Asian Diver and Scuba Diver Issue 03-2018 (113) | Page 3

ADVERTORIAL
Canon’s Fast and Precise
High-end Compact Camera
By: Ace Wu
As an underwater photographer,
autofocus speed and accuracy are vital
qualities to consider when purchasing
a camera. So when Canon introduced
the PowerShot G1 X Mark III, the first
compact to feature the Dual Pixel
CMOS AF system from its DSLR line,
I was intrigued to know if this pocket-
sized camera would be fast enough for
my purposes.
Fortunately, during a recent dive
trip to the Egyptian Red Sea, I had the
opportunity to find out.
As well as testing the autofocus
system, I wanted to challenge the
biggest limitation that all compact
cameras have in underwater
photography: wide angle shooting.
At 24mm equivalent focal length at its
widest, the typical built-in zoom lens
on a compact isn’t wide enough to
allow you to get close to big subjects
in order to light them with flash.
One way of compensating for this
shortcoming is simply to shoot from
further away, but that means increasing
ISO so that the light from your strobes
has a longer reach.
My wide-angle subject of choice
was the oceanic whitetip shark.
Commonly sighted in the Red Sea,
these dark knights of the ocean
are known to be swift and agile,
and they often approach divers out
of curiosity. These sharks are usually
found in shallow waters of around
three to five metres, and it’s best to
use a narrow aperture, preferably
f/9 or smaller, for eye-catching images
with a rich blue background. I was
hoping to capture some great shots,
but in such a dynamic and challenging
shooting situation, would I really be
able to use a compact camera to
capture this speedy shark?
I was amazed to see the results
with the PowerShot G1 X Mark III. Not
only were the oceanic whitetips and
their pilot fish entourage captured in
perfect focus every time, the images
had vibrant colours and stunning detail,
thanks to the camera’s 24.2-megapixel
APS-C sized CMOS sensor, much larger
than those found on other compacts.
I couldn’t believe that this was the work
of a compact camera!
While I love diving around the world,
carrying all my gear has always been
the biggest headache. But with the
small and lightweight PowerShot
G1 X Mark III in Canon’s compact
dedicated WP-DC56 underwater
housing, my life has been made much
easier. This impressive camera is
definitely a boon for both beginners
and enthusiasts, and it makes an
excellent backup for the more
advanced underwater shooter.
An oceanic whitetip photographed with the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III, f/11, 1/160s, ISO400
To find out more visit:
Canon Underwater
Housing WP-DC56
(sold separately)
https://bit.ly/2OOeLEQ
• 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 7 processor
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF
• Up to 9 shots/sec (One-Shot AF),
up to 7 shots/sec (Servo AF)
• 24–72mm (35mm film equivalent)
• ISO 100–25600
• 3-inch Vari-angle LCD with touchscreen
• 60p Full HD video
• Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth low energy
h t t p s : // s n a p s h o t.c a n o n -a s ia .com/e n
https://asia.canon