Underwater photography help - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

09/05/2004 09:15:29 PM · #1

Hello new member here! I will be going to be able to do some first time scuba work in a couple of weeks and would love to take a digicamera. I've looked into the Aquatica series and would like to know if anyone has had any underwater photog experience with Canons? I have a 300d and mK II. Thanks!

Message edited by author 2004-09-05 21:16:53.

dhare

Nikon D7000

09/05/2004 09:21:52 PM · #2

As far as I know, its quite hard to do underwater photography with an SLR. It would probably be cheaper to buy a compact digicam & underwater case instead of an underwater SLR case.
The difficulty lies in the lens operation and differing lengths. I don't have any links for you, but last I heard some underwater SLR housings costs as much as the camera.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

09/05/2004 09:29:45 PM · #3

They cost more than the camera.

Click here.

09/05/2004 09:31:18 PM · #4

Thank you dhare! Yes they are unfortunately costly and I was hoping I would maybe someone here had any experiences namely with Canons, but the ones I was looking at were about $1200-1500! Steep to buy without some preliminary feedback!

09/05/2004 09:32:31 PM · #5

Thanks Dr. Nick! I hadn't seen that one yet! Decisions, decisions!

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

09/05/2004 10:01:07 PM · #6

I wouldn't get an el cheapo one if I were you. You don't want your Rebel or God forbid your 1D M2 ruined by a cheap enclosure. If you Scuba dive a lot then I think it's worth the investment.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/05/2004 10:04:54 PM · #7

I rented the Nikonos V when I went scuba diving. Everything is manual, focusing, exposure, flash. It was a lot of work and I had to learn a lot in the process. But I sure had fun and it was well worth it!

VisiBlanco

Canon EOS-5D

09/05/2004 10:09:36 PM · #8

I am planning on getting an underwater enclosure for my 10d. Ikelite makes pretty nice cases. The case for the 10d is right around $1,000 right now. I am very interested in underwater sports photography (I am a swimmer) and I'll be utilizing my 10d and a couple underwater strobes. I want to eventually do something like this: //www.aquagraphy.com/portswim.htm and I'd love to try and get published.

If you are doing deep dives, you will need to probably have an waterproof strobe flash.

You might want to look into the Canon Digital Elph and the Canon-made enclosures, a P&S Canon plus enclosure is much cheaper than getting an SLR enclosure.

09/07/2004 01:32:19 PM · #9

I think renting is definitely the way to go this time and luckily there are quite a few places to do so! Thank you all for your input and help!

jxpfeer

09/07/2004 04:39:50 PM · #10

Sea&Sea makes some pretty decent 35mm underwater cams... they are much more expensive than a regular 35mm, as the housing is the bulk of the cost. they also have digitals as well... if you do decide to get a housing for an SLR, they are VERY expensive. There's one out for the d70, and it costs something like 1500 bux ;)

you can usually find some good prices on a used Sea&Sea cam on eBay. otherwise renting might be a good option, but keep in mind that the cost of renting the cams can add up too. For example, in Aruba, the cost to rent one is 35 dollars per dive, not including film and developing (this is for their basic S&S setup at a particular dive shop that i used)... if you're only doing a couple dives, no biggie, but if you're gonna use it on all your dives for a week or something, it can get quite pricey.

good luck :)

fsteddy

09/07/2004 04:49:22 PM · #11

I have used Ikelite housings for over twenty years and have never had a problem with a leak. You have to keep up with maintainence and they will last you for many happy years. //www.ikelite.com/web_pages/2dslr_300d.html

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

09/09/2004 12:51:00 PM · #12

Thanks jx and fs for the tips!

jefalk

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

09/09/2004 01:13:04 PM · #13

I too have used Ike's since the 80's and as long as you keep on good regiment on the o-rings, they can do great for 10's of years. I wouldn't even think of the Mk-II, besides the housing market greatly lacks the actual market since they are always so custom [though its getting better].

The 300D is an excellent underwater camera, but the most important piece of equipment for great underwater images is the lighting/flash. Ikelite has the 200 and the 400, the workhorse of all pro's. Don't let anyone tell ya different, lighting underwater is the single most important factor there is, bar none.

Personally, I always liked the ikelites cause they always took the saltwater so much better than the metal's, and the resale is great on everything I ever did. But like most everything, its all relative to how you take care of it...

A huge advantage of digitals:

1. a 2GB card is fantastic for even a 4-5 dive day by far, whereas film is 36 per dive, regardless, and you have to open it up and change it with each dive; leaving you open for common mistakes at closures like not having all the links right, or anyone of a hundred other things to go wrong that you cant fix once in the water.
2. you can more easily adjust photos photgraphically Vs slides that is not forgiving at all hardly.
3. digitals have far better low light ability than film, and the focus systems of todays digitals far surpass the ole film guys in low light conditions.

Good luck, and have fun.....

debbiea

09/09/2004 04:59:19 PM · #14

I use an Ikelite housing for my Sony video camera and have an Aquatica housing for my Nikon F4. I am very happy with both, but the Aquatica is definitely a top-notch housing. Sea & Sea housings are also very good as well. I believe that Aquatica's website is www.aquatica.ca (located in Canada). Ikelite are good housings, and not as expensive as the others. You can look at www.helix.com and www.bhphoto.com, both of them sell housings for that camera and offer reasonable prices. I have not yet purchased a housing for my D70, as I have a lot of $$$ invested in the housing for my F4. Don't short yourself, the housing is going to be pricey, but it isn't worth damaging the camera.

//www.oceanimages.net

Message edited by author 2004-09-09 17:01:44.

jxpfeer

09/10/2004 08:15:44 AM · #15

i know there are a few guys on the fredmiranda board that have ikelite housings, and i know a few guys there have housings for 1Dm2's... can't remember if they were pre-made by ikelite or the like... the housings are VERY expensive, but i know that there are some out there already for the mkII... you'll probably have a wait to get one though, because i'm sure they're in short number.

09/10/2004 11:15:03 AM · #16

Thanks you all, this posting really blossomed beyond my expectations! Lots of great advice and leads! I'm definitely going to be using my 300d, the mkII housing is far too cost prohibitive now.

Debbiea I love your great underwater photos! I'd be happy just to get at least One as good as yours! :)

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

09/10/2004 11:22:44 AM · #17

I'd be extremely hesitant to bring a US$4500 1D MarkII under water, not matter what the casing is...Can you imagine how'd you'd feel if the casing started leaking at 100ft under the ocean ...brrrr...yikes...

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

09/10/2004 11:51:56 AM · #18

I used to use an old camera called NIKONOS for underwater work, granted it is a film camera but very nice underwater shots from it.. dont forget to take a proper lamp with you or you will just get dull B&W type shots. NIKONOS are great just for that so pretty cheap on e-bay give it a try you can have film processed to cd

debbiea