Housing + Lighting for G12 under $1200?

[jjohan35]

Hello everyone,

I've been scuba diving for almost 10 years now but have never considered underwater photography until recently (don't know why!). I already own a Canon G12. I would like to purchase an underwater housing kit that can take this camera down to 100' along with a lighting kit. My budget is $1000-$1200 for the housing, lighting, and necessary accessories to make the setup as straightforward as possible. I've been looking around and it seems like there are way too many photography options for someone like me who knows only basic photography and scuba diving. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Gilligan]

Keeping it simple and compact (no add-on lenses) I have the G10 in a Canon housing with a Sea & Sea strobe. You can do that for under $800.00 with a tray/arm.

 

[GLENFWB]

I agree with Gilligan to a point. It really depends on what kind of diving and photography you want to accomplish. If you will be doing mostly macro pictures then the rig he suggests seems to be a good use of money. If you go with anything but the Canon housing, you will spend half your budget on the case. Get as much flash as your budget will allow. Consider if you want to buy two smaller flashes or one larger flash. Both options have their advantages.

I have the G10 with Ikelite housing and two Ikelite strobes. BUT for macro shots in clear water that setup will not fit your budget and will be overkill.

Hello everyone,

I've been scuba diving for almost 10 years now but have never considered underwater photography until recently (don't know why!). I already own a Canon G12. I would like to purchase an underwater housing kit that can take this camera down to 100' along with a lighting kit. My budget is $1000-$1200 for the housing, lighting, and necessary accessories to make the setup as straightforward as possible. I've been looking around and it seems like there are way too many photography options for someone like me who knows only basic photography and scuba diving. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ozziworld]

Check out the images Gilligan gets with his setup and you will be a believer. That is the best recommendation given your $$$ requirements and your camera in hand.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

jjohan35,
it's not the housing making good photos but some housing offer a wider choice of additional lenses enabling you to take "special" photos.

For your budget you have basically 2 solutions:
1. Canon WP-DC34 housing and a slave strobe (as Gilligan suggested)
2. Ikelite G12 housing and a slave strobe or a used DS-125 strobe

The WP-DC34 is a nice cheap housing but there are still complaints about leaking and sticky buttons and you can't use some functions.
The Ikelite cost you 3 times more, but is a very rugged and well developped housing and has a
built in TTL-converter enabling full TTL with their DS-125/160/200 series strobes.
The housing and the DS strobes are both bigger than others but made very well and sturdy.

I use my G11 with a INON D-2000 strobe and it works so well that i don't use my DSLR almost anymore.

So, you may go the cheaper way with the WP-DS34 housing, praying that you don't have troubles with it and a S&S or Inon strobe,
Or go sturdier (but 400$ more expensive) and get the Ikelite housing and a slave strobe or shop around to get a used Ikelite DS series strobe.

Chris