Waterproof/Underwater Camera

K9simon

K9simon

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Simon
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Hi all
Has anyone any advice regarding an underwater camera? I have a friend who wants to buy one but would like to spend under 200 pounds. I have seen the canon powershot D10 which is well over 300 pounds. Are cheaper cameras worthwhile or are the results similar to the throw away waterproofs you can get? I think they want to use it to a depth of about 5M.
Cheers
 
Hi,

You can pick up a fuji P & S with dedicated housing for around the £260 mark. These do take decent underwater photos although in common with all photography underwater the best results are obtained from very close to your subjects. TBH the housing costs more than the P & S at that level so you wont go much cheaper.

Underwater I use this housing

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fuji-WP-FXF...3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239776051&sr=1-3

Its also worth spending another £120 or so to add a very basic off camera stobe to an underwater set up as this makes the world of difference at any depth.

Theres a number of key differences to the way light behaves underwater that need to be understood to get the best out of your underwater photography.

Most importantly water has a filtering affect on light. Its the rough equivelent of a light blue filter that removes 1 EV of red light for every 2.5 meters light travels. This has some really key affects for us. Firstly we need to be able to add white light to a scene so taking a dedicated flash or strobe makes the world of difference. Even with this the best results are still obtained by being close to your subject. The other area this impacts is white balance. Auto white balance can't cope so being able to shoot in raw and adjust it afterwards or set it manually in camera is essential.

At depths of 5m or less the filtering affect of water is less of an issue but you will come across issues on a sunny day of shadows caused by water movement. These will cause you more problems then shadows on the surface on a bright day. It also possible to reflect a flash back from the surface - light will reflect from a water surface if it strikes it at 45 degrees or less.

Another consideration with flash underwater is backscatter - water always has a degree of suspended matter in it. Your brain often process this out but it will reflect a flash back at camera - so you need to mount as far away as possible to avoid this.

Most divers trigger their flash as an optical slave but use a fibre optic cable from the onboard flash to the photo cell on the strobe to make this reliable.

I think this covers the main points, but manual white balance and an off camera strobe or flash are key.

Cheers

Hugh
 
Hugh
thats more than a little useful. Thanks very much indeed. :thumbs:

Simon
 
Go to your local dive shop, see what they have on offer.
Camera and case, plus a red filter which is extra to cut out the blue.
You can always process the pics later on your PC.
Jim
 
what about Olympus 1030SW ?
linky
waterproof to 10m, shockproof etc etc :)
Most likely I will get one myself for my Egypt trip later this year :) only for underwater pictures ;)
 
tbh for the money the cost you're better of with a cannon or fuji and a dedicated underwater housing. The downside is you do have to do some maintainance with the housing - (O rings need to be lubricated and cleaned) but the upside is it'll still be waterproof at the end of your holiday.

I don't mean this sarcastically but they're waterproof in the same way as your watch is waterproof. Bear in mind the Red sea is one of the most saline seas on earth (that can still support life) and a pretty harsh environment. You're putting a camera through a pounding even if you're careful and its worth taking proper kit also what if you want to go to 11m? Most places in the Red sea you'll be at a 20-30 M depth

Hugh
 
bastic said:
what about Olympus 1030SW ?
linky
waterproof to 10m, shockproof etc etc :)
Most likely I will get one myself for my Egypt trip later this year :) only for underwater pictures ;)
Click to expand...


My wife and the kids have got one of these. Completely waterproof and sand proof. They tossed it to each other when they were swimming in the sea. Not been down to 10m with it though.
 
K9simon said:
Hi all
Has anyone any advice regarding an underwater camera? I have a friend who wants to buy one but would like to spend under 200 pounds. I have seen the canon powershot D10 which is well over 300 pounds. Are cheaper cameras worthwhile or are the results similar to the throw away waterproofs you can get? I think they want to use it to a depth of about 5M.
Cheers
Click to expand...

If your anywhere near the Embankment, pop in and have a word with Paul (Duxy) at Cameras Underwater. He knows his beans, and will give you completely impartial advice without the hard sell ;)

http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/

He used to be a dive guide out in Sharm for a few years so knows whats what
 
:) Thanks for all the advice. very useful all of it. Thans again.
 
I have an Olympus 770SW, waterproof and shockproof.

It cost me around $300 I think. Not sure how much they cost in the UK but it's a great little camera.
 
I am also for underwater housing, 'cause those rugged cameras are not of that good quality, "normal" cameras can provide, as the manufacturer paid more attention to toughness rather than to image quality, you know, price.. you have to compromise on smth.
 
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