We just returned from Bonaire and now my husband is hooked on underwater photography. I use a G-11 set up but he would like something smaller that will still take great pix. He is a beginner so the simplier, the better and if it had an underwater mode...even better as he sometimes forgets to white balance. I am thinking of getting this as a Christmas present so he will be ready to go on our next dive. Thanks in advance for the advice
Small Underwater Point and Shoot Camera
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Canon S95!
BAMA6977
Contributor
I'm going to jump in here as a total novice who also is looking for good point and shoot. Have researched the Board and just get more confused. I have no idea of some of the terms, RAW???, white balance??. Have noticed some discussion of delay between point, click and shoot??. Anyway will continue to keep up with this thread and keep trying to learn. Do you think you could throw in the recommended underwater housings for the camera's?? I have a FUJI point and shoot I use on dry land which is garbage. Hey, maybe I need Kodak Brownie!!!
I'm going to jump in here as a total novice who also is looking for good point and shoot. Have researched the Board and just get more confused. I have no idea of some of the terms, RAW???, white balance??. Have noticed some discussion of delay between point, click and shoot??. Anyway will continue to keep up with this thread and keep trying to learn. Do you think you could throw in the recommended underwater housings for the camera's?? I have a FUJI point and shoot I use on dry land which is garbage. Hey, maybe I need Kodak Brownie!!!
Give this a shot ...
Guide for Beginners | Underwater Photography Guide
Mark Derail
Contributor
The Panasonic Lumix G2 (that I got cheap last year) doesn't do RAW, the pictures were quite blue after 10 feet.
Integrated flash is useless, as it just illuminates particles in front of the lens.
I'd say go with a GoPro or similar product (I got a cheapie 139$ that does 640x480 vids) and just "glean" pics from the video using Apple Quicktime. Also, buy a decent LED UW flashlight, and strap it to the same "arm" as your vid camera, so you can get decent closeups.
A GoPro w/UW setup and a very good UW flashlight, together, will cost about the same as a point-and-shoot in an UW case. You'll have flash problems though even with a diffuser. An extra strobe will cost you double.
The GoPro that does 960p, and using Quicktime to capture a Jpg, will wield "nice" 4x5 prints, and great for viewing on an iPad or computer monitor.
Plus you get to use the GoPro in other situations. Like, strap to your dog, go to a park, through a frisbee, and watch the video afterwards for laughs.
Integrated flash is useless, as it just illuminates particles in front of the lens.
I'd say go with a GoPro or similar product (I got a cheapie 139$ that does 640x480 vids) and just "glean" pics from the video using Apple Quicktime. Also, buy a decent LED UW flashlight, and strap it to the same "arm" as your vid camera, so you can get decent closeups.
A GoPro w/UW setup and a very good UW flashlight, together, will cost about the same as a point-and-shoot in an UW case. You'll have flash problems though even with a diffuser. An extra strobe will cost you double.
The GoPro that does 960p, and using Quicktime to capture a Jpg, will wield "nice" 4x5 prints, and great for viewing on an iPad or computer monitor.
Plus you get to use the GoPro in other situations. Like, strap to your dog, go to a park, through a frisbee, and watch the video afterwards for laughs.
You may want to look at the SeaLife Mini II. very easy setup and rugged
PatW
Contributor
Small and takes great pix are two things that work against each other. Underwater photography is a very challenging photographic environment. The Canon S95 is very similar to the G12 but it is smaller. He might think of trying that. I would not recommend any camera without RAW capability for underwater photography. Better yet, one should have a strobe.
Hmmm... the goal is to take great underwater photos, huh? OK, here is my list, in descending order of importance, of the factors which contribute to image quality. I grouped the last five together, since even added up they are not as important as any of the others...
1) Photography experience
2) Diving skills
3) Distance to subject
4) Strobe quality, quantity and placement
5) Local viz
6) Lens quality
7) [RAW capability, camera, sensor, megapixels and housing]
Not that this is just about image quality. A good housing is worth it's weight in milled aluminum (or more!). The camera is an accessory for the housing.
And seriously, I don't mean to sound arrogant or dismissive, but it seems that the camera manufacturers go out of their way to convince new underwater divers that if they just got X feature set, their photos would be great. It just isn't the case, once you reach a reasonable (and fairly basic) level of equipment.
Finally, I second the s95 if you aren't going DSLR. It's also a terrific topside camera.
1) Photography experience
2) Diving skills
3) Distance to subject
4) Strobe quality, quantity and placement
5) Local viz
6) Lens quality
7) [RAW capability, camera, sensor, megapixels and housing]
Not that this is just about image quality. A good housing is worth it's weight in milled aluminum (or more!). The camera is an accessory for the housing.
And seriously, I don't mean to sound arrogant or dismissive, but it seems that the camera manufacturers go out of their way to convince new underwater divers that if they just got X feature set, their photos would be great. It just isn't the case, once you reach a reasonable (and fairly basic) level of equipment.
Finally, I second the s95 if you aren't going DSLR. It's also a terrific topside camera.
Well if things would happened as planned, i now should be in Raja Ampat - but i am not,instead i am again in Lembeh..... better than nothing 
So here is a brandnew one from today - enjoy
(little correction, a bit sharpening, but not that much)
click for full res....
So here is a brandnew one from today - enjoy
(little correction, a bit sharpening, but not that much)
click for full res....
Well if things would happened as planned, i now should be in Raja Ampat - but i am not,instead i am again in Lembeh..... better than nothing
So here is a brandnew one from today - enjoy
(little correction, a bit sharpening, but not that much)
click for full res....
Great shot! Is that really just ambient light? Hard to believe, but I don't doubt you...! Must have been pretty shallow to get those colors.
And you get no sympathy about having to dive in Lembeh from those of us who spend their weekends in a quarry in Pennsylvania...
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