Need some advise with my G11

[gearhound]

Eazy,
Since you are in Calgary, go into Aqua Sport Scuba in Marda Loop and talk to Charlene about an Ikelite housing. I have an S90, but after pricing out a Canon housing and looking at the build quality, I went with the Ikelite housing. Mind you, the housing for the G11 costs more than for the S90, but you can really grow with it. It's a great camera. If you're interested in a strobe, her son Nate had his Ikelite D160 for sale. I would have bought it, but had already ordered 2 of the A35. There are a few people out of Aqua Sport shooting the G10 and G11. Pretty sure you could get arrange a hands on look at one of their systems.

 

[SFLDiver3445]

In my opinion, no matter what camera, this most important thing(s) are a wide angle lens and a good external strobe. A camera and housing that cannot use these pieces of equipment is of little value to me, simply my opinion. The dirtier the water, the dimmer, darker deeper, the more important a wide angle lens becomes.

N

I'm with Nem on this one. The closer I can get to my subject, the better I can illuminate it and the more I can eliminate anything (i.e., dirty water, silt, etc.) that's going to detract from the subject being clear and well lit, and good strobes and a wide angle lens is the best way to do that!

I took this shot not long ago on a wreck in South Florida in approximately 120' of water, where the visibility was not that spectacular.

Putting aside whether you think it's a good shot or not - do you think I would have been able to get those soft corals to show their true colors and fit into my shot without the use of a nice wide angle lens and good strobes? I think not...

 

[LeeParrish]

Great example, and a very nice shot (IMHO). And you're completely right in saying that you probably couldn't have got that particular shot with any lesser equipment. I don't disagree at all about the equipment needed to do a shot like that, especially in the conditions at that location. And I think it's great that you are highlighting what it took to take that shot. Seeing shots like yours can help people understand that if they want to be able to do this type of photo, the will need a certain set of gear. I just don't agree with dismissing out of hand anything but what it takes to do this shot since we all have our own goals, and maybe they aren't to dive in lower viz at 120' and take photos of what looks to be Tubastrea sp. (awesome coral too, one of my favorite non-photosynthetic species).

What have you got tied up in your G9, Patima housing, strobe(s), semi-fisheye dome, and UWL-100 lens, at least $3500, and that doesn't include tray, arms, focus light and other items? My point is that you can get useful functionality from a camera and lower end housing that costs much less. I think I paid a little over $600 for my G11 and Canon housing. Add a strobe for another $500 and I'm still well under 1/3 of your total outlay, and I can do quite a bit with that, and for me I may be happy with that. I think as long as people understand what they can do with each level of equipment, then they can make their own decision. If I lived near the ocean and could dive more often, I'd probably spend a great deal more on photo equipment too, but I (like I would suspect many others) have to balance my spending between equipment and travel to go use it. I just choose a little different balance point that others.

 

[Jorgy]

A S90 with Ike housing is about $700.....

And then you can add upgrades as budget permits........

The G11 is a nice camera but this is where the S90 has an advantage.....

M

 

[ghnouer]

Great example, and a very nice shot (IMHO). And you're completely right in saying that you probably couldn't have got that particular shot with any lesser equipment. I don't disagree at all about the equipment needed to do a shot like that, especially in the conditions at that location. And I think it's great that you are highlighting what it took to take that shot. Seeing shots like yours can help people understand that if they want to be able to do this type of photo, the will need a certain set of gear. I just don't agree with dismissing out of hand anything but what it takes to do this shot since we all have our own goals, and maybe they aren't to dive in lower viz at 120' and take photos of what looks to be Tubastrea sp. (awesome coral too, one of my favorite non-photosynthetic species).

What have you got tied up in your G9, Patima housing, strobe(s), semi-fisheye dome, and UWL-100 lens, at least $3500, and that doesn't include tray, arms, focus light and other items? My point is that you can get useful functionality from a camera and lower end housing that costs much less. I think I paid a little over $600 for my G11 and Canon housing. Add a strobe for another $500 and I'm still well under 1/3 of your total outlay, and I can do quite a bit with that, and for me I may be happy with that. I think as long as people understand what they can do with each level of equipment, then they can make their own decision. If I lived near the ocean and could dive more often, I'd probably spend a great deal more on photo equipment too, but I (like I would suspect many others) have to balance my spending between equipment and travel to go use it. I just choose a little different balance point that others.

I totally agree.

For my limited budget $3500 for a compact system is too much.Maybe I would go for a DSLR system ( D90, tokina 10-17, Aquatica).

I think compact systems are great for macro but for WA I have some doubts.

Anyway, beautiful shot SFLDiver3445, thanks for sharing.

GHN

 

[darry_99]

Easy11523,

I am with Peter. Just enjoy your dives as you start diving. I've been diving for 5 years now with about 25~30 dives every year. It is really important to get comfortable with yourself before you start to add additional complexity of camera / gear. Get your buoyancy control & breathing nailed before starting to take pictures u/w. Otherwise, you may end up huffing & puffing to get the pictures and end up with a short dive. My underwater photography became much better after my buoyancy control improved.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[LeeParrish]

I would agree, maybe the most useful camera "accessory" especially for more novice divers (like myself) is to get more practice. I was very lucky and my first dives after certification were 1:1 with Mark from the Dive Bus in Curacao (big shoutout for the Dive Bus ) and he took time to really work with me on skills, as well as having a fun time and seeing the sights. He even showed me a few camera tips since I brought along my little P&S that I had from my snorkel trips (Canon SD770 with Canon housing).

Then when I got home I took the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course and it was great to concentrate on buoyancy skills. But it's a very good point, that all the equipment in the world won't get you great photos if you haven't got your skills down in the water. Which is why I didn't bother to "graduate" to a more capable camera until this year when I finally feel like I can actually get some value out of it. Up until recently my camera wasn't what was holding me back, it was my own diving skills. And now I'm hoping to get in some pool time and spend a few hours practicing shooting with my new rig before hitting the open water, if for no reason but to get familiar with it and make sure I am not fumbling around later.

 

[GMH]

Hi, I am reading this post because I am also interested in getting the G11. The thing I don't understand in the discussion is on WA lens availability for cannon housing. Does Fantasea offer WA for G11 cannon housing? Check fantasea.com website.

 

[Nemrod]

Hi, I am reading this post because I am also interested in getting the G11. The thing I don't understand in the discussion is on WA lens availability for cannon housing. Does Fantasea offer WA for G11 cannon housing? Check fantasea.com website.

There is no true wide angle capability for the Canon housing. Fantasea has a 67mm adapter for macro and they also have their "air bubble" lens which restores the normal surface FOV to the camera when used underwater. It is not really wide angle since it only produces a FOV equivalent to 28mm underwater or about 65 degrees DFOV. When most people talk about wide angle shooting we mean something between 120 and 180 degrees diagonal FOV.

N

 

[GMH]

Thanks for the info. How about the Ikelite WD-4 or W-20? What are angle of the FOV that can be achieved?