Underwater flash

footman

footman

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Laurence
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We're going on a cruise to the Maldives very soon, around the islands of the coral atoll. Mainly snorkelling and we've both bought the Aquapac bags made for compacts. Hoping to do lots of photography underwater but the thought of flash is nagging at me.

Somehow it just doesn't seem right down there, a bit intrusive. Also I wonder if it may damage the coral reef. Views welcomed.
 
I went there recently thread linky
some were taken with flash some were not.
The marine life didn't react one way or another when the flash fired though in the shallows ( 2 meters +)
there is plenty of sunlight and the flash just blows out the sand
( being almost white anyway), but conversely can be used as an infill if your careful.
the Turtle was at around 17 meters and he never missed a beat feeding when the flash fired
HTH
 
I don't think there is any risk of it damaging the coral, i have kept reef tanks for a few years now and the flash from my camera has never bothered the fish or corals.
 
The problem with flash from compacts underwater can be that the flash is very close to the lens, so any murk in the water (yes, I know it's fairly clear in the Maldives) can reflect a lot of the flash straight into the lens - not good! At snorkelling depths there should be no need for flash.

Many aquariums prohibit the use of flash on fish welfare grounds - maybe the ocean's big enough for the fish to be able to escape if they feel threatened?
 
Nod said:
The problem with flash from compacts underwater can be that the flash is very close to the lens, so any murk in the water (yes, I know it's fairly clear in the Maldives) can reflect a lot of the flash straight into the lens - not good! At snorkelling depths there should be no need for flash.
Click to expand...
As I noted in my post after I returned, the ocean is alive with micro-scopic life and I found the same problem as that, even at snorkeling depths :(
 
Yv said:
They look really good Chris, Might have to book some underwater stuff in the Caribbean in Feb. Mind you, would also need to get an underwater camera or a housing fo rthe D70 :bonk:


edit: the pics in the link I mean! :lol:
Click to expand...

Thanks Yvonne more here if your interested
IIRC the camera & housing worked out to around £170
Canon canon powershot A570 is (refurb) £85
and the WP-DC12 housing you know, I have forgotton where I got that from
The receipt is around here somewhere, it was a UK based shop ( not flea bay) but it cost around £80
I just did a quick internet search and I can't find one now less than £130, I may have got a bargain :D
 
Flash wont damage the reef or fish but it'll likely be completely useless due to backscatter from particles in the water which can do a good job of ruining photos. Even in the Maldives there will be backscatter, especially shallow. My advice is to turn the flash OFF and dont use it - you will get FAR better photos that way. And if its a Canon get the CHDK hack and shoot in RAW.

Proper underwater strobes start at about £300 to £800 with long arms to move the beam angle away from the lens to stop it.
 
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