Fantasea F400D User Manual - page 23
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Using the camera's light meter to determine ambient light
o Read the Canon 400D instruction manual for complete
description of its light meter and its use. It will help guide
you to the proper shutter speed and aperture combination
for proper ambient light exposure. Where you aim the
meter is also important. In underwater photography, it is
important to remember to aim the meter at the background
water or "sky" to get the proper exposure information. It is
often necessary to gather this information, make your
exposure settings, and then re-compose the scene before
shooting.
Sometimes it is good to operate the AE-L button
o When locking in the exposure value of the background
before re-composing and taking the photo.
The ISO Sensitivity setting on the camera
o This is the same as the film speed that photographers set
on film cameras, with one small difference: There is no
film. This setting is the equivalent of the film speed you
would normally set. The higher the ISO sensitivity number,
the more light is captured and the brighter the image.
Higher ISO sensitivity numbers have more "Noise", a term
that is the digital equivalent of grain in higher speed films.
Try starting out with a lower ISO sensitivity such as ISO
200 if the lighting conditions permit.
Get close to you subject when shooting underwater
o This will improve the effectiveness of your strobe in
restoring lost color. It will also expand the sharpness of the
image by reducing the amount of backscatter between the
lens and the subject.
Begin by choosing subjects
o Choose those that are easy to approach and will not scare
off readily when you approach. Choose subjects that will
result in a large image size. This will make a more dramatic
image.
Change F/Stops and shutter speeds to "bracket" your exposures
o This will give you a range of image exposures, from which
you can choose the one that you like the best. It improves
the probability of getting a good shot.