Underwater Cameras

Can anyone recommend an underwater camera–either a camera that has a separate under water housing or one that is specifically for diving? Any suggestions for day time travel camera that’s lite?

David Mertens • I have a Canon Ixus 960 with vendor supplied underwater house up to 40m. It’s not suitable for professional use but works well and gives good results if you are looking for simple holiday underwater and above water pictures. Total price of camera and underwater house plus 4GB memory card and extra battery was about 850 euro 3 years ago.

Ridlon Kiphart • Hi Johanna, One of the first questions is budget? It’s great to get a Nikon or Canon DSLR and then a U/W housing. You can use the same high quality camera above and underwater and don’t have to carry two cameras. Are you even looking for a DSLR or more of a point and shoot?

Johanna B. • DSLR, but something light weight. I am open with budget, to me buying a camera is an investment, and even though I don’t necessarily think buying “top of the line” is the best– I do want something that compliments what I am looking for; but might have added benefits than to just a point & shoot. At the same time I am open to that as well. I just wanted to get others’ recommendations, so that from there I could research it and take in what others were recommending and why?

Ridlon Kiphart • I’d look at the Nikon D300s. Fantastic imagery and HD video too. It would probably be the last camera you would ever need to buy. Compact and light weight. There are also the D3000 and D5000. Make sure you check out housings before you buy the camera to make sure you can get the housing you want. In other words, this is a joint decision. Don’t buy the camera and then go searching for housing. Nexus and Nauticam make great housings for the D300s – compact and ergonomic. I’ve shot with a Nexus for the last 10 years. Hope that helps.

www.live-adventurously.com

Dennis Ng • You may take a look to Canon PowerShot G11; it has its own housing from Canon. But the video resolution is limited to 640×480. But its weight is a bit heavier than Ixus 960.

Charles Dagelinckx • The Sealife series of camera’s and flashes are very lite and suitable for taking underwater pictures.

Desmond de Haan • I have had a canon with Ikelite ext flash and recently switched to the Sealife with sealife ext flash.
I use it as a point and shoot, this slash is awesome as it almost always lights my pictures correctly due to the reflected light sensor that switches off the flash at the correct time. For a modest budget, it is the perfect camera for me.

Bob Hahn • Take a look at the Olympus cameras, they have a cameras from point and shoot to professional DSLR many with housings. http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_digital.asp.

Jonathan Teperson • I took shots 50-60 feet down with an Olympus Stylus 770SW with no case. Cant figure out how to load the picture of my depth gage.  It is rated 33 feet.  After the 60 foot dive it took a few days to snap back. I’d keep it under 40-45 and you would be fine. It’s real small, digital and has video capability.

Alison Puffer • I own a Sealife Reefmaster Pro – Bought it about 3 years ago for 700 plus extra for the strobe lights….takes great underwater pictures and video for non professional user….I use the strobes in darker waters like Catalina and the California coast, but it is not necessary for more tropical waters. I would recommend this camera to a first time buyer.

Jackie Hutchings • Hi Johanna, I use a Canon Ixus 100 IS with a Canon WP-DC31 waterproof housing and use a Inon wide angle lens for macro photography. I bought the whole lot from Cameras Underwater http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/ – they give great advice and really know their stuff. It does great video too.

Frank Snieders • Have that same Olympus 770sw, but did not dare taking it below 12m… at that depth it worked just fine; pretty daring if you took it to double that depth.

Ridlon Kiphart• Strobes are always important even in clear or “bright” water. Even the clearest water selectively absorbs colors starting with reds as shallow as 15 feet. All your photos will look bluewashed like the pic of the console above.

Evelyne Skorczynski • I have been using Kodak Playsport camera. Great for snorkeling.

Dennis Ng • I planned to buy a Sea&Sea strobe and a red filter for my Canon PowerShot S90. The YS-01 has a led light for focusing short distance object before the flash shoots. This should be helpful at night dives photo taking!

Leslie O’Neill –  Thanks for all your ideas!   A few weeks ago while teaching class I accidently closed a piece of the strap inside my camera housing…needless to say I flooded my camera.  I’m looking at new options as well.

A general idea what to expect for pricing.

Please add scuba diving related comments here; a great place to share information!

Leslie