Underwater

Enybody has used the Sea & Sea DX-8000G, 8.24 Megapixel, 3X Optical Zoom

Plus? I am looking at underwater set around this price range (below 1,500.

Any recommendations?

Many thanks

Generally speaking, the Sea & Sea cameras are very good, and much better than the digital camera/housing packages from SeaLife. That being said, you may be able to meet your price objective by selecting a digital camera that you would be really happy with, and then buying a housing for it. Check out the ikelite web site www.ikelite.com for a list of cameras that they make housings for. The average $300-500, which leaves a lot for a better camera.

David

Hey Andy--

I looked at the specs on the 8000G and I have a couple of thoughts. First, for the price

range you're looking at, you need to be realistic about what your results will be. If you're

looking for decent snapshots you'll do fine; if you're hoping for publication quality, it

really isn't going to happen with that camera.

To be more specific: the 8000G uses a basic zoom lens plus an wide converter, which is a

common solution for many people using digicams underwater. The optical quality will

probably be OK, but not up to DSLR + prime lens caliber.

The bigger problem will be the on-camera flash, which will cause huge amounts of

backscatter. Sea & Sea probably has a way to rig off camera flash, but that will add to your

expense.

I agree with David on looking for a decent digicam first, then find a housing for it, such as

the Ikelite line, which covers almost all of them. I wrote a couple of articles on u/w for

photo,net if you wanna read up more:

<a href="http://www.photo.net/learn/underwater/uw2/general" >UW Guide</a> or

<a href="http://www.photo.net/learn/underwater/uw2/housings.html" >UW Housings</

a>

A lot depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Almost certainly you will need an off

camera strobe if you want anything more than snapshots. The Sea and Sea is fully capable of

using an external strobe and the results can be quite good. For the same money you could

get any small Canon/Nikon P&S and put it into one of their housings and get a good external

strobe.

Bill