Underwater camera help...

[jfmagana]

So, I can't take a good picture to save my life (just not that artistic), but I'd like to buy a reasonably good quality camera (budget of say <$600 total). I started looking around on the internet and this site, but now I'm totally confused. What I'm looking for is a good still camera (~5megapixels) that's waterproof to ~100'. Something rugged and easy to use (it's against my religion to read manuals). If you had $600 burning a hole in your pocket to buy a camera today, what would you do?

Also, one of the dive shops up here highly recommended I go to Backscatter Cameras in Monterey, but I looked at their web site and it looks $$$...am I wrong? Should I check them out???

[Rokket1]

I bought a canon a580 8megapixel camera. It has video as well. This is not an underwater camera so I bought an ikelight (sp) housing to go with it. Total cost under 400. Works great! Its fully auto, but you can set it manually if your geekworthy. Its a great point and shoot.

I hear that the reefmaster mini is a great all around camera as well. Costs around 250-300. Good luck!

[wcskindiver]

This is my setup not too expensive but it works great for video and pics
Camera: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830120272
Housing: http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/FNT1385.html

[divingdesigns]

Give this a look, http://www.backscatter.com/learn/art...icle.php?ID=57

[seahunter]

Divingdesigns That is a good article. I wish I had found that when we were looking for new cameras for work. Do you know why they want to use external Wide angle lens instead of using the 28mm lens in the camera?

I bought a Panisonic FX07 because it had a built in wide angle lens. IT takes nice pictures underwater because you can get closer to your subjects and still fit them into the frame. This way there is less water between you and the subject. That means less water absorbing light and fewer partials that will cause backscatter.

I wouldn't get an FX07 because they have already stopped making it, but if you look around you can find digital cameras with a built in wide angle lens and a dive housing.

[divingdesigns]

The external wide angle lens most of the time give a wider image than the wide setting or zoomed out mode on the built in lens on these point and shoot cameras. Many of the external lens will give as much as 15 - 20 mm and this can make a great difference. Mind you this is Backscatter and these are great guys but they are always striving to shoot cover shots with the latest and greatest stuff. Closing that distance to subject is the key. The less water between you and the subject the sharper the picture, but the down side is if you are not using a strobe or your built in strobe can not hit the subject and light it that close then you will have to back off a bit.

[Blackfoot]

talk with Mike at "H2Ophotopros.com" ...he has a store front in Newport Beach on PCH almost across from Olympic Boat Center.

i have a big gnarly setup and a smaller less expensive setup i bought from him. My smaller setup is a Nikon Coolpix p5100 w/a seatool housing. I carry this one around when i spearfishing in my rob allen lobster bag.

if you give mike a budget, he'll work with you to find you the best fit.

will

[mcnavas]

Originally Posted by jfmagana

So, I can't take a good picture to save my life (just not that artistic), but I'd like to buy a reasonably good quality camera (budget of say <$600 total).

Taking good pictures comes from a good camera with a good strobe or flash and clear water. I'm assuming you are talking about Digital cameras so yes, plan on spending $$$$ to get the quality you need. The coolpix is cheap and a great way to start. They do the auto focus and exposure so it falls back to you to just frame it and click. I'm still using a 15 year old manually adjusted Film camera, Nikon V but the colors and clarity are magazine quality. New technology is not always better....

The biggest problem I see with Digital cameras in a case is the lack of a good light source or an external strobe. Most digital pix have a Grey/blue huge to them. This is mainly due to the lack of sun light at depth. The "Speed of Light" actually slows down in water and you loose most of the Red band spectrum below 30 feet. That's why fish blood looks green at depth. The strobe adds the missing light spectrum to give you the true colors back since the strobe is only a few feet from the subject.

The easiest trick to better pictures is to always "shoot up". Get on the bottom and look up when you snap it. The sea life will look more dramatic against the background in the frame plus a full side view of the fish.
Good luck!!

[FDU]

There are plenty of excellent camera systems available...and of course they range from a few hundred...to tens of thousands!! For those that do not know me, I also own H2O Photo Pros Underwater Photo & Video down in Newport. We have been working with several spearfishermen in the local communities to help design the best underwater digital camera systems for the spearfisherman and freediver. Many on here have worked with us to outfit their guns or their spearfishing productions.

The $600 budget will allow you to get some nice systems. Of all cameras, I would highly suggest the Canon G10 out of any of the Point & Shoots. We sell the camera for $439 currently. As for housings for it, they range from the $200-$1,000 range...with major differences between them. If you are looking for rugged, I would stay away from the OEM underwater housings (canon, Olympus) and take a look at the housings from Ikelite, Patima and Fisheye. They do cost a bit more, but the quality is incomparable. Being freedivers and spearfishermen, we are all trying to get the big stuff, and pics of our friends with their catch. A wide angle lens is a must have to really get a good quality picture, with color and detail. The Canon housing is going to leave you in left field in this range...whereas the Ike, Patima and Fisheye housings have wide angle lenses to fit.

If $600 is a FIRM budget, then I would highly suggest looking at the new Sea & Sea DX1200HD. The camera and housing combo retails for $599 starting...It shoots great stills, and also take HD video clips. The limitation to this camera, and anything in this budget range is the shutter lag...its Extremely noticeable...and when we are down holding our breath and trying to photograph swift moving fish...shutter lag is a frustration waiting to happen that could leave you with nothing more than a fish butt picture.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask away!