Photography Help

[Rumrunner_1492]

I have been diving for a year and I really want to start doing some underwater photography. I don't want to go on the cheap but I also want to keep the overall purchase under $1,000 if at all possible. I am not an advanced photographer by any means but I want something with some functionality besides basic point and shoot so I can grow with the camera and take advantage of different options to get a good picture. I did some research and saw the setup below recommended. Do you feel this is a good setup or is there somthing better I should be looking at? Also, is one strobe good for a novice or should I get two? I appreciate your feedback

Recommended setup:
Canon S95
Canon WP-DC38 Housing
Sea & Sea Strobe Package



I appreciate your help.

Ted

[mjh]

That is a very serviceable package. You will need to add a sync cord. Not a big fan of Flex-arms, in a perfect world I would replace it with a handle/pistol grip and move to a metal strobe arm/clamp system. That way the tray, handle and arms can grow with your system if you upgrade down the road. In addition you may want to consider a focus light. Regardless the S95 is a very capable camera.

[gurnie]

I agree with the above. Ditch the arm for a Ultralight, and add a focus light. Maybe spend a little more money and get the ys-110 strobe, if you ever upgrade the camera you can still use it.

[kevmiami]

Just purchased the ys-110a with Ultralight platform/arm package for about $760 Divervision (shipped from Taiwan - no US warranty). Will use with my existing compact camera setup - zs3, but should grow with me to next rig (probably G12) to go full manual. We will see, should get good results from zs3 first. Looking forward to first dive with it Love the way it should ride out of the way - clipped from top right D-ring to hip right D-ring. Nice benefit of compact shooter. Cheers, Kevin.

[Rumrunner_1492]

Thanks for the feedback. Very helpful. The ultralight does look much better. Is a target light the same as a focus light?

[kevmiami]

Yes - the 110a has built in. Cheers, Kevin

[Mark Derail]

Above kit + better strobe, +1

Then above & UW practice focusing on various objects, so your fingers "know" where to go w/o you looking at the camera, keep your eyes on target, try to keep still, take the shot.

Be prepared for that 1 to 2 second lag time for camera readiness, focus, shot taken.

[kevmiami]

Grooooaaaaannnnn - "Know thy Camera" First started using compact underwater why snorkeling; went to dive to about 18', but had a really bad ear squeeze, so decided to swim across open plain to a shallow reef. Just when I thought this was the dumbest waste of time a huge grey object starts to appear in the distance. Its coming right for me and slowly turns into a 7' manta ray. I hit the record button and turn gently behind it and swim just behind and off on to one side. I was so proud of how steady and smooth I was as kept up with it. She slowly rolls over shows me her belly and then boom - disappears. I hit the record button to stop and then the record light starts blinking ??!!!??? I had not hit the record button hard enough to engage it. The zs3 actually gives you a black screen when it starts recording to make sure you know its recording - DUHHHH!! Definitely practice around the house with the housing on!! Cheers, Kevin.

[Rumrunner_1492]

So with the S100 out would you purchase the S95 or S100?

[mjh]

Due to the price of the S100 it would be hard to do a complete set; camera, housing, tray, handle clamps, arms, sync cord, strobe, and focus light for under $1000. The S95 and S100 are great cameras but don't skimp on lighting. It could be argued that someone with a less expensive housing, but excellent lighting can attain better results than another with an incredible housing and mediocre lighting. Many strobes do have Target Lights, but for anything beyond Macro photography they are of questionable use as they require you to point your strobe directly at your subject. That is not ideal strobe positioning for med-wide angle photography. In a "perfect world" this system would be great with housing, tray, handle, S&S YS110a, and maybe a i-Torch Pro-Mini. Add wide angle and macro external lenses when the budget can handle it. Problem is budgets + Perfect World don't often mix, lol.