Hi everyone.

My first trip to Bonaire is coming up in September. I have snorkeled quite a bit in Hawaii (Maui) and know that for every 30 pictures you take you get one or two descent ones.

In the past I have used disposable u/w 35 ft cameras, as I rarely go below 20 feet. I know this is a bit archaic but I just don't go snorkeling often enough to warrant buying an underwater digital rig.

I have see this "Aqua-Vu Underwater 35mm Camera" on Amazon.com for cheap and I was wondering if any other novice photographers out there have had any experiences with this camera. Does it hold up under repeated use? Are the batteries replaceable? Is the lens worth a darn?

It's the same cost as three "cheapo" single use cameras so I figure it might be worth looking into until I can afford an U/W digital rig.

Any input appreciated.
(same post sent to the photography topic)

PBE-ingly yours,
-Joe

Joe, I would go with an inexpensive digital. Here's a link to a discussion of this, click here. Let's look at the numbers, the Canon option will cost around $400 for the camera and housing. That will get you a very small 3 megapixel camera with a 3x zoom and will focus down to 4"s. The camera will fit in your pocket and take great pictures in and out of the water. If you get the 35mm the camera is cheap ($40) but it's a fixed focus low quality lens that will never do macro and you still have to pay for film and developing. The picture quality will not be much better than a disposable. So at the end of the trip you will have payed as much and have lousy pictures.

I agree with Cecil. An inexpensive digital is the way to go. The biggest advantage is that at the end of each day you can view your photos and discover the mistakes that you are making. One trick that I use is to put the camera in "Burst" mode and then shoot the fish. I can sort out the good ones later.

I, too, concur! If you can manage it, Joe...go with the inexpensive digital with the housing...you won't regret it.

I am a snorkeler, too, and ended up picking up the Canon S40 with their housing a couple of years ago and I am glad I did. No more developing and I can use the camera anywhere and delete what I don't want or need. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do. You are in for some treat in September!! Just remember, Bonaire is a desert terrains vs. Hawaii's lush and plush green terrain....BUT, the snorkeling and diving is far superior to Hawaii by all means. You will become addicted just like the rest of us! Carole

I have been using an inexpensive 35mm for pics while diving. I had a cheap Sealife with a plastic case, used film and did a fair job. I would then a macro Nikon to get some close up work and spend $150 for rent and file and then develop)

Last Dec. I went digital and got a Canon A80 for $360 and an underwater case for $160. Now I have both macro and regular pics on the same dive with one unit and with 256 pics on a dive. Will not run out of film and can edit pics between dives. (I know most pics are not worth looking at a 2nd time and are not worth spending money on printing.)

And then I went out and added a strobe and a new photo printer. Now I am on the new learning curve and testing macro with the flowers. Looking forward to new adventure in dive photos this year.

Sounds like perhaps I shouldn't bring a camera at all and just enjoy the freedom without it. Comments?

It is always a challenge for me to enter the waters without a camera in tow....I have done it and it feels strange to me, but the "freedom" of being able to just relax and enjoy yourself without having to be "on" all the time is nice, too. BUT...you KNOW you can expect to have the "perfect" shot present itself to you the one time you don't have the camera in hand! LOL. Decisions, decisions, decisions. I think going both ways is good...some days with a camera and some times "free handed" as I say, too. Carole

Last October on Bonaire I had my MX-10 with me but didn't use it the first 2 days of diving. My wife was newly certified and she asked me to do some dives without the camera. I enjoyed not having to worry about the camera for the first couple of days, but wound up being glad I had it for the rest of the week. I spend alot of time looking at those pictures between trips; therefore, I would agree with Carole; some dives with the camera and some dives without is probably the way to go IMHO.

Camera people . . . .

What about renting a camera at the dive shop? Is that a good idea for first time snorkelers? I would hate to buy a lot of camera stuff if we don't do anymore snorkeling.
Do they rent camera at dive shops? Are the picture worth it?
thanks ken

You can rent camera equipment from dive shops. This is not something I personally favor. Last trip I starting having problems with camera -strobe connection on my MX 10 so I rented an MX 10 from the Dive Shop. That thing was a piece of junk. The camera was old and the pictures were not the quality of the MX 10 I owned. The device that keeps the camera from accidentally taking a picture kept rolling over and the camera would not go off when I wanted it to - not good when you have a fish on the move. This, could, however been an isolated incident. My personel preference is to own my own camera equipment.

I was using a cheap 35mm last Oct in Bonaire. I wanted some good macro pictures and rented a Nikon with macro lense from Tim Peters at Fish Eye Photo which is at the Sand $.

I was after sea horses and finally got one to the North of the Eden resort. I also got a great collection of macro photos at the Country Gardens.

Over the years I have rented good quality cameras for diving and have had good luck with the results

John,

I also rented a camera from Tim at Fish Eye Photo (it was an MX-10 with no accessories - I was snorkeling only) and I thought the pictures turned out great. I think Tim does a very good job of maintaining his equipment.

Belinda