Stop Using the Power Switch Underwater [VIDEO]

Featuring John Brigham

Still turning your camera off between underwater shots? Here’s why that habit is costing you amazing photos, and what to do instead. Ikelite's John Brigham speaks on how to use your camera’s sleep mode to stay ready without draining your battery.

Here's something a lot of underwater photographers do that's actually slowing them down: they turn their camera off between shots. Now I get it, on land it makes sense. Save power, protect your gear, be careful, don't accidentally push any buttons. But underwater that extra step is costing you the shot.

The Difference Underwater

Underwater, every second matters. We only get so much time down there so efficiency is everything. And your camera's power switch, it plays zero role in actually making a photo. It's just one more thing to fumble with when something amazing swims by.

Image © Steve Miller

Life moves fast underwater, don't get slowed down by your power switch.

Muscle Memory

It comes down to muscle memory. The more automatic your movements are, the more focused your brain can be on making the shot and not just operating the camera. You want your hands to do the work without thinking. And reaching for that power switch is one habit that breaks that entire flow.

But there is good news. If your camera is in a proper housing, there's very little risk of accidentally bumping a button or changing a setting, which means that you can leave it on the entire dive.

Image © Grant Thomas

The more automatic your movements are, the more focused your brain can be on making the shot and not just operating the camera.

Saving Battery

If you find yourself worried about battery life still, that's totally fair. But do keep in mind that modern mirrorless cameras are better than you think. Most have an automatic sleep or power saving mode that'll kick in after a few seconds of inactivity, at which point your camera uses almost no power whatsoever. And it will wake up instantly the moment you touch a button, which is usually the shutter, and let's be honest, is exactly what you're going to hit when something cool shows up.

Shift Your Mindset

This simple mindset shift of letting your camera sleep instead of shutting it off makes a huge difference in how fast you can respond to that action. So if you find yourself still physically flipping that switch, just try letting go. Trust your gear. Let your camera reset and not shut down physically. You'll be surprised on how many more moments you're going to be ready for.

If this has got you thinking about how you can make your entire setup feel more seamless, check out TTL, which is another excellent way to make your camera feel like an extension of your brain.

If you have any questions whatsoever, shoot us an email to ikelite@ikelite.com.

Additional Viewing

Switching Between EVF and LCD in Your Underwater Housing for Canon Cameras [VIDEO]

Nikon Custom Settings for Underwater Photography // Ikelite 200DL Housing [VIDEO]

POWER ZOOM Your Sony PZ Lens Underwater [VIDEO] 

Customizing the Dial Functions on a Sony Mirrorless Camera for Underwater Use [VIDEO]

Choosing the Right SD Card for Photos and Video [VIDEO]

Custom White Balance for Underwater with Canon Mirrorless Cameras [VIDEO]

John Brigham is the Vice President & head of product development at Ikelite. He was born with a flair for design and an entrepreneurial spirit as son of Ikelite founder Ike Brigham. He worked his way up in the business and is a natural fit in the R&D side of things. John dives the equipment as much as possible to test product and put himself in the "fins" of the user. You may also find him on the other end of an email or phone call when you reach out for product advice and support. When he's not underwater he's flying drones, setting off rockets, training his German Shepherd "T2", and spending time with his family.