Which camera?

[lloydwatkin]

The problem with a digital camera is many of them retract the lens after a certain set period of non-use. The housing might come in use here. You could grip the lens part of the housing with something you can knock together to hold the camera in position. Usually you use a t-ring (? it's been a few years) to fit the camera, if it doesn't have a fixed lens (i.e. doesn't retract). IIRC A-series have a ring you can move into which you can screw lenses (well my old one did).

A nice thing to do with the telescope is to buy a hi-res webcam, pull it apart and put it in a box with a lens holder. Nice cheap introduction to digital astrophotography

Lloyd

[David A]

Whatever you go for, try and get something that shoots RAW.

At risk of being flamed etc. if this sets off another "what's so great about RAW" thing, I'm sorry, but you just can't be using it.

[Debs]

I've got an Ixus - stunning pics, hardly any shutter lag, manual controls eg WB easy to use

divingdebs - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

and also a Brucie bonus - it takes very acceptable video



(as I've had to compress it for the best quality go to the bottom right corner of the video screen and click on the left of the two buttons, this gives the picture a black border and better quality pictures)

Nothing like a little more information to really get you confused!

[Kat]

Hi all,

Well, it looks like events may have overtaken me slightly as I've just managed to win myself an Oly 5050 complete with PT-015 housing for £200 on ebay. Assuming its in fine working order what are peoples' experience of using this camera? I have in the past read lots of good things about these. Any advice on getting started with it? I've already been looking at some threads over on digigreen which have been helpful.

The camera doesn't come with any memory. Could someone please advise me as to what is the best memory card to use in this camera? I believe it takes both XD picture cards and compact flash.

[caboose]

At risk of being flamed etc. if this sets off another "what's so great about RAW" thing, I'm sorry, but you just can't be using it.

RAW is the only way to shoot if you have the chance, if people say don't use it then they don't know what there talking about. bit harsh from a new member but thats the way it is

Well, it looks like events may have overtaken me slightly as I've just managed to win myself an Oly 5050 complete with PT-015 housing for £200 on ebay. Assuming its in fine working order what are peoples' experience of using this camera? I have in the past read lots of good things about these. Any advice on getting started with it? I've already been looking at some threads over on digigreen which have been helpful.

The camera doesn't come with any memory. Could someone please advise me as to what is the best memory card to use in this camera? I believe it takes both XD picture cards and compact flash.

good camera that and not a bad price. friends got one and he does a lot of nice stuff with it. if memory serves me right it has full manual mode, white balance, and RAW mode too. Compact flash cards are probably better to get. a couple of 2GB cards will cost about £45 from somewhere like pricestorm. i'd rather have a few smaller cards than a large one incase it breaks. could allways stick a small XD in too if you run out of space of the flash card fails.

[uwila]

Originally Posted by Kat

Well, it looks like events may have overtaken me slightly as I've just managed to win myself an Oly 5050 complete with PT-015 housing for £200 on ebay. Assuming its in fine working order what are peoples' experience of using this camera? I have in the past read lots of good things about these. Any advice on getting started with it? I've already been looking at some threads over on digigreen which have been helpful.

If you haven't already got it, buy a copy of "The Underwater Photographer: Digital and Traditional Techniques" by Martin Edge. I read it just before going to Egypt and it made a huge difference to the pictures I was able to get.

Get a strobe - one of these is very good: Alan James - For all you need in underwater photography
and use the camera in full manual mode. You can use the strobe setting to expose the foreground and the apperture/speed to determine if the background should be blue/light or black/dark. Martin's book tells you what to do. Set this up in one of the 'My Mode's because if you change exposure settings when the dial is set to 'M' and you remove your batteries to recharge them, any saved changes are lost. I spent one whole dive using a shutter speed of 1/1000 because I didn't know this.

Some of my shots with this camera can be seen here:
Sharm via Explorers

This was the first time I had ever used manual on a digital camera and it was only the second week I had ever used a digital underwater, so I was very pleased by the pictures I got - and it was all down to Martin's book. The only other time I had used that camera underwater, the results were so bad I will never show any of them!

There's quite a long shutter lag, so you'll need to anticipate any fish movements, or just take shots of slow movers! It's not too bad once you get used to it, but don't be surprised if you get a lot of fish arses the first few dives

Originally Posted by Kat

The camera doesn't come with any memory. Could someone please advise me as to what is the best memory card to use in this camera? I believe it takes both XD picture cards and compact flash.

Yes, it takes both but the CF cannot be bigger than 2 GBytes. A couple of 2 GByte ones should serve you well. Even if the card is almost empty, swap the cards over for a 2nd dive if there are any shots you're happy with - just in case some disaster hits you on the 2nd dive.

Get a cheap xD as well, but normally leave it empty - it's your 'thank goodness I have some space left' life saver when a manta hovers over you on your safety stop. This did happen to me when I was using a film camera and I did have some frames left! Unlike my German dive buddy, who knew a surprising number of English swear words and used them all back on deck


Good luck, Chris

[Kat]

Thanks for all yourr advice folks. My camera arrived today. Just waiting for a sandisk ultra 2gb card to turn up now, then I can play!

One question, is the PADI underwater digital specialty worth doing or is it a waste of money?

[uwila]

Originally Posted by Kat

One question, is the PADI underwater digital specialty worth doing or is it a waste of money?

Depends entirely upon your current knowledge of digital cameras and the instructor. Ask to see some of their shots first and try to get an idea if they know what they're talking about.

If you're already pretty clued up about land photography, then you might not gain too much extra from the course. Consider that it costs £350 for a 1 to 1 course (half a day theory and half a day in a pool) with one of the best u/w photographers around and compare that with what you might get on a general course:
Underwater Photography, The Underwater Photographer, Edge Underwater Photography

Cheers, Chris

[caboose]

One question, is the PADI underwater digital specialty worth doing or is it a waste of money?

All depends on the instructor and how good they are. i'm sure there are a lot of people on here that could give you help and pointers. me being one

[richarddbarker]

Kat, hope I'm wrong but I don't think anything more than a 1gb card will work with the 5050. Assume you mean a compact flash 2gb card . Biggest xd card that works is 512k.

If you want a basic macro setting I would suggest something like this. Macro is an easy way to start but don't try zooming in. I would recommend setting this as one of your MyModes.

Mode Setting : P
Exposure Comp : -0.7
Flash Mode : Auto
Light Metering : Spot
Auto Focus/Macro
AF Mode: Spot

If you are interested in RAW then the 5050 handles it pretty well. I think you'll find it will really improve your none flash photos.

Shooting RAW

Hope you enjoy the new camera.