Digital Photography

July 2010

EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS

Canon PowerShot D10

Underwater Camera

Nicholas Hellmuth and Ievgenia Nemirova
Underwater camera Canon PowerShot D10
FLAAR publishes reports only on equipment we use ourselves, we are not an advertising agency. This report is dedicated to an underwater camera Canon PowerShot D10. We tested this camera during our eco-system research trip to Monterrico, Taxisco, Department of Santa Rosa, Guatemala, Central America. Our primary goal was to study local water plants, which grow in swamps of this area. So it was a good chance for an underwater camera to show its abilities. Actually we had two different underwater cameras with us this week: the second was a Canon PowerShot S90 with a Sea & Sea package (frankly the Canon without the package was better than the system that cost literally 8 times more from Sea & Sea). Nicholas Hellmuth used this camera to take pictures of sacred Mayan plant such as Nymphaea ampla balona (the white water lily ), the Pistia stratiotes lechuga de agua and Eichhornia crassipes nimpha. In each part of Guatemala these plants have different local names, depending on the local language. For example, in the El Peten area, the names tend to be in the Itza Mayan language, so the name for the white water lily there is a variant on naab. The Canon underwater camera is waterproof to a depth of about 10 meters, but we used it only to a depth of not much more than 1m. It is simple camera, everyone can learn how to use it in several minutes, and it takes good pictures as for camera of this reasonable (low) cost.
Here you can see Nicholas is taking picture of the leaves of water lily balona, as local people named it. He holds the camera under water near the roots of balona. The swamps of this area can be dangerous because of crocodiles or snakes, but so far we have been lucky not to meet them. If you are going into water it is better to be full clothed and even your shoes should be on your feet, this may protect you from the sun, as water works like a lens, and also from any creatures that are in water. Shows also protect you from any broken glass (or nasty insects) that may be at the muddy bottom. Sometimes you sink into the muck for about 20 to 30 cm.
Here Nicholas is going to take picture of nimpha roots, this plant floats on the water surface. It is curious that this plant does not yet seem to be found in Mayan art. Scientific name of nimpha is Eichhornia crassipes. Canon PowerShot D10 has the same function sets like any Canon camera, you make better pictures changing adjustments. This camera can be used in differnt conditions, so even in muddy water it can take relatively good pictures.
You even can make video. We have made some video files, they looked very convincing.
These are the pictures of Pistia stratiotes lechuga de agua , this plant is also floating on surface, gathering into a kind of green carpet. The underwater picture of this plant is a part of Nicholas Hellmuth research of Underwater Mayan world, which continues his PhD dissertation on the iconography of the deities, plants, and animals that symbolized the Underwaterworld cosmological zone of the 3rd-9th century Maya of Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, and Honduras.
This picture shows details of balona leaves. You can see how the sunlight works, it makes a really nice effect. The light helps to see all details of this plant. To make this picture Nicholas just directed the camera under the plant leaf. This plant is Nymphaea ampla and its local name is balona (the white water lily). It is the main plant of the Mayan Underwaterworld. We also have several reports on this plant, but the species which may be found in Peten. See our Maya archaeology web site (www.maya-archaeology.org)

Here are the water lilys leaves, in this case the sun light colored them into orange color. We have a theory that this is a special property of a water lily, the leaf s lower part (wich is in water) colour depends on the angle of the light gets on it, so the colour changes from green to red. You can read about this research in other reports on Monterico trip, they will be publish in a while.
This is the view of the pond, the Canon camera is half in the water. This area is protected by Centrato de Estudios Conservacionistas Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (CECON). It is an special place, that is situated between land and ocean, this ecosystem works like sponge for salty ocean water. And here you can find some endemic species of plants and animals.
The smal fish is a Astyanax aeneus or pepsca.
In Monterico in 100 meters from the ocean there is a baze of CECON, they keep there animals at risk of extinction. So the stuff of this zoo kindly provided us the opportunity to do photography there. Here you can see a sea tortle Lepidochelis olivacea. This beautiful animal has been put to a pond with clear water, and we got very colourful pictures. But we should admit this camera doesnt take good imgies of moving objects, so we had to wait until the turtle calmed down.
During this trip we had two biologists Ivo and Eduardo in our team, they told us that this is not a local fish. This fishs scientific name is Hypostomus plecostomus. There is no special local name for this fish , due to the fact that is not local and is new in the area. This species is very similar to the one that is quite popular in Aquarium world, the one that is called plecostomo. The other fish you see here is Lepistasteus tropicus or Machorraor Peje lagarto.

Underwater Photography Digital Camera Evaluation

November 2010

Canon PowerShot S90 with underwater case Fisheye FIX
Nicholas Hellmuth, Eduardo Sacayon and Sofa Monzn
Front cover photo are taken by Nicholas Hellmuth in the swamps of Monterrico with Canon PowerShot S90 with underwater case Fisheye FIX

Contents

Introduction (Nicholas Hellmuth) FLAAR is a photography institute Comments by Sofia Monzon, who used this camera for many hours Pros Cons Appendix A Suggestions by the owner of Backscatter to improve the results These are the FLAAR Reports that are being issued first FLAAR Reports that will result from Photokina 12
Introduction (Nicholas Hellmuth)
This PDF is a report on the result of evaluating an underwater camera system in the Monterrico mangrove swamps in Guatemala, Central America. Our institute (FLAAR) has been doing botanical and zoological research in this eco-system for about four years now. FLAAR is a digital camera evaluation institute. Our evaluations are read by almost half a million photographers every year around the world. FLAAR does photography for decades: we are not a commercial reseller. This means that we do not take sales commissions. FLAAR does not publish the PR releases issued by PR agencies for the camera manufacturers. The result is that we are the more independent of the photography evaluators. A FLAAR evaluation is not a sham review. A sham review is really a PR release or a sales pitch that is wrapped up as though it were a review.
Photographs taken by Sofia Monzon in the swamps of Monterrico with Canon PowerShot S90 with underwater case Fisheye FIX
A FLAAR Report is not a pseudo-review (meaning a sales pitch camouflaged as a review. I estimate that 75% of the so-called reviews on the Internet are either a sham or a pseudo-review. FLAAR states what does not work with a camera; what is missing; what should be added for the next generation. Actually some manufacturers have been very grateful, saying that no one else ever told them the actual truth about their products. Normally a camera, a software, or an accessory has lots of good features, a few aspects that are okay but not stellar, and a few issues or things that should be improved in the next generation. A photographer will still buy a product even if it has a few downsides (because no product is perfect). The benefit of learning the downsides in advance, is that they you know what you are getting, and you are not disappointed since you already know the one or two issues in advance. As a result FLAAR evaluations are used by photographers for them to decide what to consider purchasing. The reason a FLAAR Report is a better indication of reality is because we actually use the equipment that we evaluate.
FLAAR is a photography institute
FLAAR photos have been published by National Geographic, and in Japanese coffee table books. So we have professional experience for many decades. This is a polite way to say that usually we know what equipment works well, and which equipment is not as good as it should be.
We evaluate digital cameras, studio lighting, tripods, tripod heads, software, and wide-format inkjet printers: the entire workflow. We is over 23 people of whom four are photographers at a professional level. Our focus is primarily on professional level equipment: large-format digital (BetterLight and Cruse); mediumformat digital (Phase One, Hasselblad, Leaf, etc). For 35mm DSLR we evaluate primarily Nikon (four models) and Canon (five Canon cameras counting the two underwater models). We do occasionally evaluate point-and-shoot cameras since in many instances they have benefits (less bulky, less complex etc). But normally we shoot with a 21 megapixel Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III or a Hasselblad with 20 megapixel Phase One digital back.
Photographs taken by Nicholas Hellmuth in the swamps of Monterrico with Canon PowerShot S90 with underwater case Fisheye FIX
Comments by Sofia Monzon, who used this camera for many hours
Pictures taken with this camera are taken in the swamp of Monterrico, in freshwater coastline mix with salt water. They were also taken on the rainiest time of year so significantly that the water remained cloudy.
The camera itself is very good, the definition of colors is unbelievable and is very easy to use; but the problem that I noticed is that when I use the case for underwater camera, since it is much more difficult to manage the values of the camera, This is uncomfortable because the photograph is to capture moments and if you do not have the required values at the right time you can lose the picture of your life. There is a factor that probably influenced that the pictures results not be as I wished but in my opinion I was because the water are so muddy, but having a flash Sea & Sea YS-110A DS-TTL Strobe the photos it supposed to come out better significantly, but when the need it was depth of field the pictures come out to much blurred, despite the efforts to take some without this problem. The good things The camera meets with the basic requirements, if you want to take photos in clear water and with automatic settings, its easy to take acceptable photos (if the water is really clear). If the water is murky, see the problems we had in water that was a typical jungle river: not the Caribbean Sea with crystal clear views.

I have spoken with people who use the Canon S90 in normal photography (meaning not underwater). They are content and really like the Canon S90. My dissatisfaction is not with the camera, but with the fisheye system. I cant yet think of anything about the underwater casing or Fisheye FIX housing for this camera that amazes me, and not yet even anything that impresses me. The Canon PowerShot D10 cost only a few hundred dollars ($299) and frankly did the same or better job than the $3,000+ Fisheye FIX housing and fisheye conversion lens system. TEN TIMES THE COST.
When I saw such a wimpy point-and-shoot camera (after paying almost three thousand dollars), I seriously questioned why we had bought this Canon S90 Fisheye FIX system. We already have a Canon PowerShot D10 camera that can go underwater with no extra housing. The photos that resulted from the Canon D10 varied from good to really good. Plus it was idiot-proof easy to use.
This are some examples of pictures taken by Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth in the swamps of Monterrico with Canon PowerShot S90 with underwater case
When I first saw the results I was even more disappointed. The results from the Canon D10 on the same trip were about the same quality. If you looked at the roughly 70 shots from the SEA&SEA with Fisheye FIX system (Canon S90 with housing), more than 40 were total junk and not usable at all. Another 15 were barely usable; and less than 15 were usable. I found only two or at most three of usable quality. I am not sure I would classify any of the results as of professional quality (quality being defined as sharpness and image quality). To say I was disappointed was an understatement. What to me is the most unconvincing is putting a plastic sphere atop a housing (plastic plate) which is atop a lens. So the image is shot through three sets of plastic (I have no idea if the lens is glass or plastic). I was tempted to return the entire system to Backscatter and ask for my money back, but I figured we would wait until we were in clearer water to see if the results would be better. However frankly I am prepared to be disappointed (and if I am, I will return the system as unacceptable and ask for 100% of my money back). The only reason we have not cancelled payment on our credit card is because the owner of Backscatter was polite and pleasant and took the time to provide some tips.
However if this $3000 system requires all this learning curve, and the $299 Canon D10 took better photos without me even having an instruction book, then I question why not just stick with the cheap point-andshoot camera, or if you want serious photographs, opt for a more professional quality housing such as the ones exhibited at Photokina 2010.

Comparison between Canon PowerShot D10 and Canon S90 with underwater case in similars conditions
Canon S90 with underwater case
Canon PowerShot D10 underwater camera
Canon S90 with underwater case at total price of about $3000. Canon Power Shot D10 camera, at total cost of about $300 (simply hold it underwater, no expensive case needed). Perhaps now you can see why we are not ready to recommend the Sea&Sea solution. It is not 10x better than the $300 camera.
Canon S90 with underwater case from Sea& Sea at total price of about $3000. Canon Power Shot D10 camera, at total cost of about $300 (simply hold it underwater, no expensive case needed). Perhaps now you can see why we are not ready to recommend the Sea&Sea solution. It is not 10x better than the $300 camera. We are considering asking for our money back for the Sea&Sea unit.
Underwater 10 Photography Digital Camera Evaluation
Appendix A Suggestions by the owner of Backscatter to improve the results
It looks like the camera was probably set to auto rather than manual or aperture priority. One of the problems with auto exposure in underwater photography is that the camera wants to compensate for an overly bright background. Most of the shots you supplied are overexposed backgrounds and underexposed foregrounds. This usually requires shooting higher f stops to knock down the foreground and using the underwater strobe to light the foreground which to achieve a better balance. You can see this technique being used in the photos on our website articles that you can see on our homepage for the Canon 5D2, 7D, and Rebel T2i. It doesnt look like the external strobe is lighting the foreground. This can be caused by not have the strobe pointed properly at the subject, not having the external strobe set to the correct setting for the camera mode you are in, or by the internal flash of the camera not firing due to the flash not being set to force flash. Also in some of the pictures it looks like there is motion blur, particularly in the fish shots. Again this is usually from shooting in one of the auto modes where the shutter is being set to slow by the camera to try to make up for the low light conditions underwater. Also make sure you are close to your subjects, within 2-3 feet of your foreground subject. Water filters out light very effectively. The further away you are, the most light gets filtered out, and results in poor contrast. This is where the wide lens allows you to get closer to your subject to get the most contrast by eliminating water between the subject and lens. I suggest practicing in a pool. UW photo is definitely not easy and requires lots of practice and patience, even for experienced land shooters. But when you nail it, the pictures will be spectacular. The owner took the time to send additional information: I have looked at the pictures and the meta data. Many different settings are being used. Heres my suggestions as a starting point for camera settings. Macro mode ISO 100 Av mode F8 EV set to -.7 Flash set to force flash fill On the strobe: Right dial set to max Left dial set to TTL

Underwater 11 Photography Digital Camera Evaluation
Set slave to ON In this configuration the strobe should take care of the foreground and adjust the EV to dial in the background exposure. You can also shoot in full manual with these settings: Macro mode ISO 100 M mode F8 1/125 Flash set to force flash fill On the strobe: Right dial set to 1/2 power Left dial set to Manual 2 Set slave to ON In this configuration adjust the power dial on the strobe for your foreground exposure and adjust the shutter speed to dial in the background exposure. There also looks like there were air bubbles on the lens in some shots. You can take your hand and rub off the bubbles. Also sometimes bubbles get trapped in between the wide lens and the housing front port. I suggest taking the wide lens off the housing underwater to burp the lens to remove any trapped air and the put the lens back on. Best regards, Jim Jim Decker, CEO Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo 225 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
Underwater 12 Photography Digital Camera Evaluation
These are the FLAAR Reports that are being issued first
FLAAR Reports that will result from Photokina 2010