sp-350

[merxlin]

So after being on the fence about buying an U/W camera, I finally took the plunge and bought an SP-350 w/PT-030. I checked a number of outlets both regular and online. I was concerned that many places are out of stock, or have dropped the camera. My feeling is it is being discontinued and replaced. However, given the amazing level of experience and expertise available here, I bought it anyway. I know I don't know what I am doing with it, so it will be much easier to learn from those who know, than try to figure out something new. And typically now, that something new will be .5mp more and a different colored case.

BTW, I ordered from B&H on Wednesday afternoon, and got the camera this morning for $30 shipping. Camera, Housing, 1gb card, extra silica and O-rings was less than $575 with the shipping, all new in box and fully warranteed.

Thanks to everyone here for all your help to the others with questions. It also helps those of us that just drift with the threads.

 

[LindaBluedolphin]

Merxlin - It really is pretty simple to use, I tried to make it more complicated and kept asking Larry questions. Play with it on land a bit first, I am real happy with my first results. Also why $30 for shipping did you have it expedited? Where in So Cal are you, that is where I was certified.


SharkBite - when you say format the card what do you mean? I have never had to format a card just put it in and used it. When I download to my computer I delete whatever was on the card so it is clean for the next time (is that what you mean by format). When I think format I think doing something to it so you can use it in the first place.

Question for whoever----what is a magic filter?

 

[shark.byte.usa]

SharkBite - when you say format the card what do you mean? I have never had to format a card just put it in and used it. When I download to my computer I delete whatever was on the card so it is clean for the next time (is that what you mean by format). When I think format I think doing something to it so you can use it in the first place.

Well formatting the card is basically erasing the card, I think it also creates a directory on the card [Oly100mp or something like that]for pictures in case you use the card with more than 1 camera. [Mode Menu -> Card -> Format]. I don't use the Oly download cable and associated software, I have enough image management and manipulation programs on my computer [Photoshop CS, Picasa 2, Macromedia Fireworks MX, etc, etc, etc], so I use a USB xD card reader, so the card is shown as another harddrive on my computer and I just copy everything off of it into My pictures or something. I had it plugged in for quite awhile after my last session, a few days as a matter of fact, so I'll remember to unplug it right after I copy, this was the first time I hadn't done that. Windows may have accessed the drive to do something like an AV scan and did something permission wise or corrupted a file so the camera had a hard time using the xD after. Everthing seems hunky-dory now.

Garrett

 

[merxlin]

Merxlin - It really is pretty simple to use, I tried to make it more complicated and kept asking Larry questions. Play with it on land a bit first, I am real happy with my first results. Also why $30 for shipping did you have it expedited? Where in So Cal are you, that is where I was certified.


I'm in the Pasadena area. Had it sent second day so I can play with it this weekend. I have a real photographer visiting and she's going to help. I'm going to Little Cayman in weeks and couldn't go without getting some pictures.

 

[LindaBluedolphin]

Shark thanks, I understand now, I use the cable so I never played with any of the other settings. My computer is so old I am lucky to have a slot for the cable hookup. I am looking at upgrading, but I tend to drag my fins on such things.

Merxlin, thanks. Have fun on your trip.

 

[shark.byte.usa]

Well shot some video on Saturday, kindof grainy, I think I had a setting wrong for the conditions, but it was my 1st try. Also even though I had a freshly charged CRV3, I got a low battery warning very shortly into the first dive and it died at the end of my second. I didn't do the firmware upgrade cause I was using CRV3's not AA, but maybe I'll do it anyway.

Here's the video
http://www.getbentscuba.com/scorpion_bay.php#sbvideo

Garrett

P.S. Video edited with Ulead VideoStudio 10 Trial.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Well, had two long dives in near perfect conditions today. Shot about 135 pics ... would've had some good ones ... except every damn one of them is overexposed. Last week I was playing around with settings, but I think I put everything back the way I had it. I cannot for the life of me figure out what's caused this ... but every pic is washed out.

I'm beginning to really hate this camera ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[LindaBluedolphin]

Bob,

My experience with the camera is when you turn it of then turn it on again it goes back to the default settings. I did not mess too much with all the other settings. I figured out how to use the MyMode settings, but found it was easier to just manually change the settings. The hardest part to remember is to change from HQ to SHQ espeically if I am going from "wide angle" to "macro" on the same trip.

Did you check out my "first try" results? They really weren't bad at all for a fisrt attempt, and by far better then anything I ever got with film.

Good luck.

 

[donblume]

Larry C,

I have Photo Shop 5.0 which I think does not support Raw converters. Does PhotoShop Elements support Adobe's Raw converters? Or is there another Plug-in that will do it?

Thanks, Don Blume

 

[Larry C]

Yes, Elements 4 does support RAW. I have PS7. They used to have a RAW converter for it for sale, but dropped it. I do the conversions with Rawshooter essentials (free download) and then crop, resize and fix the backscatter in PS7. Only thing about Rawshooter is you need a fairly current computer. All the graphics programs like at least 512 of RAM, otherwise they just crawl. My AMD 950 wouldn't support it, so I ended up buying a new computer. Thankfully, PC's have gotten really cheap. We paid $2800 for that old one, and I just got a brand new dual core 3800+ for like $750 with all the bells and whistles. It's a rocket.