Recommend Inexpensive Camera

[Kharon]

This is the one I use (red filter in salt water, cyan filter in lake/fresh water).

https://www.amazon.com/ACTIVEON-Wat...d=1513785454&sr=8-2&keywords=activeon+gold+cx

Fits all GoPro accessories except the filters. I got a set of cheap filters and modified them by shaving out one side to get them to fit the rectangular housing (GoPro is square).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A6QFNB8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Camera $40, filters $7. Here's a link to give you an idea of the quality you can expect


and a snapshot taken from the video (played with VLC Media Player (free))

Note: I used VSDC Free Video Editor to do auto color correction for the video and VLC Media Player to do auto color correction of the snapshot. Both have far more color adjustments than I understand.

 

[Chris Ross]

Look in the classifieds on this forum, you can get a decent compact setup pretty cheap which will tkae quite acceptable photos for not much. One example from a quick look:

For Sale - Sony S120 with Ikelite housing - $275

price seems like a bargain. You'll have to learn how to service the o-ring to prevent floods but apart from that set it up in Av at f2.8, widest setting, UW white balance and point and shoot. Shots should turn out OK in clear tropical water if you are reasonably close.

 

[JamesBon92007]

The camera I mentioned earlier also takes lousy still photos. Here's a couple of screen captures from my videos so you can get an idea of what to expect. I think the stills are better when taken from the videos. These four were taken with a medium red filter near Isla Mujeres (Caribbean).

 

[JamesBon92007]

These were taken in the Pacific Ocean near Puerto Vallarta and I'm pretty sure I was using no filter or a pink (light red) filter and a video light. The water looks greener in these. The seahorse's colors and contrast were adjusted a bit.

 

[Rocketman3]

I have a tg-1 (current version is a tg-4). I use it like a point n shoot. It gives me ok pictures plus good ones on land. I don’t have a housing for it. Mine is rated to 50 feet, so i take it on the boat and ask what the depth will be. If 50 feet or below I clip it on my BC and take it diving, if deeper it stays on the boat.

I like it cause it gives me ok pictures on land and on the boat and I can take it diving on some dives.

 

[mi000ke]

Get used Canon s-series (s90 to s120) and Canon housing. Being used does not mean the camera is worn out; this only means that the owner upgraded to something more advanced. I used several of these cameras myself and was quite happy. I do not think you can find better quality for the money.

Since you are a beginner and do not sound like you really want to go into it, I do not recommend to buy underwater flash, filters etc etc. Your camera will work colors well in shallow water, especially, on a sunny day, and if you shoot in the deep, just convert into B/W. If the water is reasonably clean, you can shoot macro using camera's built-in flash.

After your trip, you can decide if you like it or not.

I just started doing underwater photography, and this exactly what I did. I use an old canon s110 and a canon housing, and just ambient light. You can see the quality (not great but very acceptable for souvenir snap shots) here

Cayman - Picture of the Day

and here

Cayman - Picture of the Day

and here

Cayman - Picture of the Day

 

[tarponchik]

I just started doing underwater photography, and this exactly what I did. I use an old canon s110 and a canon housing, and just ambient light. You can see the quality (not great but very acceptable for souvenir snap shots) here

Cayman - Picture of the Day

and here

Cayman - Picture of the Day

and here

Cayman - Picture of the Day

Good decision. Canon's s-series have relatively large sensors, and this is important to keep the noise low. These cameras are also easy to control, which may not be true for other Canon cameras, like my G1x Mk2 (kinda tricky).

Someone here suggested renting a camera but I'd vote against this. If you rent, you won't have time to learn which buttons to push. Best of all, buy a camera and RTFM before your trip.

 

[Kohanbash]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I ended up purchasing a used GoPro.