I have heard good remarks about the use of the Canon G9 both here and at Scuba Board. Does anyone have an opinion on the next prodigy; Canon G10? How does it compare?

Patrick -- I have the SAME question, and was pleasantly surprised to see your post here as I was planning to create one myself!

All -- for two years now I have been working with a SeaLife DC 500 with wide-angle lens and digital strobe. This was my first camera after getting OW certified in Bonaire a year earlier, and I wanted to start small before investing in more expensive equipment. This is the one that a number on this board recommended that I start with as a "newbie" photographer. I have gotten some excellent results, I believe, among some really poor results (which I attribute in many instances to user error). As expected, the closer I get to the subject, and the better I aim the strobe and have it on the proper setting (normal vs. far vs. macro), the better the outcome.

I am now seriously considering a step-up upgrade, and in reviewing various websites the Canon G-10 has come up (along with the G-9). The reviews of the G-10 on C-Net.com are really pretty good, but none of them, apparently, are from an underwater user. I believe that Ikelite makes a (the???) underwater housing for the camera.

So -- I join Patrick in asking for advice here! Many thanks BTer's.

Steve Jorgensen

P.S. I missed my annul trip to Bonaire last week due to American Airlines flight cutbacks beginning this summer. Went to Curacao instead, where the reefs were really in good shape with abundant fish life. Watamula and Mushroom Forest are special places. But -- my heart still belongs in Bonaire! (less traffic, smaller town, better restaurants, better shore diving, etc., etc., etc.).

Well let's compare the G9 and G10. They look pretty close and I know the G9 (and G5 before) has always had a great reputation among UW photographers. I looked at the G9 very closely the only disadvantage I could see was the size/weight. They are very heavy duty.

I believe that a G10 in a Ikelite housing with a good external strobe would kick butt and take outrageous pictures.

Steve interesting comment about Curacao, I've always had a hard time explaining why Bonaire is better, but I do know it is.

Hey Patrick! Thanks for posting this question. I am ready to buy this camera, Ikelite housing and lighting. I was thinking of a Sea & Sea DX 1G, but after reading the advice from others I decided on the above package. It will keep me within my budget and I already have an Ikelite housing and lighting system for my video camera. Ikelite may be bigger than other housings, but I have never had a problem dealing with them. When my lighting system was damaged by customs, it flooded. UGH. When I got home I called Ikelite, they said they would fix it. Turns out they completely replaced it at no charge. How about that?!

Thanks, Cecil. I have always respected your opinion on things, so this weighs heavily! Linda -- let us know how you like the camera! When will you first be able to test its mettle??

Steve

Hey Steve, We leave in May for our dive trip, but once I get all the equipment I can take it to a local dive shops pool for a test run.

Hey thanks for the info. I was hoping that this camera might fit the bill as being able to perform better than many of the entry level cameras and the setup seems to be within my budget.

Patrick -- If you go with this camera, and Linda this question is for you, too -- please tell me what you are doing for strobe attachment(s). I have priced the camera and the Ikelite housing -- but I need advice on the strobe package and any other accessories that you would recommend. Thanks in advance!

Steve

I'm getting ready to test my new housing. I take a 2 lb lead weight, wrap it in a paper towel, seal it in the housing and let it sit in a sink of water over night. Check the towel for water in the morning.

Then do the same thing where there is a dock. There you can lower it a little deeper. Now weather you take it down the first time without the camera is your call. If it passes the above tests I will probably go for it.

Steve,
I do more close up photos than wide angle, so I thought this would be the correct setup from Ikelite.

#3944.51 Substrobe DS-51
Deluxe Package includes:
#4044.1 DS-51 Substrobe with diffuser
#4086.61 Ball Socket Arm
#4103.51 Ikelite Digital TTL Sync Cord

Cecil, When I got the housing for my video camera I went for a dive in a pool at the dive shop. Like you, I put a weight in it instead of the camera.

Linda --

Thanks for this information. I went on the Ikelite website and found this package for $500. I have priced the Canon G10 at around $410, and the Ikelite housing for around $650. Total price, then, for the whole shootin' match would be around $1,560. Does that sound about right to you? And -- since I am such a novice about this stuff, could you explain your comment about why this particular set-up is better for "close up" than wide angle??? Feel free to send me a private message if you like so we don't bother others with this stuff! :o)

Steve

Steve,
I just purchased the camera for $259.99 plush shipping from www.OnTimeDigital.com . This is just the camera, straps and cords and battery only. Hope this is okay to put the link up. You're correct with the housing being $650, and the lighting package at $600. That is a total of $1,510 plus any taxes and shipping charges. Of course I may have missed a component, but Ikelite will let me know.
I'm no expert, but I think the diffuser makes the light softer so the subject is not blasted with light - the DS-51 strobe is smaller (a plus for me) and the specs on it say it's good for macro to general shooting. The ball & socket arm set up give you more flexibility in placing your light. That's a good thing in general.
The best thing to do, for me anyway, is to call the nice people at Ikelite. They will do their best to set you up within you budget.
I'll let you know later (next check)what I go with.
Linda

Linda --

That is absolutely the best price for this camera that I can find. I am going to buy it, as I need a second digital anyway, and I can start building my new underwater "package." You have been so helpful. Thanks a bunch!

Steve

Welcome!

Linda, I hope you get your camera for that price but I always check out the customer reviews for a company on http://www.resellerratings.com/. The reviews for the company you ordered from are dismal. If you find a price for an item that is $150.00 less than everyone else...alarm bells should go off. Here are the reviews for On Time Digital...their score is 0 out of 10 for customer satisfaction.
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/On_Time_Digital

Oh, No!! This looks terrible.

All --

I just cancelled my order based upon reading those horrible, and RECENT reviews, forwarded by Ellen. It was enough to scare me off. Linda -- looks like you are the proverbial "Guinea pig" on this one! I will be really curious to see how you fare with this outfit. Will you let us know??

Steve

Good Grief! I won't be able to sleep tonight. Will call them in the morning to cancel. Darn!!!!!

I'll spend more elsewhere. At least I know Ikelite is a good company.

(Message edited by tlraz on January 7, 2009)

Linda --

Let me know how it turned out. Private Message is fine. I know that I did not have a comfortable feeling talking to their rep yesterday to cancel my order (just an hour after I had placed it, but maybe I was already pre-biased???). When he asked me why I was cancelling the order, I told him that I had found another camera for underwater use that I liked better (a "white lie"). He then asked what camera I had found, tried to talk me into an Olympus brand, etc. Then, said that my order had been cancelled. Hope so!!!

Ellen may have saved us!

Steve

Steve,
I just cancelled my order with On Time. I pm'd you the details.

Linda

I just cancelled my order with On Time Digital for the second time after I received an order confirmation email from the guy I cancelled the order with 3 days ago. He tried hanging up on me when he realized who I was. While trying to ask him to email me a cancellation # he rudely have me the number and hung up on me.
I did reply to his email confirming the cancellation number and mentioning that I was forwarding the information on to the bank that holds my cc account. Geesh!!!!!!!
I guess it takes all kinds. He must be an unhappy camper to be so rude.

Good grief!!! Congratulations on getting it done (one would hope!). I have checked my CC account on line and the charge is not there -- YET! And no e-mail confirmation after the original one. When you get the G 10, Linda, let us know how you like it.....

Thanks for the update!

Steve

Steve,

I'm sure I will LOVE it. I went to Best Buy to check it out in person and the battery in the demo was dead. The sales lady said it was up there with the SLR cameras as far as quality.
I may try buying through Calument online if their reviews are good.

I have till the end of April so...
Linda

You can purchase the Canon underwater housing with a diffuser plate for the flash and get professional pics with either the G9 or 10. It can be purchased on Amazon for $171.00 U.S.

I have a Canon 650IS and previously a A95 that take excellent underwater pics. I would like to post some pics but I don't know how too????



(Message edited by gug1953 on January 15, 2009)

(Message edited by gug1953 on January 15, 2009)

Hi Gulielmo! Go to the bottom of this page and click on "Formating" for instructions.
You key in the following without the space between image and {
\image {description}
I think the picture file must be 100MB or less. Check the instructions for better details.
Hope to see your photos soon.

Turks & Caicos 2/2008


(Message edited by gug1953 on January 15, 2009)

Anemone

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Soft Coral Polyps

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Brain Coral Closeup

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Juvenile Banded Shrimp

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Coney

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Juvenile Drum

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Octopuses Garden

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Divemaster was good at blowing bubbles!

(Message edited by gug1953 on January 15, 2009)

Beautiful shots! Thanks for sharing....

Great job!! That lionfish is not supposed to be in those waters. Someone must have flushed him.

Your right Linda. Likely it was thought at that time a getaway from one of the U.S. coastal tanks. When I took this pic it was one of the first known of a Lionfish. It drew alot of interest. Now I understand they are everywhere and there are those seeking a solution to get rid of them.

Guglielmo - was it the A650 IS that you used to take these pictures? What strobe did you use or did you rely on the internal strobe and clear waters?

Gail,

It is the A650 I used. The underwater housing is a Canon WP-DC-18 model designed for the A650. It allows full use of the controls. I ran the camera in the SCN mode (Underwater),macro, I put the flash on full time and used the diffuser plate that comes with the housing.

As for the availability of the A650 I know they took it off the market. I bought it immediately after it came out. Within a year they pulled it which is unusual for Canon. But what I have seen is they did not replace it. It came with full manual controls which the follow ups didn't. Also now they have their upper end line and their true point and shoots. I believe they released the A650 with too many bells and whistles for it's size and price and then pulled it off the shelf too sell it's features in their more upper end cameras. One feature Canon didn't know about that I discovered as well with this camera is it shoots in macro mode while in movies. It is located no where in the manual and I wrote them on this. They tried to deny it.

(Message edited by gug1953 on March 2, 2009)

Here's G10 examples from the Keys.

Cecil -- I am impressed! Linda, what do you think? I am now REALLY considering the G10 for my Aggressor trip in Utila this June! Thanks, Cecil for whetting my appetite!

Steve

Wow. Did you shoot those Cecil? It looks like Jonas did (and did a very very nice job).

Not me just saw them and thought they would be of interest. I just brought an Olympus 1010 and can not wait to get it wet.