Good entry level digital camera - recommendations?

[Louie]

Very basic question from a former cameraphobe.

I am looking to buy a digital camera and housing that is not too expensive and not at all complicated to use.

Also, if you already have a digital camera, is it possible to find a housing for it?

Cheerio

Louie

 

[Jack R]

there are many digital cameras that have housings available. THis is a good place to start. http://www.digideep.com also you can check http://www.ikelite.com

What kind of camera do you have?

What is your budget?

 

[donacheson]

Jack R once bubbled...
there are many digital cameras that have housings available. THis is a good place to start. http://www.digideep.com also you can check http://www.ikelite.com

What kind of camera do you have?

What is your budget?

I'm an experienced diver, but not an underwater photographer. Is my impression correct: good housings plus strobes cost a hell of a lot more than good cameras?

 

[SubMariner]

Is my impression correct: good housings plus strobes cost a hell of a lot more than good cameras?

As a rule of thumb housings tend to be more expensive than the cameras themselves. Plus not all cameras can be housed.

As for the strobes.. yes, they tend to be as expensive (sometimes more) than the camera itself. It's that whole underwater enginering thing that costs so much $$$!

However, recent technology has introduced very affordable housings for digitals. For example, we have an Olympus 4040Z digital camera in an Olympus PT0101 housing. The housing was only about $250.

~SubMariner~

 

[Louie]

I looked at a site for underwater housings and something called D-AM came up for around £24 (35 dollars US). It looked like something you keep frozen peas in your freezer and is only good to 10m.

My budget is, lets say $300 (US)?

Any hope of finding something useful?

 

[Jack R]

You can check out the reefmaster dc200 here http://www.sealife-cameras.com/

I think it lists retail for $550. I am sure you can get it cheaper if you shop around.

 

[MSilvia]

I just got one of these, and am very happy with it. Spectre has been using one underwater for a while now with great results. I'm hoping mine will be as good... I'm expecting my new housing to arrive in today's mail.

 

[nyscubanerd]

I'm a huge fanatic of the Canon Digital Elph. If you want to see some examples of underwater pictures e-mail me at kevin@rooney.us

Excellent for both in and out of the water. The casing from Canon allows ful functionality underwater. 130Ft limit, but If you want to get any deepr you'll probably want to get a nicer camera anyways.

 

[clive francis]

louie, check out www.camerasunderwater.co.uk they are the best uk supplier for uw photography.

depends how much you want to spend?

i bought my oly 3040 from jessops, as a shop display for £350 (brand new though!), if you can get hold of one as they are like rocking horse doo, they are still around £500, I bought the oly pt-010 housing which will take the 20xx, 30xx, 40xx range, so there is room for upgrade without buying a new housing.

check my site for sample photo's, bear in mind they are low res for quick load!