Canon Powershot S1 IS

[divenutny]

Margeka - There is alot of info on using digital camera setting on Scuba Board. (Adjusting White balancing and such). You need to do some digging. Search the Canon digital area or Digital Darkroom. If I remembered the settings, I would share them. I found them on SB when I bought my Canon S1 IS in Nov 2004. My pics were OK, not great. Nothing as good as Sprain's photos. I took my pics at Provo, Turks and Caicos. I did not use a strobe (Time to by more gear) which most likely effected the shots. When I printed them, way too much blue or white or the colors were faded. I have some more learning to do. Unfortunately, tough to learn how to fix digital photos. I plan to learn more at Beneath the Sea. Underwater pics are rough on digital cameras.

I bought the Canon case for about $175 then. Worked fine. Unfortunately, spending roughly $400 for a case and strobe is cheap. People spend thousands on this equipment. One more reason I have been moving slowly.

Happy Hunting - Tom

 

[yakivet]

Thanks!!

Yes, I have an external strobe. The very modest SunPak G-Flash, with extension arm...helps to reduce the backscatter and also let me have a better placement of the lighting.

For the mantis and hermits, I have my lens attachment, and my macro lens screwed on. Didn't zoom in for the mantis, and I think I zoomed in a little for the hermits.

I'm glad the mantis shot came out well, especially the colour. I just love the colour of that shot.

I'll second Gussy! Those are some great pics. I've been using the S1 as well. A couple of quick questions, Are you using the Canon housing? I noticed several hairline cracks in mine after about 45 dives. I now need to replace it. Secondly, I've been using the built in flash. How do you like the Sunpak? Thirdly, can you give some specifics as to the macro lens you are using? Here's a couple of pics from last weeks diving in Belize. Ken :42:

 

[sprain]

I'll second Gussy! Those are some great pics. I've been using the S1 as well. A couple of quick questions, Are you using the Canon housing? I noticed several hairline cracks in mine after about 45 dives. I now need to replace it. Secondly, I've been using the built in flash. How do you like the Sunpak? Thirdly, can you give some specifics as to the macro lens you are using? Here's a couple of pics from last weeks diving in Belize. Ken :42:

I think I've used my canon housing for quite a fair bit as well, but haven't noticed any cracks. Actually, I have used it for the past 4 months, but did clock more than 50 dives with that housing.

As for the Sunpak, I do find it quite handy. Small and convenient, and I think for me, the manual adjustment for strobe works really well. Of course, better strobes that have a focusing light can be very very useful.

I'm using the INON 2x macro lens with the INON mount base. When I really want to get a super macro shot, I'll turn on manual focus, and zoom in. That fixes the focus distance. What I do then is to move the camera in/out until I get what I want in focus. Quite a pain actually, but the result can be quite satisfying, and fun!!

Looking at your turtle shots, it's greenish coz the internal flash does not hit the subject at all? Some people use white balance to achieve great results. But for me, I prepare using strobe coz I'm too lazy to adjust the white balance every few meters!! Hehehe.

Here's an example of a few of my turtle shots. Luckily, the strobe fired and hit the subject.

This one didn't

This one not really...did alot of editing.

I took quite a number of shots, and most turn out greenish as well. These were taken more than a year ago. I haven't been able to take a proper shot of a turtle since....not sure why...

 

[yakivet]

Looking at your turtle shots, it's greenish coz the internal flash does not hit the subject at all? Some people use white balance to achieve great results. But for me, I prepare using strobe coz I'm too lazy to adjust the white balance every few meters!! Hehehe.

Here's an example of a few of my turtle shots. Luckily, the strobe fired and hit the subject.

Thanks for the info on the strobe/macro and your housing. Your turtle shots are nice. On mine, I had the internal strobe turned off for the pics. I think I was close enough on a couple that the results would have been OK if I'd turned it on. I can't seem to find any retailers with the Sunpack G now, seems like everybody's backordered. Maybe they've discontinued it? Hope not as it seems like an affordable way to start using a strobe. I thought I'd throw in a few pics from last year using the S1 Thanks again, Ken :42:

 

[sprain]

Thanks for the info on the strobe/macro and your housing. Your turtle shots are nice. On mine, I had the internal strobe turned off for the pics. I think I was close enough on a couple that the results would have been OK if I'd turned it on. I can't seem to find any retailers with the Sunpack G now, seems like everybody's backordered. Maybe they've discontinued it? Hope not as it seems like an affordable way to start using a strobe. I thought I'd throw in a few pics from last year using the S1 Thanks again, Ken :42:

I hope not too. It helps to bring out the colours at a very decent price.

There's another brand of strobe which is very similar to the SunPak. Try Epoque (www.epoque-japan.com). The website shows a list of dealers in many countries. The problem with both the SunPak and Epoque is the battery compartment. It's just a snap on and is really flimsy. I've already flooded one Sunpak because of that...with users like me, maybe that's why they're running out of stock! Hahaha.

Hope you have good fortune in getting the strobe, and I'm sure it'll bring your underwater photos to the next level. And don't forget to share it with us again then!!

Cheers!