Powershot S1 IS ???

[SeaFlea]

Greetings all,

I've just entered the UW digital world and need to ask a few questions to some knowledgeable folks who frequent this board. I appreciate your help very much.

I have a PS S1 IS and a Inon d-2000 strobe. I'm trying to figure out the camera settings that I will use UW.

First, should I use the M setting that allows me to manually set the shutter/aperture? I assume I cannot use the AUTO setting for correct exposure in most conditions UW. Is this true?

Second, If I use the M setting, the manual says the flash will be set to manual as well. The flash can be manually set to lo, med., or hi. Is hi the correct maual setting? (Dumb question) With the flash in manual mode the camera will still pre-flash to sample the field and then fire a metered flash for the picture, right? I mean the Inon strobe will still get a pre-flash que and metered flash so that it will fire correctly.

Third, Do I need to change the white balance mode to CLOUDY for UW use?

Lastly, Are there any other settings I need to address when shooting in M mode?

Thanks for your help.

 

[alcina]

Great to hear you've gotten a new camera!

Click here for tips on getting started, most of the tips will work for any new digital setup.

As you are only using your internal flash to fire the Inon strobe, I would reduce the internal flash's power; I'd think having the lowest setting would still fire the Inon.

You will have to experiment with the white balance. I leave mine in Auto and it works well. Some need slight colour correction in software but because you are using the strobe for your lighting WB isn't as critical as when you are shooting natural light.

 

[SeaFlea]

I'll follow your advice in that thread. I need to see if I choose the Av Mode what shutter spped the camera will select, and if I can lock it at say 1/250. If I read the manual right I can't use the M Mode as it disables the automatic flash power output.

I'm sure this upcomming trip will have a serious learning curve attached to it.

Alcina, does your camera have the P, Tv, Av, and M settings? If so which one do you use?

Thx.

 

[alcina]

I only use M mode.

M should not disable your internal flash?? On the A series you can select the power output in the flash menu. I put mine down one notch from full because full burns everything really close out.

 

[SeaFlea]

I might be reading something into the paragraph that isn't true. In the "Switching between built-in flash adjustment settings" section, Mode dial on Tv or Av, "the built-in flash fires with automatic flash adjustments(except in M Mode), but it is possible to set it so that it fires without any adjustments"

It continues to explain how you can adjust the flash output in 1/3rd increments up or down and how to adjust the flash power in three steps starting from Full.

The section on M Mode doesn't mention anything about affecting the auto flash adjustments. Also, the Inon d2000 has a little strip that goes over the cameras internal flash that is supposed to block all the visible light output but allows the IR light to pass. The Inon is looking at that IR light output power. Is the D220 setup the same?

Thx.

 

[SeaFlea]

I answered my own question. Further re-reading yields the answer, in M Mode the AUTO function of the flash is off and you must select ON(fires everytime) or OFF (never fires).

Alcina, do you adjust the ISO value to change the exposure?

Thx.

 

[alcina]

Underwater I have found that taking it down one notch works great in almost all situations. I have suggested that for those shots that have a little more distance you might want to experiment with going to full power. Not sure I see a use for minimum power without an external strobe.

As you are using the external strobe, I would simply put the Canon on 2/3 or 1/3 and go. I don't use the little film thing on my internal flash with the Canon...only because I keep forgetting it. So the Inon should work with or without it.

ISO is always set as low as possible -50, 64 or 100 - depending on the camera.