Help please, need to buy camera etc...

[atma]

Hello everybody,
I just joined up yesterday
I have been diving in India since 1974.
I want to start underwater photography.
Could some one advise me as to the best point-and-shoot camera and housing for a newbie like me?
And of course, what else i would need? Like strobe, focus light etc?
Looking forward to your replies.
Cheers
Atma

 

[bvanant]

Best is a strong word. What kind of things do you take pictures of and what is your budget.

 

[Lydia524]

What's your budget and apecial needs, you can try checking out the digital camera ratings of various brands. They have some nice pretty selections over there.
Good luck.

 

[atma]

Thanks a lot Lydia and bvanant for your replies.
i wanted to take mostly closeups of fish and inverts.
my budget is $700
i know i can get a canon G10 with canon case for that much.
if i am shooting in depths of 15m or less in cleasr waters , do you think i can get good pics without a strobe?
awaiting your advise
atma

 

[Puffer Fish]

G10 is a great choice...you can (it takes some skill) use a dive light in shallow water as a fill light...need one with a wide, uniform beam (boss, for example, here makes several)..you save both the strobe cost and the arms doing that.

 

[edrobmaui]

Atma,
You need some form of artificial light at 15m to get true color. A movie light (wide uniform beam) is possible. But a good movie light with long lasting battery is expensive. There are a number of not so expensive strobes that will do the job and will freeze motion which a movie light does not do.

 

[Evie G]

hello! Im looking for the simplest PNS cam. Any feedback re Panasonic Lumix ZS3/TZ7? or LX3?

 

[Evie G]

i got my Pana Lumix ZS3! Im very happy with it topside. Just got my 10bar housing, excited to try it UW. )