I want that sea and sea fancy strobe. I doubt I am going to buy it soon, but I want it. As I think I said, often the missus gets a nicer photo from a Canon elph in a Canon box with NO strobe than I getting, so maybe I am have not out grown the stobe yet?

Crabby, you sort of nailed me. I want better but not crazy or complicated. I didn't take photography in school and I am pretty sure f-stop is where you get on the bus to go g-stop? I don't know exactly what the posy setting does, but I use it when I try to take a picture of a blenny. However I did buy light room and I have had a little success making things better. Do you use lenses at all?

DoSS, do you use one of those lens arm holder things? As I read it, you snap a mount on the front of the Fantasea and then screw on the wet lenses? I have the wide angle for the sealife and I like using that to get wider while getting closer for more strobe light. I think I would like lenses too, but I do not want to be Mr Camera on the dive boat. I am also worried about leaving them on the bottom at some point.... I want a rig I can attach to my lanyard and cradle in the crook of my arm until I find something I want to take picture of. I am past the point of photographing everything, as I found most of those pic suck or just how many pics of a lobster condo does one have a use for?

I think that Fantasea might be the deal. I looked at an Ikelite, but for me at this point I can't see what I am getting that I am going to use for the extra cashola.