9 replies to this topic

[Coralpete]

Hi guys.

First of all a little introduction to myself.
I am Peter from Germany and found this Forum by accident. My English is mot the greates and therefore apologies for any typo or grammar mistakes you find. I must admit such Forums in Germany are almost dead or nothing really exiting. Therfore I hope I can pic a few informations up in this forum and share also my experiences.
To my Person.
I am 46 years old (soon) and dive since I am 16. My son started recently and we all going this summer to Sulawesi /Bunaken & Lembeh Straight.
I do UW-Photograpy the last 25 years, started with Nikkonos3 and then switched some years ago to digital.
Actually started digital with my Canon Ixus6 4 years ago which now rests at the bottom of the Spiegel Grove in Florida.
Don't ask me why and how...but I am sure the Camera is at 40 m. Anyone found it...please send it to me ;-)

After so many years of UW Photography and carrying a lot of luggage (Airlines give you hell these days with additional luggage) I have decided to downsize from my D70 to ???

I thinking of Nikon Coolpix P7100 (because I had Nikon since I dive) or alternatively Canon Powershot G12.
I am really looking for an affordable compromise and also to get fairly good Pics and Films.
Making HD Movies is another factor that keeps me busy. What I have seen so far both Coolpix and Powershot the HD Films are quite good.
The Coolpix with the Ikelite housing has the advantage of TTL usage of my DS160

Now is the question what would you guys recommend? Or has anyone similar experiences or better ideas.
Many thanks

Peter

Edited by Coralpete, 11 April 2012 - 08:33 AM.

[derway]

If you search in the forums, you will find lots of info on these and other cameras.

The canon G series have at least 2 fatal flaws. The worlds slowest Auto focus, (for a high end expensive camera), and they force you to use manual flash control, if you use M exposure mode.

The nikon is alot better in these 2 areas. I tried one out for a few weeks, and sent it back. You can't use A mode, since the camera has no user setting for 'slowest shutter speed in A mode with flash on'. The continuous shooting mode is pathetic (for above water or ambient light). The macro mode is useless, as it works only at full wide angle, which means you must get a few mm away from the subject, to get any magnification.

For me, the fuji x10 is a zillion times better camera. Great image quality, great manual zoom lens, great useful macro mode, M mode, RAW mode, etc. And rec sea is coming out with a housing for it, real soon now.

Other great uw compact cameras are the panasonic lx5 and oly xz1. None of them include a view finder in the base price.

But these are a big step down from a dslr! Have you looked at the latest micro 4/3 cameras? Much larger sensors than any of these high end compacts, and great fast focus, and oly makes quite affordable housings for most of their cameras. On the order of ikelite...

It all depends on what is important to you. If you can live with buttons up and down, for adjusting shutter speed and aperture, then the oly epl2 and housing would be fine for a very inexpensive start.

If, like me, you want better shooting ergonomics, I am waiting for the oly omd em5, which will be a lot more money though.

[Coralpete]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I have tried to find some postings regarding the Nikon and Canon but haven't found anything. Will try again.
But I am now in favour of the Oly XZ1.
Now it's the decision to go with the Ikelite housing which provides me full TTL control or
the Oly PT50.
Question: External Flashes work only with Slave function (PT50). I have tried to get more details but could not find anything.
In Germany there are good Bundles around and the saving is immense.

Or I sell the DS160 and invest in Video LED Light?

Questions over Questions...

[derway]

An epl2 in oly housing will not cost much more than the xz1 in ikelite housing.

It is a far far better camera.

Have you held the fuji x10? It blows me away with how great it is to operate.

Having a motorized lever for zoom, such as the xz1 is not nearly as nice as having a twist zoom, such as the oly epl2 or the fuji x10 provied.

Edited by derway, 12 April 2012 - 08:52 AM.

[ChrigelKarrer]

I have a G11 and a G12 in a Patima housing and i am very happy with it.
One of my Dive Buddies and DUP students has a P7000 and i was not very impressed of it.
In this moment, i personally would wait for more real life impressions of the new Canon GX1


Peter, if you would like to write in German, feel free to contact me by PM

Chris

[derway]

The p7000 was a disaster! Bad AF, bad menu response, and so on.

The p7100 is far, far better!

The g1x has even worse Auto focus, than the previous g series

http://www.imaging-r...S/G1X/G1XA6.HTM

For that price go olympus or panasonic micro 4/3 cameras, and get near SLR focus performance, great IQ, and the option of changing lenses.

[Coralpete]

Ok guys decision is done. It will be either a Oly or Panasonic.
I am a little bit more in favour of the Oly as it comes with a few UW pre functions and it has a affordable UW Housing.
Question - the PT 50 has no external Flash socket like the Ikelite. Is that true?
What would you recommend to connect the Ikelite 125 (it's not the 160 my fault) ?

Or would you suggest to use not the Flash and go instead with an Video LED Light?

Just to tell you the bundel I am getting with the XZ-1 and the PT50 is 600,- Euro.
The Ikelite housing cost already 450,-
The boundle looks very attractive to me ;-)

The Funji X10 looks nice but Ikelite has no housing! What would you suggest?

Many thanks for your answers...hopefully I get my kit completed for the Sulawesi Trip ?

Peter

Edited by Coralpete, 13 April 2012 - 02:51 AM.

[derway]

For me, a flash is much better than a video light. Especially if you want to do still macro photography.

If you want to use your ike 125 in optical slave mode with automatic TTL exposure control, you can get something like the heinrichs digital adapter that will connect with a nikonos to ikelite cord, and give you good strobe control.

But it is quite expensive, so probably better to buy the ike housing with the circuitry built in, if you want to use your great ikelite strobe.

Alternatively, you can sell your strobe, and get an small optically triggered strobe from inon or sea and sea, that will work well with the oly housing.

Several of us have been trying to get ikelite to make a housing for the x10, but they decided to not make one.

Recsea is making one, so it will be more expensive than an ikelite.

http://www.recsea.co...HF-X10_001.html

How much are they asking, to get an oly epl2 and the corresponding housing over there? It is a HUGE improvement over the xz1, for not so much money, perhaps.

[Coralpete]

OK decision made - I will either go for the Oly or Pana with Ikelite.

I have checked Recsea and there is one dealer in Austria but with the problems I am hearing I better stick to Ikelite.
In fact I could spent much more with other competitors but I want to use my 125.

So let's sell my Ikelite and D70 and then I will order my new Kit. Keep you postet.
Many thanks to you all writing back to me. Great Forum

Peter

[Coralpete]

Question: I read that for the Oly XZ-1 with the Ikelite housing I probably need and upgrade? Any experience?

Thanks

Peter

Edit: Found something. Now I have to check which number I have...
http://www.ikelite.c...uttlssnreq.html

Edited by Coralpete, 16 April 2012 - 01:47 AM.