Canon Powershot A80 Settings

[Peerless Diver]

I have taken my camera on numerous dives and have never been very satisfied with the pictures I get. There is no underwater setting on this camera. Any suggestions as to the best settings to set the camera on for diving?

 

[TracyKent]

I've just learned to be patient with mine... I have some great shots, but I also have some really poor shots. Visibilty is a big part of good pics with the A80. If there is much debris in the water, the back scatter will eat your photo up. Good light is also helpful. I don't have a strobe yet, but possibly soon. Wait for the shot. Let it come to you. U/w is so much different from above that I've had too completely rethink my photography.

 

[kapula]

manual white balance. It's pretty much all you need. That way you can tell your camera what is white u/w. I've shot all my u/w pictures with manual white balance. It has it's limitations but is a good way to start. With manual w/b you get more red although in depths more than 20 metres you start loosing colors due to water abrosbing light and need a strobe. Hope this helped!

 

[alcina]

Head to the Pink Link in my signature for getting started settings that will work just fine with the A80.

As always to improve your shots:
- get close and then get closer; know your minimum focus distance and try to be close to that for your shots with internal flash
- learn how to set your manual white balance for no internal flash shots
- learn the half press to lock your focus and then full press to take the shot; anticipate the action and lead the fish

Post a few shots that aren't quite right or let us know what you aren't happy with and maybe we can trouble-shoot more specifically.
.

 

[Peerless Diver]

Thanks for all that great information. I will experiment on my next few dives. If I still have trouble after that I will post some of my pictures.