Question for Local Photographers

[rmitchell248]

How would a setup like this do for me?

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/classifieds-photography/310607-brand-new-g10-ys-27dx-setup.html

or would something like this be more along the lines of what I would want

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...erwater-land-digital-photography-package.html

I am not looking to buy these particular units. I am just trying to get an idea of what guys are using and I will most likely buy new.

 

[mikemill]

Should work well.

 

[Peter_C]

If it were me I could buy a G-10 from Costco to get the warranty. The Canon housing from Amazon.com. The tray and arms from ebay. A strobe from the best deal I could find. Ebay? Then maybe later purchase the new wide angle lens for the housing. A couple people I know rock the G-10 and it performs excellently.

Gilligan's photos are excellent! There are plenty more examples out there.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-photography/310689-nov-4-bohol-pics.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-photography/310384-nov-2-bohol-pics.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-photography/307780-oct-12-camiguin-mindanao-pics.html

 

[Brewski]

Contact Pufferfish, he uses the G10

 

[bbianchi]

I love my G9 with Canon housing. I have single Sea and Sea 700 something IIRC strobe... 2 would be nice but maybe some day.

 

[Brewski]

How would a setup like this do for me?

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/classifieds-photography/310607-brand-new-g10-ys-27dx-setup.html

or would something like this be more along the lines of what I would want

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...erwater-land-digital-photography-package.html

I am not looking to buy these particular units. I am just trying to get an idea of what guys are using and I will most likely buy new.

I guess to answer your question we need to know how "into" photography you are.
The G-10 is a real nice point and shoot type camera, with manual capabilities, which should serve you well.

The other package you listed is a Digital SLR. with this you will need to make some decisions before entering the water that can limit your options. for example if you decide that today I'm going to shoot macro and enter with your 60MM lens installed your going to be limited to those close shots, and forget the wide angle views.

 

[ryssyr]

if you are really going to get into photography then dont buy things 2x. go for the DSLR. I have lived the pain of buying and upgrading camera gear for the past couple of years. The point and shoot was the worst purchase I had made. Also make sure the strobes you buy can be used in either a point and shoot or for a variety of housings. The first strobe I bought was the YS27 and I learned the hard way that it is not compatible with my DSLR housing. I had to sell all of it and re-build the entire system.

I recently bought a new camera and all I had to purchase was the body housing, all of my ports, lenses, strobes, arms, cables etc transferred right over to the new camera. The modularity is nice to have so you dont end up buying entire systems over and over.

of course the DSLR setups are a lot more expensive up front.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

I know a couple of people that are getting very nice results from the G10
underwater. It's probably the best non-DSLR option.

 

[Peter_C]

$479 Canon Powershot G10
$177 Canon WP-DC28 Waterproof Case
$228 Aircraft aluminum ARM + TRAY set for DUAL strobes
$450+ Then whatever brand of strobe makes you happy, but something that could work on a DSLR. I have seen photos with the camera and no strobe and it works alright, but a strobe is the way to go if not two. Hence why I choose to show the dual arm tray.
$35-$250 For a synch cable depending on how you choose to trigger the strobe. Heinrich sp? converters are more money but do a better job. Again purchased to run dual strobes, so upgrades are possible.

There is a HUGE price difference between a DSLR and a point and shoot. I have a couple thousand just into my DSLR camera body, not counting the lenses, and at this point can not afford an underwater housing for another $4800. I will be around $10K into my DSLR when it is a complete kit.

For $1400 you can have a fully functional camera ready to go that will shoot RAW. Not a DSLR, but much more cost effective, and might leave enough funds for a warm water trip.

Or you could just walk into Backscatter and make their day with a full DSLR package

 

[fobturbo]

Cost & flexibility seem to be the 2 biggest trade offs. The cost & flexibility of a advanced p&s outweigh the quality & control one could get from a SLR for me. Yes, I'm aware that if I slap on a 60mm or a 100mm macro lens, on a dslr the possibility of getting a better macro shot is better. But for me, I prefer flexibility.

Another thing to think about is if you want to travel with the setup. With how much (most) airlines are charging for check in luggage and there's still the chance of the airline/TSA baggage inspector losing (stealing) it. Also keep in mind the reimbursement limits that airlines have for lost luggages, not to mention computer & camera equipment aren't covered by the policy.

Peter_C gave a good breakdown for a G10 setup. For any SLR, you're looking at $1400+ for just the SLR + underwater housing. No lens port, no strobe, no arm, no fiber optic cable, etc. The only dslr I'm willing to risk getting flooded is so "old" that it's hard to find a underwater housing for, not to mention costs 4x what the body is worth...

And with underwater photography/videography, it's not if the body gets flooded, but when.