Hi all
Been coming to Bonaire going on 40yrs now... ALWAYS shot film and will be doing so this year. Everyone says it's time to go digital. I'm wondering if there is anyone on the Island that rents a good digital set up that would allow me the opportunity to try a system out. Please let me know and feel free to send anything to me privately if you have suggestions... other than for me to stay home..LOL
Thanks all 24 days and counting...
Bill,

Buddy Dive photo shop and Fisheye Photo for two, others will chime in. I've got 30 days to go myself. We might hook up for a dive and you could try my rig.

http://www.fisheyephoto.com/

I understand the attachment to film, but once you go digital, you'll never go back. With 600-1200 shots available on a card, you never have to ration your shots again. Click and click and click away. And then the magic really starts when you get to edit your pics on Photoshop or any of the other popular digital editing software choices.

There's great nostalgia in film but the move to digital with the technology available today is way worth it. What I'd really do if I were you is go to your LDS and look at camera options there. Take an underwater digital photog class if they offer it. And then go to the local pool and practice.

You'll never look back. (And I don't part with old school stuff easily.)

e.

Here's my problem.... I've been shoting Nikonos V for years. I just get it serviced... Talking to Grunt and checking the housing web pages... I see that the digital cameras go obsolete quickly and then what??? Do you have to buy a new housing etc.??? I wonder... and I know how to get the great blue photos with film, can I also control for the sun and then fill with strobe????? So many questions... and I'm old and fixed in my ways....LOL

I'd recommend that you take a digital photography course with Tim at Fish Eye Photo (located at Den Laman). He has everything from 1/2 day course to 3 full days, though I'd bet 1/2 day to familiarize you with a digital camera and take you for a dive to learn how to work it underwater would be all it takes since you're already an experienced photographer.

Oh, and Tim will taylor the course to your needs, so all you need to do is chat with him about what you want and schedule time.

Yes, in the digital age things become "obsolete" quickly. Does that mean they are not good just because the next best thing comes out? No. If you can fight off the need to buy something just because they hung a new bell or whistle on it, your "obsolete" camera is still going to take great pictures.

And the part about digital being better than film makes that whole argument moot. If you're the kind of guy that has to have the latest and greatest, you should be way beyond film by now anyway.

Go to my thread on here somewhere called "What you can do for not much dough." I bought a used 2005 model Olympus Stylus point and shoot digital with a housing and a 2MB card for less than $200.

My pictures are not worthy of National Geographic but they are pretty good and they certainly capture the memories.

If you need higher quality, and I'm talking even a significant jump in quality, you can get it for well under $1000 with a Sea Life (for instance) a modest set of strobes, and a nice enclosure.

Stop arguing and go get a digital camera.

You won't regret it, I promise.

e.

Does anyone know if the camera shop ( capture?) at the Divi is still in operation and what their contact number or web site is please?
Thanks

Lonnie, take a look

http://www.prlog.org/10166904-divi-resorts-offers-underwater-photography-courses-on-bonaire.html

Thanks Grunt, I saw that but as the web site doesn't appear to be valid any longer thought it might no longer be in business? Will call Divi to confirm.

Bill, Just as an addendum to what Eric said. Yes Digital cameras go "obsolete" fairly quickly, but many time the only thing obsolete is bells and whistles. We have been shooting a canon s70 for years, (it was released for sale in 2004), first as a snorkel camera, and then when we got our dive certification. I love this thing and it gives great pictures. Ruth shoots a Sony dsc-t100 that also shoots fantastic pictures, and she loves her camera. Having said that we just purchased a Canon G11, which is a top end point and shoot, and I am looking forward to using it this trip. Most of the benefits from the newer models, (and sometimes features in the moderately priced point and shoot) are, in my opinion, advantageous over print. I think resolution is the biggest concern with digital but you would be hard pressed to see the differences in some of the pics. that are published. You can shoot literally hundreds of pictures at a time, bracket them exposure and flash wise, from 20 different angles and then pic the ones you like the most, all for a fraction of the cost of print. BTW that is always the problem with me, discarding the ones that I don't 'need'. LOL

Well enough ranting, I'm not a pro, not even close, but I do enjoy putting my pics on a card and then playing them forever on my big flat screen tv on the wall.

Whatever you decide, I don't think you would ever look back once you started with digital.

Thank you all for this info... I have lots to think about and I hope to see at least some of you on island.... 15 days oh yes