G12 macro extreme corner shadow

[JeanYves]

Hi,

I just received my G12 and its WP-DC34 housing. Due to the poor weather conditions I haven't been able to test it underwater but I noticed extreme corner shadow when taking macro shots with the internal flash. My old powershot A85 never had it that bad.
I was wondering if anybody had experienced it underwater as well and if so if there is a way to reduce it. I'm thinking like reflective surfaces, aluminum foil to guide the light of the flash past the gigantic lens. And before you mention it, no I don't want to add strobes. I'm pretty sure G11 must have the same issue and possibly G9.

Thanks,

JY.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

The internal strobe is quite useless under water and especially on macro shots, while it may give "acceptable" pictures in cristal cear water, subject +/- 3 ft. away and shooting in RAW to correct the ugly colours if the subject is mor far than 5 ft.

There will be no other way to illuminate the macro subjects with:
a) a torch
b) a external strobe

Chris

 

[Gilligan]

JeanYves,
The length of the lens tunnel on the G10 and G11/12 housings obstruct the internal flash of the camera when up close to the subject. The length of the lens tunnel is to accommodate the camera's zoom. Using the supplied diffuser will not solve that issue but should still be used.
You can try:
1. Backing away from your macro subject and zoom in on it.
or
2. Place your subject in the upper left corner of the photo then crop it in post-processing. IMO that defeats having that camera.

It's too late now since you already have the G12 but the S90 and S95 are better suited for use without an external strobe since they have less zoom thereby a shorter lens tunnel.

You stated you don't want to get an external strobe but it is the only real solution. Perhaps you will re-think that and get a strobe. Your camera takes great photos with one. I love my G10 with an external strobe.

 

[LI Diver]

J
2. Place your subject in the upper left corner of the photo then crop it in post-processing.

This is what I do and then I use photoshop elements and lighten shadows a bit. Or you can not use any flash on shallow shots and select your subject (in my case usually a critter of some sorts) and edit it against a darker background.

 

[JeanYves]

Thanks. I've already set up my C1 to partially zoomed in and it seems to solve the problem topside at the cost of less focus distance. What surprised me the most was that the problem exists even outside of the housing and that to me is poor engineering of the camera itself. Not everybody can spare a few hundred bucks more for an external flash, waterproof or not.

JY.
DigitalAquamarine.com
Point & Shoot Digital Underwater Imaging

 

[Gilligan]

Thanks. I've already set up my C1 to partially zoomed in and it seems to solve the problem topside at the cost of less focus distance. What surprised me the most was that the problem exists even outside of the housing and that to me is poor engineering of the camera itself. Not everybody can spare a few hundred bucks more for an external flash, waterproof or not.

JY.
DigitalAquamarine.com
Point & Shoot Digital Underwater Imaging

I never experimented with it outside the housing but it makes sense if you zoom in on a subject the lens will protrude but with less impact than in the housing.

The ideal underwater housing is one without the zoom control thereby eliminating the lens tunnel. But for an amateur photographer like me I make use of the 5X zoom on my G10 as I have an external strobe.

On non-Canon brand housings that have threaded lens ports for add-on wet mount lenses it would be even better to not have the zoom feature as it would almost, if not, eliminate the vignetting with a wide angle lens.

But keep in mind Canon does not market their housings as solely "underwater" ones. They are "waterproof cases" with multiple uses that include diving.

Many folks poke fun at them and refer to them as "plastic toys". Canon makes more camera housings than any other company. They are inexpensive by comparison and allow users to take their cameras into environments they otherwise could not such as rain, snow, humid jungles, underwater etc. The vast majority of vacation divers I see here in Bohol have Canon cameras in Canon housings and just use them in the "Auto" or "P" mode only to have some pics of their underwater experience. And a G or S series Canon in one of their housings, especially with an external strobe, can take fantastic quality photos

And no, I don't work for Canon

 

[Gilligan]

This is what I do and then I use photoshop elements and lighten shadows a bit. Or you can not use any flash on shallow shots and select your subject (in my case usually a critter of some sorts) and edit it against a darker background.

Not sure if you already do so but shooting in RAW mode, especially non-strobe shots, will yield the best results by far. The "eyedropper" tool in the Canon software provided with the camera (Digital Photo Professional) does a great job. If you haven't used it I have an example HERE. You don't have control over "white balance" in a JPEG that you do in a RAW file. This is especially important in deeper depth shots.

 

[xariatay]

Just back away, then zoom in, after getting used to the system you should have no problem. Need inspiration for macro, non-strobe photos? Komodo Sep10 - a set on Flickr Taken w G9...

 

[LI Diver]

Not sure if you already do so but shooting in RAW mode, especially non-strobe shots, will yield the best results by far. The "eyedropper" tool in the Canon software provided with the camera (Digital Photo Professional) does a great job. If you haven't used it I have an example HERE. You don't have control over "white balance" in a JPEG that you do in a RAW file. This is especially important in deeper depth shots.

I have the G9 and I don't think it came with that particular editing program then. When I first got the camera I shot in raw because everybody told me this was best and I'm sure that was right but my lack of editing skills made it a moot point so I am back to jpegs. I have photo shop elements can I edit raw images there? Otherwise I may try again with my canon zoom browser software again.

 

[Shayne]

Hi you could try using a deffuser on the housing helps to spread the light a little more evenly.