Wetfish

Wetfish
First of all, don't listen to any of us.
Now that is clear I'd first put together a list of goals and budget.
1. You say a semipro look. As in the housing has to look semi-pro or the image? Do you intend to go "professional" and in what sense of the word? Broadcast? Dive shop? Do you just want images you can sell (which would encompass anything from cellphones to 35mm film if the clip is rare enough)?
2. The good cameras allow manual control for all aspects as Mike V said, but the better cameras give you extra control like knee, gain and blacks etc. Sure a lot can be done in post but again that depends if you are going into video as deeply as to worry about that.
3. You'll find that as you grow, your demands for features also grows. But that takes time and usually by then the product cycle is at an end.
So to end, instead of asking for broad recommendations, if you first decide your goals and budget, it would be easier to then recommend a system that fits those criteria. Otherwise you get muddled with low to high end options which is makes your decision making a lot more difficult.

Drew,

1. The quality of video is what I want to look semipro.
2. My goal is to broadcast my work on a local station and would like to also sell footage.
3. Budget ranges from $2000 - $3000 US

I saw some footage Wagsy shot with his A1 that looked good.
However, if the HC-7 delivers a better quality, then I make could use the carmera; which is in the budget.

My next question is, how does the housing impact
the quality?

Remeber, Dive Safe

Thank you all for your advice.

I need to let all this information sink in.

Wagsy and Dean B

What are the pros and cons of the A1 underwater and on land?

Ronrosa,

If you are out there, have you had a chance to take your FX7 underwater?

Safe Diving and Be good

Where is a good place to find an second hand TRV 900 or TRV 950?
It appears as if they do not exist anymore.

Thanks, I appreciate everyones input.

Wagsy,
I am interested in seeing the side by side shots. If you don't mind when time permits you.

I do like the price range of the A1.

Also, most of my dives would be in the caribbean.

We have the little A1 and it works very good for uptop sound capture.
Get a small clip on condenser mic for it as well if you are interviewing folks.
ECM-44B is the one we use with it and just leave it on auto and away you go.

Use the FX7 for underwater.

The reason why I did not go trowards the A1 is because I believe it has the single
CCD cmos and believe that the FX7 would deliver a better quality.

What do you all think?

I did notice that the A1 is price slighty less than the FX7.

I should have added early, one of my intent is to have my work aired on tv.


Wagsy,

I have spent some time on your website. Do you any footage on there that was taken with
the A1, if so which one?