Improvements through humour..

[MikeVeitch 0]

Are you sure you want to put her through this?

 

 

It is truly an educational experience hanging out with Mike and Simon...

 

And only slightly dangerous..

[ce4jesus 1]

I once congratulated a member with his 666th post with a little devil remark. Can't remember who exactly. Since he didnt post any reaction, I suppose he wasnt amused. Maybe my signature would need this disclaimer:

 

DISCLAIMER

 

This message represents the official view of the little voices in my head.

 

You should have sent him to me....I could have exercised his post. But I can't do a thing for the voices in your head.

 

I once asked Eric to change my name to "Preacherfish" .... the devil wasn't amused.

Edited January 23, 2008 by ce4jesus

[John Bantin 101]

To paraphrase Lord Norman Tebbit : If things posted on the Internet upset you, you're going to spend a lot of your life upset.

[Nakedwithoutcamera 0]

Well, if I wasn't intimidated before, I sure am now.

 

OK, I am the person to whom Ellen referred and it has been so long since I've visited this site that I guess I forgot my username (though I thought it was the same one I use for all of the other scuba boards I visit) and password so I created a new one that describes me much more accurately right now since I flooded my Oly 7070 on my recent trip to Australia (on the first dive no less) and now am in the market for a new camera because I feel naked without one. Since I "know" Mike from Scubaboard, and recognize some other names, and, like John said, I know better than to get upset by posters on message boards, I guess I'll not be intimidated any longer. But to try and shed some light on why people do feel intimidated (at least why I did to the best of my recollection), I guess it was a combination of being a new poster, a fairly new diver, being new to photography, being new to the working of message boards in general, not getting feedback on a photo I might have posted for a critique yada yada yada. Oh, and guys in kilts playing darts intimidates me greatly. Now, what kind of camera should I buy? Bwa haa haaa

[TheRealDrew 0]

But to try and shed some light on why people do feel intimidated (at least why I did to the best of my recollection), I guess it was a combination of being a new poster, a fairly new diver, being new to photography, being new to the working of message boards in general, not getting feedback on a photo I might have posted for a critique yada yada yada. Oh, and guys in kilts playing darts intimidates me greatly.

 

 

The kilts scare all of us You can cruise over to the Beginners section to see what recent threads for new set ups are there (everytime a new camera comes out, there seems to be a new set of things that are good )

 

I would think the first questions I would ask is

 

1.) Do you have a budget in mind for the set-up?

2.) Do you travel to dive and will carrying things be a pain (it is, more so if you mind it )

3.) What do you want to accomplish from photography and diving? (Pro photog, just get some good shots for yourself and friends.)

 

Anyway in general the Point and Shoots will be less expensive than dSLRS both for the camera and housing and can be alot smaller and easier to travel with (though you can often also carry on a dSLR rig in Pelican or otherwise). The dSLRs will usually produce better quality/have less shutter lag (though I have seen many real nice shots from Points and Shoots, once you get the hang of shooting with any rig you can start progressing.) An external strobe or filters such as the magic filter would be something else to look for to help get better photos.

 

I know it is a bit general, but figured it is a starting point Also as an aside, make sure you get comfortable with scuba fiirst and some of the skills before multi-tasking with a camera. (You may be good already, but something that can be frustrating is trying to get the photography going at the same time as diving.)

[Nakedwithoutcamera 0]

Thanks Drew. I am looking at a point and shoot because, quite frankly, I can't afford the dSLR set up with housing. Plus, I am not a pro and don't like lugging a lot of stuff. BUT... I couldn't stand the shutter lag of my Oly 7070. I already have a strobe and focus light so I am looking for something that will fit that set up. I have to make a call to the shop where I bought some of my camera gear and see what that guy recommends. But the worst part for me is.. I am basically a procrastinator (I am here instead of making a phone call) and I have a hard time making decisions.

[james 0]

Right now you can get an awesome point and shoot camera, underwater housing, and add on wide angle lens for <$1000 Things have changed a lot since I started! My first point and shoot type camera cost that much!

 

Good cameras to look at would be the Fuji F50FD, on the small side or the Canon G9 on the larger side.

 

Cheers

James

[TheRealDrew 0]

I already have a strobe and focus light so I am looking for something that will fit that set up. I have to make a call to the shop where I bought some of my camera gear and see what that guy recommends. But the worst part for me is.. I am basically a procrastinator (I am here instead of making a phone call) and I have a hard time making decisions.

 

Remember do not do today what you can put off until tommorrow

 

Also remember that one of the best parts of getting the new rig is researching and discussing it. Both for the sheer joy of the potential of a new toy and also to try to narrow down buyers remorse. I think 99.99% of my purchases come after looking for a long time and either (a) finding a deal on one of the things I am eyeballing or (B) a trip is about to come up and I really wanted something.

 

The 7070 was about .65 seconds on Continuous AF according to the tests, but are faster ones out there now. For instance the Canon PowerShot SD1000 (about $165) is .36-.40. Of course there are other factors (such as being able to control the camera more, which you may want as you progress), but there are things well within a reasonable price.

 

Which strobe do you have? Most strobes will probably work with most cameras with the proper pieces, but you may want to make sure (on the off chance it does narrow down the choice of camera and make it a bit easier )

 

Just to give you an idea of a basic dSLR Kit, you can get the starter Nikons (D40x) or Canons (the xTI which is probably being replaced tomorrow ) for $500 to $700 or so and a housing for around $1,000 with a port (such as the Fantasea.) Sort of a ballpark, but figured I would throw it out there on the off chance that it mmay not be quite as painful as you may have thought.

 

As to the cameras, I would hold off for a day or two now that I think about it. PMA is starting and there will be new things coming out which means (hopefully) older models drop or there are some real nice new models. It also means that some people may be changing systems (though it may not be for a bit until new housings come out) and you maybe able to pick something up. You can find some good deals in the WP classifieds.

[ce4jesus 1]

Hi Nekid without Camera!

 

I just purchased an Oly E410, new housing and port (smallest housing and DSLR) for Under 2K. I know you can get the same camera and port now for aobut $1500 new. Of course the Port and housing are the most expensive pieces. Ryan's Reef Photo can get you the port and housing for around a grand. Camera, new on ebay, is around $450 with a single 14-42mm lens. Tropical1, Phil Rudin, has done a great write up here on wetpixel of the housing, size etc. Here are two write ups I fished out for you.

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/dema-2007-olympus-america/

 

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/olympus-e-4...rwater-housing/

 

Keep in mind, small is relative. The housing is bigger than an OEM standard P&S housing but quite smaller than most DLSR housings. As a reference, I get two Inon strobes, arms, tray, housing, and a spare E-410 body inside a pelican 1510 which is the largest carryon hardcase. The case has an outside diameter of 23" x 14" x 9". Now I'm not sporting a dome port just yet and when that happens somethings going to give on the transport issue but overall I'm very happy going from a P&S to this camera. Its very quick so you can say goodbye to your favorite anatomical part of a fish.....the dreaded fish butt!

[Nakedwithoutcamera 0]

Very cool ce4jesus. Thanks for the links. Sounds promising.

[TheRealDrew 0]

Its very quick so you can say goodbye to your favorite anatomical part of a fish.....the dreaded fish butt!

 

Since the humor portion of this thread is diminishing, I would like to bring up the subject matter of fish kilts, in addition to dSLRs, as a means of avoiding seeing fish butt, unless of course fish do not wear underwear like men wearing kilts do not wear underwear.

 

You may now carry on with giving out good advice

[Scuba_SI 39]

oh-oh, if you go on scubaboard then you've probably seen much worse pictures of Mike or myself!

 

Welcome to the naked one, if posting more pictures of Mike looking stupid helps more people to feel comfortable and post, i'm all for it. Those on my facebook please feel free to link to images from there!

[ornate_wrasse 0]

[quote name='Nakedwithoutcamera' date='Jan 23 2008, 10:32 AM' post='155331'

Now, what kind of camera should I buy? Bwa haa haaa

 

Well, well, look who's posted on Wetpixel

 

You've actually saved me a lot of trouble. I was going to post the responses you sent me when you answered the PM I sent you, but now I see you've beat me to it and have actually posted those responses yourself

 

Now, who can say you haven't received a warm welcome? And, BTW, it's warmer than the welcome I received when I first started posting here

 

I see James agrees with me in recommending the G9. But you have lots of other choices.

 

Your new camera will probably be so darn good that I'll probably ask to borrow it on our trip this fall

After all, my D70S is getting kind of ancient

 

Good to see you here....oh, and I extend to you a very warm welcome!

 

Ellen

[MikeVeitch 0]

oh no...

 

i get in trouble on SB....

 

Welcome to WP!

 

Ya, personally as a Nikon person i shouldn't say this but... i too like the Canon compacts (i have 2.. ) bad Nikon person that i am...

 

G series are good and i also like the A series like the A640, a little cheaper than the G series but very good in my opinion.

[Nakedwithoutcamera 0]

ah well, I've always been a big fan of Mike's. He makes me insanely envious.

[MikeVeitch 0]

ah well, I've always been a big fan of Mike's. He makes me insanely envious.

 

[John Bantin 101]

ah well, I've always been a big fan of Mike's. He makes me insanely envious.

 

 

Is it his height?

[MikeVeitch 0]

Is it his height?

 

 

Ahhh.... I was thinking hairline..

 

John, i am doing a google search on "Bantin in dress" as we speak.. you might as well post it before i find it..

[Nakedwithoutcamera 0]

Actually, I am envious of his photography skills. Since I'm a woman, and a pretty short one at that, I really couldn't care about hairlines and everyone is taller than I am. LOL

 

As I told Mike in a PM, I'm known as Fairybasslet on other boards. I thought I had registered here under that name, but I couldn't log in as that. I should have done a member search to see how I formated it but I just thought of that now. Oh well.

 

Ok, I searched the members and found my username and it is how I usually spell it but maybe I just couldn't remember my password?

 

Doesn't matter. I'll just continue as "nekkid"

Edited January 24, 2008 by Nakedwithoutcamera

[John Bantin 101]

Actually, I am envious of his photography skills. Since I'm a woman, and a pretty short one at that, I really couldn't care about hairlines and everyone is taller than I am. LOL

 

As I told Mike in a PM, I'm known as Fairybasslet on other boards. I thought I had registered here under that name, but I couldn't log in as that. I should have done a member search to see how I formated it but I just thought of that now. Oh well.

 

Ok, I searched the members and found my username and it is how I usually spell it but maybe I just couldn't remember my password?

 

Doesn't matter. I'll just continue as "nekkid"

 

Mike is still going through that transitory state called 'youth'. Little does he realise that he will spend most of his life as an old git. Youth is a wonderful thing but you can't make a long career out of it.

 

As to Bantin in a dress, I think I have a shot somewhere. I was in the Sudan on mv,Conde Vanessa when I suddenly realised that the skipper, Rosie Frampton, had the same size feet as me (US 12). I asked if she had any high-heeled shoes and if I could borrow them. She offered me a little silk dress to go with them, which I accepted. Thus dressed, I tripped back to the stern where the other passengers were relaxing. I have never seen so many scared-looking men! (I have a picture somewhere.)

[james 0]

Try that "send me my password" thing ms. nekkid - should work the trick.

 

James

[ornate_wrasse 0]

As I told Mike in a PM, I'm known as Fairybasslet on other boards. I thought I had registered here under that name, but I couldn't log in as that.

 

Doesn't matter. I'll just continue as "nekkid"

 

Geez, I should've picked a descriptive name like yours instead of the same "boring" name I use on the other board I post on regularly. Guess I wasn't too creative when I first came to Wetpixel.

 

OTOH, maybe I'll just put all my energies into improving my uw photo skills. I think I'll sign up for one of Mike and Simon's courses. After all I hearing here, that would be FUN. Not sure how much I'd learn though. jk

 

Ellen

[MikeVeitch 0]

I have never seen so many scared-looking men! (I have a picture somewhere.)

 

 

Hehehe.... I knew it!

 

Ellen, honest we do teach stuff too! But not after 8pm..