Underwater camera setup

[Noobie 0]

I leave for the Great Barrier Reef in 5 days!!!

[sideways 3]

I leave for the Great Barrier Reef in 5 days!!!

 

Under $300?? Sealife maybe?

[SoCalSwami 0]

I have found my Fujifilm f40fd to be a nice first camera for under $300

8MegaPixels.

2-3 dive battery life.

Case is super durable and has double orings.

Camera shoots excellent in low light and has a quick auto focus.

Internal flash is sufficient for macro work.

And it fits in my drysuit pocket.

 

Amazon shows camera for $149 and case for $122

Amazon Fujifilm f40fd

Shipping would be free if you could have planned ahead a tad better

 

Mike

current manifestation site

MyDivingLife - SoCalSwami

Edited December 2, 2008 by SoCalSwami

[Dunadin 2]

C&P from my post on a different thread:

 

I suggest going for the SD630 or SD750 with Canon housings. They forgo the viewfinder for a larger screen, which is really helpful UW. The SD750 sells new for $335 (Camera+Housing) on B&H. I still use my SD630 occasionally since it fits into my BC pocket and it does produce some really nice photos. You won't have all the bells and whistles of larger P&S or dSLR systems, but it is a great way to start UW photography. You can later pair it up with an Inon D-2000 (or Sea&Sea YS-27) strobe to get that extra light.

[Noobie 0]

C&P from my post on a different thread:

 

I suggest going for the SD630 or SD750 with Canon housings. They forgo the viewfinder for a larger screen, which is really helpful UW. The SD750 sells new for $335 (Camera+Housing) on B&H. I still use my SD630 occasionally since it fits into my BC pocket and it does produce some really nice photos. You won't have all the bells and whistles of larger P&S or dSLR systems, but it is a great way to start UW photography. You can later pair it up with an Inon D-2000 (or Sea&Sea YS-27) strobe to get that extra light.

 

 

Does it take videos?

[Noobie 0]

When i get back from the Great Barrier Reef I'll tell every body about it.

[Dunadin 2]

Does it take videos?

 

My SD 630 does and following Canon's website the SD750 does as well. Here is the link to B&H's site.

 

Have fun at the GBR!

[kwijibo55 0]

I am also looking for a camera (including case) for 300$ or less. The cameras listed above are interesting but I think I would be too scared of an accident and losing the camera (being a new diver I want something easy to operate and not have to worry about flooding, etc). What about the SL320 from sealife (same price range)?

 

http://www.sealife-cameras.com/cameras/reefmaster_mini.html

 

It seems the risk of losing the camera from a flood would be much lower and they have the possibility to add a wide angle lens

 

http://www.adorama.com/SLFMWASL320.html

 

Anyone can tell if the image quality of this type of camera would be as good as a camera+case? Is it possible to add an external flash (not something I'll do at first but I'd like to keep the options open) if using a camera+case?

[Knifer 0]

I just got into underwater photography this year, so I can relate to sifting through all the choices and different types out there. I was also looking at sealife, but the DC800 model instead. I would try to see if you can find some pictures that people took with the reefmaster, or if you can get your hands on it. That said, I opted to buy a canon 570is with an ikelite housing. Main reason was the manual settings and RAW capability and I haven't been disappointed yet (you can check out my flickr in my signature). I'm planning on getting a strobe and macro lens real soon. Canon also makes their own housing for the 570is for a bit cheaper. The canon+ikelite housing came out to around 440, and a canon+canon housing would be around 320.

[Noobie 0]

What are the chances of water getting in the Canon A720 undetrwater housing

[JTemple 0]

There's a 100% "chance" of water getting into any housing!

 

It's not "if", but "when".

[adamk76 0]

Knifer,

 

I have the same camera as you, Canon 570IS but with Canon WP-DC12 housing, I also find this a great camera to use. My question is, I thought this camera only had the capability to shoot JPEG images. You were saying that it has the capability to shoot RAW images. Have I missed something when ready (skimming) the manual or is there something else that needs to be loaded onto camera to achieve this. For my experience level I think Jpeg is probably good enough. After reading so many posts on here about the benefits of shooting Raw I thinking that if I have the capabilty to do this it may be worthwhile.

[sgietler 1]

yes, you can get raw on your canon 570IS.

 

do a google on canon "raw hack", or click here:

 

http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK