TravelDave
Contributor
Looking for some assistance in finding a starting point of a few camera/housing options to compare. As background, I generally take one big dive trip a year and may do a couple of weekend trips as well. I have shot underwater "snapshots" for several years using a Canon low-end point and shoot (with the CHDK hack to shoot RAW) using only the camera's built-in flash. Not bad for close-up work, but not great. I've played around with a GoPro (no external lighting) also with decent results (I like the video, but I can do better stills with the Canon).
I'm thinking I want to upgrade my setup to try to get higher quality stills. I'm not looking to enter contests, but would like shots that can be made into decent prints. Given that I don't get to do a lot of diving, I don't want to go with anything that's either crazy expensive or huge and cumbersome. I'm thinking that I may be able to accomplish this with a high-end point and shoot coupled with strobes/arms. (I've considered mirrorless, but I'm guessing that may add a lot to the cost). I'm hoping folks can provide me with some suggestions that I can use as a starting point to start comparing choices. I'd hope to get something that:
- Isn't too big of a setup (not crazy difficult to dive with)
- Has full manual controls and white balance controls
- Can shoot RAW
- Can drive external strobes
- Would like to be able to mount the GoPro to the top of the housing.
Cost is a consideration, but I have not determined how much I want to spend. Will largely be based on what my options are.
Any suggestions of cameras/housings that I should consider. Once I have a few choices to use as a starting point, I can hopefully do more research to narrow down choices.
Thanks in advance for helping with this.
Dave
I'm thinking I want to upgrade my setup to try to get higher quality stills. I'm not looking to enter contests, but would like shots that can be made into decent prints. Given that I don't get to do a lot of diving, I don't want to go with anything that's either crazy expensive or huge and cumbersome. I'm thinking that I may be able to accomplish this with a high-end point and shoot coupled with strobes/arms. (I've considered mirrorless, but I'm guessing that may add a lot to the cost). I'm hoping folks can provide me with some suggestions that I can use as a starting point to start comparing choices. I'd hope to get something that:
- Isn't too big of a setup (not crazy difficult to dive with)
- Has full manual controls and white balance controls
- Can shoot RAW
- Can drive external strobes
- Would like to be able to mount the GoPro to the top of the housing.
Cost is a consideration, but I have not determined how much I want to spend. Will largely be based on what my options are.
Any suggestions of cameras/housings that I should consider. Once I have a few choices to use as a starting point, I can hopefully do more research to narrow down choices.
Thanks in advance for helping with this.
Dave