Ok everyone....I've got a new A95 with housing.....

[Randall]

After reading everything I could on this site about cameras for too many months now, I've bit the bullet....to the tune of $437.05 for camera and underwater case (including shipping) at 17photo.com. A good price it seems. (I highly recommend this place!! I got the camera in hand on the 4th day from internet order...all packaged nicely and brand new with all the trimmings)

Now what? LOL....I'm at a loss as to what the heck to set this thing at to get the great pics I've seen all of you with these cameras take and post on this site. I've read all the posts about settings...taking pics...etc....but I'm more confused than ever. Anyone out there with a simple set of instructions for a beginner like me? I know nothing is better than experience with the setup, but can you get me started? Get me in the ballpark? I sure hope so!! I'm heading to Bonaire in a few weeks and I doubt I'll get a chance to dive before then!!

Thanks!!

 

[alcina]

Randall -

Congratulations!!! You're going to love this addition to your diving. Here's my top ten list:

1 - put it all together on land and shoot away. Learn those buttons, see what the different settings will do, figure out the minimum focus distance (this is the number one problem I see - people remember to get close, then closer but forget that the camera does have a definite focus distance!) Shoot, shoot, shoot.

2 - for Bonaire, I'd guess start at around f 5 ish and 1/200. Remember your shutter speed controls the colour of your water/background...slow (1/100) will give you lighter blues and fast (1/320) will give you darker blues. Really fast (1/1000) will give you very dark backgrounds - maybe even black. All values are approximate so you'll have to do a little experimenting.

f5 should be a good starting place for most subjects. If you are going to get very close and shoot tiny things, I would go to f8. I usually don't find a need to open beyond f 4.0 YMMV

3 - never take only one shot of a subject if you can at all help it! It's digital and hopefully you have a big card - if not, go shopping! Change angles and change your shutter speed (and/or aperture, but as a beginnner I'd concentrate on one thing for MOST of the shots)

4 - always download your efforts after each dive or diving day. Look at them and check out the settings so you can apply the corrections to the next dives. The magic of digital is that you can immediately correct your mistakes or fine tune images.

5 - start slow. Slow down your diving. No matter how slow you go, go slower. Also look for slow moving subjects - you'll have better luck with your images to start as you will have time to set up and review and reshoot. This doesn't mean don't shoot those fast moving fish, but does mean that the more practice you have on the corals, echinoderms, sponges etc you have the better your fish shots will become.

6 - get fast. If you are going to try to shoot moving targets, don't move your shutter below 1/250 or so. I've found that on some fish that are a bit energetic I need to move up to 1/320 or so to really freeze them. I rarely drop my shutter below 1/125 - this seems to be a safe speed to freeze many bits of action.

7 - get your hands on Jim Church's Essential Guide to Composition. A fabulous and timeless book that you will refer to again and again as you learn.

8 - practice more on land

9 - talk to your buddy before the dive. Explain that your priority is bringing back good photos and this means going slow, staying in one spot for a while etc. Make a plan. I often have my buddy do a spoke pattern from me...they can spot creatures, they are out of my shots, they get to explore a wider area. I get to concentrate on my shots.

10 - have fun!!!! Shoot til your fingers bleed

 

[Randall]

That is exactly what I needed. I've already saved and printed your tips. I've also placed a copy in my camera case.

I've often admired your photo's on the gallery. Your photo's and many others by Canon owners here on SB helped me make my decision to get the Canon.

 

[LegoPacific]

I use the A70 (no strobe). For point and shoot, here's what I start out with:
"P" mode, flash off, exposure compensation: -2/3 , white balance: cloudy, ISO: 100, light metering: center weighted, red-eye reduction off, AiAF frame selection: off, AF assist: off, digital zoom: off, review: 2 seconds, max. resolution: 2048x1536 (large superfine--your max. resolution will be higher).

For 3' or closer, go to macro mode, flash on. More than 3' away, macro off, flash off, manual white balance.

 

[Moscuba]

Without a flash you will want to use the UW setting (in scenes mode) or calibrate the white setting. My A85 has an underwater setting.

Also, you can calibrate the camera for your depth. You need a white card (UW writing slate will work) and the camera will read that to calibrate the white setting.

 

[alcina]

Good extra tips here...I didn't mention White Balance and I probably should have. As a RAW shooter I often forget about it!

Learn to use the White Balance function - it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

Remember you will need to reset your white balance each and every time there is a significant change of light. Change in depth, change in the angle of the sun and/or the direction you are shooting etc.

From what I have seen of the underwater setting it's only as useful as all the other preprogrammed modes. Which means it will work very well in some situations and dismally in others. IMHO it is better to learn to control the camera manually so it doesn't matter what conditions you are shooting in.

It might be worth having a test run of the underwater setting while you are there, though - you may find that you are going to encounter enough similar conditions to make it worthwhile. Just don't rely on it to be perfect every time or you'll come back with "oh that could have been perfect if only" shots!!

I never say never and try to learn and use all the tools at my disposal to make my images better and my life easier

 

[AlanDeep]

Hi LegoPacific,

I too have an A70. I was going to make suggestions, but then i saw your pics, wow!

I think I'll do it your way! I have some pics from Florida and Calif. but they don't compare. http://quizbot.com/scuba.htm

BTW, I tried using manual white ballance on some pics by setting it with the flash diffuser in front of the lens. Still experimenting. I plan on doing more this summer. I also am going to experiment with pics lighted by my UK Light Cannon HID. The internal strobe worked pretty good for the macro shots.

Keep shootin!