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03/11/2008 08:07:52 PM · #1 |
This is not for me, but a friend that dives wants to buy a camera/housing to do some underwater photos.
He said that he could only afford a compact camera with housing to go along. I think sometimes he dives at deeps more than 30 meters.
So any suggestion?
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03/11/2008 08:58:17 PM · #2 |
Good luck to your friend. I haven't researched them properly, but whenever I've had a passing glance at housing, it made me gasp. Seems that housing is usually more expensive than the camera.
If ever I have a REAL need for it, I'll consider buying some disposable underwater film cameras - much, much cheaper than the digital alternatives I have come across so far. |
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03/11/2008 09:01:57 PM · #3 |
There are several good product lines available. Ikelite and Sea & Sea are the two I've seen the most.
Check out... ReefPhoto.com - Compact Digital Housings
Your friend should make sure that s/he is an experienced diver before trying underwater photography. A new diver usually has enough to think about just staying safe in the water. Add in the difficulties of working a camera and... well, it could lead to a real bad situation. PADI has a certification course available for underwater photography. Your friend might want to consider taking the course, even if s/he is an experienced diver. Taking pics at depth is much different than taking pics on land. |
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03/11/2008 09:23:30 PM · #4 |
| I would tell your friend to look into the Olympus E-410, which they make an underwater housing for. While the 410 is a DSLR, its currently priced pretty cheaply as an E-420 is coming out in the next few months. It comes with the 14-42 lens, and there is also a two-lens kit which comes with the 14-42 and 40-150 lens. Both are very small and of high quality. Cameta Camera on Ebay sells both new and refurbished at very good prices. I'm not 100% sure, but I also think the Oly E-510 may also have an underwater housing made for it as well. |
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03/11/2008 09:25:39 PM · #5 |
From what I understand (my Bro and Sis in law are PADI Instructors)
it is REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY expensive, and I mean terribly excessive expensive to get a half way decent camera, about 8-10, grand expensive just for the housing and camera that MIGHT take half decent shots
I bought a 600 buck camera for when i went to Cancun, it was still pretty crap, you could see a fish or two, that was it, no details or depth at all.
It is an expensive hobby!! |
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03/11/2008 11:07:18 PM · #6 |
Cheapest option might be to spring for a used Nikonos underwater 35mm body and just scan the slides/negatives. Ken Rockwell I believe really likes it.
EDIT: I believe the Nikonos can handle the depths your friend dives at. But once again, this is coming completely from memory.
Message edited by author 2008-03-11 23:08:25. |
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03/11/2008 11:38:46 PM · #7 |
| I think there is a point and shot digital camera that it ment for underwater pictures, not sure of the name though |
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03/12/2008 12:14:09 AM · #8 |
I went to Nassau for my honeymoon 13 years ago and even then you could buy a $5.00 disposable 35mm underwater film camera at any local shop and the ones we had took great shots but we had pleanty of daylight.
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03/12/2008 05:48:37 AM · #9 |
I recently got a Uwa Marine housing - fits most DSLR cameras and a big flash - I haven't been more than 2m underwater but it doesn't leak at all. I've been using it in pretty heavy surf and it stands up to some pretty rough treatment with no problems at all.
Cost about $400 and well and truly worth it especially because it fits a flash as well - all the hard cases I looked at needed another couple of hundred for a flash housing and when you are underwater you need all the light you can get.
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03/12/2008 06:16:14 AM · #10 |
I have been interested in this as well and I think I would go for a Canon 5D and perhaps an Ikelite housing.
The setup will end up as several grand however so it isn't cheap. If you friend just wants to experient and try it out.. perhaps a point and shoot and cheaper housing would be more ideal.
Message edited by author 2008-03-12 06:17:16.
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03/12/2008 07:58:59 AM · #11 |
I rented a Nikonos and two strobes when I went to Hawaii several years ago. I'd love to shoot digital now, using my own camera and all, but there are advantages to renting. Like ... if the camera floods, you don't go home with a dead camera!
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03/12/2008 08:33:56 AM · #12 |
Hi
i have an Olympus housing (Pt-020) for my oly 5060
its fairly in expensive compared to ikelite
also check out
olympus ebay store
i purchased via friends in Canada two lenses brand new and paid approz A$95.00 where as i would have been up for over $300 retail
the best web info site i know is
digitaldiver
yep i'm also the Ter who is there too :)
never had any troubles with leaking etc but it does happen
i did flood my Nik V twice and that was an expensive experience
Ikelite is probably the industry leader regarding housing and their strobes are awesome as well but dont overlook Inon for strobes too
my rig all up cost me $1400 about 4 yrs ago
on the ebay site for eg both are brand new
stylus 760 ... 7 mp camera ... $129.95
and housing ... $229.95
hope this helps
pm me if you need more info
cheers
Message edited by author 2008-03-12 08:41:13. |
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03/12/2008 08:36:34 AM · #13 |
I just got a Olympus Stylus 1030 SW, haven't had it long but so far so good. The pictures I have taken so far turned out well but the closest it has come to water is a dunk in my salt water aquarium.
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03/12/2008 09:28:03 AM · #14 |
I just got into doing this myself and am currently taking my dive classes and the underwater photography class. I got the sealife DC600 elite (with flash)kit for $750.00. I did ALOT of research and this seemed like the best camera for my budget. its a camera,housing,flash, and wide angle lens (battery & charger for the camera). the photos from the camera look great. dont know what your friends budget is but this camera is better than the sea&sea. with sea&sea everything is an option and that gets quite expensive. for sea&sea you get the camera and housing for about $1000..then pay extra for the flash,flash mount,lens...
sealife digital cameras & packages
I searched ebay for this camera an my local dive shop had it for $50 cheaper than I could find it online.
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03/12/2008 03:56:50 PM · #15 |
thank every one for the info.
Personally I've been curious about the Olympus SW cameras, specially for summer vacation, but I'm not shure about what dept do they stand. Does anybody knows?
i think a DSLR and housing is out of the budget but a compact camera and housing mught be the right stuff. Any recommendation regarding this?
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03/12/2008 08:54:54 PM · #16 |
| a bump for the night crowd |
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03/16/2008 07:14:05 AM · #17 |
the SW range have variing ratings of between 10ft and 33 ft waterproof
if your friends are diving in excess of that i would house the camera as well
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03/16/2008 10:36:16 AM · #18 |
the sealife dc600 is rated for 200ft. I bought the kit with a flash and extra lens but you can get just the camera and housing for about $400 on ebay. its a comapct camera...basicaly a point and shoot with a little manual functions...I highly recommend this one esp. when a budget is an option. you cant purchase this camera from the manufacturer but theres places on line where you can purchase it or one that isnt rated for as deep.
www.anchorexpress.com
www.scuba.com
www.dickssportinggoods.com
www.scubatoys.com
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03/26/2008 07:58:09 AM · #19 |
olympus 1030, goes 10m deep with no housing.
$400, right now since it just came out. I expect it to be $350 on B&H by the end of the Summer.
they make an underwater housing for it that allows you to go 100m deep. you will probably have lighting problems though without a strobe. |
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