Need help with taking underwater pics.

[FishyBiz]

Hey guys
This is a great forum. I find myself spending more and more time here everyday. Some of you take amazing pics!
Heres my problem. I have a Sony DSC T-1. I am going to Maui next Thursday and want to use it when I go snorkeling. I've never used it underwater and frankly am not to thrilled with the above water pics. What settings should I use underwater? I'm not sure about the EV, white balance, and ISO? Anyone ever used this camera underwater?
Thanks for the help

 

[FishyBiz]

Ok....
For you people that are interested, I read some stuff off another forum that was not super helpfull... but it seems not many people use the item. The best I could come up with was use auto mode and be sure to have the filter (which i didnt have). But I just picked it up on amazon for half the price everyone else has! I'll post some pics when I get back on the 12th and you guys can be the judge.

 

[gregr]

I hope you get some great pics... I'm bigtime jealous
Greg

 

[thor32766]

enjoy maui, cant wait to see the pics you post

 

[21Reefman]

Try to read the manual and see if you have a manual white balance setting. The colors of the light in the ocean are 6500k to 20,000k just like the tank.

I guess, if you take a white "card" with you then, when you are underwater point the camera at the white card to set the white balance. This might give the best results.

 

[FishyBiz]

Ya that would be a great idea but I cant adjust the white balance with this camera. Its just a point and shoot. I'll mess with some settings to see what works best. I cant wait to show you guys!

 

[jeffbrig]

FishyBiz,

I haven't used that camera, but I have an Olympus 4040 with an underwater housing. I turn the flash off and use auto white balance when underwater. In shallow snorkeling on a nice day, there's no need for anything greater than ambient light. My underwater housing came with a pink color correction filter that helps remove the bluish cast underwater. This can also be accomplished is post processing (photoshop).

My avatar pic was taken in Maui last summer with this combo. If you are in Maui, you MUST go snorkeling at Molokini. I recommend going out on Paragon 2 (an actual sailing catamaran snorkel trip), they have a great mooring spot on the reef.

Enjoy!!

 

[FishyBiz]

Thats great help. Thanks for sharing. I just hope my filter comes today because im leaving tomorrow! lol
Im gonna take you up on the diving spot. Hopefully I can get some good shots.