Reefmaster 3.3 mp digital camera DC310

"chuck" <cpeterson31@cox.net> pounded away at his keyboard resulting
in:
:Has anyone used this camera and if so any comments please.

I own the now discontinued 1.3 mp version, and I think it's great.
Anything marked new, and a lot of other photos on this page,
http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/underwater/index.htm were taken with
that camera.

Redeeming qualities include simplicity of operation, low cost, and the
extremely low maintenance requirement. Last trip, I was the only
photog who didn't have to clean o-rings.

Unredeeming quality, does not play nice in low light. That means it's
a poor land camera.

Dan Bracuk
Is it my imagination, or do Buffalo Wings taste like chicken?
The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/


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chuck wrote:

> Has anyone used this camera and if so any comments please.
>
>

I have one and have gotten good results with it. I use the external
strobe and have 3 macro lenses for it.

Sor far, I am happy with it. However, on a recent trip to Cozumel,
another diver in our group had the same camera and for some reason it
flooded. Havn't heard what happened after that.

Have used it as a land camera also with good results.

Andy

--
More people died in Ted Kennedy's car than have been killed by my guns.

Dan Bracuk wrote:

> "chuck" <cpeterson31@cox.net> pounded away at his keyboard resulting
> in:
> :Has anyone used this camera and if so any comments please.
>
> I own the now discontinued 1.3 mp version, and I think it's great.
> Anything marked new, and a lot of other photos on this page,
> http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/underwater/index.htm were taken with
> that camera.
>
> Redeeming qualities include simplicity of operation, low cost, and the
> extremely low maintenance requirement. Last trip, I was the only
> photog who didn't have to clean o-rings.
>
> Unredeeming quality, does not play nice in low light. That means it's
> a poor land camera.
>

Dan,
My DC310 does OK on land. The on board strobe is OK for 4-5 ft but
beyond that, in low light it is lacking. Not sure about your model, but
mine has a number of menu settings for different lighting conditions.

andy


--
More people died in Ted Kennedy's car than have been killed by my guns.

nitespark <nitespark@cox.net> pounded away at his keyboard resulting
in:
:My DC310 does OK on land. The on board strobe is OK for 4-5 ft but
:beyond that, in low light it is lacking. Not sure about your model, but
:mine has a number of menu settings for different lighting conditions.

Miy DC 200 does not do ok in low light on land, but, since it's a
discontinued model, that information is only relevent for those who
want to by a used one.

I used to consider my camera to require a lot of ambient light
underwater as well. You know, shallow water, sunny day, etc. But
then I took these two shots:

http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/underwater/Grouper2.htm
http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/underwater/Shark.htm

Both were taken at ~70 ft. The shark was at least 10 ft away. Not
sure about the bass, I never saw him in the water, just in the
picture. The face of the grouper was about 3 ft from me, and it was
at least 4 ft long.

While a better camera and strobe would have given better results,
these were better than I thought I could get with the camera I have.

Dan Bracuk
Is it my imagination, or do Buffalo Wings taste like chicken?
The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/


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Dan Bracuk wrote:

> nitespark <nitespark@cox.net> pounded away at his keyboard resulting
> in:
> :My DC310 does OK on land. The on board strobe is OK for 4-5 ft but
> :beyond that, in low light it is lacking. Not sure about your model, but
> :mine has a number of menu settings for different lighting conditions.
>
> Miy DC 200 does not do ok in low light on land, but, since it's a
> discontinued model, that information is only relevent for those who
> want to by a used one.
>
> I used to consider my camera to require a lot of ambient light
> underwater as well. You know, shallow water, sunny day, etc. But
> then I took these two shots:


I am still getting used to mine, but am getting better pictures (not as
good as yours :) )

It looks that on the bass and shark pic, you were using the internal
flash?

I thought they both turned out great.

I had mine in Cozumel this year and got some grouper but they really
didn't want to cooperate with a picture. Every time I would try and get
a frontal shot, they would turn. Fighting the current in Coz, trying to
frame your shot, and getting the fish to cooperate just sometimes
doesn't work.



>
> http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/underwater/Grouper2.htm
> http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/underwater/Shark.htm
>
> Both were taken at ~70 ft. The shark was at least 10 ft away. Not
> sure about the bass, I never saw him in the water, just in the
> picture. The face of the grouper was about 3 ft from me, and it was
> at least 4 ft long.
>
> While a better camera and strobe would have given better results,
> these were better than I thought I could get with the camera I have.


Both look great in my un-professional opinion.



--
More people died in Ted Kennedy's car than have been killed by my guns.

nitespark <nitespark@cox.net> pounded away at his keyboard resulting
in:
:It looks that on the bass and shark pic, you were using the internal
:flash?

Only to fire the external one. Using that camera without an external
strobe is a waste of batteries.

Dan Bracuk
Is it my imagination, or do Buffalo Wings taste like chicken?
The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/


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Good Day

I have one, got some good result with it, it is a great starter camera
since its a point and shoot. I got 3 macro lenses and the wide angle. In
order to get good picture I use two strobe, I started with one and it was Ok
but since I started to use two the result are much better.
"chuck" <cpeterson31@cox.net> wrote in message
news:MzTcd.2917$lp6.773@okepread01...
> Has anyone used this camera and if so any comments please.
>

Bcit66 wrote:

> Good Day
>
> I have one, got some good result with it, it is a great starter camera
> since its a point and shoot. I got 3 macro lenses and the wide angle. In
> order to get good picture I use two strobe, I started with one and it was Ok
> but since I started to use two the result are much better.
> "chuck" <cpeterson31@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:MzTcd.2917$lp6.773@okepread01...
>
>>Has anyone used this camera and if so any comments please.
>>
>
>
>

Sounds like you really jumped into that system. Not only did you buy
the camera but just about all the accessories.

A suggestion. Make certain you use the dissicants inside the camera
housing. I am told if you do not, your warranty will not be honored. I
don't know how they could tell, but perhaps they can somehow.

Also, I would suggest, if at all possible, NOT opening the underwater
housing on the dive boat or any place where there is high humidity.
Unless you are on a liveaboard, wait until you get back to your hotel
room where it is air conditioned. When dealing with the intricate
electronics of a digital camera, humidity and moisture are NOT your friend.


--
More people died in Ted Kennedy's car than have been killed by my guns.

nitespark wrote:


> Sounds like you really jumped into that system. Not only did you buy
> the camera but just about all the accessories.
>
> A suggestion. Make certain you use the dissicants inside the camera
> housing. I am told if you do not, your warranty will not be honored. I
> don't know how they could tell, but perhaps they can somehow.
>
> Also, I would suggest, if at all possible, NOT opening the underwater
> housing on the dive boat or any place where there is high humidity.
> Unless you are on a liveaboard, wait until you get back to your hotel
> room where it is air conditioned. When dealing with the intricate
> electronics of a digital camera, humidity and moisture are NOT your friend.
>

I believe this is one of the distinct advantages of housed digital.
Starting the day with a fresh battery pack and an huge, empty CF card,
one shouldn't have to open anything until it's safe to do so.


--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Jer wrote:
> nitespark wrote:
>
>
>> Sounds like you really jumped into that system. Not only did you buy
>> the camera but just about all the accessories.
>>
>> A suggestion. Make certain you use the dissicants inside the camera
>> housing. I am told if you do not, your warranty will not be honored.
>> I don't know how they could tell, but perhaps they can somehow.
>>
>> Also, I would suggest, if at all possible, NOT opening the underwater
>> housing on the dive boat or any place where there is high humidity.
>> Unless you are on a liveaboard, wait until you get back to your hotel
>> room where it is air conditioned. When dealing with the intricate
>> electronics of a digital camera, humidity and moisture are NOT your
>> friend.
>>
>
> I believe this is one of the distinct advantages of housed digital.
> Starting the day with a fresh battery pack and an huge, empty CF card,
> one shouldn't have to open anything until it's safe to do so.
>
>

I agree, but sometimes it is SO tempting to open the housing and review
some of the pictures without looking through the housing window. I
have, on a few occasions, had to switch batteries, even after starting
with a new, recently charged set.

--
More people died in Ted Kennedy's car than have been killed by my guns.