SP350 My Mode Settings - Here ya go!

[Buccaneer]

I posted this in another thread and thought other newbies, like myself, might appreciate it.

Attached is a word doc detailing the setting for the 4 custom proggrammable "MY MODES" settings for the Oly SP350. These are the settings reccomended by Cathy Church's Underwater Photo School. They are for Wide Angle, Macro, Super Macro, and Natural Light. I think it is pretty self explainitory. The left column shows the menu choices in order, as they appear in the My Modes menu. Each consecutive column is labled at the top, and gives the corresponding value of each setting for that particualr mode.

 

[CheddarChick]

Woo Hoo Thanks!!! Sometimes it is such a pain to try a ton of settinsg that don't work

 

[RussR]

cool thanks!

 

[alashas]

Thanks, Buccaneer,

I did a tutorial with Eddie Raphael when he was still with Cathy Church last Jan., and my C5050 was on its last legs, so I purchased an SP350 with TTL. I pretty much used the 5050 as a point and shoot, and am trying to learn to work with the modes on the 350. When we set up my camera at CC's, we only set up modes #1 and #2. Would you explain the #3 "super macro" mode? Are you shooting at an even closer distance than #2?

And, I assume you would use "natural light" #4 for snorkel shots, is that correct?

By the way, I overrode Cathy and turned on my digital zoom

I did a lot of snorkeling at Anegada in the BVI in Sept., and took many of my shots with the "auto" setting. I mention my snorkel trip here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/lesser-antilles/214571-bvi-anegada-snorkel-trip-report-photos.html and that post lists a thread on another message board where I posted my photos.

Thanks again for posting this helpful info, alashas
honeymoon2's photos- powered by SmugMug

 

[Buccaneer]

Thanks, Buccaneer,

I did a tutorial with Eddie Raphael when he was still with Cathy Church last Jan., and my C5050 was on its last legs, so I purchased an SP350 with TTL. I pretty much used the 5050 as a point and shoot, and am trying to learn to work with the modes on the 350. When we set up my camera at CC's, we only set up modes #1 and #2. Would you explain the #3 "super macro" mode? Are you shooting at an even closer distance than #2?

And, I assume you would use "natural light" #4 for snorkel shots, is that correct?

By the way, I overrode Cathy and turned on my digital zoom

I did a lot of snorkeling at Anegada in the BVI in Sept., and took many of my shots with the "auto" setting. I mention my snorkel trip here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/lesser-antilles/214571-bvi-anegada-snorkel-trip-report-photos.html and that post lists a thread on another message board where I posted my photos.

Thanks again for posting this helpful info, alashas
honeymoon2's photos- powered by SmugMug

Yep, on Super Macro, you can get as close as 1 inch to the subject and get some amazing shots! Using this setting, I shot a pic of my wife's eye, and zoomed it in- you can see the tissue structures aound the retina! The only trick is, you have to be a little more steady than regular macro. It doesn't take much movement to blur the shot, but you can do it even underwater.

The natural light setting is great for diving wrecks (especially if you render images black and white). It works good for any shallow wide angle. It also works when you have any big object that you can't fit in the frame and still keep in strobe range. You basically end up sacrificing color, but you don't get any back scatter. IF you can get slightly lower than the subject, so that you are angled towards the surface, you can get some pretty decent shots. A good example for this setting is Stingray City- shallow depth, and large subjects. Check out my pics- the stingray shots were all natural light settigns.

 

[Buccaneer]

Yep, on Super Macro, you can get as close as 1 inch to the subject and get some amazing shots!

One more thing- I forgot! You have to have an external strobe, you are so close the lens port will appear as a shadow in the pic if you don't. Even on land the lens casts a shadow on the picture when you get this close.

When shooting u/w, you position the strobe (lowest setting) at a 90 degree angle to the lens, just outside of the frame.

 

[alashas]

Thanks, very helpful, headed to BVI today, spending tonight in SJU. And yes, I use TTL YS110, at least I hope I'll be using it - had a bit too much corrosion and was not working in Sept. I've replaced bulkhead and cord...

cheers, alashas honeymoon2's photos- powered by SmugMug

 

[gary-ramey]

BTW, Epoque makes a screw on lens for the PT-030 housing that really magnifies the shot. Its an excellent lens and its only like $100 online. I'll warn you that it takes a lot of practice to get it right. The DOF is paper thin.

 

[RoyN]

Thanks, can't wait to try it!

 

[RockyHeap]

Good stuff, thanks buckeye.........I'm a local puget sound diver too, and have been shooting with 2 SP-350's for years. Great camera, and love my camera config listed below.....Just now getting into the manual white balance and my modes.