Beginner Camera

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Rich1280

Contributor
Messages
148
Reaction score
128
Location
Yorkshire, UK
# of dives
500 - 999
Afternoon all,

I'm looking at beginning in the world of photography underwater, and thinking about where to start. I've had a look around at different things, and I seem to have a slightly unusual spec I'm working to, which makes things get expensive real quick, which isn't necessarily a problem but some element of future proofing would be prudent.

I'm not naturally a picture type person, my friends joke how I can be wordy and can tell which bulletins I write at work. I've recently been doing more projects, and feel like I need more images to support write-ups and presentations, and so a camera seems obvious. Most projects are wreck in UK waters, deeper than 60m and fairly dark. I just don't do much diving shallower than 30m, so buying a different housing to practice with seems wasteful. I've got a GoPro but barely use it, had issues with the official GoPro housing not letting the buttons work deeper than 50m, although it didn't leak. I'd been using cheap Amazon video lights, but they also seem to get flaky below 50m. I've ordered a Carbonarm housing and Kraken 10K lumen video lights as a starting point, but now thinking about a still camera as an option instead.

I'm thinking about something like a Canon R50 or Sony A6xxx series and a housing, but for the depth needed the housings get dear pretty quick. I'm thinking the circa £500-600 budget for camera. I'm not really interested in animals or macro things, it will probably all be bigger wreck feature shots, so I guess a bigger sensor and more pixels will help, and big lights. Photogrammetry is on the cards for some projects. I'm thinking about a surface photo workshop to learn about composing and camera functions, but does this sound like a logical plan? Its probably a post Christmas campaign really, but trying to think about what I need. There seems to be lots on animal and macro photography out there to look at, but far less on wreck photography to look at as a starting point.

Rich
 
Welcome to the wonderful world of underwater photography!! I’d recommend the Olympus TG6 or 7. It doesn’t have a steep learning curve (because even I can use it!) and it’s not horribly expensive. You can get the camera, housing (PT059) and strobe for ~$1500? I love my rig -easy and small profile. My husband just got an OM1 and I don’t think I ever will go that big.

Have fun!
 
Hi Kimela!
Thanks, I'll have a look. I wasn't sure what the capabilities were on compact cameras in the darker water, most of the pics I see look like clear blue, not north sea green. 😅

The PT059 is only rated for 45m, and the Ikelite I saw as the other option for the TG6/7 is 60m rated. I'd be looking for more depth with the stuff we're doing, probably 100m/330ft+ rated? We're past 60m/200ft on most projects.

Rich
 
Hi WS007, that was what I wondered about compact cameras. I don't know anyone using one in those conditions to look at the work is the thing, hence partly why asking on here. That was what pointed me to a mirrorless when I was looking.
100m should be fine for a while I'd hope!
Rich
 
You get get go pro housing rated for 250m within your budget.
Check Underwater housings for all brands and filter by depth, it should give you idea about availability.
Isotta have ali housing for tg series, around 900- rated for 100m.
 
If you are looking at 100M options, especially for low light conditions, none of them are cheap - cameras or housings. The deep gopro housings are about as close to inexpensive as you can get. Otherwise you are looking at a mid-range to high end aluminum housing: Aquatica, Marelux, Nauticam, etc. So realistically looking at starting about $10K all in for a new system. Used can be had for way less though.
 
Cheers for that Sea Ledford, Scuabozy. I've got the 250m Carbonarm ali housing on the way already, so that will be the next step.

I guess I'm just looking at the thinking around the new mirrorless vs used SLR question and lower range cameras such as the Sony A6xxx or Canon R50. I was looking at £5-600 for the camera, then will add in the housing and lights after, so that isn't the all in budget.
Rich
 
So what you are describing seems to be what I would call a "mid-priced" solution. A quick look at KEH shows a used Canon R50 for about US$600 and an RF 18-45 f4.5-6.3 lens for only about US$150. (The Sony A6700 is about $1300 used.) The Canon combo would give you very decent wide angle photos of the kind you describe. You still need a housing and appropriate port. Several on this board use the budget priced SeaFrogs line. Ikelite housings are a step up. Nauticam, Sea and Sea and other aluminum housings are likely out of your price range. Lighting is going to be an issue for you. To get enough light for the shots you describe you will need at least two higher output strobes as well as a good focus light.

Good lighting and dive technique will be more important than which of many fine cameras you choose. Keep an eye out for some great deals on used full setups that might be posted on scubaboard and elsewhere.
 
Hi Kimela!
Thanks, I'll have a look. I wasn't sure what the capabilities were on compact cameras in the darker water, most of the pics I see look like clear blue, not north sea green. 😅

The PT059 is only rated for 45m, and the Ikelite I saw as the other option for the TG6/7 is 60m rated. I'd be looking for more depth with the stuff we're doing, probably 100m/330ft+ rated? We're past 60m/200ft on most projects.

Rich
Oh wow. I was responding from my phone and I guess the mobile version doesn’t show your number of dives - I was thinking you were just starting.

Not sure if the other housings are rated for deeper. I’d guess the big difference between depths would be how much light you need to throw at your subject. But I dive much shallower, so don’t take my word for it.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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