D700 underwater...

Quick google suggests it'll be over £2k for a reliable one.

I'd look at getting a compact and underwater housing for that instead for that price.
 
squishy said:
Quick google suggests it'll be over £2k for a reliable one.

I'd look at getting a compact and underwater housing for that instead for that price.
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Ah, looks like I won't be taking it underwater then. That's a good result in a way - not sure I'd want to put it under the water in anything!

Same prices for the D80 too, hmm. I'll have a think - thanks!

scottthehat said:
id by something like this waterproof upto 10m.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Lumix-FT2-Digital-Camera/dp/B0035JK6F2/ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_i
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I'll be going deeper than 10 metres I think, but I'll have a look around cheers.
 
I've been pondering this dilemma for a few years and I have ended up with an S90 + housing. When I want to upgrade it will be on some decent strobes (flashes) which themselves will come to around £400 each :eek:
 
Top of the line Canon point and shoot (now replaced by the S95) which does RAW and is ok up to ISO 400 or even 800 with decent noise reduction (assuming you don't pixel peep) which is a must for shooting down deep without flash.

I guess a lot will depend on where you are diving (i.e. what the vis is like).
 
I use a Canon Ixus 100 in a Ikelite housing with a Inon WA lens.

Gets some great shots in nice clear blue water, but rubbish in the usual soup you find in North West Scotland
 
I use an old Powershot A620 (running CHDK so it can shoot RAW), ikelite housing and Sea&Sea strobes.

Don't pick an 'underwater' camera, as they're invariably crap. Go to somewhere like www.camerasunderwater.co.uk and get a decent P&S, with dedicated housing.
Don't scrimp, as you'll get once in a lifetime pics!
 
I also have a Powershot A620 which works great too. I've used a couple of fujis and for some reason they just don't work well underwater, all the Canons I've seen and use just work.

However, it doesn't matter what camera you have unless you know what you're doing. Won't tell you to suck eggs but if you want some pointers just shout :)
 
Nawty said:
I also have a Powershot A620 which works great too. I've used a couple of fujis and for some reason they just don't work well underwater, all the Canons I've seen and use just work.

However, it doesn't matter what camera you have unless you know what you're doing. Won't tell you to suck eggs but if you want some pointers just shout :)
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Underwater photography is completely new to me really.
So any tips on equipment is appreciated. I think I'll get a compact and housing. Will I need a flash?
 
Well, first things first, log on to Yorkshire Divers and have a look at their photography section.

Once I've got some pictures uploaded I'll give you some lessons from my experience (which aren't necessarily right :D)
 
I was hoping to do the same when I go on holiday shortly, looks like I will need to invest in a cheaper option.
 
Nawty said:
Well, first things first, log on to Yorkshire Divers and have a look at their photography section.

Once I've got some pictures uploaded I'll give you some lessons from my experience (which aren't necessarily right :D)
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That would be good! :)

wazy15 said:
I was hoping to do the same when I go on holiday shortly, looks like I will need to invest in a cheaper option.
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Yeah. I will look into hiring.
 
Canon make a dedicated housing for the G11/12 that's pretty good value about £160 from lambda-tek.com G12 is £360 from Amazon.
 
WillNicholls said:
Underwater photography is completely new to me really.
So any tips on equipment is appreciated. I think I'll get a compact and housing. Will I need a flash?
Click to expand...

Yes - or a dedicated strobe if you want to take good underwater photos.

The most important thing underwater is to get close to your subject, and to be able to shoot in RAW so you can adjust WB afterwards.

A big thing to remember is water acts like a blue filter that removes 1 stop of light for every 2 meters (in any direction) light travels. (That assumes clear blue water and not some green soup.)

This means very quickly you need to take your own light with you, and get close to your subjects. Getting your flash away from the lens axis is also critical. Even the clearest water has a degree of suspended matter that will reflect back.

Remember an SLR and housing is a big heavy complex thing and will take over your dive so unless you're sure thats what you want, and can control you buoyancy and dive in general very well its worth just taking a compact.

Am extremely jealous of the dive trip to Borneo
 
Yea, as has been pointed out - The Golden Rule is 'Get Close, then get closer'.

Also, always try to shoot either parallel to, or slightly up on your subject. Beginner UW shooters tend to take pictures looking down over their subjects, like a dive bomber, as that's your natural position when diving with good bouyancy.
Unfortantely, it makes for awful photos.

There's almost no strait lines underwater, so you can get away with ultra wide & fisheye lenses!
 
The Tokina 10-17mm is the most popular UW lens there is.
You can get really REALLY close, but you'd never know it from the photos. It lets you get in full reefs, full wrecks, the whole shark etc etc..
 
WillNicholls said:
I see. What's a strobe?

I've never dived before but will be getting my beginner course before I go...
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A strobe is an underwater flash.

If you've never dived before take a compact. An SLR will take over, and be difficult and bulky to use, and add a layer of complexity you just don't need
 
If you've never dived (dove?) before then I'd be MASSIVELY weary about taking a camera underwater. Seriously, it's one added complication that you simply don't need.. it takes a fair few dives before you're comfortable with the basics, like finning technique, bouancy, controlled breathing etc.

Add in a camera (even a P&S), a strobe, arms and sync cords etc it's going to get messy.
It might be worth realising early on that you're not going to get great shots this early on in your dive life.
 
Zukabak said:
If you've never dived (dove?) before then I'd be MASSIVELY weary about taking a camera underwater. Seriously, it's one added complication that you simply don't need.. it takes a fair few dives before you're comfortable with the basics, like finning technique, bouancy, controlled breathing etc.

Add in a camera (even a P&S), a strobe, arms and sync cords etc it's going to get messy.
It might be worth realising early on that you're not going to get great shots this early on in your dive life.
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Okay - that makes it easier I guess. I'm on land for 3 weeks so I'll be photographing then too. :)
 
Yea, I don't meant to be the harbinger of doom, but you'll find that you spend a lot of time concentrating on the photography more than the diving.
That is BAD when you're a beginner.. you make little mistakes like holding your breath to steady the camera (this makes you positively bouyant (and I don't mean happy) & can be dangerous), your bouyancy's all over the place as a beginner anyway.. you'll bump into the reef, scare the wildlife etc etc..

You'll lose all peripheral vision as you 'try for the shot' and it's easy to lose your guide and panic etc.. these are all things that become second nature after 20~30 dives.. but it'll be too much to do as a learner..task overload.
 
Ah, I hadn't realised you weren't qualified, I'd echo the above comments - learning to dive and cameras just don't go together.

That said, learning in Borneo (whereabouts exactly?) is something you will NEVER forget and you honestly don't want to be faffing around with a camera as I can guaranty that the shots will be crap and you'll miss loads that everyone else will be talking about on surface.
 
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