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Hello all, I’ve been playing around with the Panasonic Lumix LX10 (LX15 / LX9 in some locales) for underwater video, and finally got around to collecting some of these test shots in a reel. I’m sharing this test footage because there’s not much compact camera based underwater video footage around, and I think it might be of interest to people looking into compact cameras for underwater filming. I added some captions / subs which can be activated for information on shooting depth, light and equipment used, as well as site and conditions. The conditions were far from ideal in most cases (working as an instructor-guide, I can only bring the camera when I'm not leading a dive), too deep, bad viz etc, but I found it interesting to experiment with this compact camera, push it a little to see what could be extracted from the resulting footage. This LX10 test footage was almost exclusively ambient light, in Japan and Palau (Micronesia) where I currently work, mostly with a Keldan Spectrum SF -1.5 filter gel, and an Inon UWL-H100 wide conversion wet lens. I first used a generic wet red filter (Howshot) on the UWL-H100 (not happy with the colour balance) before switching to a far superior (Auto) Magic Filter gel taped directly on the Lumix lens (inside the housing), then finally to a Keldan Spectrum SF -1.5 filter gel, also taped on the lens, which is now my primary filter. Magic Filter and Keldan came really close, but I found the Keldan Spectrum to offer more options for working in post. I would say the main issue I had with the Keldan filter on this camera is the water column blues, which, under certain light / shooting condition, can feel a little too vivid, as in the shallow second-last clip, which would require more desaturation / luma work in post to make it less day-glo... While most of the footage is shot in ambient light (which is my favourite way of shooting), some of the macro footage was shot using artificial lights (2x Archon D11V-II 1000 lumen video lights), with an Inon UCL-165M67 close-up lens (and a homemade quadripod on the nudibranch shots). The camera is housed in a Nauticam NA-LX10 housing, with a Nauticam tray, and float arms to compensate the over -1.5kg negative buoyancy in salt water... The camera is shooting in 4K at 30fps (no zooming in needed to avoid vignetting with the Inon UWL-H100, thanks to the camera’s 36mm crop) , in manual exposure, using backbutton focus (focus peaking for macro), and manually white balancing every 5m or so using a WhiBal white-balance card. The picture profile used is Cinelike D (CineD - there is hack to load and save it in the LX10), with sharpness, noise reduction and saturation at -5, and contrast at 0, and the footage was graded in Final Cut Pro X. I find the footage to be sometimes a little too crisp, despite sharpness being at -5 in the profile. Stabilisation is very average in 4K and autofocus really not the best (but I work with backbutton focus, which solves most of the issues), there is no option to add a monitor, and battery life is good for 1.5 dives on average. But beyond obvious limitations and its age, the LX10 is still a very interesting compact camera for filming underwater, with a good fast lens, and I was quite surprised at how much colour information does make it to the sensor, much deeper than expected. cheers! b

Hi All, Was hoping to get your thoughts and insight into a system that is suited for me. Originally, I wanted to upgrade and get mirrorless system, either the Olympus EM-10III or EM-5III in a Nauticam Housing. But given the cost of the housing + port + focus gear is already 2,500 USD alone, add to that the cost of the lens and body you are looking at about 3,000-4,000USD. This is beyond what I am willing to spend. I had decided to go with the LX100II in a Nauticam Housing because the housing + camera + short port is about 2,300USD, plus I already have the necessary wet lens to use with this for both macro and wide angle. It fits my budget. A bit of background, I am a research diver in the Philippines and travel to very remote locations. I usually dive for photography during my “spare” time while out in the field. But given the random and remote locations I don’t really know what to expect when I dive, so the criteria in picking was: Ease of use - quick access to manual controls, back button focus, fast focusing, fast access to white balancing, can set the temperature to match my strobes and small size for travel. This allows me to react quickly to situations and unexpected subjects or behaviors I encounter. My frustration with my old Canon G15 was I could not change settings quickly and focus fast. Versatility - need something that will allow me to do the following photography during a single dive. Again I do encounter random and very different subjects. I am very opportunistic when I photograph and take pictures of things that present themselves well as I encounter them. So being able to capture different scenes is a criteria for me. Macro = subjects 2-3 cm in size, I don’t do really super macro subjects. Fish Portraits = subjects 10-30 cm in size General Wide Angle = various macro fauna. Performance Great Lens: for the LX100II it has a useful focal length of 24-75mm and is very bright at F1.7/2.8. I have the wet lens to augment this already. Sensor is a Micro 4/3 Fast focusing mainly for fish and small subjects. My Canon G15's focus would hunt a lot. Allows for rapid flash triggering. I am keen on behaviors, typically I would shadow my subjects or stay in a single spot waiting to capture behavior. Been frustrated at the slow recycle time of my current compact camera. Life span and longevity - I don’t upgrade equipment often (hard to afford as a researcher), but I have used a polycarbonate Canon DC-WP48 case for my Canon G15 for about 8 years. So far it has held up and I have never flooded it. I have just meticulously cleaned it after every dive but given there is no maintenance or repair support for the housing, I am in constant fear of flooding as it ages from wear and tear. That is why my criteria for a new housing is: Housing preferably aluminum Has a vacuum valve Easy to maintain in the field Maintenance Service in the Philippines. I was about to purchase the LX100II when I saw on Backscatter a review on the Olympus E-PL10 with the AOI housing (here is the Review and here is the System Chart). This made me stop as the E-PL10 in AOI housing falls well within my budget and seems to tick all my boxes. I really like: For 650USD, it come with the LED triggering and vacuum valve system. This ticks two of the things I am looking for. It has the ability to have dedicated macro or wide lens, aside from the 14-42mm kit lens, if I choose to or ever need it. This gives me the ability to expand the lens I use. And given that the housing only costs 650USD I have enough left over in my budget to get those additional ports and lens. I do have some major hesitations and would like hear people's opinions on these: Life span and maintenance given E-PL10 is a polycarbonate housing. Are AOI cases repairable or serviceable (especially the buttons and led triggering electronics)? I don't want to have a breakdown and not be able to repair a system I have invested in. I understand over time things fail, but I just need it to last like 7-8 years, aluminum housings definitely last this long but are polycarbonate housings good enough? Versatility and quality of Olympus 14-42mm lens versus the 24-75mm lens of the Panasonic (in conjunction with the CMC-1, CMC-2 and WWL wet lens). Which would be a better setup? I am weighing this because most of the time I will be diving in that configuration. Performance of the LX100II versus the E-PL10 in terms of WB, Focusing, and Manual Controls? Given Olympus just got sold, is it advisable to begin investing in the Micro 4/3 line up? Would love to get your insights on this. Happy also for other recommendations. Cheers, Pomacentridae

An age old question I suppose ... I've been shooting successfully on a Canon G12 in a Recsea housing for around 7 years (here's a gallery of my latest marine life portrait images, only 7 of which were not shot on the G12: https://pinktankscuba.com/2016/01/04/latest-images-gallery/) I write for a monthly scuba magazine and have had 4 covers shots to date out of my G12. My greatest joy in life is getting shots others don't get because my single-strobe compact rig is so tiny and versatile I never have to swim away from a shot. My housing is so old it needs to be replaced (alas it's obsolete) and I am keen to upgrade to a larger sensor for improved image quality. I recently scored a total bargain on a 2nd hand Canon 7D in Nautical housing, but even after replacing the insanely heavy Ikelite strobes with Sea and Sea YSD2, the rig is still impractically heavy (too much weight for travel, the fabulously functional housing is much larger than I am used to which prevents me from seeing my frequently small / macro subjects with my own eyes, etc.) After 7 years of versatility of shooting with great inbuilt telephoto, macro mode enhanced by flip diopters etc which are essential at the incredibly diverse dive sites I dive most days of the week (shooting nudis to smooth rays and everything in between on a single dive), I LOATHE choosing a lens pre-dive and want to go screaming back to compact. Ultimately in the all the trade-offs from trading up to the DSLR, I definitely feel I have lost more than I have gained. When the DSLR housing was recently away for servicing for 3 months, people who didn't know I'd gone back to the G12 kept telling me how much better my photos were now that I owned a DSLR (even though it wasn't responsible for the photos I was sharing online). Online and even in magazines, most people honestly can't pick the quality difference. I have listed my 7D rig for sale twice this week and removed it both times due to feeling so conflicted - the Canon world just feels so comfortable and honestly the housing is an absolute (albeit painfully bulky) dream to drive (today the doctor confirmed that I have pulled a tendon in my camera carrying hand that will likely take 'at least a year' to heal). In part I am clinging onto the 7D because I can't find a large sensor compact rig I would be happy to exchange it for. I LOVE the specs on the Canon G7X EXCEPT that the battery life is reportedly dodgy which is my absolute top criteria in a camera (my dives are typically 2-4 hrs each, and I typically run out of camera battery before I run out of my 12 litres of air ...). My second quality of life criteria is 'shoot everything and anything that comes my way' which demands a level of versatility that only a G12 can apparently deliver. I was almost ready to buy a Sony RX100 Mark IV (better battery life than Mark V) but the colours on the Sony leave me craving Canon (for all the hype, I'm unable to find any uw images online that I love shot with this camera) and other things I've read in reviews have left me 2nd guessing whether it would be a good fit for me. Honestly, give me a bigger sensor on my G12 and a good quality new or second hand housing for it with an 0-ring thicker than the pathetic elastic hair tie equivalent in the housing I already have and I would be happy for the rest of my life ... or someway to double the battery life on the G7X ... So no matter what I do there's an epic trade-off. And even though I've literally stretch a tendon in my hand due to the weight of the 7D, I've been stuck trying to make this decision and getting dizzy from the endless 360s on To Sell or Not to Sell; To Buy or Not To Buy .... You may not be able to offer any new perspectives I haven't already thrashed through with my rapidly tiring sounding boards, but I'll take a shot and put it out there (just please don't tell me to 'man up' - I will never be a man and have no desire to ever become one ...) Has anyone here got any suggestions or advice for me? How did you navigate your transition from compact to DSLR and possibly back again or in reverse? What would you do if you were me? Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might like to throw into the mix ....

I have a Canon S95 and FIX Underwater housing complete system with both macro and wide angle lenses for sale due to my recent upgrade to a mirrorless setup. This package is perfect for someone who is starting out into UW photography but wishes to have room to grow with the full control of manual settings as well as RAW images to work with as your skills develop - $1k US or $1,200 CDN. Buyer pays shipping from either Vancouver, BC Canada or Seattle, WA (whichever is most cost-efficient for you). 1. Canon S95 camera and related accessories (i.e. manual, cables, two o-rings, original box) 2. Three batteries and two charges 3. FIX S95 Underwater housing 4. Ultralight mounting tray 5. MACRO wet lens - INON UCL 165 m67 6. Nauticam flip di0pter for INON macro m67 lens mentioned above 7. WIDE ANGLE - UWL-28M52 Fisheye Wet Mount Conversion Lens The housing has never flooded, is in great working condition, and I am only selling my old system due to a recent upgrade. The ergonomics of the FIX housing are terrific and very easy to use with gloves in cold water. Camera information: Max resolution 3648 x 2736
 Effective pixels 10 megapixels
 Sensor size 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm)
 Sensor type CCD
ISO Auto, 80-3200
 Focal length (equiv.) 28–105 mm
 Max aperture F2–4.9
 Screen size 3″
Screen dots 461,000
 Max shutter speed 1/1600 sec
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
 Weight (inc. battery) 195 g (0.43 lb / 6.88 oz)
 Dimensions 100 x 58 x 30 mm (3.94 x 2.28 x 1.18″)

 Here is a sampling of some of the photos I took with this camera.

I have a Canon S95 and FIX Underwater housing in like new condition for sale due to my recent upgrade to a mirrorless setup. This package is perfect for someone who is starting out into UW photography but wishes to have room to grow with the full control of manual settings as well as RAW images to work with as your skills develop - $550 US or $700 CDN. Buyer pays shipping from either Vancouver, BC Canada or Seattle, WA (whichever is most cost-efficient for you). 1. Canon S95 camera and related accessories (i.e. diffuser, cables, and two o-rings) 2. Two batteries and one charger 3. FIX S95 Underwater housing 4. Hard camera case for S95 camera The housing has never flooded, is in near new condition (this was my spare camera and housing to another identical system), and I am only selling my old system due to a recent upgrade. The ergonomics of the FIX housing are terrific and very easy to use with gloves in cold water. Camera information: Max resolution 3648 x 2736
 Effective pixels 10 megapixels
 Sensor size 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm)
 Sensor type CCD
ISO Auto, 80-3200
 Focal length (equiv.) 28–105 mm
 Max aperture F2–4.9
 Screen size 3″
Screen dots 461,000
 Max shutter speed 1/1600 sec
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
 Weight (inc. battery) 195 g (0.43 lb / 6.88 oz)
 Dimensions 100 x 58 x 30 mm (3.94 x 2.28 x 1.18″)

 Here is a sampling of some of the photos I took with this camera.

I have a great working cannon g9 with 2 housings included (cannon wp-dc21) This has been a great camera to learn on in both tropical as well as the PNW waters Reason I am selling is that I have starting shooting with a full frame Sony a7s and this is just not getting used. I also have an Ikelite camera tray and arm as well as a ys-27dx strobe with an optical cable attached I am looking to sell as well. Make a reasonable offer Josh

Hey all, I'm selling my old compact camera set up as I have upgraded into the M4/3 world. Great for someone starting out or someone that just wants a great little compact system on the cheap! Included: - Canon S90 compact camera. (can't for the life of me remember how much these were). - Fisheye FIX90 Aluminium housing (hardy beast, about £600 new when it was available). - Inon UFL 165-AD fisheye lens. (£400 brand new) - Bayonet-style adaptor to attach fisheye to housing (forgotten exact the model, perhaps 28AD?) (shockingly this tiny thing is hard to come by and sells at a ludicrous £150+ brand new, last time I checked). - Paperwork, charger, 3 batterries (x1 Canon original, x2 3rd party). This set up has been fantastic for me starting out in the world of underwater photography. All of it is in great, working condition. Never flooded. Last used in April this year with whale sharks in Tanzania. See gear & sample photos below Note with the fisheye lens: 1) Lens in great working condition. Little more than light cosmetic scuffs on the outside. No scratches on the lens that effect image quality. 2) The tiny screw in the bayonet mount was lost during a trip to Indonesia. Consequently, whilst the mount still works a treat, it does rotate when you attach and remove the lens. The mount won't come off and it will not rotate during a dive unless you twist and turn it yourself - the problem is easily solved by attaching the lens before the dive, lining it up properly using the LCD screen, and off you go. Perhaps you can source a little replacement screw to rectify this, however it was never much of an issue for me. Anyone that has done some research on using this lens with this housing will know it is fantastic for wide-angle (it has been used by me primarily for photographing mantas and whale sharks). Below are some reviews of the housing and the fisheye set up: Housing Review with Lens discussion More on Fisheye Lens & Set up I am UK based. Would be willing to sell the lens separately to the housing+camera if people wish. Otherwise looking for £550 for whole set-up + shipping/postage. Thanks!