New SP-350 is on the way. Please provide any helpful hints.

[underachiever]

Now I need to get the housing before we leave for Cozumel on June 15th. Any advice for what settings to start with.? I have downloaded the operating manuals and will start reviewing tomorrow.

I read on a review about the short battery life but this was also on the review:

" The only negative is that battery life is limited initially, but there is a patch download thru the provided software that easily fixes the problem."

Anyone done this? I realize that I can use AA also. But would be nice to increase battery life if possible.

Any other advice??

 

[gary-ramey]

Hey Randy,
My wife and I will be in cozumel on June 17th. We'll be at the Iberostar. Here's some thoughts:
LarryC and several other guys have posted some really good stuff about the SP350 on here and at www.wetpixel.com I'll put a few things here but it would be worth your while to do a search on both sites.
1. Make sure you have the latest firmware - This is pretty easy as the camera software will allow you to do that.
2. There are some 2G type H xd memory cards out there now. I just ordered one. That should prevent you from having to open your camera on the boat.
3. There are some disposable lithium batteries for about $20. They last super long and should get you through a 2G card with no problem. CRV3 batteries are next best followed by rechargeable CRV3's and then rechargeable AA's. Don't bother with regularr AA's.
4. You have 4 programmable mymodes. Basically you can set these up as any configuration you like. You also have 1 programmable hotkey (ael button). Program the mymodes anyway you like them but I do them in this order: supermacro, macro1, macro2 and WA. Each has slightly different settings. Then program the hotkey to cycle through the 4 different settings. It allows you to switch from macro to WA fairly quickly.
5. While diving with the camera you'll need to keep the camera out of sleep mode. This mode is aggravating and will cause you to miss your next shot if it happens. The easiest way to do that is to just take a picture about every minute or so. Pretty easy to do.
6. Try out the video mode...it might surprise you.
7. Go to the local pool and start shooting pics of anything. practice underwater. It sure helps. Outdoor pools usually have interesting insects that have drown and make good macro subjects.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Get close. I don't use this camera but I've seen some terrific shots taken with them.

 

[underachiever]

Is there any way the Sealife SL960 external flash will work with the Olympus sp350 AND pt030 housing?? At least till I can a inon or sea and sea.

 

[gary-ramey]

I haven't tested this with a slave flash but the SP-350 has a manual flash setting from 1-10 inside the camera firmware. I imagine if you set it to slave and select a setting it will fire the flash. I've heard that it will only give you a full dump of the flash, though, and there's no way to adjust the output on the back of the strobe.

 

[underachiever]

Maybe the diffuser would tone it down a little if needed. Sounds like some time for some trial and error. Might need to do some nighttime shore dives while in Cozumel. Oh the sacrifices one must make.