First results with A640

[The Mushroom King]

Hi,

I took my new A640 on a recent diving trip, and I have a few photos to share and a few questions to ask.

First off, this is not only my first dive with the A640, it’s also my first dive ever with a camera! So, you can't get any more novice than this!

Comments and some questions:
:thumbs_up: The camera operated great! it was really easy to use and operate underwater (with the canon UW case) and the screen was super easy to see. Absolutely no complaints here.
:iconeutra As some people have mentioned the onboard flash only illuminates the top left corner on close ups and this is sad. But as I intend to eventually get an external strobe its not a big deal (in my case)
:thumbs_up: By using the highest quality and image settings I was able to zoom and crop my pictures on my PC and they still look great! (I filled an entire 2Meg card)
:thumbs_up: The batteries lasted an unbelievably long time. Over 300 shots with flash and not even starting to fade yet! (I bought some 2700mah rechargeables)
:thumbs_down: It seemed really hard to get a clear focus, mostly getting the yellow focus box. Has anyone else experienced this, and what did you do?
:thumbs_down: There was an annoying delay from pressing the shutter and when the picture was taken. Only a split second but long enough for the subject to move out of range. Any suggestions?

Ok, here are a few of my shots. Any comments, critiques would be appreciated.

Gallery: http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/2366


(sorry, not sure how best to post pictures in the forum)

 

[skywalk]

I also have a A640 and I love it too, esp with an inon strobe.
- if you get a strobe...no worries about that shadow. Otherwise, use the diffuser that comes bundled with the housing.
- li/ion batteries last about 400-500 shots for me. I take about 50 shots per dive so thats about 8 or more dives without changing batteries. i also have a 4gig SD card so that helps.
- for focus, dont ever zoom. just put on macro mode and go real close to the subject. of course a steady hand with no current would help
- it needs time to focus, hence the lag. i always only half press to check focus, then depress fully when im sure. so the lag doesn't bother me at all.

 

[vane-sub]

Nice pics!

I´m diving with mine for the first time this weekend... we´ll see what I can do. It's an A710 IS...

 

[DiverBeth]

Nice pics very impressive. I just bought an A640 and it will be about a month before I get to use it. So thanks for sharing and I have something to really look forward to.

 

[The Mushroom King]

Thanks for the comments.

Now to go strobe shopping... I've heard the sea & sea 110 is nice.... Hmmmm...

 

[skywalk]

Thanks for the comments.

Now to go strobe shopping... I've heard the sea & sea 110 is nice.... Hmmmm...

Had a long chat with a friend about her S&S strobe. it doesn't respond well to the A640 it seems. sometimes full dumps, sometimes just doesn't do TTL properly. She's going to switch to an inon, which is what i have, and i've not had any problems with this strobe ever. Just my observation to keep you on your toes

 

[The Mushroom King]

great info skywalk. Thats really good to know! any other strobe suggestions for the a640?



edited to add: just realized that the INONs are just a little bit cheaper if I pick one up locally.....
But the wife will kill me if I buy one right away .. .. must be patient... dang

 

[CheddarChick]

LOL...Patient??? Go to your secret fund stash, buy it, hide in the box your camera came in, then ask her to get the box for you and accidently find it!!!!! Hey "it came with the camera honey"!!!

 

[CheddarChick]

Nice pictures by the way....Are you on auto or did you play with the settings?

 

[The Mushroom King]

LOL...Patient??? Go to your secret fund stash, buy it, hide in the box your camera came in, then ask her to get the box for you and accidently find it!!!!! Hey "it came with the camera honey"!!!

Hmmmm that might work.... still haven’t told her I'm skipping work this Tuesday to dive a local wreck.... I can't get her to dive locally (too cold) but I think she'll appreciate the pictures with a nice strobe.... particularly if it came with the camera, or maybe a buddy of mine sold it to me for $50.... Hmmmm

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Most of the time it was on auto "underwater scene" setting. But a few of the shots were on aperture priority with whit[/FONT][FONT=&quot]e [/FONT][FONT=&quot]balance set to underwater. Next time out I might try some pure manual settings, but I was still pretty impressed with what I got on auto![/FONT]