S95 first pics – Malapascua, Philippines

[dmpaq20]

After contemplating my 2nd underwater setup for over a year I finally made the leap
I purchased the following setup over Christmas from the good folks at reef photo:

Canon Powershot S95 Digital Camera
FIX Housing for Canon S95
Inon D-2000 Strobe
FIX UWL-04 Fisheye WAL
ULCS Base with Single Ball Arm and (2) 5" arms

Misc:
S95 Washabi 1300 mAH extra battery
Panasonic 8 GB Class 10 SDHC
Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable AA batteries
Kata Owl backpack

My first camera was a P&S that just took macro with no external strobe. This was my first experience into shooting with a camera with manual and RAW settings

I received the camera system too late to conduct any pool trials so I decided to just learn as I went diving. I spent the first 2 days without the WAL just to get used to the camera. Started shooting Nemrod’s AV setup, the first dive my pictures were crap. The second dive I started to feel comfortable with his setup and the pictures improved greatly. It is a simple setup to shoot pics.

On the third day I installed the WAL and began to shoot straight manual, after 2 dives my pictures started to look good. Since this is my first WAL I was simply blown away by what I could do with it. It just opened a new world to me. I still like my macro but the WAL is just amazing as to what you can do with it. Depending on the dive site, I would install the WAL before I got onto the boat, no caddy for this boy!

On battery life, shooting with a minimal flash and using the Washabi battery exclusively I was able to get 2-3 dives shooting ~200 pics in total before a recharge. Which as jut okay. The Sanyo Eneloops for the D-2000 strobe could go 4 days easy, these are super nice batteries.

Thanks to everyone on this board for your reviews/questions as I soaked them up like a sponge.
A very special thanks to Nemrod (Jim) and Gilligan (Jim) who helped me with this purchase, you guys are awesome!

You be the judge, here are a few pics, The remaining can be found on my website Dave Paquin's Photos look at the featured gallery on the top

Constructive criticism is more than welcome

Thanks, Dave

 

[dmpaq20]

more pics

 

[diver 85]

Good 3 pics in your post ---will go to the link in a little while..One Q. though, where did you get the 1300 battery??...I have only 2 1000's with mine, 1 Canon battery that came with camera & the other an after market ordered @ same time as camera...Thanks for your help.....

EDIT: do you plan on getting a macro lens for your rig???....

 

[dmpaq20]

Diver 85,

The battery is from Blue Nook: Amazon.com: Wasabi Power® Battery for Canon PowerShot S95: Electronics

Yea I am thinking of adding a Inon macro lens at some point

 

[muzikbiz22]

Diver 85,

The battery is from Blue Nook: Amazon.com: Wasabi Power® Battery for Canon PowerShot S95: Electronics

Yea I am thinking of adding a Inon macro lens at some point

I use the Wasabi battery(s) with my S90. They're great ! Make sure you get the 'Japanese Cell" Wasabi. Got mine from blue Nook, as well. There are a variety of different mAh, too.

 

[Nemrod]

Started shooting Nemrod’s AV setup, the first dive my pictures were crap. The second dive I started to feel comfortable with his setup and the pictures improved greatly. It is a simple setup to shoot pics.

Well, the reason I like the Av set up (settings I an others have specified) as a starting point or as a general purpose setting(s) is that it is SIMPLE and EASY and it does work. You can do pretty much anything with the Av set up as with Manual by using the front ring control set to +/- exposure control and use the rear dial to set your desired aperture.

Of course, Manual control also works very well and with the dual controls it is so easy it is almost a crime not to shoot the little S series camera in full Manual.

Your shots look like you have a good eye for wide angle, fun isn't it, shhhh, don't tell the macro guys there is more than some tiny little snail things to shoot down there, ha! Glad you had fun.

James

 

[Gilligan]

Great job for your first time out, especially with little or no practice.

I especially like the Maroon Clown