underwater camera advice
- Thread starter jcanute
- Start date
A while ago these were around $499. I picked one up and love it.
http://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/olympus-epm1-camera-housing-bundle
http://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/olympus-epm1-camera-housing-bundle
Patwa
if anyone asks, it's $10
I used a Canon S95 point and shoot and its underwater housing on a dive trip to Borneo and it was stellar.....that was about 5 years ago or so. the S100 and S110 are the new models, but no idea if those have an underwater case.....highly recommend you look into it.
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summitwynds
Member
Nikon aw1
r-balljunkie
Registered Reefer
what setup you want really depends on how serious you want to get with U.W. photography.
it can get really really $ when you start to add things up. im a tight arse, so my rig is cobbled together mix mash of on clearance / used and horse traded items.
Olympus is pretty much the only manufacturer that pairs housings and camera's (not a good or a bad thing).
for others like Canon or Sony, you'll have an aftermarket housing from Nauticam or Recsea.
i'd avoid UW specific cameras like Sealife or camera's that state they are "waterproof" to 30'.
Get something you are comfortable using above and below water.
if you are not going to use strobes, i'd also suggest getting a camera that you can manually adjust the white balance so you don't end up with "blue" pics....dont rely on the under water "fishie" settings.
also one that shoots RAW format so you can do a bit of post editing, need be.
There's three levels of "seriousness", with increments of $
1- point and shoot variants, fixed lens Canon S110, Oly XZ-1/2
2- micro 4/3rds camera Olympus Pen Series/Sony RX
2- full DSLR
you can get excellent pics from a point and shoot. dont ever discount the performance of these camera's....in the right hands, a very capable option.
i would highly suggest you consider a camera similar to the in the link that peter hall provided for the EPM-1 bundle which will allow you to purchase a variety of lenses to use above and below the water, shoot 1080 video etc.
it was a much better deal @ $499, still not a bad deal at $699, but might be worth it to look around to see if you can get a better elsewhere.
here's one for $550 on scubaboard.com, unused.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...p06-housing-all-still-nib;-$550-shipping.html
here's an EPL-2 housing for $225. you could pick up a camera/lens for $300 new @ Amazon bringing your total to $525..money left over for strobes
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...ousing-epl-2-ptep03-14-42-micro-4-3-lens.html
i shoot an EPL-1 (was on sale for $399) and can produce excellent photo's. i have a 17 mm, 14-42 mm, 40-150 mm, and a 60 mm macro lens to use as an everyday camera.
the 14-42 mm and the 60 mm can be used in the standard Oly U.W. housing.
the 4/3rds cameras are also easy to travel with. ive dragged my rig all over the world, fits in my carry on back pack nicely (camera/UW housing/2 strobes/tray and arms/ focus light, dive gear and more).
if you are going to get serious, i would suggest you get a strobe.
There's "newer", more high end setups out there, but you would have to budget into the thousands for a complete setup.
good luck!!
it can get really really $ when you start to add things up. im a tight arse, so my rig is cobbled together mix mash of on clearance / used and horse traded items.
Olympus is pretty much the only manufacturer that pairs housings and camera's (not a good or a bad thing).
for others like Canon or Sony, you'll have an aftermarket housing from Nauticam or Recsea.
i'd avoid UW specific cameras like Sealife or camera's that state they are "waterproof" to 30'.
Get something you are comfortable using above and below water.
if you are not going to use strobes, i'd also suggest getting a camera that you can manually adjust the white balance so you don't end up with "blue" pics....dont rely on the under water "fishie" settings.
also one that shoots RAW format so you can do a bit of post editing, need be.
There's three levels of "seriousness", with increments of $
1- point and shoot variants, fixed lens Canon S110, Oly XZ-1/2
2- micro 4/3rds camera Olympus Pen Series/Sony RX
2- full DSLR
you can get excellent pics from a point and shoot. dont ever discount the performance of these camera's....in the right hands, a very capable option.
i would highly suggest you consider a camera similar to the in the link that peter hall provided for the EPM-1 bundle which will allow you to purchase a variety of lenses to use above and below the water, shoot 1080 video etc.
it was a much better deal @ $499, still not a bad deal at $699, but might be worth it to look around to see if you can get a better elsewhere.
here's one for $550 on scubaboard.com, unused.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...p06-housing-all-still-nib;-$550-shipping.html
here's an EPL-2 housing for $225. you could pick up a camera/lens for $300 new @ Amazon bringing your total to $525..money left over for strobes
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...ousing-epl-2-ptep03-14-42-micro-4-3-lens.html
i shoot an EPL-1 (was on sale for $399) and can produce excellent photo's. i have a 17 mm, 14-42 mm, 40-150 mm, and a 60 mm macro lens to use as an everyday camera.
the 14-42 mm and the 60 mm can be used in the standard Oly U.W. housing.
the 4/3rds cameras are also easy to travel with. ive dragged my rig all over the world, fits in my carry on back pack nicely (camera/UW housing/2 strobes/tray and arms/ focus light, dive gear and more).
if you are going to get serious, i would suggest you get a strobe.
There's "newer", more high end setups out there, but you would have to budget into the thousands for a complete setup.
good luck!!
Saltliquid
New member
Yeh I agree with going along the line of using a Canon, that what I use.
It's a small housing with point and shoot with high-speed pics if you hold down the button.
I like the housing in particular; it fits in to my wet suit pocket so I don't have to worry about it as I swim along.
It took all these and far more.
https://www.facebook.com/marine.hobbyist/photos
It's a small housing with point and shoot with high-speed pics if you hold down the button.
I like the housing in particular; it fits in to my wet suit pocket so I don't have to worry about it as I swim along.
It took all these and far more.
https://www.facebook.com/marine.hobbyist/photos
jcanute
New member
great info guys. thanks.
i was thinking canon powershot due to the quality of the pictures my guide took in hawaii.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2259422 these are the pics. i was at 105' on this wreck.
i was thinking canon powershot due to the quality of the pictures my guide took in hawaii.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2259422 these are the pics. i was at 105' on this wreck.
r-balljunkie
Registered Reefer
the S110 is a nice point and shoot. i have several buddies that use one here, get some great pics.
what ever you do DO NOT get the canon case WP-DC47
They'll all leak on you eventually. im not sure what kind of elastomer they use from the gasket, but it swells quickly.
i havent seen one not flood yet over time.
i warned my buddy to take his housing out on a dry run a few months ago(no camera)...you guessed it, water inside the housing. it would have fried his new camera.
the nauticam housing will be well out of your price range ($800-$900)
the Ikelite 6242.11 housing is a much better option. ($300-$400)
i went ahead and bought the housing i linked earlier
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...ousing-epl-2-ptep03-14-42-micro-4-3-lens.html
$350 for a whole new UW setup.....oh yeah!! couldnt pass on it.
you should learn to reset your white bulb manually when you are diving. I take a small slate with me, and use it to do so.....actually did it yesterday diving, and got some really nice shots all the way down to 60' w/o strobes.
Have fun on your trip!!!
C
what ever you do DO NOT get the canon case WP-DC47
They'll all leak on you eventually. im not sure what kind of elastomer they use from the gasket, but it swells quickly.
i havent seen one not flood yet over time.
i warned my buddy to take his housing out on a dry run a few months ago(no camera)...you guessed it, water inside the housing. it would have fried his new camera.
the nauticam housing will be well out of your price range ($800-$900)
the Ikelite 6242.11 housing is a much better option. ($300-$400)
i went ahead and bought the housing i linked earlier
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...ousing-epl-2-ptep03-14-42-micro-4-3-lens.html
$350 for a whole new UW setup.....oh yeah!! couldnt pass on it.
you should learn to reset your white bulb manually when you are diving. I take a small slate with me, and use it to do so.....actually did it yesterday diving, and got some really nice shots all the way down to 60' w/o strobes.
Have fun on your trip!!!
C
NatureNerd
New member
If you want to see what the Canon S100/S110 can do see my video on snorkling on the Big Island in this forum. That said, I just upgraded to a Sony nex5r.
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