What type of Digital Camera Setup do you have

[scuba_adventurer]

It is interesting to compare your opinions on strobe options with my own.

I like the strobe options you get with the Tetra better than the options from the Olympus housings. I too plan on using the YS 90dx, but instead of in ttl mode with the fiber optic cable like you have to do with the Olympus, I will use either a Nikonos or Wetlink style sync cord. I have heard, mainly from the sales rep at Light and Motion and Herb at Cathy Church's shop in Cayman that ttl is goofy in the underwater digital systems, and it is preferable to shoot in manual strobe mode, rather than using the camera's ttl system.

I have never tried either of the systems, and Ideally I could before buying one (especially the Tetra, since it is a lot more cash). I think I would rather set the strobe settings myself, especially since you can view the results right after the photo is taken and you can make needed adjustments from there.

Does anybody out there have any experience with either the Ikelite or YS 90 with and Ikelite or Olympus Housing shooting ttl mode underwater? The guy in the Rodales article never could get his to work right, but it sounds like a defective strobe, not a problem with the camera.

 

[Dee]

One of my reasons for the PT-10/S&S 90DX combo is that you use the camera in manual mode...I don't care for TTL very much. In case you missed it, here's Jeff's take on the strobe...S&S 90DX review

To save the digital battery, I can set the camera on the lowest flash strength which is all it takes to trigger the 90DX's slave. I can then choose one of the 12 strobe strength settings for what I need.

To save over $500 on the housing, this system would suit me just fine. Plus, I can use the strobe with my S&S MMIIex.

 

[WetDane]

Hi Dee,

I have noticed that a couple of people have the olympus camera and I wonder what you have for manual controls if any?

I have a Sony DSC-P1 and I like it - but have found that it is hard to focus and certainly hard to control exposure on.
Does any digital cameras have the same functionalit as say a manual SLR? how much of that is still available underwater?

Futher - does anyone know if there is a thing that will show the distance (for focus purposes) from the lens during macro?

Thanks,
Big T

 

[boydski]

Originally posted by WetDane
Ive noticed that a couple of people have the olympus camera and I wonder what you have for manual controls if any?

I use an Olympus 3030z with everything in Manual Mode ( except focus). The Auto focus seems to work very well if I give it time to focus ( generally depress the shutter release half way for a second or two to "fix" the focus ) and if there is enough ambient light.

On my Cold Water dives ( Puget Sound area ), the camera sometimes has trouble focusing without a focus light ( which I use at times ).

Changing f-stops, speeds, etc are easily done underwater using the back control buttons over the LCD screen ( Tetra Housing). In theory, you can also "manually" focus the camera, but I don't think the LCD is clear enough to make it work very well.

Boydski

 

[Dee]

WetDane....I've had those same questions. I'm still trying to decide which way to go with digital...keep my Nikon CP-880 and get an Ikelite housing or go with Olympus all the way.

You might want to check this out for some of the answers... http://www.scubadiving.com/talk/read.php?f=1&i=385191&t=385191

Jeff, aka Sharpdiver, has been very instrumental in testing the Olympus system underwater and he can answer your questions way better than I can. He's working on a new report now that will answer alot more questions for everyone.