PERFECT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR COMPACT CAMERAS
Strengths: the option for full manual functions will give you greater control over how your photos turn out and RAW function allows for greater fiddling on a PC afterwards.
Weaknesses: Takes a bit of getting used to. Also the Canon housing doesn’t allow for wide angle or wet lenses to be attached. If that is your thing, you will need to purchase the more expensive Ikelite housing.
Overall: The advent of compact digital cameras and watertight housings has revolutionized underwater photography, giving us chance to share our experiences with people not yet converted to life with an aqualung.
Inevitably, there will be some of us who will outgrow our simple point-and-shoot models as we aspire to replicate the images of the likes of Alex Mustard or David Doubliet.
However, the thought of trying a digital SLR will leave a lot of us in dread. Too expensive, too fiddly and you’d need some sort of degree to learn how to use one, I thought.
But after much searching I’ve discovered the Canon G9 which I bought with a Canon WP-DC21 housing. It’s slightly bigger than your average compact but comes with a wealth of manual functions usually found only on SLR cameras, thus providing a perfect bridge between the two vastly different disciplines.
More experienced photographers can better explain the qualities of the camera so I’ll just stick with its underwater uses.The camera comes with all the gubbings you’d expect if buying one of its compact cousins (cables, software etc) and operates in exactly the same way.
However, turn the dial to full manual and it opens up a world of new things to try to improve your photos. Crucially, the camera gives you control of shutter speeds and aperture, two key elements in controlling the amount of light hitting the sensor and affecting how your pictures turn out.
On land, the functions are operated by a simple wheel with your thumb. Underwater, it involves pressing a couple of buttons. My advice, read the manual that comes with the Canon housing. Skip through any number of underwater photography forums and you will find countless divers have discounted the G9 because they didn’t think the manual functions would be available to them beneath the waves.
White balance and ISO control can also be controlled manually and there is a macro setting. There is also scope for a slave flash with the Canon housing.
The G9 also lets you shoot in RAW format, effectively a digital negative that has had no post-shot processing done by the camera and is perfect for those who link to tinker with their shots on a PC afterwards.
Getting good results with the G9’s manual functions does take a bit of work. A professional photographer friend recommended experimenting lots on land so they become second nature. But with digital, it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t cost you anything. Such is the quality of the camera, he even bought one as a back-up.
After eight months playing with the camera, my pics are slowly improving and I’ve discovered that, underwater, there are colours other than differing shades of blue.
Comparing shots I take now with my first scuba snaps and I’ve come on in leaps and bounds.And with automatic functions just a twist of the dial away, you can always use it like any other compact to make sure you don’t miss that (possibly) once-in-a-lifetime shot as I did when a whale shark swam past us in Sharm in June.
There is one major sticking point however. Due to the shape of the housing port it is not possible to attach wet lenses such as wide angle or macro. I only discovered this after buying the camera. It now means another £500-ish outlay for an Ikelite housing for when I want to make the next step forward.
That aside, this is a perfect camera for taking those baby steps towards publication-quality pics
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