Which Camera/Housing for Scuba do you Recommend?

[MechEng99]

Hey all, I posted something similar in the Photography forum, but I thought maybe I'd get some additional suggestions in the scuba forum since I'm mostly concerned about a scuba camera. Of course, I take photos of my aquariums, but I'm focusing toward scuba.

My deepest dive was 110ft, and I doubt I'll go deeper than that anytime soon. Max budget is $3000 for everything, but I'd like to stay around the $1500-2000 range. Previous camera (not underwater) was a Kodak EasyShare D7590. I quickly outgrew that camera and felt it limited me. But, I don't think I'm quite ready for a DSLR either.

I'm leaning toward maybe the Canon G12, Canon S95, or the Olympus PEN EPL-2 (with at least a housing...maybe strobes as well like in the packages from Backscatter.) Is anyone using one of these now and has photos/reviews to share? Any other good candidates I'm missing? Thanks!

 

[MechEng99]

Sooo...no one has advice on underwater cameras in the scuba forum either? Yeesh...you'd think no one ever takes photos. :-/

 

[ousnakebyte]

You'll be hard pressed to stay under 3K for a complete DSLR setup. So, it sounds like you are staying with the Point 'n Shoots.

Well, I like the Fujifilm F Series - I currently use the F200, but I have also used the F30, F50, etc. I like it b/c I think it takes very nice macro shots, but I'm into finding the cryptic critters and don't much care for shooting fish. I have found that it's Underwater Mode is also pretty good at detecting color and doesn't require much post-op editing, which I find extremely boring.

I coupled it with a Fantasea external strobe, and I also have the Big Eye and Macro lenses. All told, I spent about $1500 on everything - camera, housing, strobe, two lenses and misc cords, etc.

I have never used the Nikon or Canon point n shoots, so I'm sorry I can't comment there.

Cheers
Mike

 

[WarmWaterWuss]

I've been using the Canon S90 and I love it. I have been doing a lot of macro work with it and the on-board flash with diffuser does well for that. My next purchase will be a strobe for it. I have used the video underwater and it works well, I'm not sure what the difference is between the S90 and the S95. I have noticed that it eats batteries, I can dive two 1 hour dives and then the battery dies, no reviewing the photos while on the boat during the SIT. I just bought an extra battery to change between dives, the batteries are rechargeable.

 

[MechEng99]

WarmWaterWuss - thanks for the review of the S90...only difference is the S95 has 720 video.

I think I've decided on the following...seems the most bang for the buck:

Camera: Canon S95
Housing: Canon
Strobe: Inon S2000
Lenses: Both Inon fisheye & macro

Not sure on tray/arms yet...but meh...that's the little stuff. Thankfully Inon makes all sorts of adapters & lenses for the Canon housing.

Also found a neato dry macro lens kit for the S95. Basically you glue a little tiny adapter onto the end of the inner lens...and you can bayonnet various macro lenses onto it!

 

[snorvich]

Yeesh...you'd think no one ever takes photos. :-/

Well . . . try http://steven-norvich.com/ My wife did this unbeknown to me.

 

[Costa reefing]

I would go with the Ikelite housing rather than the Canon one. I have been reading reviews for about the past 3 moths on the S95 and the housing options. It seems the Canon housing tends to leak more. A big difference though is that you can't add a lens to the Canon housing while with the Ikelite you can.

 

[MechEng99]

You can add a lens to the Canon housing...same with the Ikelite. Ikelite is getting pretty bad reviews now too...so I'm not going to pay more for a it. If I was to step up in a housing, I'd get the RecSea (but I'm not going to drop $800 on a housing right now).

Lens: Wide angle UWL-H100 28LD & Macro UCL-165AD by Inon. They require adapters, but so do most housings.

Snorvich - nice site & photos. What camera(s) was used?

 

[XSharkboyX]

Well . . . try http://steven-norvich.com/ My wife did this unbeknown to me.

Not to hijack thread... But alot of nice shots here! Film?

 

[snorvich]

Yes, film. My wife selected them so they are not my favorites.

 

[Patwa]

stick with the Canon S95 and you'll be very happy .....and considering your budget is $3000 (wow!)....forget the canon and ikelite housings and go for the RecSea....best case for that camera hands down....smallest of the lot, too.

Not to mention, a $3000 budget can EASILY get you a DSLR underwater rig, although i'd suggest you not go that route unless you 1) are fine getting an older-model SLR (like the Nikon D200) 2) have a full suite of lenses to take advantage of.

 

[Namnuta]

I used a Cannon G11 on my last trip to Hawaii and i am very happy with the results. Now its time for a good strobe and amber lens.

 

[quack quack]

I used a Cannon G11 on my last trip to Hawaii and i am very happy with the results. Now its time for a good strobe and amber lens.

what underwater housing did you use on your G11

 

[Tankdiver83]

You can pick up a canon pocket camera for a couple hundred. As far as cases I have found that canon makes a great case.
Cases in general cost about as much as the camera that you are using itself.
I found the best price on my case on amazon. I am using a pocket camera which also takes hd video and love it!

 

[Namnuta]

what underwater housing did you use on your G11

I bought the canon brand one, but im not sure i made the best choice as some of the aftermarket ones look very appealing. I had a canon enclosure for my previous setup, so i went with what i knew. Price was right though.