Help with Underwater photography kit..

[adamdewilde]

No wonder your government had to start courtesy campaigns.

I hope this isn’t an accurate representation of Singaporeans. I ask a simple question about getting the best bang for my buck. Morphis if you can’t take the time to properly write a rebuttal then you're obviously not worth my time. I thought English was the official language in Singapore? Sorry if I'm offending your abilities with language, but seriously nothing of what you said seemed constructive.

Thanks to all those who’ve helped, be it just posting pictures, or sending me links. Hopefully I’ll get to snorkel at Phi Phi island (I stop over in Phuket for a few days) before coming to Singapore, and if I do in fact manage to land some decent shots, I might post them up. Diving will probably have to wait till after we get to Singapore though, I want to go somewhere that comes recommended (and yes I guess I'll ask my girlfriends brother).

Sure I could go buy a 5D housing or a 1D2 housing, or a mk3 and then a housing for it, but do I want to? Is it worth my money, would I rather spend the money on something worthwhile? For those who ask, I don’t see how its hard to comprehend. I like photography, I’ve invested a lot of time and money in photography. I am going to get something inexpensive to try it out and if I like it, I will invest more money into it.

BTW, BHPhoto.com check it out, $260 for camera, $170 for housing, $225 for strobe…
(not the best of everything, but I guess enough to get me started, unless someone wants to add that there is something better).. If I had a few more people on here, who wanted to be helpful, I’d know if what I’m buying is the best bang for my buck.. Rather I have a lot of people who really don’t seem to have true passion for things. Someone with passion shares, and aids others. I’ve not seen that here. As I said I really hope this isn’t an accurate representation of Singaporeans.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/457553-REG/Canon_1287B001_PowerShot_A640_Digital_Camera.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/463319-REG/Canon_1592B001_WP_DC8_Case_for_A630.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/460478-REG/Fantasea_Line__CoolFlash_Nano_Kit_with.html

The links, if anyone wants to mention a better product for around the same price..

Adam

P.S. Honestly I've been a member of photo forums for the last 4 years, and I've seen peopole who just like to cause problems, but so far this forum has been the worse. I'm not gonna let a few bad apples spoil it for me, I will continue to post and gather information from those who are willing to lend me there time.

 

[RSU]

Adam,

Despite you being an arrogant arse, I will post one reply just to clarify the point of view for those of us who love our underwater photography, and hopefully it will make sense to you.

Some of our members were kind enough to make the point that underwater photography is a holistic activity, and requires proper dive training and the development of underwater skills beforehand. Conservation issues aside, you can't take good pictures if you are not a competent diver. You also put your own safety at risk from task-overloading. It may have been, in strict definition, off-topic to what you were primarily asking, but they were relevant points.

You come here to benefit from our collective experiences (as is with the point of forums), and then you get antagonistic when you don't hear what you want to hear. Personally, I hope you never take up diving because you will be an instructor's worst nightmare.

If you feel you have been treated worse here than other forums, please revert to those, have a group hug there and leave us alone. Our bad English and discourtesy will only serve to frustrate you more.

You say you've invested a lot of money into photography - it's a pity money can't buy class.

Regards
Rohan

 

[adamdewilde]

LOL, I'd rather spend my money on camera equipment, after all this is a photo forum.


Ok Rohan I know what your problem is, you've been diving for 20 years, you have over 800 dives, nice underwater camera gear, but yet your photos are still crap. How does that feel, not so good right?

Not a very nice thing to say (be it true or not), so why is it ok for you guys to treat me this way?

Why is it ok for me to ask a simple question, about what is a better buy, because I would love to try underwater photography, be it snorkeling or diving, to have everyone try and drag me down?

You condone what they say when it has no relevance to my question, and you sit there and say I'm getting bitchy?

How do you think this forum would have turned out had someone just answered my question, which I asked nicely like 3 times! Post some pictures, tell me about pros and cons, and why it’s better to spend slightly more.

Everyone has there methods, I'm not a hardcore diver, I don't even know if I'll like it, but the only reason I'm willing to invest time in it, is because I love photography and would love to try merging both worlds. So if snorkeling with a a640 and underwater case is fun, and I learn to dive, then I take a camera on dives with me and I get good pictures I'll be happy. If I don't like diving or don't get good pictures, the underwater housing can be sold on buy and sell, and the camera I can keep for an alternative to my DSLR rig.

Nobody loses money but me, and I assure you I won't molest your fish.

So a simple suggestion to me would have been "buy a camera that you'll use regardless of the underwater aspects, just incase you don't like diving" Or even, "hey the a640 is nice, but the housing is crap, so a cheaper alternative is this cheaper camera, and that more expensive housing, here is why..."


And you speak to me about class... BTW your post wasn't constructive either, thanks a lot.

Adam

 

[RSU]

LOL, I'd rather spend my money on camera equipment, after all this is a photo forum.


Ok Rohan I know what your problem is, you've been diving for 20 years, you have over 800 dives, nice underwater camera gear, but yet your photos are still crap. How does that feel, not so good right?

Not a very nice thing to say (be it true or not), so why is it ok for you guys to treat me this way?

Why is it ok for me to ask a simple question, about what is a better buy, because I would love to try underwater photography, be it snorkeling or diving, to have everyone try and drag me down?

You condone what they say when it has no relevance to my question, and you sit there and say I'm getting bitchy?

How do you think this forum would have turned out had someone just answered my question, which I asked nicely like 3 times! Post some pictures, tell me about pros and cons, and why it’s better to spend slightly more.

Everyone has there methods, I'm not a hardcore diver, I don't even know if I'll like it, but the only reason I'm willing to invest time in it, is because I love photography and would love to try merging both worlds. So if snorkeling with a a640 and underwater case is fun, and I learn to dive, then I take a camera on dives with me and I get good pictures I'll be happy. If I don't like diving or don't get good pictures, the underwater housing can be sold on buy and sell, and the camera I can keep for an alternative to my DSLR rig.

Nobody loses money but me, and I assure you I won't molest your fish.

So a simple suggestion to me would have been "buy a camera that you'll use regardless of the underwater aspects, just incase you don't like diving" Or even, "hey the a640 is nice, but the housing is crap, so a cheaper alternative is this cheaper camera, and that more expensive housing, here is why..."


And you speak to me about class... BTW your post wasn't constructive either, thanks a lot.

Adam

So, you don't disagree that you are an arrogant arse?

Rohan

 

[lovells19]

So, you don't disagree that you are an arrogant arse?

Rohan

:bsmilie: Don't bother lah rohan.. he can't see pass the asscrack of his cos it loaded with cash and passion

 

[RSU]

:bsmilie: Don't bother lah rohan.. he can't see pass the asscrack of his cos it loaded with cash and passion

:bsmilie: Ok, I won't. Besides, I have to go and reflect on how crap my photos are - I am contemplating suicide.

 

[adamdewilde]

Road sweeping and diving, what a life. :bsmilie:

I'm glad we've all had a chance to talk.
I'll be sure not to follow any of your advice; obviously our objectives in life are different.

BTW, I purchased a setup on research and good recommendation. So I guess all that’s left are pictures, but I’m sure you’re not interested in seeing those, considering your shots are so awesome.


Take care,
Adam

 

[antacid]

uh guys, why is this becoming so personal?

in any case, i don't remember adam saying anything about not getting proper dive instruction before having fun with his camera. it's more like "i'm going to buy a camera, and then go have scuba lessons."

i think we sort of jumped to the conclusion that "oh he's going to be one of those tornado divers and just wreck everything".

granted, some of his replies didn't come across very well, but that's some people i guess.

everyone, just take a deep breath, and go sign up for a dive trip ok?
((=

 

[Sinker]

No wonder your government had to start courtesy campaigns.
...
Sure I could go buy a 5D housing or a 1D2 housing, or a mk3 and then a housing for it, but do I want to? Is it worth my money, would I rather spend the money on something worthwhile? For those who ask, I don’t see how its hard to comprehend. I like photography, I’ve invested a lot of time and money in photography. I am going to get something inexpensive to try it out and if I like it, I will invest more money into it.
...
Adam
P.S. Honestly I've been a member of photo forums for the last 4 years, and I've seen peopole who just like to cause problems, but so far this forum has been the worse. I'm not gonna let a few bad apples spoil it for me, I will continue to post and gather information from those who are willing to lend me there time.

Our courtesy campaigns will come in handy for you then? :bsmilie:

You might want to consider the matter from another angle - it's difficult to enjoy u/w photography if you are not comfortable diving. Since you already know you like photography, I would have thought that you would want to spend more time and $ to see if you like diving first before committing to a camera? To me, if you don't like diving, any $ you spent on your u/w camera setup, be it S$750.00 or S$50.00 is going to be a waste of money. But hey, whatever makes you happy.

I shoot slides on a F90x (and no worries,I AM crap ) because I prefer their results as compared to digital. If you have reached our shores, do consider Andrew at The Adelphi, #02-13 if you wish to consider SLR/ DSLR set-ups. It's been some time since I visited him but iirc, he also sells various accessories e.g. strobes, arms, cases, trays etc etc.

 

[lovells19]

uh guys, why is this becoming so personal?

in any case, i don't remember adam saying anything about not getting proper dive instruction before having fun with his camera. it's more like "i'm going to buy a camera, and then go have scuba lessons."

i think we sort of jumped to the conclusion that "oh he's going to be one of those tornado divers and just wreck everything".

granted, some of his replies didn't come across very well, but that's some people i guess.

everyone, just take a deep breath, and go sign up for a dive trip ok?
((=

Hmm how many divers you actually knows can perfect their buoyancy after 1 dive? I do not know any.

We merely asked him to get his skills right prior to starting underwater photography and there were fanciful English words thrown at us. Poor us with poor understanding and expression of the Perfect English Language might have not understand his high level of communication methods.

I am still more comfortable with my mother tongue, hokkien. Gum lah

I see divers with poor buoyancy struggling in water with their cameras, endangering the corals and themselves, putting the safety of their own on the line is bad enough, destroying the trip for everyone should he/she have a dive accident.

We asked him to do his diving course first was for his own good, take up the sport, like it and do more. I think its totally ridiculous to buy a camera and force himself to dive, it is like, Oh I need to buy condoms so I can force myself to Have sex. Its an insult to the sport itself. If you need to force yourself, don't dive.

If he doesn't like people to voice out what they like in the forum, don't post, don't ask.

We have no intention to show you how great we are in trying to protect a place we love, but show you that we love it and we try to spread whatever protection we could. Don't tell me to be captain planet, I think he's a great guy, Idiots can't see that and make fun of him.

We have no intention to show you how great our photos are, We are just saying if you cannot get your diving skills right, you won't be able to get a decent underwater photo with the best camera in the world.

We have NO interest in how much you have spent on your gears, some of us here have spend more then 15k on cameras, definitely more.

Courtesy begins with you don't expect it when you don't give any.
Don't take courtesy as a form of weakness.

Say what you want, this will be my last post in this wrong thread

Peace out

 

[RSU]

I think we've all said what we needed to say. So, can we please make this the last post for this whole distasteful episode?

I like the UW Photo sub-forum nice and peaceful - it matches the laid-back nature of divers. :cheers:

 

[adamdewilde]

Yeah thats cool, the people who have wanted to help have.
I got enough information out of a select few people, and have achieved what I wanted to achieve.

Now that I have an underwater kit, I will try snorkeling (in thailand) and fooling around at the beach with my friends.

When I've done my dive lessons, I will start posting pictures.
I'm sure I'll love diving I've always wanted to try.

We can kill this forum, but when I start another forum asking what to expect while snorkeling in Thailand, am I going to get bashed again? Hopefully not.

Thanks again to those who have helped,
adam