just got a wp-dc21!

[allill]

Hi all,

I just got an underwater case for my g9 and can't wait to get it in the reef! I am not a diver of any sorts and a rookie at this photo thing all in all. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this combo?

[MarKap77]

First thing, when you put the camera into the case, make sure you are in an air conditioned room. That way, when you go out into the humidity, it will be dry inside the case.

Second, use the flash diffuser. The snout on the case will cast a shadow is you don't, and it looks like crap that way. Flash is only good for about 3 or 4 feet underwater, so don't expect to get a lot of color back using the flash if your subject is further away than that.

Otherwise, have fun! It isn't as good a camera as an SLR in an underwater housing, but then you only spent $170 for your case. The case for my 30D retails for $1400, and that doesn't include any lens ports. Those are another $200-300.

[MarKap77]

By the way, read the manual. There are some controls you can't access directly, but there is a work around. For instance, there is no control to spin the selector wheel, but you can get the same effect by holding down the shortcut button and hitting the left or right rocker switch. Only takes a minute to figure it out, but read the manual and try it a couple of times to be sure.

I use a G7 in a Canon case. Great setup.

[allill]

Thanks Mark! I actually have the shortcut button set to WB, I will try later to see if holding it down plus side will work.

Man, those slr cases are crazy expensive!

[MarKap77]

Yeah, well, click on this link (www.ikelite.com) and price out an entire kit. Mine runs to about $4500 for the underwater gear and another $4000 for the camera and lenses. This hobby is not for the faint of wallet!

[allill]

Mark, I just checked out that link... Ouch. So glad I kept my G9. I was actually thinking of selling it but now that I have the case I will keep it.

[gnirtS]

Shoot RAW - then you can forget about the fiddly resetting of white balance in the water and sort it out afterwards. Id recommend not using the flash at all - even clear water can backscatter badly. Also dont let the ISO go above 200 due to noise.

[MarKap77]

Shoot RAW - then you can forget about the fiddly resetting of white balance in the water and sort it out afterwards. Id recommend not using the flash at all - even clear water can backscatter badly. Also dont let the ISO go above 200 due to noise.

gnirtS,

Unfortunately, flash is required underwater. If you don't use flash at depths below about 10 feet, you won't have any red at all. And below about 30 feet, it is almost monochromatic, just tinted blue. But you know all of that. Nice photos on Flickr, by the way.

Yeah, any underwater photographer knows about backscatter, but unless you are going to dive with a setup like I have for my SLR with two strobes, it's just a fact of life. Using an external strobe helps if you can orient it so that the floating particles don't reflect back into the lens.

[tin.risky]

Thanks for the great tips. I just picked up the underwater casing for my G9 too. Can't wait to get it in the water.

[allill]

Yeah, I am getting pretty excited to get in the water!