G12 vs S95 - price & performance

[Kristan]

Hi All,

In January I shall be honeymooning in the Maldives and being a bit of a photographer obviously want to try my hand at shooting underwater. As I'm a total novice diver (first lesson next week!) I'm going to want something that's not going to distract me from the actual diving, but still capable of shooting decent pictures and I'm really keen on getting some video (preferably HD) also.

On the advice of some much more experienced friends (both in diving and photography terms!) I'd pretty much settled on the G12. At least until I started doing some more research, discovering the issue with the front dial etc. and seeing the cost add up pretty rapidly. If I wanted the G12 + Ikelite housing I'd be looking at around £1000, and that's really a bit more than seems sensible to spend on a "beginners" seutp.

Now I've looked around, it seems the S95 and the appropriate Canon housing is a much more modest £600 or so. Not exactly cheap, but nearly half the price of the comparable G12 setup.

The S95/G12 from what I've read are basically the same camera, albiet with different lenses, so I guess what I'm asking is, is the extra for the G12 really worth it?

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[diver 85]

in your case, I'd get the S95----or nothing @ all???..It's gunna be tuff to get good pics with basically zero experience(that's why I'd go witht he cheaper of the 2--prolly outcome will be the same)

 

[petemoss]

Check out the Underwater Video section and look at the recent Curacao Video thread. A Sony cybershot and Sony housing was used. Those videos would satisfy me. The rig I think prices out at around $400. I am looking also as a beginner and I am sure I will not ascend to the levels of most of the photographers here on Scubaboard but just wish to record for my own enjoyment.

 

[diver 85]

Check out the Underwater Video section and look at the recent Curacao Video thread. A Sony cybershot and Sony housing was used. Those videos would satisfy me. The rig I think prices out at around $400. I am looking also as a beginner and I am sure I will not ascend to the levels of most of the photographers here on Scubaboard but just wish to record for my own enjoyment.

Excellent idea---but remember, the S95 in a Canon housing is a total of less than 600 USD...It shoots HD video too....--just saying.....

 

[HerraduraDivers]

Kristan,
my honest opinion about your question is to find a local dive shop providing a photographer shooting your honeymoondives as they will be ways better than yours. In my function as Dive Instructor i educate divers to be good divers and as underwater photographer speciality instructor i belive that making good pictures depends strongly on your dive skills. Also i see so much divers concentrating on their camera and not on their buoyancy and the marine life around them creating involuntary a immense damage to the fragile ecosystem around us.

This said, the G12 is a excellent, small camera while the S95 is a excellent even smaller camera...
They share almost everything and the difference is only the size, so you may go to a shop and hold both in your hand and you will feel the one who fit you and hand.

If you are not a experienced photographer i would not recommend this type of camera as they are too complicated and confusing the unexperienced user with their possibilities.
You may find your self much more confy with a simple point and shoot camera than a "semi-professional" camera like tha G12/S95 even if they can be used in full automatic P&S mode.

Chris

 

[andymeng]

A lot of the difference in pricing in the housing is that the G12 (I have G11) housing has TTL circuitry that when used with an Ikelite strobe like the DS161 will provide outstanding and almost perfectly exposed images in automatic modes, freeing you from spending the time to set your camera exposure and strobe setting. I know most people on here advocate shoot full manual or don't waste your time, but the G11 with ikelite housing and DS161 strobe in program mode shoots near flawless exposures in program mode from about 2-15 feet, and beyond but that's the range of the strobe. With that setting, the DS161 also has a modeling lite that doubles as a nice video light.

As the cameras are nearly identical except for that (and the size of course), if you are going to drop money on the strobe as well, go with the G12, otherwise save the money on camera and housing and go with the S95 and housing. No idea on the S95 and housing, but the G12 and housing seems a little larger than it needs to be but will be slightly negative and very easy to control.

However all that being said, unless you're planning to stick with photography I recommend Chris's suggestion to hire a local to shoot the video for you. It may run about $200 (you convert the currency) but the video will be of both of you, not one or the other, and should be pretty flawless.

 

[Gilligan]

Kristan I will throw my opinion in here along with the others. You have been given some good info on this thread. One of the best things about Scubaboard is getting many opinions from different people's experience then using that to make your choices.

The G12 in the Ikelite housing will not allow you to use the camera's built in strobe. The lens port blocks most of it. You therefore have to have an external strobe. This is a factor you need to investigate on any camera and housing if you plan on not getting an external strobe.

As others have said the S95 is a better choice for you. I think you can use it in the Ikelite housing without an external strobe. Best to ask someone here that has one. I know you can use it in the Canon housing because I have.

As for the Canon housings I have a G10 in one with an external strobe and I am presently using a friends S90 in one without my strobe. I can tell you from experience that the G10 (G11 and G12 same size housings) have an obstructed on-board camera strobe due to the length of the lens tunnel. If you get too close on a macro shot you will have a dark area on the bottom right portion of the photo. Using the flash diffuser does not solve the issue. The S90 and S95 have less zoom than the G10, G11 and G12 so therefore the lens tunnel is shorter making it easier to use the camera's strobe. There is still some obstruction if you get too close to your subject but not like the G cameras. Take a look at the two Canon housings in the below photo and check the length of the lens tunnels on each.

IMO if you just want to take good photos for starters without buying an external strobe then go with the S95. I have been experimenting with the S90 without using my external strobe and like the results. If you plan on getting an external strobe for it then decide between the Canon and Ikelite housings (or other brand). The Ike housing will allow for add-on wet mount lenses more easily than the Canon housings. The Ike housing is probably stronger when attached to a tray/arm/strobe setup as it has two mounting screws on the bottom versus the one on the Canon housings.

The bottom line is you need to know how to work the camera's controls inside the housing BEFORE you take it on a dive trip or you end up with poor quality photos. There is a learning curve and it takes time with these cameras as they have so many features.

Good luck with your choices.

 

[Kristan]

Wow, thanks for all the responses guys!

You all seem to be echoing what I was pretty much thinking - as an amatuer I'm not going to be taking award winning photos or videos, however with the s95 I have something that stands a chance of taking a half decent record of our honeymoon (above and below water).

I'm a fairly experienced photographer, my normal camera is a 400D, hence me wanting to stick with Canon as the learning curve shoudn't be as steep. Hopefully this will let me concentrate on my diving rather than trying to fiddle my way around a menu.

I do like the idea of getting a professional along to do some photo's too - I shall ask the resort if they have such a facility, that would be excellent!

I think I'm leaning towards the Canon housing rather than the Ikelite as the built in strobe seems more usable on the Canon, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to add an external strobe to this setup in the future? The specs seem to say it has a tripod thread - is that enough to attach a tray and external strobe?

Thanks again for all the advice - can't wait to get in the water

 

[chris196]

I bought the ike housing and returned it. It just didn't work very well for me. It's sturdy, but it's ergonomics aren't good.
I'm waiting on the canon housing now.
I've had other OEM housings (Oly and Fuji) and the Ike didn't measure up from an ergonomics standpoint. It was sturdier than the Oly but inferior to the Fuji in just about every way.

You can add a strobe to the canon housing, many have done it. I will use my Inon D2000 with an arm/tray setup.

 

[mitsuguy]

I bought the ike housing and returned it. It just didn't work very well for me. It's sturdy, but it's ergonomics aren't good.
I'm waiting on the canon housing now.
I've had other OEM housings (Oly and Fuji) and the Ike didn't measure up from an ergonomics standpoint. It was sturdier than the Oly but inferior to the Fuji in just about every way.

You can add a strobe to the canon housing, many have done it. I will use my Inon D2000 with an arm/tray setup.

That is the same reason I dislike the Ike housings as well. The buttons just don't make a whole lot of sense to me, and its like learning another camera all over again... More rugged, I'm sure the Ike is, but, I've owned two separate Canon housings and never had an issue... Currently I have an Inon wide angle, and an external strobe...