I have an A510 and underwater case. Unfortunately, I'm just learning so I can't tell you what's good or bad and contrast it with anything else. I've gotten some decent snapshots (by my expectations -- not a real uw photographers's) using the underwater mode. I understand that there isn't a raw mode with the A510. However, given the price, it seems to me like a good camera to play around with and hopefully learn a bit with. Also, since it is realitively cheap, I won't cry too much when it eventually floods someday.
Help! Canon PowerShot A510 or PowerShot S1 IS?
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the_cat_keeper
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I did this too initially and after I bought the strobe, I didn't have to worry about the shadow anymore.TheRichOne:
TheRichOne
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the_cat_keeper:I have the Canon S1 SI. The main complaint I have is its buoyancy and the poor macro mode. For buoyancy, the problem was resolved when I bought a strobe. The poor macro mode was resolved with the installation of a underwater macro len.
As for quality of pix, I leave you to judge
The pix at Manado was my first try of the camera (also first time to use a camera both above and under water). Then in July '04, I bought a strobe so subsequent pix were taken with the strobe. I bought the macro len in March '05 and the pix taken in April onwards had the effect of the macro len.
I bought weights for the housing, $30. The S1 requires 4 of the weights, the other Canon's require fewer. They screw on the bottom of the housing. At depth, the camera had neutral buoyancy. I ordered them through a local camera shop.
OP
Namaste
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the_cat_keeper:Hi, Namaste,
You are welcome
I bought the Sunpak G-flash. It has a guide number up to 22 - I typically do macro shots and use 3 to 5. The strobe is adequate for whatever pictures I wanted to take during day dives. At night, the S1 needs a light to help it to focus. This strobe does not have a target light so I use my torch to do that and it sometimes result in a "bright spot" in the pictures.
The camera housing was still a little buoyant after adding the strobe. (Canon.com.sg recommends 4 pcs of weights for the housing. Unfortunately I couldn't find any shops in Singapore selling those weights). As for the len, I bought the Inon UCL165 M67 close-up len which gives 2 x magnification. In order to mount the len, you need to get the Inon M67 mount base.
The shutter lag was a bit annoying initially. By the time the picture was taken, the fish had moved away. And now what I have done is learnt how to approach the subject very, very slowly. And it works.
As for video, I had only taken the video once... I think it was a 1.5 minute video of a manta ray. I played with the zoom while filming and the resolution was much better (my PC crashed and I lost the file. Otherwise I could email it to you) compared to the still shots.
Since I take mostly macro shots, I was considering upgrading to S2 but the Canon websites do not indicate if a housing is available. In the end I decided that the macro len works well enough (by the way you can stack multiple lens and since it is wet-mountable, you can swap macro/ wide-angle len underwater!) and I can save the money for another dive trip!
Hope this helps!
Cat.
Hmmm, having trouble finding place in the United States that sells the Inon UCL165 M67. I'm only looking through the web though. Perhaps it has a different part number overseas? Does anyone know where I might be able to order one should I choose to get the S1? Also what the approximate price tag is on this item and the mount base ...?
Thanks,
Brooke
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Namaste
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sprain
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I don't know about the A510, but I'm a Canon S1 user, and it works well for me. With the Inon macro lens, you can do wonder, really. But of course, you'll definitely need a strobe since the lens blocks the flash as some has said before.
Buoyancy is not a problem for me, because after adding the adapter, the extension arms and the strobe, the setup is negatively buoyant.
As for the shuttle lag, yes it can be annoying but can overcome that by using the manual focus, and also turning off the image stabiliser.
The problem I think, would be the low mp count. Doesn't leave as much room for cropping.
Take a look at www.flickr.com/photos/sprain
Some samples
PS: These pictures have not been cropped.
Buoyancy is not a problem for me, because after adding the adapter, the extension arms and the strobe, the setup is negatively buoyant.
As for the shuttle lag, yes it can be annoying but can overcome that by using the manual focus, and also turning off the image stabiliser.
The problem I think, would be the low mp count. Doesn't leave as much room for cropping.
Take a look at www.flickr.com/photos/sprain
Some samples
PS: These pictures have not been cropped.
TheRichOne
New
Namaste:
Brooke...you've really done your homework! I can only speak for the S1, but had wonderful shots from it from a week in Palau. Because you'll take each shot with a flash, and therefore relatively fast shutter speed, the stabilizer is of little value. It is really useful when you are "pulling in" a far-away subject, handheld, with little light. For that matter the optical zoom is of little value underwater. Unless you use the camera as much above water as under (or more), the 510 might be more useful. The weight difference to me is immaterial unless you plan to go trekking around Europe carrying the camera. The S1, as you say, does not have the underwater shooting mode, and I anticipated that being a factor, but it wasn't...the results were fine to me. I am sold on Canon's software and support mechanism to help address questions or problems. They've ALWAYS answered my emailed questions within minutes. Customer Service to me is important as the salespeople generally know very little about the products they're selling, sad to say.
In summary, I am VERY satisfied with the S1 for u/w, but the argument for the 510 is intellectually better. There, confused? Hope I didn't make things worse for you. Good luck.
Re: underwater mode. I wouldn't let that be a factor at all. Learn to use manual settings and manual white balance if you don't have an external strobe. You'll pick it up quickly and your results will blossom!
Spoon
Contributor
sprain:I don't know about the A510, but I'm a Canon S1 user, and it works well for me. With the Inon macro lens, you can do wonder, really. But of course, you'll definitely need a strobe since the lens blocks the flash as some has said before.
Buoyancy is not a problem for me, because after adding the adapter, the extension arms and the strobe, the setup is negatively buoyant.
As for the shuttle lag, yes it can be annoying but can overcome that by using the manual focus, and also turning off the image stabiliser.
The problem I think, would be the low mp count. Doesn't leave as much room for cropping.
Take a look at www.flickr.com/photos/sprain
Some samples
PS: These pictures have not been cropped.
can i get these quality shots with a powerchot A95? Ixus 700?
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