UW Camera questions

[laurie12r]

My main reason for diving is my love for fish and underwater life. I would love to photograph all of my future diving adventures, however, I know NOTHING about underwater cameras.

Is there a good UW camera that takes decent photos for someone just starting out? And that doesnt cost a fortune??

Thanks for any advice you have!

[CaptnDale]

When I first started diving I bought a Nikonos camera. It cost way more than I could afford at the time but I have never regretted the purchase. I still have that camera and I still use it, thirty five years later. Get good equipment and learn to use it and you will not be disappointed.

[laurie12r]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind!!

[MgicTwnger]

If you can do without digital, great deals are to be had on film cameras. I would look for ones with accessories that wil work with the company's digital line for if/when you want to go digital.

[Scubagal]

There are a ton of underwater cameras, housings, lens, strobes, etc. to choose from. My advice would be to get a few dives under your belt, get your bouyancy perfected, basically get really comfortable underwater before you even consider underwater photography. It's easy to get overtasked. Your bouyance skills need to be fine tuned so that you don't accidentally run into the reef while focusing on taking a picture.

Often I enjoy a dive more when I don't have my camera with me. Then I'm not so worried about getting "the shot", and I can relax and just dive.

That being said, there are a lot of choices, ranging from inexpensive point and shoot setups, to elaborate DSLR's. Here's a couple of websites that will get you started: http://www.wetpixel.com http://www.digitaldiver.net A friend of mine has one monster of a setup, I have to say I'd hate to drag that thing around u/w.

I'll warn you that once you start down this path, you'll find all your discretionary income goes down into the bottomless pit called underwater photography/videography!

[laurie12r]

Thanks mgic!!


Connie, I know you're right. I do hope to get more experienced first. I would love to at least try and take some pics on our trip to Cancun. I think we are gonna try to go over and dive at Cozumel too. I know it would be a great spot for photography, but if I dont have my buoyancy under control I wont even try it.

Thanks for the advice everyone!! :)

[Quarrior]

A good and inexpensive choice for a digital point and shoot is the Nikon Coolpix. eBay usually has the best prices. You'll need a housing for it and for that Fantasea makes a great housing, again not expensive.

When you're ready to move up to the digital SLR level, that's when things start getting a bit costly. The camera's are decently priced, but the housings are a whole nother matter.

You can figure about 1200 to 2000 for the camera and a lens or two. The housing will run you in the area of 7000.

[nauifins73]

I have to second Captn Dale on the the Nikonos V. Terry got me one for Christmas last year. I do love it - load and shoot and get Nikon quality photos, well kinda. I have the Coolpix 995 and Aquatica housing but I am still not sure how to load the camera in the housing.

[CaptnDale]

I have to second Captn Dale on the the Nikonos V. Terry got me one for Christmas last year. I do love it - load and shoot and get Nikon quality photos, well kinda. I have the Coolpix 995 and Aquatica housing but I am still not sure how to load the camera in the housing.

The camera I bought 35 years ago was a Nikonos III. That was well before the Nikonos V was available. My point, though, was that it is always advisable to buy good equipment. It will serve you well in the long run.

[skip]

I recently purchased a cannon 570 or 575 with image stablization. it's 7.1 megs, digital. it does 2 hours of movies if you want movie (with sound), auto and manual settings for still, and u/w setting too! I went with the ikelite housing and got it all for less than $400.00. There is no strobe, but I had an old one that works fine, and ikelite has strobes for this camera too. It's fast, easy, works great and I love it. does land pics too.

-skip

[laurie12r]

Thanks for all the great advice!

[DeepDiverBob]

I'll warn you that once you start down this path, you'll find all your discretionary income goes down into the bottomless pit called underwater photography/videography!

Aint that the truth. But then again, that could be said about Scuba in general.

[scububa]

I am not an underwater photographer (yet) so, I probably shouldn't get into this... But, I do have a bit of experience topside with both film and digital.

For the beginner, the learning curve is going to be much steeper (quicker) with a digital camera.
Shutter lag can still be an issue for digital setups, but is getting better and better all the time.
The life cycle cost of a film camera is going to be higher with processing/printing costs (unless you have all your digital images printed, most don't).
Strobe cost is basically the same either way you go, so not much of a deciding factor. (TTL sync being a somewhat complicating facotr here.) For any serious shooting u/w, strobes are going to be required.
There are certainly some excellent housings that cost in the $7K range. But, there are plenty that don't run that high. Now, putting a $5k camera in a $500 housing probably doesn't make that much sense, but there are plenty of $500 cameras that are pretty nice.

[scububa]

Or, to put it another way...

Point and Shoot setup.............$300
Entry level dSLR....................$1300
High end DSLR....................$10,000 - $20,000

Friend w/camera u.w...........PRICELE$$

[DeepDiverBob]

Heres a little something I wrote a while back to someone in a PM...

I started out with a SeaLife DC310. They do not make it anymore, but it is very easy to use. Here are some pictures I took with it in Roatan.

http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/b...verBob/Roatan/ (http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb91/DeepDiverBob/Roatan/)

Once I outgrew that camera, I went with a Sea and Sea 750G. This one had a little more gadgets, and did a little more. Here are some pictures I took with it in Bonaire: (Forgive me, you will have to pass the land pictures I took with my Canon20D)
http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/b...erBob/Bonaire/ (http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb91/DeepDiverBob/Bonaire/)

and Australia: ( a few land pictures got in there, too)

http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/b...Bob/Australia/ (http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb91/DeepDiverBob/Australia/)


I am now looking at getting a housing for my Canon, and really go crazy with pictures.

I would recommend starting out with something low end, and learn with it. If you make a mistake, and forget an o-ring, or dont clean it good enough, and it floods, I would rather be out a low end 200 or 300 dollar camera than a 1200 camera.

[MgicTwnger]

Here's my el cheapo starter setup:

Cloesout Sealife film point-and-shoot: $26

Repairing an old Ikelite strobe: $50
(It is cordless)

Strobe arm built from PVC pipe: $5

Looks like hell, but it works fine. Plenty good enough for a beginner.

[regul8r]

My first setup was the Oly S400 with the Oly P19 housing. Great to start with. Didnt fasten a clasp and flooded it though. Still have the housing if a person wanted to pick up the camera on ebay for about 80.00 and buy it cheap.

[laurie12r]

I may take you up on that regul8r!! I'm still shopping around. I'll let you know.