Upcoming Sea & Sea DX-1G camera

[derway 2]

Klee, wow, that sounds like they forgot that you want to use the LCD for composing the shot, and not just for feedback on how good the exposure will be.

 

Most cameras turn up the LCD gain, when you turn on the strobe, since that is always supposed to induce proper exposure...

 

What does it do at on aperature priority mode?

[hkfrankie 0]

i also bought one set of DX-1G with wide angle lens, but unfortunately i have same problem with klee at M mode, though i turned on the int. flash....

 

 

i have 5 yrs UW photo experience, no same case found in the past

 

my comment is if sea and sea doesn't change the firmware for M mode, DX-1G is not a perfect DC for underwater user,

 

my firmware is 5.16

Edited September 6, 2007 by hkfrankie

[antacid 1]

i also bought one set of DX-1G with wide angle lens, but unfortunately i have same problem with klee at M mode, though i turned on the int. flash....

i have 5 yrs UW photo experience, no same case found in the past

 

my comment is if sea and sea doesn't change the firmware for M mode, DX-1G is not a perfect DC for underwater user,

 

my firmware is 5.16

 

 

how much did you guys pay for it? camera + housing?

 

according to my friend, apparently the sea & sea distributor in Singapore only sells the housing together with the camera.

 

is this true in other countries as well?

 

i paid S$1000 for the camera, EVF, WA lens and adapter with hood. That's about US$650-700 for the camera alone.

 

would really love to get my hands on the housing soon!

[hkfrankie 0]

how much did you guys pay for it? camera + housing?

 

according to my friend, apparently the sea & sea distributor in Singapore only sells the housing together with the camera.

 

is this true in other countries as well?

 

i paid S$1000 for the camera, EVF, WA lens and adapter with hood. That's about US$650-700 for the camera alone.

 

would really love to get my hands on the housing soon!

i bought it from Japan of sea and sea version, housing with camera was us$810

[samplin 2]

i bought it from Japan of sea and sea version, housing with camera was us$810

 

 

I was looking at this combo from B&H.. Ricoh Caplio GX-100 Looking to lighten my load of complete DSLR outfit to a small

rig like this.. I have the Ricoh Caplio GX-100 camera already as spare. So Far the camera is really nice.

 

Could you explain a little more about the dark screen? I notice that the screen goes black right after the exposure, but comes right back with the preview. The only thing that i did not like about the camera is, I am used to setting the flashing pixels on the image preview to come on so I can see right awy if i am blowing out anything.. With the GX-100 you have to push a separate button to the the blown pixels..

 

Joe in Arizona

[oskar 6]

i bought it from Japan of sea and sea version, housing with camera was us$810

 

That sounds like a good deal, was that with shipping? What company did you order from?

 

Cheers

Oskar

[hkfrankie 0]

other user explain the dark screen

 

" mentioned this problem also a few weeks (or months) ago in the dpreview forum. As I often use the M-Mode it's really nerving, that the display changes it's brightness with different exposure setting. A possible reason for this could be that the live histogram uses the displayed picture for generating the histogram curve, but I doubt that.

I found out that if you point the camera in M mode on a dark subject and have an underexposed setting, the display will get brighter very slowly.

 

But I agree with you, that the darkening is not a logical feature. The exposure indicator bar works very well and I think, nobody who uses the M mode needs a live "exposured preview" of the scene. Especially with an external flash it's absolutel'y senseless as you can use the flash with up to 1/2000 s shutter speed.

 

That sounds like a good deal, was that with shipping? What company did you order from?

 

Cheers

Oskar

sorry ! my japan friend help me to bought

[derway 2]

Hi Joe.

 

With P&S small cameras, you really want to shoot in the lowest available ISO you can. Image quality degrades quickly with increasing ISO.

 

Now you have to use the LCD to compose shots, but a large percentage of P&S camera makers think it is a good idea, to have the LCD brightness indicate the approximate exposure level.

 

So, as the lighting gets darker, the screen gets darker, trying to tell you it will underexpose, even though you know it would be fine, WITH FLASH, duh. But the stupid dark screen won't let you compose the shot.

 

Most cameras these days have some alteration of the screen brightness, when you turn on the flash, to let you compose on LCD at night. It seems often, they behave differently, depending on the exposure mode!

 

Almost all the cams have live histograms too, so you can judge your exposure off that, and leave the LCD just for composing the shot.

 

I am surprised that a high end camera like this would have the problem so badly.

[antacid 1]

so i went down to the local Sea&Sea distributor looking to get a DX1G housing for my Ricoh GX100 (same camera, just rebadged).

 

however the guy told me that they only sell the housing together with the camera, and i'd have to buy them both!

 

is this the normal practice for Sea&Sea compact housings? would any of you be able to help me get a housing for my camera? any help is much appreciated! have one on me!

[DesertEagle 2]

Sea & Sea's recent products have been sold as a combo. A few years back they had a couple of high-end p&s housings. Since they started rebranding cameras with their name, it's always been a combo.

Edited September 10, 2007 by DesertEagle

[eskasi 1]

I am not surprised. A quick online check shows that the Ricoh sells for about US$100 cheaper than the replacement 1G camera. You can buy a replacement 1G but not just the housing.

 

I suppose it kinda makes sense from their standpoint....If your housing fails/breaks outright, your camera is probably going to be busted too...replace the whole set. The next worst thing is if you flood your housing...you can buy a replacement O Ring (About $16) and you can buy a replacement camera (1G or GX100).

 

What I am interested is in the difference in firmware. Antacid has V1.14 and updated to V1.16 on the Ricoh....hkfrankie has V5.16 on the 1G.

 

I wonder if Sea & Sea have made changes to the firmware. If so, I hope they follow any major updates that Ricoh makes as well as the camera is obviously in need of some bugfixes... Also, perhaps it will be possible to use Ricohs firmware to fix the 1G's problems?

 

From my understanding, the 1G has some "underwater modes" which savy photographers would probably not use. Does the Ricoh have these? Is this the only difference in the firmware? Perhaps it is possible to try either firmware to test what is better.

 

Samplin, if you do get the DX-1G set, please enlighten us by trying both cameras underwater and also any information as to function/picture quality difference.

 

Thanks! I have ordered a set (DX-1G & YS110 strobe) from Sea & Sea in Singapore anyway together with a WA lens. having it sent to Malaysia where I will pick it up for use on my trip to Sipadan in early October. Can't wait to try my hand at underwater photography...

[hkfrankie 0]

i think firmware of DX-1g 5.16 is same with ricoh 1.16, only one difference is the SS mode,

 

so i think the dark screen problem also found at gx-100

[antacid 1]

i think firmware of DX-1g 5.16 is same with ricoh 1.16, only one difference is the SS mode,

 

so i think the dark screen problem also found at gx-100

 

i noticed something interesting about the "dark-screen" problem for the GX100

 

yes, it appears on the GX100 as well, but with an interesting twist.

 

I first tried it on Aperture priority, with spot-metering. pointed to a bright area, and the screen darkened. pointed at dark area, screen brightened. all normal.

 

On Manual mode, if you started out with the metering point on a dark area, the screen does not darken even though you change aperture or shutter settings. but when you move it to a bright area, the screen darkens automatically and does not go bright again when you move it over a dark area.

 

do try it out and see if you find the same thing as i.

 

my guess is that it's a firmware problem and can be easily fixed once ricoh gets round to hearing about it.

 

thanks for the replies on the housing.

 

well it looks like i screwed myself by jumping the gun and getting the GX100.

 

another year of diving without a camera...*sigh*

[samplin 2]

Samplin, if you do get the DX-1G set, please enlighten us by trying both cameras underwater and also any information as to function/picture quality difference.

 

I was told that the combo should be at my dealer tomorrow. But it might be a while till I get it underwater (Dec. in Kona). Might take it in the pool before that.

 

Joe

[Islandbound 1]

If I get a chance tomorrow I will swing on by a camera store and see if the camera/housing is available off the shelf here in Japan. My normal store is not a dealer (I believe) for the camera but I will check anyway.

[eskasi 1]

Perhaps those who own the cameras and have done their online warranty (if any) should send an email to Ricoh or Sea & Sea to inform them of the problem. I doubt they troll around this forum to listen for bugs...

[oskar 6]

If I get a chance tomorrow I will swing on by a camera store and see if the camera/housing is available off the shelf here in Japan.

 

My sister lives in Tokyo, and I plan to ask her to pick up one for me if they are cheaper there. So pls let us know places & prices if you find good ones.

 

/O

[eskasi 1]

Seansea in Singapore has a short promotional deal for the DX1G and the YS110 strobe set with arm....price is about the same as the US B&H set but arm has no handle....just base connector Ultralight system. However, the special includes the additional WA lens for free!

 

I ordered one. First 20 get the lens! Worth over 300US$! Do me a favor and mention that you hear it from Kay online!

[derway 2]

You know, the G9 is looking better and better...

 

Early results are that they've eliminated the excess delay just for using an external strobe...

 

It probably focuses as well, (or as badly), as this.

 

Sigh.

[eskasi 1]

well, we will see.....I will post my lame amature pics with the settings to boot after I get to Sipadan...

[antacid 1]

Seansea in Singapore has a short promotional deal for the DX1G and the YS110 strobe set with arm....price is about the same as the US B&H set but arm has no handle....just base connector Ultralight system. However, the special includes the additional WA lens for free!

 

I ordered one. First 20 get the lens! Worth over 300US$! Do me a favor and mention that you hear it from Kay online!

 

 

if i mention your name, would he sell me the housing only?

[samplin 2]

Well, I got my Camera/Housing Combo. Put every thing together. It is really a nice package.. I also go the the Ys-100 and the wide angle adapter.

I did notice that there is one more scene mode on the S&S camera that the Ricoh camera. It call SS mode and it looks like a MAGIC FILTER is put in place when you switch to that mode.. A nice feature when you are at safety stop on top of a wall. Turn off the strobe and shoot available light.

 

Macro should be this cameras best feature.. Will have to wait till December in Kona to really give it a try.

I also ordered the 2nd YS-100 and handle. The complete housing,camera/strobe/grip fit into my backpack with my computer.. Do not have to take my 40 lb Porter case any more.

 

The only thing that bothered me was if I tried to shoot rapidly. The screen would go completely dark and in a second the flash would fire and the exposure was made. Was told by S&S that was because the onboard strobe wasn't finished recycling, taking all the power away from the screen. I was told that there was going to be a retro fix for this by putting a small light generator on the hot shoe of the camera that would fire the YS-110 through the fiber optic connection.

 

It is sure fun playing with new toys.

 

Joe

Edited September 17, 2007 by samplin

[eskasi 1]

Awesome....love the first take from you samplin!.....hope it goes well. Thanks for the tip on the extra mode and also on how it may best be used....more advice welcome folks....

[oskar 6]

The only thing that bothered me was if I tried to shoot rapidly. The screen would go completely dark and in a second the flash would fire and the exposure was made. Was told by S&S that was because the onboard strobe wasn't finished recycling, taking all the power away from the screen. I was told that there was going to be a retro fix for this by putting a small light generator on the hot shoe of the camera that would fire the YS-110 through the fiber optic connection.

 

 

Oh that's a disappointment. If you look at the very first message in this thread, the speculation is that this LED-flash adapter would be delivered in the package. (or at least that was what i hoped for). So did they give any price/time estimate for this mini-flash?

 

/O

[samplin 2]

Oh that's a disappointment. If you look at the very first message in this thread, the speculation is that this LED-flash adapter would be delivered in the package. (or at least that was what i hoped for). So did they give any price/time estimate for this mini-flash?

 

/O

 

Was told by the S&S Support person that the Retro would be in January.. At an additional cost..

 

Joe