Advices Needed - PADI Underwater Photographer Course

[Drac]

My frens had ask me to join them on a trip for diving as they are taking the Open Water Course but I had already got an Adv Cert...

As I would most likely be diving alone while they are having their practical lessons, I am tinking if I could use this opportunity to take up underwater photography as I am currently having a Canon 30D as a hobby.

Any one here would like to share your opinions if taking the course is nec or should I save the $$ n just go and buy the housing and try it out myself.

sorry if this qns had been asked b4 as I had tried but couldn't find any threads (mayb I dunno how to search the forum) and share your experience with me as I will be talking and finding more details and Costs to the operator tomoro.

Lastly, do help and recommend any reliable shop that sell such housing too

Thanks!!!

[antacid]

you might want to check on the price of the housing first...the cheapest i've seen so far is USD$1400 for a DSLR housing. plus lens ports, strobes, the whole set-up could cost at least SGD5k.

local shops would be scubacam or oceanicfocus. you can check with them for prices.

for the DUP course, what you get really depends on your instructor. to be honest, the standard material in the course is really for people who pick up the camera for the first time. i hope most instructors here throw in extras in the course and tailor it to the individual in terms of experience and knowledge.

my advice: if the instructor is just going by the book, you probably won't find it very useful if you already know the basic rules of photography, composition, and lighting. perhaps you could ask to take a look at the manual first to know what i'm talking about.

[Drac]

Originally Posted by antacid you might want to check on the price of the housing first...the cheapest i've seen so far is USD$1400 for a DSLR housing. plus lens ports, strobes, the whole set-up could cost at least SGD5k. local shops would be scubacam or oceanicfocus. you can check with them for prices. for the DUP course, what you get really depends on your instructor. to be honest, the standard material in the course is really for people who pick up the camera for the first time. i hope most instructors here throw in extras in the course and tailor it to the individual in terms of experience and knowledge. my advice: if the instructor is just going by the book, you probably won't find it very useful if you already know the basic rules of photography, composition, and lighting. perhaps you could ask to take a look at the manual first to know what i'm talking about.

Thanks antacid
I already know basic of photography but it is only pertaining to 'land' shots...
I used to have a PnS sony with u/w housing n took some very lousy shots more than 10 yrs back and the only things I did learnt is to add a red filter to compensate the lightings...
Is there any other pointers that is different from 'land shot' that anyone here would like to share

[Drac]

Anyone attend the course before

Whats your experiences

[loony]

You will get more out of the course if you are using your own camera. Otherwise, try to rent a camera from the shop. If they have strobe for rental as well, better still.

Underwater photography generally has some difference from land photography. You usually get better shots taking from a bottom up angle. For colours to come out correctly, flash is a strongly recommended. Placement of the strobe is also important to minimise backscatter. Post processing is usually another step in underwater photography. A shop or instructor that is able to teach you proper post processing (how to make water looks blue, removing backscatter, etc) will be added bonus.

To summarise, the course does provide you with some fundamentals to underwater photography. To get more out of it, look for a shop or instructor that is able to provide you an extra mileage.

[Drac]

actuali, this is wat I fear most... the course will onli b very basic and very dependable to what the individual had to offer and on the other hand, a very huge investment in equipments will deter any one frm impulse buyings so as to 'jus try' and see if one would like it or not

[lovells19]

Originally Posted by Drac actuali, this is wat I fear most... the course will onli b very basic and very dependable to what the individual had to offer and on the other hand, a very huge investment in equipments will deter any one frm impulse buyings so as to 'jus try' and see if one would like it or not

I think most courses even workshops will be very basics.

thats what they can teach you, they can teach you how to use your equipment, but they cannot teach you how to take a good photo.

It all boils down to practice and understanding the physics of the underwater world and making of a good photo .

if you like diving and photography, then you should seriously consider a DSLR setup
if not then get a compact camera and be content what it can produce.

[Drac]

Originally Posted by lovells19 I think most courses even workshops will be very basics. thats what they can teach you, they can teach you how to use your equipment, but they cannot teach you how to take a good photo. It all boils down to practice and understanding the physics of the underwater world and making of a good photo . if you like diving and photography, then you should seriously consider a DSLR setup if not then get a compact camera and be content what it can produce.

Thanks lovells19

Have yet to talk to the Dive Operator yet but have more or less decided not to take the course...

The next thing to decide is whether should I get a pns or use my current 30D to dive...haha so much to consider hor

[loony]

I would suggest you find diving khakis who do underwater photography. Otherwise, go with a dive shop which has many crews doing underwater photography. The tips you pick up from them may be worth more than the course itself.

PNS or DSLR is always a difficult choice. I started with PNS then add macro lens a few months later. After that, I added a wide angle wet lens not long after. Finally, I realised that there are certain shots which is nearly impossible to shoot without a DSLR. That's when you have to make the decision whether to abandon your PNS setup after all the investments and move on to DSLR.

If you think underwater photography is your cup of tea, I would suggest jumping straight into DSLR. The cost of a PNS + housing + wet macro lens + wet wide angle lens will probably be the same as the cost of a DSLR housing.

Tough choice isn't it?

[antacid]

if you're going to spend thousands on your housing, strobes, cameras, lenses, learning how to use them properly is very important. the silliest things will cause a flood and everything goes kaput.

abit scary when i see divers with cameras going "they say must do this, he say, she say" and they squirt on silicon grease like toothpaste around the o-ring in the housing.

[loony]

Typical kiasu mentality. The more grease the better. Then they dun bother to clean up the mess at the end of dive trip. Receipe for disaster.

[lovells19]

actually u clean off the grease better.. grease trap sand/hair/flies/mosquitos

grease is to keep the oring 'wet' when in storage.

house ur 30D lah

u get a pns, then get housing then get wideangle lens then 3 macro lens then 2 strobes then sell off everything and house ur 30D again hehehehe

[antacid]

Originally Posted by lovells19 actually u clean off the grease better.. grease trap sand/hair/flies/mosquitos grease is to keep the oring 'wet' when in storage. house ur 30D lah u get a pns, then get housing then get wideangle lens then 3 macro lens then 2 strobes then sell off everything and house ur 30D again hehehehe

yup, but that's what happens when everything you know is hearsay. worse, it was a dive instructor telling his attentive students. damn funny lah. oh, did i mention that the camera was flooded after the dive?
((=

anyways, P&S is cheap. about 1k for a camera and housing. add another 1k for a strobe and arms.

DSLR is a different kettle of fish. but the image quality is of another level too..heh heh.

[Drac]

Originally Posted by lovells19 I think most courses even workshops will be very basics. thats what they can teach you, they can teach you how to use your equipment, but they cannot teach you how to take a good photo. It all boils down to practice and understanding the physics of the underwater world and making of a good photo . if you like diving and photography, then you should seriously consider a DSLR setup if not then get a compact camera and be content what it can produce.

Originally Posted by loony I would suggest you find diving khakis who do underwater photography. Otherwise, go with a dive shop which has many crews doing underwater photography. The tips you pick up from them may be worth more than the course itself. PNS or DSLR is always a difficult choice. I started with PNS then add macro lens a few months later. After that, I added a wide angle wet lens not long after. Finally, I realised that there are certain shots which is nearly impossible to shoot without a DSLR. That's when you have to make the decision whether to abandon your PNS setup after all the investments and move on to DSLR. If you think underwater photography is your cup of tea, I would suggest jumping straight into DSLR. The cost of a PNS + housing + wet macro lens + wet wide angle lens will probably be the same as the cost of a DSLR housing. Tough choice isn't it?

ya ya...very tough...still havent decide which one to choose PnS or DSLR

Went to Cathay and took a look at Canon 640 + housing... very tempting Total damage : $860

Most likely will go and search for DSLR housing this weekend to check the damage and handling heeehee

[lovells19]

Originally Posted by Drac ya ya...very tough...still havent decide which one to choose PnS or DSLR Went to Cathay and took a look at Canon 640 + housing... very tempting Total damage : $860 Most likely will go and search for DSLR housing this weekend to check the damage and handling heeehee

I would really really recommend u to get an ikelite housing
i don't trust the canon housing, morever u cannot add lens cos there's not screw at the front, and Inon has refused to make and adapter for the G7 and A640 housing

its abt $200 more and u don't really have to worry about flooding ever

[Drac]

Originally Posted by lovells19 I would really really recommend u to get an ikelite housing i don't trust the canon housing, morever u cannot add lens cos there's not screw at the front, and Inon has refused to make and adapter for the G7 and A640 housing its abt $200 more and u don't really have to worry about flooding ever

Thanks lovells19

I believe you are talking about getting a A640 with an ikelite housing right?

[lovells19]

Originally Posted by Drac Thanks lovells19 I believe you are talking about getting a A640 with an ikelite housing right?

Yeap yeap
the casing is abt 3x thicker, buttons made from stainless steel, better locking mechanisms, built in 67mm thread for addon wet-lens, dual threaded bolt for mounting on trays, what i love most is the shutter release mechanism.

worth that extra $200

and of cos one stop center for all your underwater photography needs
check out Oceanic Focus

[travelbug]

Hey, get Dylan to teach lah.. if he is not busy. No cert but u are learning from a PRO .. cant go wrong .

[airfins]

You can try this Dive center, they rent out both PnS and SLR full set up so you can decide for yourself. The instructor is very into U/W photography can teach you photo shop skill too I myself also have this problem la PnS Vs SLR. I am using my Ixus 800 w/o strobe for U/W, then thinking of getting the full setup for my 30D but spending 5K then using only 4-5 Dive trip per year doesn't sound right....scare flood also then its 7K gone...so the most I go is to get an inon D-2000 strobe n 2 lens 2.5K for my PnS. You can add lens by getting the correct adapter to the housing, but not all model supported.
Its very important to try out 1st how you like it diving with the bulky housing and shooting with it. Can you manage or are you experience enough to handle the multi tasking U/W? Dont go and spent 5K then find out that you can't handle it or dont enjoy it then Siao liao...

Call 62232190 Lester for Rental details
http://www.inonamerica.com/products....at=13&subcat=1
http://www.inon.co.jp/product/system...tem_chart.html (goto System Chart, see your casing type then the available mount etc)