Today we're talking with Devin Lucas, a Systems Software Engineer for HP. He recently purchased an HP Photosmart R817 digital camera, along with the underwater scuba case accessory. to take with him on a vacation in the Bahamas.
He'll be talking with us today about his experience with the camera and case.
Welcome Devin, and thanks for taking the time to speak with us.
Thank you, thank you for the privilege.
So Devin, what is your role in HP?
I work in the Business Critical Servers division in a group called Transition Engineering and Consulting, and we help customers transition to Integrity servers from other platforms.
Tell us about your vacation to the Bahamas, where did you visit and what time of year was it?
Well, we vacationed down in Abaco, which is one of the out islands, and this was in January of this year.
And I understand while you were there you did some snorkeling. How long have you been snorkeling?
I've actually snorkeled... not many times, usually just when I go down to the Bahamas. Last time was about probably 6 - 8 years ago. But it's something I really enjoy doing down in the Bahamas just because the water is so clear.
On your vacation you brought along a Photosmart R817 with the underwater scuba case. Had you ever used a camera underwater before and did you have any concerns about doing this?
Yeah, you are right, I brought along the R817 and the underwater scuba case and I also bought a weather resistant case for times when I wasn't using it to take underwater pictures. I've actually never used an underwater camera before, so this to me was all new, but I really wanted to take underwater pictures. Of course, my biggest concern was if I put my camera into this case, would it actually leak and would I wreck my camera. So that was one of my concerns.
What were you able to photograph? What was your experience with the camera and case?
Well actually, when I bought the camera right before I left on vacation, because I bought it specifically for vacation, and I just threw it in my bag and when I arrived down in the Bahamas I had expected to have some time to learn the case and how to play with it and really spend some time with it. We actually ended up going on our snorkeling trip the first day because of the weather conditions. So I had to run down to the boat - just grab my stuff - grab the box with the scuba case and brought it down and took it with me. And I was on the boat taking it out of the box and assembling it as we were headed out to the reef. So I didn't have much time at all. And I didn't have a chance to test it or play with it. And I just had to drop the camera in, it was really easy, I dropped the camera right in, I locked it, I put in underwater, I pulled it back up, I saw it worked and jumped in the water and started taking pictures. It just worked great, I was amazed.
I took pictures of all kinds of fish, to the Baracuda and it has a 5x optical zoom so luckily I didn't have to get to close to it. I took really nice pictures of some fan coral and a couple of other different types of coral. And lots of fish, different types of fish that I haven't even identified yet.
And you mentioned that you also bought a weather resistant case. Were you able to use the camera to take regular pictures as well, and did the picture quality vary at all between the underwater photos and the regular photos?
Yeah actually, most of the pictures I took on my vacation were above water. I probably only took maybe 50 or so pictures underwater. When I wasn't taking underwater pictures I just put the camera in the little weather resistant case, which is real slim and I could fit it right in my pocket. I was taking pictures out on the golf course and going out on the beach. And things like that. So it was very useful to be able to have both cases and the camera was very versatile.
And what did you find the differences were between taking UW photos and regular photos?
Well mainly, if you are taking pictures UW and you have a lot of water between you and the subject, it's not going to be as clear as if it was air just because of the amount of water between you. But if you are taking, say snorkeling over the top of something and you are just a few feet away, the pictures are just incredibly vivid and the color are just really, really stunning. And also, if the camera would flash, I noticed that it would scare some of the fish actually. So, but luckily most of the time I just kept it in auto mode and it was a sunny day, and the water was nice and bright, so the camera and the adaptive lighting in the camera was able to take all the pictures really without flashing, so I didn't really scare any fish. Except the few pictures I forced the flash.
Since this will be your first summer with the camera, what uses are you envisioning for your camera and cases?
Well, a couple of things I'd like to do. I'd like to take it to the pool, like this weekend we are having a family gathering at my mother in law's and I'm always concerned about "oh don't splash me and my camera." Well now I'll put the camera in the case and I'll be by the pool and I can be in the pool taking pictures and not have to worry about the camera at all.
I plan on going on a canoe trip, going to take my wife on a canoe trip, so I was always, I usually never took a camera because I was always concerned about tipping the canoe and losing my camera. So now I'll just put the camera in its case and I won't have to worry about that.
And also, just going to the beach. It's a great protection for at the beach against the elements, and you can go down to the water and take pictures at the water. and not have to worry.
At the beach I would probably use the scuba case, just because in the scuba case it's completely enclosed and the weather resistant case you will actually expose the lens, when you open the case you expose the lens, so sand might be a problem. Whereas it will protect you against mist and rain, and things like that, and you don't have to worry too much about that. But the sand is something I would be concerned about, so that is why I would use the scuba case for that.
Devin, thanks for taking the time to speak with us today.
My pleasure, I enjoyed it.
For more information regarding HP digital photography products or to see sample photos from Devin's trip, please visit http://www.hp.com/go/podcasts
Get more information on or buy the products that Devin used on his trip...
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