Point & Shoot Improvements

[Sealizard]

Recently, I had the opportunity to do some shore diving here in San Diego. With a long surface swim and some *interesting* current to deal with, I opted to carry a friend's Canon Powershot in a small housing. Shooting it was a very different experience from my DSLR, but I was impressed by the compactness of it and the suitability for certain shots.

Another dive buddy suggested that I look at the new Olympus SP-350 if I wanted to consider adding a "point and shoot" to my equipment. After looking over the specs, I see that it has "impressive start up and shutter speed", but I don't see any specific specs on shutter lag.

I'm just wondering if these smaller cameras are finally closing the gap on shutter lag between themselves and the DSLRs. And, other than price, what other improvements have been made that might make one switch to the smaller cameras.

[nemo]

I was unable to get my housing for my Canon 5-D in time for a trip so I bought a Canon SD550 Power shot (7.1 mega pixel) camera. Got the Canon housing for it and was very excited about the camera. quick, easy, fun and fast shooting w/ great focusing. It has an underwater filter mode that is pretty good. all in all .. I dig it. I took some of the images and printed 12 x16 test prints.. sharp detail. video was kind'a neat ..

[Sealizard]

I'd be interested in seeing the results. Thanks for the response.

[chris bangs]

I think that most if not all of the current compact digitals have all but eliminated the shutter lag. the Sealife and sea&sea cameras state that they have a 1/10th of a second lag.

the real issue is how fas the camera can recycle the flash. cameras that use 2 AAs then to lag in this area. The Sea& Sea 8000G sucks with AAs but if the L-Ion rechargabe batttery is used it recycles very fast. Of course Sea&Sea does not inform the user of this.

I have been tempted to try using a point and shoot but I have no idea how to tell when those little cameras are in focus!

CB

[nemo]

these 2 images were taken with fill flash... in auto ASA setting (200).
Used the underwater filter setting, other than sizing did not pshop it.
I printed the images 13x19 was surprised of the detail..

[nemo]

got a real nice shot of a parrot fish...? does a nice job topside as well

[Sealizard]

Wow! Talk about great viz.......:p

Thanks for the images.

[Clay Coleman]

Great parrot! I've had a few chances with them, but the wind has blurred every one. -Clay

[Bodie]

I've never used anything underwater that isn't an SLR besides the nikonos, but I get to play with alot of point and shoots on outdoor trips. They seem to be getting faster in a hurry. I've noticed that in general the ones that still have a viewfinder seem to have just a little more shutter lag then my 10D (for single shots, they don't do burst shooting worth crap). I have a hell of time using the ones with only a screen on land I couldn't imagine using them UW especially since they still seem to have noticable lag. Picture quality wise everything seems likes its 6+ MP now adays and some of the land shots have been almost as colorful and sharp as mine.
If you already own a DSLR housing set up what would be the advantages to adding a point and shoot?

[Sealizard]

I get to play with alot of point and shoots on outdoor trips. They seem to be getting faster in a hurry... If you already own a DSLR housing set up what would be the advantages to adding a point and shoot?

What's in the back of my mind is, are they getting closer to let's say the Nikon D70 or the Canon Rebel in *potential* image quality and with minimal lag. The advantage of a P&S to me might be those shore dives when the waves are *stiff* and I don't feel like dragging thousands of dollars worth of equipment through the surf zone whereas something a little more portable and a whole lot cheaper, well I might just do that. I also might do that on a rockin' boat where I don't want to change out lens and ports and so on. Just dreamin':p

[Bodie]

That makes sense. I don't do really any shore based dives unless its training (in which I'm not bringing a camera) so I wasn't really thinking along those lines.

Would you be looking to bring a strobe or are you looking at just a P&S setup? Can P&S's do TTL? I'm not even sure if the majority of them can do external strobes at all.
Anyone got model reccomendations?
(I'm looking for a land based one to take to parties, backpacking and the such, and this expandabillity might be nice down the road)

[Sealizard]

The setup I used had the housing zip-tied to a tray. On either end of the tray were mounted a column of lock-links with an old Light & Motion strobe mounted on each one. The batteries were around eight inches long and were zip-tied to the tray. You could turn the unit on or off, but there was definately no TTL. ;) As with all uw photo gear, knowing the limits of the setup is critical to success.

I don't know much about other strobes that would work with these setups other than the Inons. I think one of my buddies uses an Oly 8080 in an 8080 housings with Inon strobes connected with fiber-optic cable. But there again, you're getting into nice and pricey strobes.

By the way, several other reasons for setups like these - ease of use, less expensive, and they shoot video - now show me an SLR that does that!:D

[nemo]

The best thing about a P&S is the cost for the size of a great product. We all know that most products in the electronic world is the smaller the size the more it costs. I enjoy the size freedom from my Canon P&S and since Canon and other companies make there own housing for them it just seems like a good idea. I would like to mention a great camera for B-packing, rock climbing, ice climbing and scuba diving is the Pentax Optio WP camera.. The manual states to NOT go passed 12 ft.. Ha I say I took it to 35 ft. (Fl. spring dives) several times.. I did forget I had it In my BCD and took it to 55 ft.. oh that was not pretty.. yea it imploded .. but I took it topside and took the battery & card out (never turning it on) and left it on my dash board of my SUV for 2 weeks.. guess what happened .. yea man, it works in a odd lil way.. it takes a very cool part B&W / Color photo.. cool I might add.. sold 2 images to a stock company... paid for a new one.

[Sealizard]

:D Pentax Optio WP camera.. The manual states to NOT go past 12 ft.. Ha, I took it to 35 ft. (Fl. spring dives) several times.. I did forget I had it In my BCD and took it to 55 ft.. oh that was not pretty.. yea it imploded .. but I took it topside and took the battery & card out and left it on my dash board of my SUV for 2 weeks.. guess what happened .. it takes a very cool part B&W / Color photo

I'm impressed. Wish I could cultivate that *heck! let's see what happens* aptitude. Bet you watch Mythbusters, too.:p

Are you willing to share any of the photos? You may start a whole new photo trend - Implosion Photography. Can you imagine fifty years from now someone is viewing your pics in a famous art gallery ... I leave the rest to your imagination. ;)