SeaLife DC800
- Thread starter firefightermedicdiver
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bornabolt
Registered
skipper, those are fun. shooting the impossible.... in the dark, on a rocking boat in the rain....not exactly ideal conditions, and yet, you still got sometihng fun to look at....good job
SkipperJohn
Contributor
I was impressed with the lack of shutter pause on the camera. I have been shooting digital since forever. Always an avid photographer and working in the computer industry when the first digitals came out I was invited to beta test the camera. A huge clunker with low res that was eventually marketed by Epson (although my beta camera was made by Intel)... but I digress (again)...
I currently use a Nikon L6 for my above water shooting. And that like all my other cameras required me to hold my finger on the shutter release, wait for what seemed like an eternity then poof, when some set of conditions made it happy it would shoot... Maybe.
The DC800 was INSTANT! My eye has been trained to anticipate so in many of the shots I took I shot early expecting a delay. But there was none. It shot FAST! Like my old SLRs. This is great and going to be fantastic underwater (unless this phenomenon was due to the fireworks setting).
I currently use a Nikon L6 for my above water shooting. And that like all my other cameras required me to hold my finger on the shutter release, wait for what seemed like an eternity then poof, when some set of conditions made it happy it would shoot... Maybe.
The DC800 was INSTANT! My eye has been trained to anticipate so in many of the shots I took I shot early expecting a delay. But there was none. It shot FAST! Like my old SLRs. This is great and going to be fantastic underwater (unless this phenomenon was due to the fireworks setting).
jpdunc
Contributor
I have an Olympus SP 350 with an Ikelite housing and strobe, but by the time I put it all together for air travel with the charger, etc., it is a load and the housing takes up so much space in today's luggage constrained air travel world. Since I always carry it on, the bulk and weight can be challenging and aggravating when combined with laptops, regulators, etc.
I just got back from Cozumel and dove with an author who was using the single strobe DC 600 system and it looked so compact and simple to use including video that I am seriously considering a DC 800 system. I'm debating the one strobe versus the two strobe systems.
Obviously the two-strobe model is a bit pricer and will be somewhat heavier and bulkier for travel so what are the Board's thoughts on single or double strobes?
Thanks in advance for any input on my question and any other considerations. Let me also add that I am an absolute amateur photographer.
I just got back from Cozumel and dove with an author who was using the single strobe DC 600 system and it looked so compact and simple to use including video that I am seriously considering a DC 800 system. I'm debating the one strobe versus the two strobe systems.
Obviously the two-strobe model is a bit pricer and will be somewhat heavier and bulkier for travel so what are the Board's thoughts on single or double strobes?
Thanks in advance for any input on my question and any other considerations. Let me also add that I am an absolute amateur photographer.
prskate2
Guest
Well most of us on here have a single strobe system and our pictures come out pretty good. If you want to check some of mine out. Here is a link: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/un...-puerto-rico-dominican-republic-st-croix.html
I have the Reefmaster Mini (Very Small), W/A lens, and a Digital Strobe. I think the pics are pretty good.
Hope this helps. You can check out some more photos in the rest of the Sealife Weekend Diving pics thread.
I have the Reefmaster Mini (Very Small), W/A lens, and a Digital Strobe. I think the pics are pretty good.
Hope this helps. You can check out some more photos in the rest of the Sealife Weekend Diving pics thread.
bornabolt
Registered
jpdunc, I had the same thoughts when ordering mine.(one strobe vs. two)....I liek the control and lighting you can get with two, however, after some debate, I decided to get one.
1) cost difference, it's a lot cheaper
2) much easier to handle for travel etc.
2) with some practice, I think you can get some really great shots just using one strobe. Just need to learn how to control the light direction etc. using diffusers etc
3) you can always add another strobe later to the system if you are unsatisfied, and the cost difference is not that much.
This helped my decision to go for just one strobe at this time....
1) cost difference, it's a lot cheaper
2) much easier to handle for travel etc.
2) with some practice, I think you can get some really great shots just using one strobe. Just need to learn how to control the light direction etc. using diffusers etc
3) you can always add another strobe later to the system if you are unsatisfied, and the cost difference is not that much.
This helped my decision to go for just one strobe at this time....
prskate2
Guest
Yeah, you can always get another strobe later. Once you get really good with one you can get another and be AMAZING. Hahaha.
SkipperJohn
Contributor
How important is the strobe on the DC800? Take into account that most of my pictures will be in the 20 foot depth range in Aruba until I get my cert.
TN Traveler
Contributor
I have taken lots of pictures without a strobe on my DC-500 - some as deep as 90 ft, just using the on camera flash.
I never even used the strobe on a recent trip to the Keys and got lots of great pictures (deepest we got was 25 ft). My wife never uses a strobe.
If you use PhotoShop or another photo image program, they can re-balance the colors so the pictures look fine.
It takes a certain amount of "learning" to effectively use a strobe - I have found that I need to reduce the power on my SL-960D or I wash out a lot of pictures. Also the camera takes some getting used to with a strobe, it does not balance as well and is bulky to handle.
My suggestion, as a beginning diver and underwater photographer - leave the strobe at home and just use the camera alone.
I never even used the strobe on a recent trip to the Keys and got lots of great pictures (deepest we got was 25 ft). My wife never uses a strobe.
If you use PhotoShop or another photo image program, they can re-balance the colors so the pictures look fine.
It takes a certain amount of "learning" to effectively use a strobe - I have found that I need to reduce the power on my SL-960D or I wash out a lot of pictures. Also the camera takes some getting used to with a strobe, it does not balance as well and is bulky to handle.
My suggestion, as a beginning diver and underwater photographer - leave the strobe at home and just use the camera alone.
SkipperJohn
Contributor
Great! Thanks!!!
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