Wide Angle - The Basics

[Mark]

I get quite good results from my compact. Tim has seen some photos I have printed out on A4 and thought they came out well (maybe he was being nice).

I bought external strobes that could be used on any camera (slave or TTL), I use them as slaves with my compact and it seems to work well. I also use a ULCS tray and arms which could also be used with a DSLR, the only thing I would need to change now would be the camera and housing. I'll just wait for a cheap DSLR to appear

[KenByrne]

I think there's quite a bit of snobbery about compacts from DSLR owners. I try not to be guilty of that. In general I'd say that any camera is just a tool and it's the person using it that matters. I actually think you have to work a little bit harder to get good results from a compact because there are some limitations and you have to work around them. That said you can get pictures with a compact when a DSLR housing just won't fit.

I think most people who spend money on a DSLR and housing are pretty serious about there photography whereas with compacts because of their lower price and ease of use you find a lot of happy snappers own them. But when someone takes there time to learn how to use their camera and takes their time to think about the shot they're taking then the results can be just as good.

[big_si]

Originally Posted by KenByrne

I think there's quite a bit of snobbery about compacts from DSLR owners. I try not to be guilty of that. In general I'd say that any camera is just a tool and it's the person using it that matters. I actually think you have to work a little bit harder to get good results from a compact because there are some limitations and you have to work around them. That said you can get pictures with a compact when a DSLR housing just won't fit.

I think most people who spend money on a DSLR and housing are pretty serious about there photography whereas with compacts because of their lower price and ease of use you find a lot of happy snappers own them. But when someone takes there time to learn how to use their camera and takes their time to think about the shot they're taking then the results can be just as good.

Where I'm at with my underwater photography is this...

I did a PADI underwater digital photography speciality in November. Well.... I got given the spec at the end. I don't think it was strictly to the letter of the padi course though seeing as we spent about 20 mins on the PADI bit.

The course was taken by a semi pro / pro? guy who sells stuff to mags through my LDS. During that short course I learnt far more about underwater photography than I knew before and what all these settings actually mean. It was as soon as I got to grip with these, what they do and actually framing my shots that I felt I needed more from my camera as there were so few manual settings on it. I'm starting to get some great pictures out of it now though even with it's limited functionality and only 2MP.

I've always fancied a SLR though so thought it a good time to do it... Think it might take me a bit longer to do the underwater bit than planned though But I'll get there!!! Can't wait

Thanks for everyone's help in making my decisions! It's all really valuable to get this input. Really appreciated it! I'm sure I'll have plenty more silly questions for you too!

[Annie S]

For what it is worth I would be absolutely terrified to take that much money underwater, so I plan to be sticking with my comapct for quite some time to come. (especially as I have given one camera an early bath already!)

I am very serious about my photography and I do consider myself to be more than 'a happy snapper' but I know I have so much more still to learn. I agree with Ken though - the camera is just a tool, it's the person behind it that really counts. Learning to take a decent underwater picture is like learning photography right from the beginning again and having the best camera money can buy will not give you overnight success - unfortunately!!

There are compacts available with a good range of manual settings so why not consider upgrading to one of those first? I would hate to be without my camera when I'm diving now and it is such a huge learning curve anyway.I imagine the tips you got on your course will prove invaluable to you. Having a better compact now would enable you to practice more and save up for better equipment without so much pressure, maybe? And depending on what you ultimately want to do with your pictures you may decide that you don't need to spend £1000's on equipment after all (more money for diving holidays??)

Good luck anyway, with whatever you decide, and have lots of fun!

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Annie S

For what it is worth I would be absolutely terrified to take that much money underwater, so I plan to be sticking with my comapct for quite some time to come. (especially as I have given one camera an early bath already!)

I am very serious about my photography and I do consider myself to be more than 'a happy snapper' but I know I have so much more still to learn. I agree with Ken though - the camera is just a tool, it's the person behind it that really counts. Learning to take a decent underwater picture is like learning photography right from the beginning again and having the best camera money can buy will not give you overnight success - unfortunately!!

There are compacts available with a good range of manual settings so why not consider upgrading to one of those first? I would hate to be without my camera when I'm diving now and it is such a huge learning curve anyway.I imagine the tips you got on your course will prove invaluable to you. Having a better compact now would enable you to practice more and save up for better equipment without so much pressure, maybe? And depending on what you ultimately want to do with your pictures you may decide that you don't need to spend £1000's on equipment after all (more money for diving holidays??)

Good luck anyway, with whatever you decide, and have lots of fun!

Cheers Annie,

There are some excellent points in there. I had / am considering going the more advanced compact route as a stepping stone to taking my underwater photography on further for a couple of reasons. It'll take me a good while to be able to afford all the bits and pieces to take my DSLR underwater and also I want to continue learning and improving my skills whilst I'm waiting to do that. To be honest I hadn't even thought about the risk of a flooded housing! I've not had one yet and it hadn't crossed my mind.

Whilst looking into the compact route I have been lingering on the Fuji Finepix F30. The thing I like is that it has a Shutter priority and an Aperture priority mode which will allow me to continue experimenting and advancing my skills. It also goes up to an ISO setting of 3200 for low light stuff (although I'm sure there would be the expected amount of noise!) There's a good review here if you're interested DCRP Review: Fuji FinePix F30

I also liked the point of having more money for diving holidays

All I need to do is now convince SWMBO that I DO need to buy my Nikon D80 and a new compact and housing at the same time Any advice?

[Mark Davies]

Originally Posted by big_si

All I need to do is now convince SWMBO that I DO need to buy my Nikon D80 and a new compact and housing at the same time Any advice?

Tim and I have a 'big trip' coming up where we do need to come back with some good photos and he's been talking this weekend about buying himself a compact (the F30 is favourite) as a portable back-up. His justification is that when he has a macro lens on the SLR he would then have something to use to take wide angle shots in the event that a whale shark just happens to pass by. He's even been talking about mounting it somewhere on his SLR rig with some kind of switch so that he can use the strobes with both cameras. Honestly, I despair - but you could try that argument with your wife. I doubt you'll have any more success with it than Tim, mind!

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Mark Davies

Tim and I have a 'big trip' coming up where we do need to come back with some good photos and he's been talking this weekend about buying himself a compact (the F30 is favourite) as a portable back-up. His justification is that when he has a macro lens on the SLR he would then have something to use to take wide angle shots in the event that a whale shark just happens to pass by. He's even been talking about mounting it somewhere on his SLR rig with some kind of switch so that he can use the strobes with both cameras. Honestly, I despair - but you could try that argument with your wife. I doubt you'll have any more success with it than Tim, mind!

Hmmmm... I let her read the last few posts on this thread...... Is laughing a good sign or a bad sign

[Phil Durow]

It is never a good sign I am afraid Si.

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Phil Durow

It is never a good sign I am afraid Si.

Damn... That's what I suspected

[triplefin]

Originally Posted by big_si

Cheers Annie,
Whilst looking into the compact route I have been lingering on the Fuji Finepix F30. The thing I like is that it has a Shutter priority and an Aperture priority mode which will allow me to continue experimenting and advancing my skills. It also goes up to an ISO setting of 3200 for low light stuff (although I'm sure there would be the expected amount of noise!) There's a good review here if you're interested DCRP Review: Fuji FinePix F30

Helen P on here and YD has just got the F30. Her last lot of pics (I think it may have been Tenerife were taken using it) she put some on here and YD lovely sea horse etc so you might like to PM her. Shes usually on one or the other fairly frequently.