First suggestions

[Azotomix]

Hello Canon Owner,
Here we go I received yesterday from HK (in only 5 days after payment) the underwater housing for the Canon PS G5 (10 bar housing). No external strobe for the moment. I spent already too much. This will be the next investment and will post later to know which strobe to buy.

Now I am ready but since I never shoot under water I would like to have some of your suggestion in how to proceed correctly knowing I am a beginner in UW photography? :06:

Do I first start with full automatic or manual setting?
If manual what will be your first step? Better to concentrate on the white balance, shutter speed, start with the macro or…
Do I shoot in RAW file or Jpeg. I have Paint shop Pro 8 as software.

I know that probably those question where already asked. I can’t however find answers very easily. If anybody has links to some web site or posts it will be great!!!
Thank you all in advance and hope that next week I can start shooting. If not it will be during the month of September and do not want to wait that much!!

 

[alijtaylor]

This site has useful stuff from canon:
http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/uwphoto/index-e.html
My conclusion after only a few trips uw with my new canon is the less you try to do each dive the better. Don't keep switching between zoom and telephoto and manual and auto on the same dive. Choose what you are going to concentrate on for that dive.
Cheers.

 

[Azotomix]

I already printed out most of the pages and start reading it.
It give you a very good first approach...

Thanks for the info

 

[alcina]

Know you are really going to enjoy your new toy! Here is a partial list of where I would start:

1) Get to know your camera in the housing on land. Use it, practice, know where all your buttons are and how to use them (what they do AND when you need it underwater). This is essential.
2) Shoot manual. In Auto or other modes usually the camera will either try to shoot with the aperture wide open or use a really slow shutter speed. Manual isn't too hard to learn - a good start place is usually about f4.5 or f 5.6 and 1/100 or 1/125. A little experimenting will get you great results. You can start out by just changing one variable on your dive for most shots...and still subjects are easier to practice on - think nudis, sea stars and other invertebrates. When using my Canon A70 for nudis I usually am somewhere around f8 and 1/320 or higher so the internal flash doesn't blow the scene out. Usually I need a couple of shots to get the whole picture exposed how I want it.
3) Shoot RAW! This is an incredible tool and I think you should use it immediately. I know there are some shots that had I used RAW on would have been fabulous because you can set the white balance, exposure, tint, sharpness etc after the shot instead of having the camera make those decisions for you. Make sure your software can cope with RAW, of course. Yes, definitely shoot RAW.
4) I leave my camera in macro mode almost all of the time underwater. On mine it doesn't limit me to what I can take photos of - even took photos of whale sharks with the camera mistakenly left in macro mode. Macro underwater is a bit easier than WA, I think, as you are already having to get very close to your subject. Close helps with colour, allows you more range with your settings and helps eliminate backscatter. It also helps you get the most of your internal strobe.
5) Practice practice practice - on land if you can't get wet.
6) If your camera has a histogram feature, try using it. I have only been using it for a short while, but it has really improved my exposures - and exposure is key.

Of course #7 - have fun!!! And show us your photos - can't wait to see them!

 

[Azotomix]

Thank you for the info Alcina,
I should have done some practice next week but our car just broke down. So my first week holliday on the beach is gone. Then I go to the mountain. My parents need to see sometimes their grand son.
So I will for sure practice the camera on land. UW I think it will be for end of August beginning of September. What a pitty!!!

I will for sure post my first pictures.
Thank's again