bad vis low light cheap camera

[Rick L]

Is there such a camera? I want to take pictures of the sealife I see but I dont want to spend a fortune!
I live in the northeast ma. any ideas?
thank Rick L

 

[SubMariner]

In a word, no.

When it comes to u/w photo equipment, you get what you pay for. If you pay for cheap equipment you get cheap (bad) pictures.

Have you given any thought to buying a good used or refurbished unit and working your way up from there? For example, Sea & Sea Motormarine IIs aren't in production any longer (replaced by the MMIIex) but are readily available. They are good cameras that you can add to as you progress, because the lenses (etc) are still being used on the current S&S models.

Alternately, you may want to consider taking an U/W Photo course from someone. THEY will have all the toys for you to play with... no big $$$$ outlay for you! After that you can decide whether or not you're interested enough in pursuing u/w photog.

BTW, if you want to see some of our u/w photos, take a look here: http://y42.briefcase.yahoo.com/pgdaley2001

Too bad they had to be such low res to post online.

Take care, eh?!

~SubMariner~

 

[Dee]

Originally posted by Rick L
Is there such a camera? I want to take pictures of the sealife I see but I dont want to spend a fortune!
I live in the northeast ma. any ideas?
thank Rick L

Bad viz---low light---cheap. There's not a camera out there that will make up for low viz, no matter what the cost. Low light will only be corrected with a good strobe. And cheap isn't going to get you very far! BUT....there are affordable units out there.

Ikelite's Aquashot3 gets alot of good reviews.

 

[fooks]

Bonica has a good line of affordable cameras. I've also used some of those disposable underwater camers and had good results. I agree with the statment that you get what you pay for, but when i go diving im not looking for professional pics just something to show my friends.

The website for Bonica is www.bonicadive.com
Many of the online scuba stores sell Bonica you just have to look around.


I am not selling Bonica simply recommending it.

 

[Bob3]

Throwing $$ at a bad viz problem doesn't work all the time.
Probably the most important thing for dirty water conditions is to get the flash away from the camera to reduce the backscatter from all the crap floating in the water.
In the Mississippi River, we'd use a "wet box" filled with clean water in order to attain the closest workable focal length. Big, bulky, but the only way to get the job done. Some of the cameras would focus down to 1/2", but ya can't cover much territory like that.

 

[Rick L]

Im realy not looking for super quality!
Just a camera I can put in my bc pocket. and take pictures of
some of the sealife ive been seeing. And see more than a dark blob. thanks Rick L

 

[Bob3]

Got just the camera for you:

http://home.pacbell.net/k8x/camera.html

Ask for last year's model, it doesn't have the automatic flash activation & will cost a bunch less.

I have both & they work nicely, tho in dirty water, it's almost better without the flash.

 

[Rick L]

Thats what I was looking for just a basic camera to get pics of
sealife! you know 25 pound lobsters torpedo rays schools of sandsharks stuff like that. I just hope I dont forget it in my pocket and go 100 feet.{ hey where did those bubbles come from hehe.}
thanks Rick L

 

[Rick L]

Ok I just got a bonica sea king snapper.Brand new with close up lens case and wrist strap for 75 dollars on ebay. It is rated to 150 feet so I dont have to worry! Any info you people could give me would be welcome! Like what film or speed? If you where taking
a picture of a torpedo ray laying on the bottom. how whould you shoot it? from the top the side the front ?
Thank in advance Rick L

 

[Dee]

Originally posted by Rick L
Ok .......Like what film or speed? If you where taking
a picture of a torpedo ray laying on the bottom. how whould you shoot it? from the top the side the front ?
Thank in advance Rick L

ASA100 film speed will work just great. I like Fuji Reala, Kodak Royal Gold (better than Kodak Gold) and Konica.

Don't shoot down, the whole picture will look flat. I'd get on the sand to one side and a bit to the front. (Picture this...if his head is pointing to 12 noon, I'd position myself about 2 o'clock.) and as close as possible. You'll get a good body profile and still be able to focus on his eyes.