Underwater Photography for Noobs

[msnunn]

Hi Everyone,

I just got into underwater photography and would like to buy a camera/housing set up. I have heard that the Canon Powershots have an underwater housing and they have gotten great reviews. I'm not looking to buy a wicked expensive camera, ideally I'd like to spend less that $250 on the camera and the housing, and I'm just looking for a camera that is fun, easy to use, and able to take underwater photos.

If anyone could share their feedback on the powershot and any advice they have when buying an underwater camera, I would really appreciate. Also, any advice on where (good websites, etc.) to buy the camera/housing, it would help as well.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Rhone Man]

You can get the Canon housing for S90 on Leisurepro for about $250 I think. The camera itself is about half that on Amazon. I couldn't find either significantly cheaper elsewhere.

The S90 is admirably idiot proof for people like myself.

EDIT: I tell a lie, it is $174: Canon WP-DC35 Waterproof Housing for PowerShot S90 Digital Camera

But the S90 itself costs more like $300 odd. Sorry.

 

[emoreira]

Two years ago I've bought my Canon A570IS for $ 195. I've decided for that because there was an OEM UW case for it though there were some newer models. I've bought the UW case in Amazon for $ 140. It was the cheapest place.
Reading further I've found out that every one was recommending Ikelite UW cases, but they are bigger and expensive, though it seems that they are better than OEM Canon UP cases.
For your budget ($ 250) for camera and UW housing, I think that you can only go for a refurbished set.
There is a set composed by a Nikon L22 + Ike housing (both new) for $ 390 in the Ike web site (Underwater Housing for Nikon Coolpix Camera).
I'm not an expert, not even near, but some one told me that no matter the brand and model of the camera, but in some place it should say "Canon". I mean, buy Canon, it cannot go wrong.

 

[furby076]

$250 for a combo is going to be really tough to do unless you go for a used camera setup. You will also want some kind of external light and they can get pricey very easily...this is unless you only do shallow carribean type dives where the water is clear and very well lit. If you don't take a strobe you will need a filter since you lose red light in water after about 10 feet (I think).

 

[jhelmuth]

Hi Everyone,

I just got into underwater photography and would like to buy a camera/housing set up. I have heard that the Canon Powershots have an underwater housing and they have gotten great reviews. I'm not looking to buy a wicked expensive camera, ideally I'd like to spend less that $250 on the camera and the housing, and I'm just looking for a camera that is fun, easy to use, and able to take underwater photos.

If anyone could share their feedback on the powershot and any advice they have when buying an underwater camera, I would really appreciate. Also, any advice on where (good websites, etc.) to buy the camera/housing, it would help as well.

Thanks,

Steve

I understand wanting to conserve capital as much as anyone - but why did you put an ideal limit at $250? What are your expectations? and What do you hope to learn?

This is not intended to be negative in any way! I'm asking questions that are relevent to providing you with as good an answer as is possible...

Jim

 

[WOODMAN]

You do understand that you are entering out upon the proverbial slippery slope, & it's not gonna stop with that $250 (even if you do find a decent rig of some kind for that price). First, you are going to find out that your pictures desperately need more light, so a strobe of some kind is gonna be needed, and then you are going to need a handle of some kind to attach the strobe to your camera, and some sort of arm system to let you pose the strobe out away from the camera (to help avoid backscatter). And then you will notice the shadows on your shots left by using only one strobe, so now you will need another strobe to balance things out, and then.... but I think you get the idea. Once you start, it is very hard to stop. And, if you buy too basic a camera to begin with, you will soon outgrow its abilities and have to upgrade to a more advanced camera, and that will mean a new housing, and then....but here we go again. I will warn you, this whole thing is very addictive, and will prove so even if you are located far from the ocean and your opportunities to dive are limited. I am in Minnesota, for crying out loud, and I don't want to even think about what I have invested in my rigs over the years. But, as your pictures get better and better, you will realize that it was all worth it. Welcome to the funhouse! Woody:uwphotographer:

 

[PatW]

I am not sure what kind of photography you want to do. But underwater photography is a whole other world.

There are problems with white balance in underwater photography. The best way to solve them is just shoot RAW which allows you to correct white balance in post processing. Also RAW gives you far more latitude in adjusting things in post processing. In the Canon lineup of compact cameras, that puts you into the S90 or G11. The S90 is about $350 and the G11 is about $450. The G11 gives you closer macro and a hot shoe for TTL connections with your strobes.

You could use the Canon housing for the S90. Many people use the Canon housings and like them fine. I think the Ikelite housings are better but they are also more expensive. The IKE housing for the S90 is about $350 and the one for the G11 is about $600.

Water affects things quite a bit. You lose all of your red light pretty fast... like in 20' of water. The other long wavelengths go out in succession Orange, Yellow and so on. Below 60', it is a green and blue world. The way you replace the colors is use a strobe or better 2 strobes. But even a single strobe can set you back $300 to $1000 depending on its size, angle and power.

Right now, the best inexpensive route in the Canon lineup is the S90 with the Canon housing. So you are talking something like $500 and that is without a strobe. If you get into this, you will want a strobe.

 

[Still_Wide_Eyed]

I already had a Canon PowerShot A630 (don't remember how much it cost me new in January 2007, but a quick look on Amazon shows some used ones for $300 and below). Then I bought the Canon housing from Amazon (Ace Photo Digital) in summer 2009 for $180. So even at a pretty basic setup, $250 is a challenge.

It was a good starting place. I love the housing - it lets me use all the features and works well. As long I was close enough to the subject, the flash was helpful, but for wide angle I tried learning to do the white balance feature. I ended up with a few really nice shots, mostly the macros.

As for WOODMAN's post - he is not kidding about that slippery slope! On my next trip after using the basic camera/housing, I added one strobe (Ikelite AF35 from Liesure Pro) which works with point and shoots cost me almost another $400. Which helped a little, but had it's own challenges (sensor didn't always pick up the camera's flash, the arm is kinda short so hard sometimes to aim where I want it). So, now I'm getting ready for another trip and trying to decide whether to get the second strobe or can it all and look at a better system. Or maybe I could convince myself that the "snapshots" from the basic set up are good enough and that I don't really want to have truly beautiful photos. Hmmm.

 

[shugar]

i started with a pixtreme camera - nothing much better than taking happy snaps underwater...

then upgraded to a canon A620 and am now on a canon G9 - both in canon housings... LOVE THEM

LOVE LOVE LOVE...

LOVE LOVE LOVE...

(everybody now)

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Jag