Digital Camera (for NE Waters)

[oceancat]

I got a cannon G9 (which I think has now been replaced by the G10) with an Ikelite housing and strobe. I really like the camera. It takes amazing shots above water and as my UW photography skills improve, my underwater shots are beginning to improve. It's a real nice combination of point and shoot and manual--you can do it either way. There is an underwater photography club that meets once a month Undersea Divers--I haven't been but I know it exists. They have guest speakers and photo-dive local trips. That may help too.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Although the G9 approaches the price of the cheapest DSLR, I'd be in complete agreement with a G9. Its a PS camera I only dream about owning. Cannon also has an underwater case for it ( Canon WP-DC21) good to 130 ft for $200 on Amazon.

Great suggestion.

Here are some discusiions about it but the low light concern pops up again and a good stobe is essential.

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7593_102-0.html?threadID=269085

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

There are lots of good choices, but you can certainly get into relatively good quality digital U/W photography for under $1,000 and not be kicking yourself for not spending more right away.

Composure and using your head plays a far greater role than the equipment ever will, and that aspect is what I find frustrates most U/W photographers more than anything else.

As a general rule, if you can't reach out and touch your subject, then you are too far away.

We sell, and I teach and shoot with everything from Intova's to Sea & Sea's to Nikon's in housings to HD video in housings - but the common denominator in my collection of "best shots" is not the gear but the composition.

 

[dave4868]

There are lots of good choices, but you can certainly get into relatively good quality digital U/W photography for under $1,000 and not be kicking yourself for not spending more right away.

Composure and using your head plays a far greater role than the equipment ever will, and that aspect is what I find frustrates most U/W photographers more than anything else.

As a general rule, if you can't reach out and touch your subject, then you are too far away.

We sell, and I teach and shoot with everything from Intova's to Sea & Sea's to Nikon's in housings to HD video in housings - but the common denominator in my collection of "best shots" is not the gear but the composition.

Many excellent points in this post and thread!

Since I'm essentially using a Point and Shoot Olympus 4040 without an external strobe, composition is definitely the biggest factor in my better shots, primarily subject placement.

Not having an external strobe really limits my ability to employ other techniques because the light sensitivity of the camera is really inadequate when deeper than about 20' in our darker, particulate-laden Northeast Atlantic waters.

The OP's plan to get an external strobe will enable him to get some very nice macro shots with a Point and Shoot level camera, but he can expect the lower light sensitivity to severely limit his distant wide angle shots, at least in our waters. As Indian Valley Scuba said, shooting close becomes the rule of thumb....

Still, I often find myself wishing I had a more light-sensitive camera for ambient light, wide angle, distant shots in darker conditions.... :depressed:

Can anyone comment on how many stops one might gain with an SLR versus Point and Shoot?

If it were about at least 4 stops or more, the OP might find it worth going for a used SLR set-up. I think I would....

Dave C

 

[Tampico_ED]

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