Hi guys I leave on a trip within a week and have been all over these boards but still seem to be at a loss for certain basics.
THE EQUIPMENT I WILL HAVE ON HAND IS:
- Panasonic DMC ZS7, (for video / stills)
- Camera Specs: Panasonic unveils DMC-ZS7 / TZ10 with built-in GPS: Digital Photography Review
- Ikelite housing
- UR Pro filter for blue tropical water
- Pro-V8 LED light
- Shooting in RAW is not an option
- http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/zs7.../functions.html
- http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/zs7...ifications.html
At the tail end of this I have listed the tech info on the camera, or you can go to the link for the camera above so that you can see what functions it has to see what it is best that I use.
LOCATION:
Various Eastern Caribbean islands over approx. 10 days. Some snorkeling, some scuba.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED SO FAR:
- You need to be down a few feet or so before you can use the red filter.
- You cannot use the red filter when using the light.
- There should be enough light to about 40 50 ft.
- I need to do a decent amount of trial and error. (My underwater time will be limited so I am looking to hit the ground running thus the many questions to the group. My apologies if you have answered these a ton of times already
MY QUESTIONS:
1) Do I set the white balance with the filter on the camera? Or the filter off the camera? Or Both? Does it matter ?
2) If I find myself in an area that feel if not very bright and take the filter off to try the light I will def. have a blue ting to the image even with some OK light close up?
3) If I have a turtle swimming past at close range, say 10 feet deep, on an overcast day and I turn the light on the image will had a rend tinge if I have the filter on?
4) Follow up to #3 if I would have a red tinge to the image then it is best to turn light off and keep the filter on?
5) MAIN AREA OF CONFUSION - I have read so much on line about UW camera settings, I want to be sure the photos are as crisp as they can be with this particular camera, do not know if I should mess with the ISO and if I try a shutter speed priority, etc, etc? There is a full intelligent mode that will even make it go macro if I need it to but that setting DOES NOT allow manual white balance. So what would be the better trade off???
CAMERA FEATURES / SPECS:
Panasonic unveils DMC-ZS7 / TZ10 with built-in GPS: Digital Photography Review
http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/zs7...ifications.html
Sensor
1/2.33" Type CCD
14.5 million pixels total
12.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes
4:3 Aspect Ratio: 4000 x 3000, 3264 x 2448, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480
3:2 Aspect Ratio: 44176 x 2784, 3392 x 2264, 2656 x 1768, 2048 x 1360, 640 x 424
16:9 Aspect Ratio: 4320 x 2432, 3552 x 2000, 2784 x 1568 , 1920 x 1080, 640 x 360
Movie clips
1280x720 pixels @ 30fps
NTSC Mode: NTSC model: 60p(CCD output is 30p) / PAL model: 50p(CCD output is 25p)
(AVCHD Lite, GSH, SH: 17Mbps / GH, H:13Mbps / GL, L:9Mbps )
/ 30fps (Motion JPEG)
4:3: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels @ 30 fps
16:9: 848 x 480 pixels @ 30 fps
Motion JPEG
File formats
Still Image: JPEG(DCF/Exif2.21)
Motion picture: AVCHD Lite / QuickTime Motion JPEG
Lens
12x optical zoom
25 - 300mm (35mm equiv.)
f=4.1-49.2mm
F3.3 - 4.9
LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR
10 elements in 8 groups
Image stabilization
Power O.I.S lens-shift stabilization
Digital zoom
Yes, up to 4x
Focus
Normal
Macro
Zoom Macro
Quick AF On/Off (On in Intelligent Auto)
Continuous AF On/Off
AF Tracking
AF area modes
Face / AF tracking
11-point
1-point high speed
1-point
Spot
AF assist lamp
Yes
Focus distance
Normal: Wide 50cm - infinity, Tele 200 cm - infinity
Macro / Intelligent AUTO/ Clipboard: Wide 3 cm / Tele 100 cm - infinity
Metering
Intelligent Multiple
Centre-weighted
Spot
ISO sensitivity
Auto
80
100
200
400
800
1600
High Sensitivity Mode : Auto (1600 - 6400)
Exposure compensation
± 2EV, 1/3EV steps
Exposure bracketing
± 1/3 EV ~ 1EV step, 3 frames
Shutter speed
60-1/2000 sec
Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec
Aperture
F3.3 - 4.9/ Multistage Iris Diaphragm (F3.3 - 6.3 (W) / F4.9 - 6.3 (T)
Modes
Intelligent AUTO
Program AE
Aperture Priority AE
Shutter Priority AE
Manual
Custom
SCN
My SCN 1
My SCN 2
Clipboard
Scene modes
Portrait
Soft Skin
Transform
Self-Portrait
Scenery
Panorama Assist
Sports
Night Portrait
Night Scenery
Food
Party
Candle Light
Baby1
Baby2
Pet
Sunset
High sensitivity
Hi-Speed Burst
Flash Burst
Starry Sky
Fireworks
Beach
Snow
Aerial photo
Pinhole
Film Grain
High Dynamic (Standard, Art, B&W)
Photo Frame
Underwater
White balance
Auto
Daylight
Cloudy
Shade
Halogen
White Set
Self timer
2, 10 sec
Continuous shooting
Full-Resolution Image
2.3 frames/sec Max. 5 images (Standard mode), Max 3 images (Fine Mode)
High-speed Burst Mode:
Approx. 6.0 frames/sec (image priority)
Approx. 10 frames/sec (speed priority)
(recorded in 3M for 4:3, 2.5M for 3:2, 2M for 16:9)
Image parameters
Standard, Black & White, Sepia, Cool, Warm, Happy (only in iA Mode)
Flash
Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
0.6 - 5.3m (Wide/ISO Auto), 1.0 - 3.6m (Tele/ISO Auto)
Viewfinder
No
LCD monitor
3.0" TFT LCD Display
460K dots
Field of View : approx. 100%
AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode
Connectivity
USB2.0 High speed
AV Output (NTSC/PAL)
miniHDMI
DC Input
Print compliance
PictBridge
DPOF
Storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card
15MB internal memory
Power
Li-ion battery
Charger included
AC adaptor (optional)
Weight (no batt)
196 g
Weight (with batt)
218g
Dimensions
103.3 x 59.6 x 32.6 mm
(4.07 x 2.35 x 1.28 in)
THE EQUIPMENT I WILL HAVE ON HAND IS:
- Panasonic DMC ZS7, (for video / stills)
- Camera Specs: Panasonic unveils DMC-ZS7 / TZ10 with built-in GPS: Digital Photography Review
- Ikelite housing
- UR Pro filter for blue tropical water
- Pro-V8 LED light
- Shooting in RAW is not an option
- http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/zs7.../functions.html
- http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/zs7...ifications.html
At the tail end of this I have listed the tech info on the camera, or you can go to the link for the camera above so that you can see what functions it has to see what it is best that I use.
LOCATION:
Various Eastern Caribbean islands over approx. 10 days. Some snorkeling, some scuba.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED SO FAR:
- You need to be down a few feet or so before you can use the red filter.
- You cannot use the red filter when using the light.
- There should be enough light to about 40 50 ft.
- I need to do a decent amount of trial and error. (My underwater time will be limited so I am looking to hit the ground running thus the many questions to the group. My apologies if you have answered these a ton of times already
MY QUESTIONS:
1) Do I set the white balance with the filter on the camera? Or the filter off the camera? Or Both? Does it matter ?
2) If I find myself in an area that feel if not very bright and take the filter off to try the light I will def. have a blue ting to the image even with some OK light close up?
3) If I have a turtle swimming past at close range, say 10 feet deep, on an overcast day and I turn the light on the image will had a rend tinge if I have the filter on?
4) Follow up to #3 if I would have a red tinge to the image then it is best to turn light off and keep the filter on?
5) MAIN AREA OF CONFUSION - I have read so much on line about UW camera settings, I want to be sure the photos are as crisp as they can be with this particular camera, do not know if I should mess with the ISO and if I try a shutter speed priority, etc, etc? There is a full intelligent mode that will even make it go macro if I need it to but that setting DOES NOT allow manual white balance. So what would be the better trade off???
CAMERA FEATURES / SPECS:
Panasonic unveils DMC-ZS7 / TZ10 with built-in GPS: Digital Photography Review
http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/zs7...ifications.html
Sensor
1/2.33" Type CCD
14.5 million pixels total
12.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes
4:3 Aspect Ratio: 4000 x 3000, 3264 x 2448, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480
3:2 Aspect Ratio: 44176 x 2784, 3392 x 2264, 2656 x 1768, 2048 x 1360, 640 x 424
16:9 Aspect Ratio: 4320 x 2432, 3552 x 2000, 2784 x 1568 , 1920 x 1080, 640 x 360
Movie clips
1280x720 pixels @ 30fps
NTSC Mode: NTSC model: 60p(CCD output is 30p) / PAL model: 50p(CCD output is 25p)
(AVCHD Lite, GSH, SH: 17Mbps / GH, H:13Mbps / GL, L:9Mbps )
/ 30fps (Motion JPEG)
4:3: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels @ 30 fps
16:9: 848 x 480 pixels @ 30 fps
Motion JPEG
File formats
Still Image: JPEG(DCF/Exif2.21)
Motion picture: AVCHD Lite / QuickTime Motion JPEG
Lens
12x optical zoom
25 - 300mm (35mm equiv.)
f=4.1-49.2mm
F3.3 - 4.9
LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR
10 elements in 8 groups
Image stabilization
Power O.I.S lens-shift stabilization
Digital zoom
Yes, up to 4x
Focus
Normal
Macro
Zoom Macro
Quick AF On/Off (On in Intelligent Auto)
Continuous AF On/Off
AF Tracking
AF area modes
Face / AF tracking
11-point
1-point high speed
1-point
Spot
AF assist lamp
Yes
Focus distance
Normal: Wide 50cm - infinity, Tele 200 cm - infinity
Macro / Intelligent AUTO/ Clipboard: Wide 3 cm / Tele 100 cm - infinity
Metering
Intelligent Multiple
Centre-weighted
Spot
ISO sensitivity
Auto
80
100
200
400
800
1600
High Sensitivity Mode : Auto (1600 - 6400)
Exposure compensation
± 2EV, 1/3EV steps
Exposure bracketing
± 1/3 EV ~ 1EV step, 3 frames
Shutter speed
60-1/2000 sec
Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec
Aperture
F3.3 - 4.9/ Multistage Iris Diaphragm (F3.3 - 6.3 (W) / F4.9 - 6.3 (T)
Modes
Intelligent AUTO
Program AE
Aperture Priority AE
Shutter Priority AE
Manual
Custom
SCN
My SCN 1
My SCN 2
Clipboard
Scene modes
Portrait
Soft Skin
Transform
Self-Portrait
Scenery
Panorama Assist
Sports
Night Portrait
Night Scenery
Food
Party
Candle Light
Baby1
Baby2
Pet
Sunset
High sensitivity
Hi-Speed Burst
Flash Burst
Starry Sky
Fireworks
Beach
Snow
Aerial photo
Pinhole
Film Grain
High Dynamic (Standard, Art, B&W)
Photo Frame
Underwater
White balance
Auto
Daylight
Cloudy
Shade
Halogen
White Set
Self timer
2, 10 sec
Continuous shooting
Full-Resolution Image
2.3 frames/sec Max. 5 images (Standard mode), Max 3 images (Fine Mode)
High-speed Burst Mode:
Approx. 6.0 frames/sec (image priority)
Approx. 10 frames/sec (speed priority)
(recorded in 3M for 4:3, 2.5M for 3:2, 2M for 16:9)
Image parameters
Standard, Black & White, Sepia, Cool, Warm, Happy (only in iA Mode)
Flash
Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
0.6 - 5.3m (Wide/ISO Auto), 1.0 - 3.6m (Tele/ISO Auto)
Viewfinder
No
LCD monitor
3.0" TFT LCD Display
460K dots
Field of View : approx. 100%
AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode
Connectivity
USB2.0 High speed
AV Output (NTSC/PAL)
miniHDMI
DC Input
Print compliance
PictBridge
DPOF
Storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card
15MB internal memory
Power
Li-ion battery
Charger included
AC adaptor (optional)
Weight (no batt)
196 g
Weight (with batt)
218g
Dimensions
103.3 x 59.6 x 32.6 mm
(4.07 x 2.35 x 1.28 in)
