should I use some kind of filter in Sharm?

[divergal]

off to Sharm soonish and was looking at the magic filters and dont know if I should get one or not. I am a very noobie newperson and have only taken 1 lot of macro shots which I was well pleased at-have the fuji F31fd- and that was in the UK. being Sharm the max depth I will be at will be 30m but the magic filter site recomends they are used at a shallower depth than that so now I dont know. I am hoping to take a mixture of shots from macro to scenic views and will rely on the camera flash as i dont yet have a strobe or anything. Comments would be much appreciated.

[Cussy]

You are going to get a lot of answers saying yes and saying no. It's very subjective.

I have no experience of filters, and have not felt the need to buy one. If you look at these from Sharm:
Cussy/Red Sea 2007 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Half the photos were taken with an external strobe, but I had cable problems on Day 3, so for three days didn't have a strobe at all. (Sorry but these are taken from a photo album, so they aren't in chronological order). I would say in general all wide-angle shots are natural light.

So if you decide not to I would suggest you shoot in RAW (if you can), set white balance at a mid-depth (say 15m) and keep it on that. Then using a programme that lets you post-process for white balance (Adobe Lightroom is good for this) then fine tune the white balance afterwards. You can download LR and get it for free for 30 days. If you have a filter on and flash then you'll have to fine tune the white-balance anyway as it will appear red.

Thats my opinion. Tim has experience of Magic's so might have a different view.

Rob

PS enjoy Sharm. As you often get to dive the same reef on different days why not take a filter, dive one day with it and one day without and see what you think?

[divergal]

Originally Posted by Cussy

So if you decide not to I would suggest you shoot in RAW (if you can), set white balance at a mid-depth (say 15m) and keep it on that.

Sadly my little Fuji doesnt have a RAW option but I will have a play with the white balance. Luckily I have Adope Photoshop so can play to my hearts content on that once I have the shots.

As you often get to dive the same reef on different days why not take a filter, dive one day with it and one day without and see what you think?

never thought of that!!

PS Love your photo's. If mine are like that I shall be very happy indeed

[Cussy]

Some on here may disagree, but I find you have to get white balance closer with Jpeg than you do with RAW. There seems to be only so much you can post-WB a jpeg image. So this is a reason why a magic filter might be a good option.

If you take control of the camera (not let it do the thinking) then there is no reason why your Fuji wont capture images like mine. The camera is just a tool. My best advice would be don't look down on things and if you can shoot looking slightly upwards. Try and replicate images you've seen others do!!
Rob

[TimIngmire]

Take a look at M A G I C - F I L T E R S

If you can auto WB then go for the standard filter, if not then buy the Auto Magic - not quite as good but better than nothing.

Take a look at my photos from the Bahamas earlier this year: http://www.digigreen.net/photopost//...ry.php/cat/526
The photos on the big scenic shots were taken using magic filters - I really like them but they aren't to everyones taste.

[Jules]

my opinion is, especially if you dont have a strobe, to try a magic filter. They work well when there's lots of available light for wide angle shots. you probably wont see too much difference for close ups if you a re using the flash as it will be the right colour anyhow.

but as Rob says, try and experiement and see ahat works best for your set up, that's half the fun

jules

[divergal]

I have just been having a quick look at the magic filter web site- and it was quick so I may have missed it- but from what I understand the filter is a plastic like film you put over the lens? But is it re-useable? It may be perfect for Sharm but possibly not for the Uk so it it a case of effectively put it on and use it then throw it away or if you carefully peel it off and re-use it? My miserly side is coming in here as i am thinking otherwise I am paying £19 for a piece of sticky film that I can use once!

[Acero]

Peel off and re-use, a friend of mine has just used the magic filter and said that while it was great down to 12M after that his camera was pretty much useless because the filter is in the housing and the flash just makes everything look wrong.

[TimIngmire]

The filters are perfectly re-usable, they aren't stick on as such. Actually thinking about it, you could use a UR-pro filter which screws onto the front of your port and therefore you can take it off if you don't want it for a particular shot - the magic filters you have inside the housing so they are there for the whole dive.

[robindotadams]

i've used an UR Screw on filter... it helps... once you've messed around with flash etc. only problem is the cost £99 if I remember rightly.

Remember only works down to a certain depth with the available light