- Messages
- 779
- Reaction score
- 34
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
As I work as a full time photographer (on land) I was looking into the G12 as a handy little camera to have as a back up to my SLR and to also have for scuba. I have been talked out of the G series by two camera shops now as there are more wide lenses available for the S series housings than the G series. As we are soon to be heading out to the Maldives I am very eager to make my purchase. Is it really critical to get this wide option I wonder? Having spoken to experienced divers it's the magnification factor underwater could be the main reason I now have to consider the S95. Anyone out there with any input on this would be appreciated as to begin with I really had my heart set on the G series. Also I am finding it really hard to see any S90 OR G11 dive shot examples around online.
Cheers for now.
Both cameras are excellent. Choice of housing is important though, because it can limit your options. If you want to shoot wider angle photos, yes, being able to put a wide angle lens on the housing is important. If you want to shoot macro, you don't need it at all, but you may want to add a macro lens.
Regarding the effect water on the lens, it changes the minimum focal length from about 28mm (in 35mm equivalent terms) to about 38mm equivalent, or the corresponding field of view from about 75 degrees to 54 degrees with a flat port. This effect can be reversed with various wide angle adapter add on lenses (which are fully discussed on this board in other posts, with photos, so search for them). But roughly that is the effect.
It sounds like this is your first underwater camera, so you perhaps don't know what you're going to prefer shooting. On land, what do you prefer? Landscapes? Close-ups? Think about that, it might help decide. I can tell that you prefer the G11, probably because it seems more like the pro cameras you are used to. That's a good reason to pick it, all things equal.
The S90 is much better for adding wide angle lenses to, simply because of its lens, and the smaller port on the housing needed. That makes it easier to add a wide lens that won't vignette at the wide setting. The G11 will focus slightly closer than the S90, so it's perhaps better for macro.
If you are not sure, I'd suggest the S90 as it preserves more options. However, the choice of housing will also limit you. The Canon housing does not allow you to spin the rear command dial, which is very useful when doing manual exposure. (There is a workaround, so it's not fatal, just less convenient). You'd have to get the much more expensive Fisheye FIX housing to have that capability. It's a great housing, but not one I would recommend as a first buy.
But if you still like the feel of the G11, try it. There are wide angle adapters for it, just fewer. For instance, on the canon DC34, you can add a Fantasea Bigeye lens, which is effectively a .7 wide converter. That restores the original 28mm wide angle capability of the lens for least cost (about $220). With the Ikelite housing, you can add the WD-4 adapter, which does the same thing but is bigger because the Ikelite port is bigger (about $250). You can easily add TTL strobes to the Ikelite housing, and I suspect you will want to do that.
Last edited: