Inexpensive SLR camera for beginner

[ermaclob]

I'm sorry.

I just spend almost $10,000 for my dSLR camera, housing, strobes, and multiple lenses & ports. And then you asked about a dSLR for $320. I didn't mean to make fun of you.

i kinda posted this thread before doing any research at all. after doing 20 min. of looking i new i was way off with the price range, a point and shoot seems to be my best option

10,000 dollars, WTF dude does it fly?? u must have the stuff not even like discovery HD uses to take video underwater

 

[Doc Harry]

10,000 dollars, WTF dude does it fly?? u must have the stuff not even like discovery HD uses to take video underwater

It's merely a basic dSLR setup:
Camera $1,500
Housing $2,800
Strobes $1,500
Ports $1,800
Lenses $1,800
Focus light $500
Strobe arms $200
Data cards $150
Fiber optic cables $200

 

[ermaclob]

It's merely a basic dSLR setup:
Camera $1,500
Housing $2,800
Strobes $1,500
Ports $1,800
Lenses $1,800
Focus light $500
Strobe arms $200
Data cards $150
Fiber optic cables $200

well that does not sound basic, basic would be the camera and the housing. what you have there my friend is the deluxe package with 8X RAPE feature and 14 Mega OWN capability.

 

[Doc Harry]

There's no point in spending $5,000 on a dSLR and housing without also getting the strobe, lenses, etc.

To just buy a dSLR and housing would be like buying a Lamborghini with a 4-cylinder Volkswagen engine. Looks good, but the performance suffers and you can't take advantage of everything it has to offer.

I have wanted a nice camera since I bought my first Rollei back in 1972. Took more than 35 years, but I finally got what I wanted. The camera that is, not the Lamborghini!

 

[Larry C]

If you don't mind shooting with the built in flash and taking pictures in natural light (usually shallower) you can get a nice point and shoot with housing for about $500.
You can add a strobe later for about $300 and up. Right now, your best bang for the buck is probably the Canon S95 with Canon housing. Later on you can add a Sea & Sea YS-27 strobe. Check out Gilligan's pictures for an example of what the camera can do, but you'll need to add his talent and skill to match his results. YRMV!

 

[peterbj7]

One thing you must realise is that housings flood. Not every dive obviously, but every time you take a housing down with you you may be bringing back up a very large and wet paperweight. Remember this if you're working with a limited budget to start with.

In your case I would forget DSLRs and housings and get a decent compact/housing/strobe. Even that would go well above your target, but you'd be surprised what good results such a setup can give so long as you understand its limitations and work within them. Even if you had an unlimited budget I'd still suggest that to start with. After a couple of years you may have outgrown it, though again you may not. I use expensive DSLRs on land but I've never tried taking one underwater. There I use a good quality compact, currently a Canon G10.

 

[Wisnu]

I thought this is lamborghini - at least for $50K excluding other accessories, still cheaper than Lamborghini.

 

[ermaclob]

like i said a few posts back, i think i get the Olympus tough 3000 and Ikilete housing for around 350. i can deal with no strobes for a few months. that way when i get them i will fully appreciate there purpose.

does any one have any experience with this camera??

 

[Wisnu]

not recommend - no manual mode, no manual white balance, no RAW - which are very useful if you don't have strobe.
I will not change my old oly SP-350 + oly housing with new Tough 3000 + Ikelite housing.

SP-350 no strobe

SP-350 internal strobe

 

[RoyN]

There's no point in spending $5,000 on a dSLR and housing without also getting the strobe, lenses, etc.

I'm sorry, I should have worded what I said so that it make sense.

I spent $5,000 on everything, that included two strobes (YS-250pro), ports (standard and dome), and arms (ultralights). How on God's planet then I manage to spend less? I got most of the item used at Backscatter and set a price where the guys would help me too. Since you compared your camera to a Lamborghini, my camera is like a Acura NSX.