What's the best cheap U/W digital camera for the money?

[Eric Sedletzky]

I'm looking for an inexpensive unhoused U/W camera to use for art reference photos. I'm not after award winning photos towards an end, all I want the pics for is to do U/W paintings and other artwork from them.
I used to use a Nikonos V with strobes back in the film days but now since it's a digital world I need to update if I want to stay in the loop.
I was looking at some cameras and kits at Leisure Pro but I have no idea what I'm looking at or the capabilities of any of the new stuff.
I don't need an expensive housed camera worth ten of thousands of dollars.
My budget is max about $1500 . Less would be great if there's something that will give be half way decent in focus pics with decent lighting.

So what is the best bang for the buck for what you guys might consider a "starter" digital camera setup.


Sorry if this question has been beat to death before but I don't know what to search for.

 

[flareside]

Are you after underwater landscapes, fish photos, or macro shots? Blue water or green/cold water? Day/night? Or all of the above which means something that can do a little bit of everything even if not particularly well?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Are you after underwater landscapes, fish photos, or macro shots? Blue water or green/cold water? Day/night? Or all of the above which means something that can do a little bit of everything even if not particularly well?

This exactly.

When I was using the Nikonos I had to change lenses and depending on the macro had to use extention tubes with a 35mm lens. I also had a 20 mm lens with a special wide angle view finder. I had a few different Ikelite strobes that I used also.

It doesn't need to be something like that per say, but if it could be like the Nikonos with a medium strobe and a 35mm lens that I could get a decent shot of a fish or a diver in various poses would be what I'm looking for. I suppose the strobe would need to be a bit better since I do dive in cold green water with fairly limited vis more times than not.
The final quality of the photo isn't terribly important since like I said the photos will only be used as a starting point for drawings that final artworks will be produced from.

I could keep using the Nikonos, but film is really becoming a PITA to deal with and not easy to find and get developed anymore.

 

[KeithG]

Consider a used P&S setup. You should be able to get something that does okay (but not great) macro as well as wide angle (but not real wide) for under $500.

 

[PeterNBiddle]

Consider a used P&S setup. You should be able to get something that does okay (but not great) macro as well as wide angle (but not real wide) for under $500.

It's certainly worth starting this way. I've gotten some decent results with a cheap ELPH and the Canon housing and no flash.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

What's "P&S" and what's "ELPH" stand for?
You're dealing with an absolute know nothing here about digital.

 

[Bob DBF]

P&S is point and shoot, which is what I use. I have an old Olympus C3020 and I liked the pictures it shot so I picked up the housing later which wasn't real expensive at the time. It has a built in flash and diffuser but if you go macro it starts to shadow because the housing is in the way.

These are some pictures I took at Stillwater.



It only takes JPEG and TIFF so you can't do the post shot manipulating that you can with raw. On the up side it is small and hardy which I need when I go out for pics and its rougher than I thought. If I were looking for a replacement for mine now, I'd look at an Olympus XZ-1 and the PT-050 housing. However, I'm just taking snapshots, and I can pick up cameras for $25 on ebay if the housing floods and it hasn't yet.



Bob
---------------------------------
There is no problem that can't be solved with a liberal application of sex, tequila, money, duct tape, or high explosives, not necessarily in that order.

 

[KeithG]

P&S sometimes == PoS.

But there are a bunch of high end point and shoots that take decent pictures.

Basic difference between P&S and DSLR is that you can not mount difference lenses on a P&S, so you can not spend money on a bunch of lens and ports. So P&S are cheaper. and smaller. With a DSLR you need to choose the lens and port before you hit the water.

P&S often (always?) depend on external wet lens to bump up their wide angle or macro ability.

I normally use a (now old) Sea & Sea DX1G (Ricoh GX100) P&S. I have both macro & wide angle wet lens and a couple of strobes. But i also carry a very small canon in my bcd pocket in case my dive buddy wants to take a few happy snaps.

I think "ELPH" means "more money than P&S"?

---------- Post added April 14th, 2014 at 01:22 PM ----------

oops. P&S really means "compact". here is a good comparision article
https://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=57 of some current products (i still say buy used and then toss it in the junk if you advance past it's capabilities...)

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I was hoping for something a little more productive like:
Get this camera _____________.

Did I mention unhoused? simple, no DSLR's,

Used would be fine but I don't know what I'm supposed to looking for with specific brand and model.
If it was used regulators I would know exactly what to look for, but I have no idea about new cameras and at least 15 years has gone by since I have been involved in U/W photo (that's 200 years in the digital world). If I bought used, knowing my luck I would buy the turd that nobody want's and that's why it's for sale cheap.
I'm fine with getting something new.

To give you an idea how outdated I am, I still use an Olympus 5050 zoom 5MP and think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I don't want to have to go back to school and get a PhD to do this.
I just want to take a few pictures.

 

[decompression]

Hey Eric, I've got a Sea and Sea DX camera, housing, strobe and all the accessories. It does stills and video. A very good enter level camera. My shop is now exclusively go pro so that's what I use now. When I bought the camera I paid $1600, I don't use it ever so $200 and it's yours. I can send pictures to an email if you'd like. Cheers,

Jay


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