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Underwater photograpy..newbie to it

Started Feb 12, 2020 | Discussions thread
OP thicks13 Regular Member • Posts: 102
Re: Underwater photograpy..newbie to it

Thank you Lars..no problem on the snuba vs scuba...yes, I think that 5m is the deepest I would go as that is the length of the air line.  Any deeper I would have to free dive.

LarsPolarBear wrote:

Hi Tim,

just realized that you really meant "snuba", while I had taken it for a typo, think you meant "scuba".

So, let me shortly tweak my answer:

As you have figured out yourself, an additional light source at max. 6m depth is not necessary. You will mostly shoot with ambient light and additionally use the internal flash of the camera. From my own experience I would think, that you will take mostly wide shots of the reef and closer shots of certain coral blocks and fish, turtles etc., but not too much real macro.

Yes this is probably true!

Therefore, I would make sure that you are happy with the autofocus speed of the camera (the new RX100 seems to be the best in that class). Fish are unfortunately not very cooperative and annoying, I have a nice collection of fish tail pictures.... You said, that you had the Canon G10, well, I had the G9 and it was hell shooting underwater due to the slow AF...

Yes, I will check out the rx100 as well, because as you said the AF speed has to be good.  I have quite a few of the fish tail pictures I took with my phone in Puerto Rico, when snorkeling there...so I totally understand.  And no..the G10 would never suffice!

Just one more suggestion, when we snorkel, or dive shallow, we tend to take our subjects from above, I did this a lot in the beginning. While there are some compositions that are beautiful that way, generally speaking, you will find that being level with your subject or shooting from below to have an uncluttered background will improve your composition. That will mean that you will have to free dive a little when you are snorkeling (so no wearing a stupid lifewest as some people do in my region).

Yes, I don't use the life jacket and did free dive in Puerto Rico.  BUt your point is very good and good advice, not to shoot from above

...and last, but not least: I mentioned the glare on the LCD screen in shallow waters, try to get a LCD Screen Hood (somethinh like that: https://www.getolympus.com/us/en/accessories/camera/underwater-housings/lcd-hood-for-pt-057-underwater-housing-pfud-057.html

This is good advice too.  I had not even thought of glare.

it will improve your experience quite a bit.

So, that's it...

Enjoy!

Lars

Thanks again, sooo much...tim

 thicks13's gear list:thicks13's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Sony RX10 IV Canon G7 X III Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM +1 more
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