Under water cameras
Discussion
As mentioned, I'm off to Kenya.
I have the chance of doing a little snorkling / diving there. Nothing too deep etc, just a marine park and swim with dolphins / fish.
I don't trust the under water case that I can buy for my Canon, so what do I buy in order to get a few snaps when swimming?
Initially thought about a cheapish underwater camera, yet after weighing up the initial cost, cost of films and processing etc I thought a throw away might be easier and work out much cheaper.
Next problem is that there are so many throw aways.
I have seen 3 at the moment. All available in Jessops.
Jessops own £7.99 400 ISO, 4m depth
Fuji £9.90 100 ISO, 5m depth
Kodak £9.90 800 ISO, 15m depth.
Given all the choices what would others recomend?
I have the chance of doing a little snorkling / diving there. Nothing too deep etc, just a marine park and swim with dolphins / fish.
I don't trust the under water case that I can buy for my Canon, so what do I buy in order to get a few snaps when swimming?
Initially thought about a cheapish underwater camera, yet after weighing up the initial cost, cost of films and processing etc I thought a throw away might be easier and work out much cheaper.
Next problem is that there are so many throw aways.
I have seen 3 at the moment. All available in Jessops.
Jessops own £7.99 400 ISO, 4m depth
Fuji £9.90 100 ISO, 5m depth
Kodak £9.90 800 ISO, 15m depth.
Given all the choices what would others recomend?
The Jessops catalogue shows a cute little waterproof case for the Olympus Mju range:
www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?product=OLYMJUDPT016&parentitem=OLYMJUD300Z&BRAND=&CONTINUE=false&FEATS=&FIRSTPRICE=&KEYWORD=&LEVEL=&MODELNUMBER=&NEWQUERY=True&NODE=236&ORD=ASC&ORDERBY=&QUANTITY=10&RECENT=0&REFINE=&SEARCH_FOR=&SEARCHNODE=0&SEARCHURL=showcase.cfm&SECONDPRICE=&SHOWCASEID=71&STARTROW=1&SUBS=&WORD_SEARCH=N&&action=assoc
www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?product=OLYMJUDPT016&parentitem=OLYMJUD300Z&BRAND=&CONTINUE=false&FEATS=&FIRSTPRICE=&KEYWORD=&LEVEL=&MODELNUMBER=&NEWQUERY=True&NODE=236&ORD=ASC&ORDERBY=&QUANTITY=10&RECENT=0&REFINE=&SEARCH_FOR=&SEARCHNODE=0&SEARCHURL=showcase.cfm&SECONDPRICE=&SHOWCASEID=71&STARTROW=1&SUBS=&WORD_SEARCH=N&&action=assoc
Yep? £119 plus the camera - £230.
The case for my Canon S1 IS is £149.
Would you put your D70 in a waterproof case and go swimming with it?
Food for thought. They guarantee the case, but not the contents. So if the case fails, they will replace it.
My thoughts are that I will probably use this camera while on holiday and the next time it would be used could be a couple of years. Is irt worth spending money on that?
The case for my Canon S1 IS is £149.
Would you put your D70 in a waterproof case and go swimming with it?
Food for thought. They guarantee the case, but not the contents. So if the case fails, they will replace it.
My thoughts are that I will probably use this camera while on holiday and the next time it would be used could be a couple of years. Is irt worth spending money on that?
This thread may or may not be of help to you...
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&h=&t=92954
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&h=&t=92954
Disposables don't make great pictures, but they are cheap and, er, disposable 
Here are some of my awful holiday snaps from last year - down as far as 15m and in the pool:
http://zax.fotopic.net/c33125.html
Not great quality, but my digital camera lived to snap another day
Here are some of my awful holiday snaps from last year - down as far as 15m and in the pool: http://zax.fotopic.net/c33125.html
Not great quality, but my digital camera lived to snap another day
Ex-Biker said:
Yep? £119 plus the camera - £230.
The case for my Canon S1 IS is £149.
You did ask for ideas and I like that one. It's an opinion thing, you don't have to shoot me down, witness:
Ex-Biker said:
Would you put your D70 in a waterproof case and go swimming with it?
If it was a proper case designed for the camera, yes. And if I could swim of course. I'm not sure that's a reasonable comparison though: RSP of a D70 is £1,000.
Ex-Biker said:
My thoughts are that I will probably use this camera while on holiday and the next time it would be used could be a couple of years. Is irt worth spending money on that?
Well I'm sorry I tried to help. If you want good results you have to spend the money. If you don't, use a polythene bag.
When I was in Egypt I picked one up in El Gouna for £10, it's bright Yellow and proved most useful - first image on this page. They are a bit dark as I forgot to put the flash on and the second film didn't work (36 rather than the recommended 27). Oh, it's not disposable btw...
Are you near Newcastle? I'm pretty sure you could borrow it and if it gets broken, well it's only a tenner...
Are you near Newcastle? I'm pretty sure you could borrow it and if it gets broken, well it's only a tenner...
simpo two said:
You did ask for ideas and I like that one. It's an opinion thing, you don't have to shoot me down, witness:
Sorry, my reply wasn't meant to offend.
I think I have in my own mind decided to go for a disposable. Cost and lack of further use being the deciding factors.
I agree about the 'pays for what you get' thing, however I think my lack of knowledge on how to really use a camera is a limiting factor too.
Can anyone tell me what is the best ISO rating to go for and why?
beano500 said:
'Ere - Oo put that f**king long link in? 
Sorry, that was me, no other way! That £10 shot looks good value actually.
Ex-Biker, no worries, I didn't expect you to buy a new camera as well, only follow the concept. As I sink even when not holding a camera, I will have to save up for a bathyscaphe thingy: ie a camera container so big you can climb in as well
try hire a camera
www.hireacamera.co.uk
they can hire you a camera and underwater housing etc for your holiday.
www.hireacamera.com/hc/cameras/underwater_flex_camera.asp
www.hireacamera.co.uk
they can hire you a camera and underwater housing etc for your holiday.
www.hireacamera.com/hc/cameras/underwater_flex_camera.asp
I guess it depends upon the quality you're after.
If it's just for snaps for the memories then some of the dispoables are good value.
if you want to go a bit further then some of the manufacturers make compacts that are waterproff to a certain extent.
Then above this it's a full housing.
We went for optino 2 and got a small Minolta zoom compact that is waterproof to 5 metres with built in flash etc. Perfect for the beach, messing around in the water and also on land it's good for taking out into very inclement conditions. Gives good quality snaps and was around the GBP120 mark.
We still use it occasionally 5 years later so I think overall it's reasonable value.
The other thing to think of is how good a swimmer / snorkeler you are. It's difficult enough to learnt o do it properly and so be able to see some of the more interesting things without worrying about your camera as well In such cases a disposable is probably your best answer.
HTH
Chris
If it's just for snaps for the memories then some of the dispoables are good value.
if you want to go a bit further then some of the manufacturers make compacts that are waterproff to a certain extent.
Then above this it's a full housing.
We went for optino 2 and got a small Minolta zoom compact that is waterproof to 5 metres with built in flash etc. Perfect for the beach, messing around in the water and also on land it's good for taking out into very inclement conditions. Gives good quality snaps and was around the GBP120 mark.
We still use it occasionally 5 years later so I think overall it's reasonable value.
The other thing to think of is how good a swimmer / snorkeler you are. It's difficult enough to learnt o do it properly and so be able to see some of the more interesting things without worrying about your camera as well
In such cases a disposable is probably your best answer. HTH
Chris
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