SP550 Underwater?

[STOGEY]

I just bought a 550 and housing a few weeks ago and I just did my third dive with it. RIght now I'm quite pleased with the results. I did have a minor problems with the flash surpressor at the beginning, because it would fall off. However I found that if I place the thing correctly it will stay on.

Will be posting some photos on the photo imaging section in a while. Just look for Stogey.

One thing that I really like is that last year I had a sea life camera. It was a nice looking camera, but the rechargable battery would last maybe 1 dive at most. With the olympus 550 I've used the same batteries for the last three dives.

 

[Moodiejeff]

Thanks for the input.
Steve - Would love to get your impressions of the picture quality of the SP350. Seen some pics on this site and they don't seem sharp and 'punchy.' Maybe I saw the wrong ones!

There are some good shots out there with the 350, keep searching... my galleries are below. All the pics from Turks & Caicos and my last trip to Cozumel are taken with my SP-350, Inon Z240 (?) strobe and Oly Housing.

Most of the Coz pics were taken in Aperture priority, T&C was full manual.

Here's a quick link, i would suggest looking at them in a slideshow on Flickr (if you're interested that is) as you get the largest size for your screen.

BTW - I will be looking with interest at the new Canons when they come out...

 

[ReefHugger]

Nice pics, MoodieJeff. Like the ray a lot and much of the close ups.

As to your interest in the new Canons. Have a look at this thread:
http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18903
Awesome pics, but don't know what to believe - novice?? freediver?? "from 8'"?"from 10'"? no flash? silt? Boggles the mind.

Also, suggest that you include the Nikon P5000/P5100 in your interest. See my other post in Flash Dance "Ikelite converters". The major difference between the Canons and the Nikons is RAW. I have in recent times downgraded the importance of RAW. I have been playing with Camera Raw and it does some miraculous stuff even with jpeg.

 

[yukoneer]

ReefHugger - heres my pics taken with a SP320 with the Olympus housing, using internal flash or ambient lighting.

http://www.yukoneer.com/bonaire2007/matt/

 

[ReefHugger]

Very nice pics, Yukoneer, thanks. Really like the macro of the shrimp - mag quality. Didn't even consider the 320, so completely overshadowed by 350.

I am 80% leaning towards (biting the bullet) the Nikon P5000/5100 and Fantasea housing.

 

[juliediver]

ReefHugger,
I am new to pictures and the web, but I have the SP350 and use an Ikelite housing. I am still working on getting things to mesh, but I have a friend with the same set up (and 2 external stobes) who routinely publishes his pics. They are great! I have a DS125 external stobe. I've gotten some helpful advice from Gilligan, and am having better sucess. My camera setup is very easy to use, it has external lens that can be fitted on the housing. I have used the macro settings and the zooms- both work great when I manage to do everything right.
Good luck!