Hi, my husband and I are newbies when it comes to underwater photography. We would like to start. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a set up that is not super expensive, easy to use and that takes good pictures. Digital of course.
I was looking at the sea and sea 8000g. any insight? thanks.

Dalena,
I've not used a Sea and Sea so this is only opinion from looking on line.

Not sure how the 8000g is for macro. The lcd screen looks small(makes it a little tough to frame subjects u/w). It's got the pixels and some manual modes so you can progress from auto. Add on lens is only wide angle. Price at 879us.

There are other cams out there with similiar features and larger lcd screens for equal or less $ and have more accessories available such as:

Canon
Nikon
Olympus
Sony

IMHO the screen issue is a big + or -. Small is harder to use. I have a Canon A95 thats easier to use than my previous Sony, and I'd have gone with the A620 if it was available at the time. Shop around and look at others. I'd want a camera with more accessory options. Inon makes quite a few for Canon as well as others. Shutter lag is another consideration too. Those fish are fast! M2C

Smack

I have a Olympus C770 and the housing, it was about $450. I spent a hour or so getting used to the housing. Now Olympus has replaced the C770 with the 550 super zoom 10x optical and 4x digital zoom, the best part is it's cheaper. I personally wouldn't get an "underwater camera", I like being able to take mine out of the housing and carry it around. And the picture quality is great.

Hi Chris,
thanks for the information. I actually have a regular camera but would like to have one just for underwater photos. I'm always afraid of my camera flooding. I wouldn't want to be without a camera if that happens.
BTW, any suggestions on strobes?

Hi Smack,
I'll look into the olympus that you mentioned. You're absolutely right about needing macro and shutter lag. I would want something that will allow me to use auto and manual.
I'll have to keep looking. I have time since my vacation isn't til may.
;P

Look at an Olympus SP-350. They are available at around $200 and the housing is about the same. they are 8 mega pixels and have full manual and auto controls.

Took a glance at the SP-350. Nice first impression, Ron. Looks like it has lots of potential, and I'm always impressed with Olys picture quality. Dalena, it's worth a look.

Smack

I was ready to jump on the Olympus 350 bandwagon, as it is a great camera that many UW photographers swear by, but I took a quick look for an Olympus UW housing this morning and did not find any available. What good is a great camera that you can not get an UW case?

You can go the Ikelite route (they make an UW case for this camera), but that forces you to buy an external flash (housing blocks the internal flash) and is a lot more money just to get in the water.

She might be better off with a Canon A series or one of the Fuji's All the newer cameras have very quick shutter lags.

I do not understand the philosophy of not taking a camera underwater because it might be ruined. What good is a camera that is not where the best pictures are?

The thing to assume is that your camera will flood because one day it will. Plan accordingly by getting insurance if the camera's expensive or having two if it's an older model. I prefer the latter approach, I can replace my camera for less than $200 on E-bay and I have two.

I'll try to look tonight to see what's best in the Canon and Fuji lines.

PT-030 underwater housing for Olympus SP-350

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BSEWL4/interactiveda282-20

listed as in stock

The PT-030 is avalable! Check Leisure Pro website... Ron

(Message edited by ronindiana on January 12, 2007)

Well prove me wrong... I did Google it with no luck, if Amazon, 17th Street Photo and Leisure Pro have it then I guess it's available. So never mind, get the Olympus 350. Great camera.

Any underwater camera without an external flash/strobe limits your shots to really close subjects. A shot taken at greater distance will have mostly blue hues. One possible answer is called a magic filter. Worth a look. I plan to get one for my the camera my wife uses; I'll report on it after our April/May trip.

http://www.magic-filters.com/

Hi Cecil,
I agree with you.I would prefer to have 2 cameras because you are right, the camera will flood eventually, which is why I would like to have 1 for underwater and 1 for land. That way I can still take pictures. Looks like the olympus is what everybody is recommending.
Thanks for all the info.


(Message edited by Divegirl on January 12, 2007)

My wife is getting a SP350 for her birthday this month. It will be the third 350 in the family with 2 housings. We love the camera above or under water. Great flicks will come your way with this camera... Ron

Quick question Ron? what a bout a strobe? Can one be attached to the housing? Or is the camera's flash good enough? I have always heard that strobes are the way to go if you can't get close enough. Otherwise you'll get everything blue.

Dalena, Have had external strobes with other camera's and yes the light fill is better. But I don't want to be a babysetter for a camera! My main purpose for diving is to enjoy the sea, Photography is a secondary. The Oly housing has a shoe for a strobe but I don't use one. The Oly housing dosen't block the camera's flash and most of the pictures I take are macro anyway. I feel the camera flash is fine for clear water pictues... Ron

Just purchased a Cannon G7 W/underwater housing to replace my S40
Anybody had a chance to use one yet? It has a setting for underwater that apparently reduces the blue eliminating the need for a filter.
Looking forward to its first outing in Bonaire in a few weeks.