Underwater cameras
Discussion
The Mrs old Fuji compact that she uses in a dive housing is getting to be past it's prime, and she's spotted she can get a dive housing for my Canon SX260HS for about £150. I suspect that's going to be cheapest option but does have the slight drawback that sometimes I want to use my camera when she's away on a dive trip, so does anyone here have any experience of budget underwater cameras? And I mean proper 50+ meter ones not splash proof cameras for use in a swimming pool or snorkling.
I'm meaning more this kind of thing
http://www.greatdigitaldeals.co.uk/fuji-finepix-f6...
No SCUBA diving photographers on here?
http://www.greatdigitaldeals.co.uk/fuji-finepix-f6...
No SCUBA diving photographers on here?
For the need of 50+meters you are going to be needing so much artificial light you are probably into professional rig setups rather than a holiday housing situation... unless you were trying to emphasize the need for a proper housing / underwater option over the splashproof offerings.
I use a GoPro for most of my diving, its small enough not to be a burden and impressive for shallower stuff, I've not taken it deep enough to warrant a light rig for it yet but seen a lot of people have mocked up small rigs for them.
Full on Housings are IMO exceedingly expensive for what it actually is, I've been diving 15 years and never been able to justify one for my DSLR... and I'm not sure I'd want the hassle of that kind of kit on a dive
I use a GoPro for most of my diving, its small enough not to be a burden and impressive for shallower stuff, I've not taken it deep enough to warrant a light rig for it yet but seen a lot of people have mocked up small rigs for them.
Full on Housings are IMO exceedingly expensive for what it actually is, I've been diving 15 years and never been able to justify one for my DSLR... and I'm not sure I'd want the hassle of that kind of kit on a dive
(actually I tried to make a Leica float once but it didn't do very well)Not necessarily only housing, also wondering if anyone makes waterproof cameras beyond the 15m or so splash proofing, in reality she's not going to be using it down to 50m as Lee points out, but I've had a 50m water proof watch fail in a swimming pool so I certainly wouldn't want to take a 15 meter camera to 15 meters.
A housing for a DSLR is silly money, but a housing for a cheapish compact isn't that much, however as it's only likely to be used for fairly close range photos in low light with a blue/green shift, most compacts aren't really optimised for that.
As for the hassle of lugging the kit, I don't dive any more but agree underwater photography does seem to need lots of specialist kit and time. I met a couple on a trip where he was very in to his photography, and his wife hooked on to him with a buddy line. He'd spend 10 minutes staring intently at one starfish while she'd explore around him then they'd move a few meters and do it all again
A housing for a DSLR is silly money, but a housing for a cheapish compact isn't that much, however as it's only likely to be used for fairly close range photos in low light with a blue/green shift, most compacts aren't really optimised for that.
As for the hassle of lugging the kit, I don't dive any more but agree underwater photography does seem to need lots of specialist kit and time. I met a couple on a trip where he was very in to his photography, and his wife hooked on to him with a buddy line. He'd spend 10 minutes staring intently at one starfish while she'd explore around him then they'd move a few meters and do it all again
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 23 September 17:53
My dive camera and housing is ancient (fuji finepix) and am due an upgrade eventually, you don't need a 50m rated housing unless you are going to 50m. Pretty sure mine is 30-35 meters rated and has dabbled around 40 meters. 200+ dives with the camera and housing, no problems.
I have always used http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/
I have always used http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/
My dive camera and housing is ancient (fuji finepix) and am due an upgrade eventually, you don't need a 50m rated housing unless you are going to 50m. Pretty sure mine is 30-35 meters rated and has dabbled around 40 meters. 200+ dives with the camera and housing, no problems.
I have always used http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/
I have always used http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/
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