Wp-dc700

[benmah]

Hi all,
Sorry to have to create a new thread but couldn't find one with relation to WP-DC700. Got a couple of quotations for the price of this housing, $250 at MAX photo(dunno how true this is) and $325(Cathay photo). Planning to get one for my Powershot A70. Anyone know of any places with a good price?

Also, an external strobe that was quoted to me from Cathay photo is $700 and its Canon made. Also, saw some messages abt the use of the camera's built in flash underwater, it tends to create back-scatter or the snowy effect. Where is a good place to start looking for strobes at affordable prices?


Sorry for the long message. Will be going diving at Riau island end of Jan and plan to do u/water photography for the first time.

[beivied]

first, benmah, no worries about creating a new thread. different topics should have its own threads.

what is the model, make and specifications of the strobe? canon made? hmmm.... if you can provide more info, lots of members here should be able to give their opinions..

backscatter is inevitable if you are taking photos in low vis. generally the closer you are to your subject, the less backscatter you will get. with external flash you wont be able to get rid of backscatter too. thats what i know la. opinions that differ please raise.. so i can learn too

[kthan]

Originally Posted by beivied first, benmah, no worries about creating a new thread. different topics should have its own threads. what is the model, make and specifications of the strobe? canon made? hmmm.... if you can provide more info, lots of members here should be able to give their opinions.. backscatter is inevitable if you are taking photos in low vis. generally the closer you are to your subject, the less backscatter you will get. with external flash you wont be able to get rid of backscatter too. thats what i know la. opinions that differ please raise.. so i can learn too

our mod learning fast and furious.

the person who bothers to get wet and go diving will improve the most. I have been stagnant for quite some time.

[kng]

Originally Posted by benmah Hi all, Sorry to have to create a new thread but couldn't find one with relation to WP-DC700. Got a couple of quotations for the price of this housing, $250 at MAX photo(dunno how true this is) and $325(Cathay photo). Planning to get one for my Powershot A70. Anyone know of any places with a good price? Also, an external strobe that was quoted to me from Cathay photo is $700 and its Canon made. Also, saw some messages abt the use of the camera's built in flash underwater, it tends to create back-scatter or the snowy effect. Where is a good place to start looking for strobes at affordable prices? Sorry for the long message. Will be going diving at Riau island end of Jan and plan to do u/water photography for the first time.

WELCOME WELCOME!!

Backscatter is caused when the particles in the water reflect the light back towards the lens.

As such, strobes that are mounted near the lens barrel (eg. internal flash) will invariably result in a lot of backscatter. But if the strobe is mounted away from the lens barrel, backscatter is reduced as reflections are in the direction of the flash and not directly to the lens. (Hope i am making sense.)

This is why strobes are always mounted on arms. Before you plunge into buying a strobe, suggest you experiment with adding an orange/pink filter - makes a lot of diff to the uw photos!!

Do post the link to the canon strobe for us to take a look at!! Never knew canon sold uw strobes.

Do also post your photos after your trip! If I may ask, where in the Riau islands are the dive sites you're going to?

Haha... you must try the A70 vga video mode! Lovely heheh!

[beivied]

Originally Posted by kthan our mod learning fast and furious. the person who bothers to get wet and go diving will improve the most. I have been stagnant for quite some time.

people like you, waisj, lanxx, kthan and kng have been so generous in sharing knowledge and information... i am just regurgitating...

[benmah]

Thanx...

Yuh, I din know that Canon made strobes also. Didn't actually see it. I just enquired at Cathay at Marina Square.

Also, issit true if macro shots are taken and the internal flash is used, it won't result in so much back-scatter?

Sorry, but how do you add the orange/pink filter to the lens of the camera?? Issit on the housing itself?

Not sure of the exact dive sites but the dive company is www.diveriau.com

The VGA video mode to record underwater? Won't the visibility be very poor since there is no external light source?

Originally Posted by kng WELCOME WELCOME!! Backscatter is caused when the particles in the water reflect the light back towards the lens. As such, strobes that are mounted near the lens barrel (eg. internal flash) will invariably result in a lot of backscatter. But if the strobe is mounted away from the lens barrel, backscatter is reduced as reflections are in the direction of the flash and not directly to the lens. (Hope i am making sense.) This is why strobes are always mounted on arms. Before you plunge into buying a strobe, suggest you experiment with adding an orange/pink filter - makes a lot of diff to the uw photos!! Do post the link to the canon strobe for us to take a look at!! Never knew canon sold uw strobes. Do also post your photos after your trip! If I may ask, where in the Riau islands are the dive sites you're going to? Haha... you must try the A70 vga video mode! Lovely heheh!

[benmah]

Also, anyone know a reasonable price I should pay for the WP-DC700 housing for the PShot A70. Got quite a few quotes. Not sure what is a good price to pay.

[soulman]

Originally Posted by benmah Also, anyone know a reasonable price I should pay for the WP-DC700 housing for the PShot A70. Got quite a few quotes. Not sure what is a good price to pay.

Try Paris Silk in Holland Village. They generally can get good price comparing to the rest of the stores.

Your qoute of $250 is actually quite a good deal. (if it's true...)

As for the stobe.. I'm also keen to find out about the details. Didn't know they have that.

You can also check out Sea & Sea Singapore in Adelphi. They're quite helpful in recommending equipments and setup. In your case, you'll need strobe and arms and syn cord. Check with Andrew. Also checkout http://www.seanseacamera.com/

As for backscatters. Do not use the buildin flash in any circumstances unless it's for christmas purposes.. Check out this free website http://www.uwpmag.com. There is an issue on how to avoid snowflakes if my brain don't fails me...

[beivied]

Originally Posted by soulman As for backscatters. Do not use the buildin flash in any circumstances unless it's for christmas purposes.. .

just like to justify the use of build in flash .. it may not be as good as strobes, but it definitely is ok to use... ask waisj, lanxx and kng.. and myself. we all use(d) built in flash, and we can get photos without backscatter... esp for a newbie like me, it should prove that it is not the fault of the built in flash.
just my two cents worth

[soulman]

Originally Posted by beivied just like to justify the use of build in flash .. it may not be as good as strobes, but it definitely is ok to use... ask waisj, lanxx and kng.. and myself. we all use(d) built in flash, and we can get photos without backscatter... esp for a newbie like me, it should prove that it is not the fault of the built in flash. just my two cents worth

Okie.. noted.

In anycase, the best way to find out is to test, experiment and try as many many times in different water condition.

One of the best location that you can experiment is Pulua Hantu.

[kthan]

Originally Posted by kng WELCOME WELCOME!! Backscatter is caused when the particles in the water reflect the light back towards the lens. As such, strobes that are mounted near the lens barrel (eg. internal flash) will invariably result in a lot of backscatter. But if the strobe is mounted away from the lens barrel, backscatter is reduced as reflections are in the direction of the flash and not directly to the lens. (Hope i am making sense.) This is why strobes are always mounted on arms. Before you plunge into buying a strobe, suggest you experiment with adding an orange/pink filter - makes a lot of diff to the uw photos!! [/size]

I was trying to find a diagram for our new friend and this is what I get.
avioding backscatter

Hope this help.

The main reason why internal strobe use on macro "reduces" back scatter is simply becos the less water column you have between the lens and the subject, the less particles u have which will reflect light back into the lens. Hope this simple explanation help. Hence, in Hantu, you will still get "snow", albeit less for macro.

Following up on what Beivied said, it's the particles, not the strobe. U try shooting in a swimming pool with your internal flash and I think the pictures will turn out ok. If got snow, u better wash yourself with Dettol!!!

Eric

[lovells19]

Originally Posted by kthan I was trying to find a diagram for our new friend and this is what I get. avioding backscatter Hope this help. The main reason why internal strobe use on macro "reduces" back scatter is simply becos the less water column you have between the lens and the subject, the less particles u have which will reflect light back into the lens. Hope this simple explanation help. Hence, in Hantu, you will still get "snow", albeit less.

woah! this is good stuff

how to create that black background like those award winning pictures ah?

[kthan]

Originally Posted by soulman As for backscatters. Do not use the buildin flash in any circumstances unless it's for christmas purposes..

I beg to differ. The following pics were shot with an Olympus and just the internal flash by a french guy on a round the world tour.
pics with just the internal strobe

How did I know he shoot w/o an external strobe? Well, I "invited" him to dive Perhentian and met up with him after his Malaysian trip.

Hence it all depends on the situations and making the best use of your camera.

[soulman]

Originally Posted by lovells19 woah! this is good stuff how to create that black background like those award winning pictures ah?

put to full f/stop.

[kng]

Originally Posted by kthan I beg to differ. The following pics were shot with an Olympus and just the internal flash by a french guy on a round the world tour. pics with just the internal strobe How did I know he shoot w/o an external strobe? Well, I "invited" him to dive Perhentian and met up with him after his Malaysian trip. Hence it all depends on the situations and making the best use of your camera.

I agree with Kthan. Marvellous macro shots can be taken without an external strobe - you just need to have minimum water between the subject and the lens. Just ask waisj to show you his "coffee table book".

The WP-DC700 housing has a diffuser which is mounted flush with the lens barrel so you should be able to take evenly lit macro shots without a 'dark shadow' in the lower left corner.

Unfortunately it is not easy to achieve good wide angle shots without one or more external $trobe$...

[lovells19]

Originally Posted by soulman put to full f/stop.

ohhhhh
later go try kekeke

[benmah]

Hi folks,
The advice and links given so far have been really helpful and informational. Glad I chanced upon this club. Would anyone have any opinion or experience with the above mentioned strobe in the title?

[kthan]

Hi Ben

I have not heard of a Canon Underwater Strobe before. Anybody?

Nikon yes, but not Canon.

Eric

[Photosmart]

Originally Posted by benmah Hi folks, The advice and links given so far have been really helpful and informational. Glad I chanced upon this club. Would anyone have any opinion or experience with the above mentioned strobe in the title?

Attached is a link that provide some feedback from some user of the above strobe.

http://www.digitaldiver.info/yabbse/...;threadid=4528

[Photosmart]

Another link for the feedback
http://www.digitaldiver.info/yabbse/...;threadid=4335