Underwater camera

digital

digital

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I asked previously for recommendations for an underwater camera to take with us for some snorkelling in the Galapagos Islands but decided to hold off until nearer the trip in case new models came along. We're two months away now so I'm going to have to take the plunge (sorry!) and make the purchase fairly soon.

The Canon D20 seemed to be well thought of, and it comes out well in reviews, but it's getting a little long in the tooth now. Is it still so well recommended?

Trusted Reviews (http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/waterproof-camera-reviews_Page-4) are recommending the Olympus Tough TG-2 and Panasonic Lumix FT5 but there's nothing like a recommendation from a 'real' user.

Just to help things along, there's no need for it to be waterproof to great depths: I'm only a surface snorkeller!
 
If it was my money and I could afford it I'd have the olympus it's basically a great compact that just happens to be waterproof as well.
 
My Olympus was as waterproof as a towel... The Canon D10 that replaced it is easier to use, gives better results and is (so far!) waterproof. Waiting for the Nikon 1AW to hit the shelves locally.
 
Nod said:
My Olympus was as waterproof as a towel... The Canon D10 that replaced it is easier to use, gives better results and is (so far!) waterproof. Waiting for the Nikon 1AW to hit the shelves locally.
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Was that the tg-2 or an older model?
 
µ770.
 
if your near swindon, great western cameras have 2 underwater cameras. Ones a compact that's okish I think was 20quid, other was proper metalunderwater case for a olympus and camera to go in it, the case was 50 quid.
they do post stuff so you could ring em too
 
gnirtS said:
If a camera is going underwater i wouldn't touch it unless it has RAW. Manual WB is a poor second choice. That is unless you want all your photos to be massively tinted blue or green.

Powershot S90 onwards series perform well underwater but so do a few of the other brands.
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The problem is water proofing a S series is a very expensive game, the cameras are pricey and the housings are about the same money again!

None of the tough cameras support RAW output which is a pain but you can still correct the blue cast well enough in photo shop for the average users holiday snaps, I have some pretty decent shots of turtles taken on a 60 quid fuji! The trouble with underwater is to do it really well you need very expensive gear, start with a decent camera, add a water proof housing and then throw in an external flash as the pop up on a compact is nothing like good enough and your easily talking 5-6 hundred. Most people just wanting to take some fun photo's to remember a holiday by will be fine with a tough compact and will be happy with the results.
 
Thanks for the comments.

I realise it's going to be a compromise unless I spend big money (which I'm not!).

After a whole evening of searching and reading reviews it looks as though it's coming down to the Canon D20 and the Olympus TG-2.

Lots of comments about how good the images are from the Canon, but lots of comments about how slow the lens is and how slow burst and focussing (and the camera in general) are. I wonder, too, if there's a new one on the way in the next month to month and a half: it's a while since it replaced the D10.

As far as the Olympus is concerned, there are lots of positive comments about its fast lens and fast burst mode, plus the presence of a mode dial. Also comments about a blue cast to images unless you play around in program mode, and some smear in images.

Their positives and negatives seem to mirror each other. Decisions, decisions...
 
I bought a Meikon underwater housing off eBay for my Nikon coolpix P7100, I used it snorkelling in Egypt unfortunately I haven't been able to have a good look at the results as I have been in hospital practically since we got back with a problem appendix!
I did manage to look at a couple too clips I took that I am very happy with they are on my Facebook page
 
digital said:
Thanks for the comments.

I realise it's going to be a compromise unless I spend big money (which I'm not!).

After a whole evening of searching and reading reviews it looks as though it's coming down to the Canon D20 and the Olympus TG-2.

Lots of comments about how good the images are from the Canon, but lots of comments about how slow the lens is and how slow burst and focussing (and the camera in general) are. I wonder, too, if there's a new one on the way in the next month to month and a half: it's a while since it replaced the D10.

As far as the Olympus is concerned, there are lots of positive comments about its fast lens and fast burst mode, plus the presence of a mode dial. Also comments about a blue cast to images unless you play around in program mode, and some smear in images.

Their positives and negatives seem to mirror each other. Decisions, decisions...
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The blue cast is pretty easy to fix in photoshop it's just a white balance problem that pretty much all water proof cameras suffer. I don't think you can go wrong with either the canon or the olympus your looking at both will let you get some great holiday shots and if you lucky with lighting you will be pleasently surprised at the output.

I took the following shot on a cheap and nasty fuji that I got refurb for £80 about four years ago and I'm happy with it and it's nothing like the quality of the newer underwater cameras.

 
Here are a couple of quick edits from my P7100

10991673965_21ec95b0a6_c.jpg


10991829804_f087b0961b_c.jpg


10991762596_6704a1b1fb_c.jpg
 
I have a gopro 2 (with head & chest mounts, lcd screen, extended battery etc..) that I'm happy to lend you for the trip - on the proviso that if you break it you replace it...

Just collect it from me - nr Heathrow Airport
 
Diving Pete said:
I have a gopro 2 (with head & chest mounts, lcd screen, extended battery etc..) that I'm happy to lend you for the trip - on the proviso that if you break it you replace it...

Just collect it from me - nr Heathrow Airport
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Thanks: that's really generous of you, but I wouldn't want the responsibility of looking after someone else's kit! It's bad enough keeping track of my own when we're away on a long trip.
 
a1ex2001 said:
The blue cast is pretty easy to fix in photoshop it's just a white balance problem that pretty much all water proof cameras suffer. I don't think you can go wrong with either the canon or the olympus your looking at both will let you get some great holiday shots and if you lucky with lighting you will be pleasently surprised at the output.
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I've got Photoshop but would want to try to avoid having to process too many images. The Canon and Olympus seem to come out with reasonably accurate colour so things might not be too bad.

I'm leaning towards the Olympus at the moment as its faster lens and faster burst speed will probably offer more chances of getting a decent sharp shot of whatever might be passing by.
 
digital said:
I've got Photoshop but would want to try to avoid having to process too many images. The Canon and Olympus seem to come out with reasonably accurate colour so things might not be too bad.

I'm leaning towards the Olympus at the moment as its faster lens and faster burst speed will probably offer more chances of getting a decent sharp shot of whatever might be passing by.
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It's not really much of a process 99% of the time auto white balance in Photoshop will fix it and once your happy with one image a bulk action will fix the lot.

The olympus would definitely be top of my list if I had the money!
 
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digital said:
Thanks, but it would be too bulky. We're away for over a month and need every bit of luggage space we can find to accommodate clothing for Buenos Aires/Antarctica/Galapagos/Rio!
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you can get this in your pockets! wouldn't need to take up any luggage space!
 
Auto/fixing in photoshop works in a small, narrow range only. Ultimately there is little or no red light. Depending on depth and on time of day there might simply be no colours of certain wavelengths present TO balance. The result is a bland photo, often with loads of noise in the red channel.
RAW to me is 100% essential. A poor second choice but better than nothing is a manual white balance. Without that you're going to get blue/green.

If you just want relatively low quality snap shots then that might be OK. If you want better than that then without one or the other on the camera you're just relying on luck with timing, light and where it was taken.
 
I'll second what Richard says above - you really will want a RAW capability. I've no doubt there are people on here who will be able to show the odd shot taken in jpeg with reasonable colours, but in the main RAW is the way to go. It's absolutely no coincidence that just about all serious underwater shooters shoot RAW - even when using strobes.

The canon OEM type housings for compacts are easliy pocketable to carry on a plane - just make sure they are not sealed when flying - and are quick to set up, about 10 minutes of careful prep will do it.

This trip must be costing a fair few quid, and the galapagos islands will offer chances to see sea-lions, sharks, turtles, marine iguanas, rays etc. Is this really something you want to scrimp the extra few quid on? Something like the canon s90 with case can be had for about £200. You could even sell it when you get back for minimal loss. No brainer in my opinion
 
While an empty housing is bigger than the camera it is to hold, it doesn't actually take up much space - use the inside as space for a pair of socks or whatever will fit in with no risk of damaging the seals (...). Personally, I would go for a waterproof camera rather than an extra housing but some housings will allow you to go deeper than the 15m my AW-1 permits. Then again, 49' should be plenty deep enough for snorkelling!
 
I'm a 'surface snorkeller' so depth isn't an issue and colour casts shouldn't be too strong. I would also prefer a waterproof camera over using a housing as I wouldn't want the (slim) chance of the housing leaking.

In terms of getting a decent underwater camera, cost isn't too much of an issue, though I'm not up for spending big money.
 
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