Good Choice or Not??????

[mtman2053]

I enjoy diving and taking underwater photos. I have been using a Sealife 35mm with ex-strobe with some good success. I now want to go digital.

At first I was leaning toward something like the digital camears
Sea&Sea or Sealife has to offer but now I am thinking that maybe something like the Canon D-80 with an Ikelite housing would be a better choice.

I guess my question, Is this a good U/W camera choice. I use a Kodak digital now. Unlucky for me , there are no U/W housings available for it. Also I know Canon makes a housing for the D-80 but I want something with a little more durability and to add and external strobe .

Are there any other U/W housings available that are not going to cost me and arm and a leg.I don't mind spending some of my hard earned money on a good photo rig but not all of it!!

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
Mountain Diver

 

[alcina]

I really like Canon's housings. As you will probably see from a search I have two and have been using them for several years with no problems. They are now hire systems that others use.

You can add strobes and lenses to these housings - check out LukeRob's gallery for what the Canon's will do!

Personally, I'd start out with one of these or similar and see how much I liked it and how much I actually used it. Then add the strobes and lenses. If you decide to move to a different system, this initial one can be your backup or you can on-sell it and use that $$ to the new one.

How often you use it, how comfortable you are with cameras/photography and what kind of results you want from a system (and your budget) are going to be good first starting points.

 

[sbloomer]

Are there any other U/W housings available that are not going to cost me and arm and a leg.I don't mind spending some of my hard earned money on a good photo rig but not all of it!!

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
Mountain Diver

The way I see it, Canon and Olympus have revolutionised the UW photography world by producing housings for virtually all their cameras at an affordable price. They are extremely well made and are considerably cheaper than the offerings from independent UW housing manufacturers. Granted, the depth ratings aren't as high, but on any dive deeper than 40m the last thing I want with me is a camera. Also, I find the ergonomics on the Canon housings better that say Ikelite, but I admit I haven't used them much.

I own a canon S1is and the WP-DC20 housing which is great and I paid the equivalent of US$250 which I think is excellent. Then you can add strobes etc. just like on any other housings.

 

[mtman2053]

I enjoy diving and taking underwater photos. I have been using a Sealife 35mm with ex-strobe with some good success. I now want to go digital.

At first I was leaning toward something like the digital camears
Sea&Sea or Sealife has to offer but now I am thinking that maybe something like the Canon D-80 with an Ikelite housing would be a better choice.

I guess my question, Is this a good U/W camera choice. I use a Kodak digital now. Unlucky for me , there are no U/W housings available for it. Also I know Canon makes a housing for the D-80 but I want something with a little more durability and to add and external strobe .

Are there any other U/W housings available that are not going to cost me and arm and a leg.I don't mind spending some of my hard earned money on a good photo rig but not all of it!!

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
Mountain Diver

Thanks for directing me in a logical direction. I had a hard time finding the A-80 . I checked at Wal-Mart and several places on line and no luck, "not available." I then went to Sears.con and found it. Their price was $299.00 I was afraid that this model would soon not be available for purchase so I ordered it this morning.

I will also order the Canon U/W housing for it. I think it is the D-900. I have a Sealife strobe that I would like to attach but not sure of "HOW"

Any suggestions would be appreicated.

Also where would be a good place to purchase the Canon housing?

Again Thanks,
Mountain Diver :dazzler1:

 

[sbloomer]

A mate has the A80 and he's VERY happy with it.

I will also order the Canon U/W housing for it. I think it is the D-900. I have a Sealife strobe that I would like to attach but not sure of "HOW"

Don't know the Sealife, but you are going to need a slave unit for it, with a "pre-flash" sensor

Also where would be a good place to purchase the Canon housing?

Can't help you too much there (wrong continent) but Amazon.com I know used to have it.

 

[lukeROB]

Thanks for directing me in a logical direction. I had a hard time finding the A-80 . I checked at Wal-Mart and several places on line and no luck, "not available." I then went to Sears.con and found it. Their price was $299.00 I was afraid that this model would soon not be available for purchase so I ordered it this morning.

I will also order the Canon U/W housing for it. I think it is the D-900. I have a Sealife strobe that I would like to attach but not sure of "HOW"

Any suggestions would be appreicated.

Also where would be a good place to purchase the Canon housing?

Again Thanks,
Mountain Diver :dazzler1:

I did exactly what you have done - had a reefmaster rc, etc and then got myself a canon A70 (before A80's came out).

Yeah I would really waste to much time with the sealife strobe. I tried attaching it to my A70 and managed to get it all going but it was basically useless. It is made for the film cameras and just put out way to much light for the digitals. At close range where it is useful it blows out everything unless you use real high shutter and aperture settings. I soon realised that the internal strobe performance is far superior. Stick with that until you can afford a 'proper' strobe. Check my gallery that are a few shots I've put up before I had my added gear and lots with the better stuff (makes a difference). Here are two shots nothing but the camera and housing.

Image by lukeROB (Copyright) posted at ScubaGallery

Image by lukeROB (Copyright) posted at ScubaGallery

 

[Grajan]

lukeROB,

I've been using a Canon S45 with only the internal strobe with 'OK' results but want to start using a single external unit. I borrowed a YS-90 this week and took it to Cozumel (where the conditions were unusually bad for photography). The results were no better than average. On half power it flared out completely and on full power the colors were washed out.

So.... What is a "proper" strobe that can be used effectively in slave mode?

BTW we will be in Perth in a couple of weeks visiting family before a trip to Exmouth. We will try and get a few in at Rotto for old times sake.

Graham

Stick with that until you can afford a 'proper' strobe. Check my gallery that are a few shots I've put up before I had my added gear and lots with the better stuff (makes a difference).

 

[alcina]

Not LukeRob but...I used an old Ike 50 substrobe with my A70 and a slave unit. Worked a treat. The new digital Ike strobes work, too, I think.

The Inon's work - you might want to check with Yuzo, he'll know for sure.

When are coming up to Ningaloo? Hope to see you and maybe get a dive in??

 

[AmyJ]

Hi there...

Answers and questions...

Canon housings... just orded mine from LP. Don't want to have a LP discussion... you just asked where....

Now....I have a brand new canon A85(early christmas from hubby) and canon housing is on the way. Leave for Riviera Maya Friday.... no experience with underwater photos...

Any helpful hints or experiences particular to the canon or in general. I know this camera has an underwater setting... good? bad??

Thanks so much!

 

[alcina]

Any helpful hints or experiences particular to the canon or in general. I know this camera has an underwater setting... good? bad??

Thanks so much!

Underwater setting might be useful, but I still think learning the M setting will get you the best results.

The problem I see with the underwater setting is that no two underwater light conditions are the same. Depth, particles, location, time of day, your position in the water etc aren't stable so what might be right in one area/time/dive/position might not work in another.

In M you control things. And with a few basic get started tips you'll find you can get excellent results pretty fast Or at least results that you can work with/live with.

Learn how to change these setttings on your camera before your trip. You won't even need to wait for the housing as it will work the same way in the housing as out. The better you know your camera the better your underwater shots will be. Practice with different settings in your garden/house...you'll then get a feel for how things looks.

And underwater make sure to shoot, review, adjust and shoot again...it's one of the many benefits of digital.

Most of all - have a fabulous time!! I look forward to your photos and trip report when you return!