1st camera..suggestions

[jepuskar]

My gf and I are new divers in the Chicago area. I am into the videography thing and am all squared away, but my gf needs a camera. We are going to Bonaire in November and will try and frequent the ocean as much as $$$ permits.

What is a decent camera too purchase (non-digital) for underwater photography. I do not want to purchase a housing for this one, so it must be specifically for U/W use.

Price is a factor because we are new and ocean trips are going to be few and far in between. Been to the quarries/lakes up here and nothing is worth taking pictures of.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[Cecil]

You might be better off buying a couple of disposables. Kodak is coming out with a new UW disposable that is good to 30 meters. Alot cheaper, and they take pretty good pictures. Down the road look for a mid-priced digital that you can get a resonable UW housing.

 

[raxafarian]

maybe rent instead?? You could get an mx10 with strobe for around.... 450.00 or so?? I'm guessing based on a quick web search.


You can rent cameras on bonaire.... Phototour divers, buddy's, capt. don's, and others... around 25-35/day.


I guess you need to figure out if it's worth the purchase price vs. the use you would get out of it... or if it would be better to rent for a few days.

 

[jepuskar]

At depth, wont we be wasting our time taking pictures because everything will be blue?

I am cost minded, but I think disposables might be at the very low end of the spectrum for us. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Jason

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

well i have kinda been in same boat the Sealife Reefmaster SL515 cameras are ok but to be honest most people I talk too recomended the strobe too

 

[Cecil]

Some do have a strobes, not sure about the new Kodaks. Much less of a problem in the shallow clear waters of Bonaire. The low end UW cameras are still going to set you back $300 or so and you'll end up with a camera you wouldn't like or use later on. Kind-of like the Reefmaster sitting in my closet at home, which doesn't do much better than a disposable. YMMV.

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

hum strang I have seen some pretty good pictures out iof the reefmaster
as stated above The low end UW cameras are still going to set you back $300 or so and you'll end up with a camera you wouldn't like or use later on. Kind-of like the Reefmaster sitting in my closet at home, which doesn't do much better than a disposable. YMMV.
how many times have you used it and practiced with it .

 

[Dee]

Renting a MX-10 is a good idea for new divers on a first trip. It's the first in a long line of dedicated u/w camera that require no housing. You'll have the chance to see if you even like u/w photography, the camera is a good one and easy to use. I started out with one and used it for a couple of years before I upgraded.

S&S MX-10 and strobe are $400-600, depending on where you get it. The complete system is around $1200 depending.

 

[clive francis]

medic13, are you sure you have got everything in your equipment list in your signature?

what about the kitchen sink?

looks like commonal garden dive gear

 

[Rooster]

I have thousands and thousands of $ in photo equipment. Land and underwater. So what is the only thing I've ever won in a raffle? A Sealife Reefmaster camera! Of course I had to go play with it, and was quite supprised in how well it worked for a simple point and shoot UW camera. Takes some pretty good snap shots, in shallow water, were there is still light and color.