Hutchel
Registered
I thought I'd add my 2 cents to this discussion. First of all we just got back from Cozumel - we did 7 dives (1 at night). This was my 2nd open ocean trip with my DC500 and the first with the digital strobe. I took over 400 pictures - of those I am willing to share about 75. I've got them posted on Yahoo at http://new.photos.yahoo.com/album?c...cXUzd03AAHrqbqYVuYXkQ--&ts=1165241692&.src=ph
These pictures came out pretty good. However for everyone one I am willing to share, there are 3 or 4 that had issues mostly related to the camera (over exposures), strobe (lots of black images), user error or the subject matter not cooperating (moving while waiting for the camera to focus and take the picture).
Issues:
1. The strobe was extremely unreliable. The first day I didn't get it to work at all. (on only 3 days of diving that's a real #@@%#$%).
2. The strobe has a dial for light intensity, and the camera has a shutter setting (macro, normal or far flash). When switching between these settings "Shark Mode" turns off. The internal camera setting and the flash dial tend to work against one another.
3. Even with a 512 mb card, and "Shark Mode" the camera takes longer than I think it should to actually take the picture - this may have to do with the autofocus time - but I am a traditional 35 mm SLR guy who likes to take pictures in a completely manual setting. I expect the shutter to click when I push the button!
4. Image "size". The image appears to be fixed at 72 dpi. On the "larger" settings the image is 35"x22" (ish). The "fine" and "sharpness" appears to refer to the compression ratio used for the resulting JPG image - not the final resolution of the image - even on the highest image - which still results in a 2+mb file, it's still only 72 DPI. Although I can use a photo editor to trade inches for DPI, I would have expected to be able to get a "raw" image.
5. User error - If you have never dove with a camera in current - it's challenging esp when you are trying to conserve air. Basically I tried to setup the camera, compose the shot, etc while drifting towards the subject matter, get in range, point and click - hope everything works, otherwise, it's turn around kick against the current and try again. Between the camera settings, and the unreliability of the strobe, I got quite frustrated. I don't think it would have been that big a deal if I wasn't in current - I'm not moving, readjust and try again, but in current, I really only wanted to make one try. Besides the subject matter tends to move as you well know. A sandy background really @#$%$'s shots up with the strobe - never got a pic I was satisfied with.
6. "Raw" image quality. I am refering to the image as it is stored on the card with no manipulation by me. Everyone of these images in the above link has been doctored to adjust colors, brightness or contrast. I wasn't satisfied with any of them in their original state. The good news was that the pictures were close enough to "salvage" but I expected a bit better than that.
I had great expectations of the strobe, but the reliability is definately an issue.
I am happy with the pics I took that I've shared - I haven't tried setting up a 8x10 yet from the original picture to print - I'm not sure I am going to be happy with those results, but we will see due to the resolution (amount of data available to create the printable image).
Lee
These pictures came out pretty good. However for everyone one I am willing to share, there are 3 or 4 that had issues mostly related to the camera (over exposures), strobe (lots of black images), user error or the subject matter not cooperating (moving while waiting for the camera to focus and take the picture).
Issues:
1. The strobe was extremely unreliable. The first day I didn't get it to work at all. (on only 3 days of diving that's a real #@@%#$%).
2. The strobe has a dial for light intensity, and the camera has a shutter setting (macro, normal or far flash). When switching between these settings "Shark Mode" turns off. The internal camera setting and the flash dial tend to work against one another.
3. Even with a 512 mb card, and "Shark Mode" the camera takes longer than I think it should to actually take the picture - this may have to do with the autofocus time - but I am a traditional 35 mm SLR guy who likes to take pictures in a completely manual setting. I expect the shutter to click when I push the button!
4. Image "size". The image appears to be fixed at 72 dpi. On the "larger" settings the image is 35"x22" (ish). The "fine" and "sharpness" appears to refer to the compression ratio used for the resulting JPG image - not the final resolution of the image - even on the highest image - which still results in a 2+mb file, it's still only 72 DPI. Although I can use a photo editor to trade inches for DPI, I would have expected to be able to get a "raw" image.
5. User error - If you have never dove with a camera in current - it's challenging esp when you are trying to conserve air. Basically I tried to setup the camera, compose the shot, etc while drifting towards the subject matter, get in range, point and click - hope everything works, otherwise, it's turn around kick against the current and try again. Between the camera settings, and the unreliability of the strobe, I got quite frustrated. I don't think it would have been that big a deal if I wasn't in current - I'm not moving, readjust and try again, but in current, I really only wanted to make one try. Besides the subject matter tends to move as you well know. A sandy background really @#$%$'s shots up with the strobe - never got a pic I was satisfied with.
6. "Raw" image quality. I am refering to the image as it is stored on the card with no manipulation by me. Everyone of these images in the above link has been doctored to adjust colors, brightness or contrast. I wasn't satisfied with any of them in their original state. The good news was that the pictures were close enough to "salvage" but I expected a bit better than that.
I had great expectations of the strobe, but the reliability is definately an issue.
I am happy with the pics I took that I've shared - I haven't tried setting up a 8x10 yet from the original picture to print - I'm not sure I am going to be happy with those results, but we will see due to the resolution (amount of data available to create the printable image).
Lee