SEA&SEA DX-1G camera

[RonFrank]

Originally Posted by dbsea

A friend had mentioned the blazing fast speed between shots with minimal lag on the DX1G. He is limited only by his strobe.

He apparently is not shooting RAW with a 5.5 second wait between shots. This camera hardly blazing at .3 seconds full press lag. It also may fire before the image is in focus.

Shutter lag in most PnS camera's should really be called focus lag. You are not waiting on a shutter (they don't have one! ), but you are waiting of focus.

This camera does not focus all that fast especially in full tele, and macro modes. There are faster PnS camera's on the market.

[ScaredSilly]

Take a look at the discussion on wetpixel

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19584

[fire diver]

Okay Ron, I gotta newbie Q for ya. I know that you are ALL into the UW photo side of the house. I've seen your pics and you shoot some great stuff.

I know that brand choice is a personal issue, but what features should I look for when purchasing a DSLR?

I'm used to using my Oly digital, and my old SLR 35mm film camera. I'm even starting to get some decent results from my motormarine2. The problem is that the better I get with it, the more I see it's limitations and want to switch to digital.

FD

[bversteegh]

Originally Posted by fire diver

Okay Ron, I gotta newbie Q for ya. I know that you are ALL into the UW photo side of the house. I've seen your pics and you shoot some great stuff.

I know that brand choice is a personal issue, but what features should I look for when purchasing a DSLR?

I'm used to using my Oly digital, and my old SLR 35mm film camera. I'm even starting to get some decent results from my motormarine2. The problem is that the better I get with it, the more I see it's limitations and want to switch to digital.

FD

I'm not Ron, but have gone down the path through PnS to a DSLR. I started out with Oly's (4040, 5060, 7070) then a Fuji F810, and now shoot a Canon 20D DSLR (replaced by the 30d and 40D is just out).

I think Canon and Nikon are your best bets for DSLR, because they have so many options for lenses (The Fuji S5 is an awesome camera, but pricey). The Oly DSLR's have a pretty unique sensor size, and less choice for lenses. Just be prepared for the negative cash flow - a DSLR body, Housing and ports, 3 or 4 lenses, strobes and focus light will run you between $5000 and $10,000, depending on your tastes.

The Nikon D200 (which is being replaced with the D300) is a pretty sweet camera; probably the direction I would lean if starting over (when I switched to DSLR, it wasn't out yet; so I am pretty well committed to Canon since I have big investment in lenses). If that is too pricey (a D200 is around 1600 for the body), the Nikon D80 or Canon 400D are really nice; just don't have the build quality of the mid-range DSLR's cameras like the Nikon D200/300 or 30/40D Canon. And if you are big into wide angle, the Canon 5D is a relatively affordable full frame camera - will give you a wider FOV for a given lens than a cropped sensor like a Nikon D200 or Canon 40D.

Ikelite and Aquatica are the most affordable housings - Sea and Sea also has some moderately priced stuff. When you start getting into the professional housings like Subals, Light and Motion, etc; a housing and a few ports can quickly approach 5K.

Plan on getting 3 to 5 lenses - a wide angle, midrange zoom, and macro; plus a telephoto for topside. The hot lenses right now for uw DSLR include: Nikon 10 mm WA, Sigma or Canon 15mm Fisheye, Tokina 10-17 Fisheye Zoom, Sigma 17-70 mid-range zoom, Nikon and Canon 60 mm macro, Canon 100 mm, Nikon 105 mm. Most of these lenses are between 400 and 800 dollars ea.

And with a good wide angle system, you'll want 2 good strobes (Inon 240, Ikelite 125's or 200's), nice strobe arms like ULCS, a good focus light - so here go a couple thousand more dollars.

It's lot's of fun - but a real money pit. Be warned - once you start down the mountain, there's no turning back

[Aussie]

Originally Posted by bversteegh

I'm not Ron, but have gone down the path through PnS to a DSLR. I started out with Oly's (4040, 5060, 7070) then a Fuji F810, and now shoot a Canon 20D DSLR (replaced by the 30d and 40D is just out).

I think Canon and Nikon are your best bets for DSLR, because they have so many options for lenses (The Fuji S5 is an awesome camera, but pricey). The Oly DSLR's have a pretty unique sensor size, and less choice for lenses. Just be prepared for the negative cash flow - a DSLR body, Housing and ports, 3 or 4 lenses, strobes and focus light will run you between $5000 and $10,000, depending on your tastes.

The Nikon D200 (which is being replaced with the D300) is a pretty sweet camera; probably the direction I would lean if starting over (when I switched to DSLR, it wasn't out yet; so I am pretty well committed to Canon since I have big investment in lenses). If that is too pricey (a D200 is around 1600 for the body), the Nikon D80 or Canon 400D are really nice; just don't have the build quality of the mid-range DSLR's cameras like the Nikon D200/300 or 30/40D Canon. And if you are big into wide angle, the Canon 5D is a relatively affordable full frame camera - will give you a wider FOV for a given lens than a cropped sensor like a Nikon D200 or Canon 40D.

Ikelite and Aquatica are the most affordable housings - Sea and Sea also has some moderately priced stuff. When you start getting into the professional housings like Subals, Light and Motion, etc; a housing and a few ports can quickly approach 5K.

Plan on getting 3 to 5 lenses - a wide angle, midrange zoom, and macro; plus a telephoto for topside. The hot lenses right now for uw DSLR include: Nikon 10 mm WA, Sigma or Canon 15mm Fisheye, Tokina 10-17 Fisheye Zoom, Sigma 17-70 mid-range zoom, Nikon and Canon 60 mm macro, Canon 100 mm, Nikon 105 mm. Most of these lenses are between 400 and 800 dollars ea.

And with a good wide angle system, you'll want 2 good strobes (Inon 240, Ikelite 125's or 200's), nice strobe arms like ULCS, a good focus light - so here go a couple thousand more dollars.

It's lot's of fun - but a real money pit. Be warned - once you start down the mountain, there's no turning back

I agree with the only difference is that I use a Nikon D80. I picked the D80 over the D200 due to the need to spend more money on getting more lenses. Got the 60mm Macro which is my favourite (now looking at the 105mm non-VR macro Nikkor), 10-17mm Tokina which I have only recently used (great Grey Nurse shark shots) and just purchased the sgima 17-70mm (waiting on the ring to fit the 8 inch dome port).

I am learning each and every dive and can't wait to get somewhere where there is small critters and clear warm blue water.

Aussie

[fire diver]

Ok, the focus light is somthing new to me. But I understand the strobes. I've been wanting to add another stobe to my MM2, but at the same time I don't want to sink more cash into a system I won't be using in a couple years.

So what camera and body combos feature bulkhead TTL flash connections? Can you interchange lenses (brands) on a housing or are they propriatary in thier connections? What the difference between digital strobes and regular? Can lenses be changed underwater, or if I go in with a macro I am stuck with it for the duration of the dive?

Right now I'd say most of my shots are with a WA. It's only draw back is flash coverage with a single strobe. I have yet to use my macro lens. Nothing but dirty rocks around here to shoot.

FD

[gibson1525]

5.5 seconds to store a RAW image? that's forever! anyone know how long it takes the G9 to store a RAW image?

[DevilDiver]

FYI- It seems there are some upgrades coming to this madel. I guess it is to be expected. If they make a few improvement and get it right it looks like this system would interest alot of people.............

Sea & Sea DX-1G Camera Update II

In my first Sea & Sea DX-1G Camera Update I talked about the “flash-like strobe triggering accessory”. Both B&H and Adorama are now carrying the DX-1G system but the magic triggering accessory seems to be missing in action. Adorama has the following as the last item in the “features” section:
An optional hotshoe mounted LED Strobe Adapter in order to allow continuous shooting without flash recycle delay.
Note the word “optional”. The interesting thing is that this optional item is not listed in the accessories anywhere. Without this accessory, the housing will use the built-in camera flash to trigger the strobes (via the optical cables). This is the traditional way compact cameras trigger external strobes and it is an inefficient kludge at best that generates excess heat, kills the camera battery, and results in slow recycle times.
The LED Strobe Adapter is key to the performance of this system. I’m very surprised that it was not released at the same time as the housing. Sea and Sea and Ricoh (holy ands batman) must have had issues getting this beastie to work correctly. This is not entirely surprising since this is the first iteration of what must be a proprietary flash protocol (you can see the connector clearly in this shot up at DPReview.com)
In my first DX-1G post I mentioned that the advantage of this system over other point-and-shoot underwater systems is the nifty LED Strobe Adapter (now MIA) and the relatively wide view (24mm in camera and 16mm with Sea & Sea adapter).
I would hold off purchasing this housing/system until the LED Strobe Adapter has been released and has been put through its paces by a third party reviewer. Your mileage may vary if you are comparing to other point-and-shoot systems.

[jamescrew6]

I own the DX-1G and took pics with it in the Galapagos Islands about a month ago. It is not a DSLR but you can shoot in manual mode or as a point and shoot camera. I am inceredibly happy with the pics that I got. I will agree that it is not a DSLR but it doesn't come with the price tag of a DSLR either. You will spend thousands more for a DSLR with all the lenses and strobes than a DX-1G setup. I connected a YS-110 strobe to my camera and it worked wonderfully. I will also say that the wide angle lens is wonderful and came in handy when i was shooting pics of whale sharks. I am not a professional photographer but I do enjoy capturing memories of my dive trips. I do not shoot in RAW mode but I also do not make prints above the 8X10; therefore, I find that JPEG images are fine for my photo albums. I would also say that this camera has very little lag time when you shoot the pic, you do not have to lead the subject to take a shot. What you see in your LCD screen is what you will get when you push the shutter button. My daughter has and underwater DSLR and it is a great camera but I like the compactness of my camera and I think I get great pics. Sigh, I get a little tired of hearing many of the DSLR proponents bashing any camera that is not a DSLR. I'm not discouraging anyone from getting a DSLR and I think that they are great cameras but for many of us a camera with the capabilities of the DX-1G more than meets our needs. Just my thoughts.

[DevilDiver]

Originally Posted by jamescrew6

I own the DX-1G and took pics with it in the Galapagos Islands about a month ago. It is not a DSLR but you can shoot in manual mode or as a point and shoot camera. I am inceredibly happy with the pics that I got. I will agree that it is not a DSLR but it doesn't come with the price tag of a DSLR either. You will spend thousands more for a DSLR with all the lenses and strobes than a DX-1G setup. I connected a YS-110 strobe to my camera and it worked wonderfully. I will also say that the wide angle lens is wonderful and came in handy when i was shooting pics of whale sharks. I am not a professional photographer but I do enjoy capturing memories of my dive trips. I do not shoot in RAW mode but I also do not make prints above the 8X10; therefore, I find that JPEG images are fine for my photo albums. I would also say that this camera has very little lag time when you shoot the pic, you do not have to lead the subject to take a shot. What you see in your LCD screen is what you will get when you push the shutter button. My daughter has and underwater DSLR and it is a great camera but I like the compactness of my camera and I think I get great pics. Sigh, I get a little tired of hearing many of the DSLR proponents bashing any camera that is not a DSLR. I'm not discouraging anyone from getting a DSLR and I think that they are great cameras but for many of us a camera with the capabilities of the DX-1G more than meets our needs. Just my thoughts.

Thanks for the info.....
What do you see as the pros and cons of this camera?