Underwater photography

What camera do you recommend for underwater photography

There is none to be recommended and ready to dive in production anymore.

So we are down again to expensive underwater housings and dedicated external underwater flashes and a hopefully suitable camera stuffed into the housing.

Right here we split. I would not trust the housings very far and for that reason recommend buying a replaceable camera system. Maybe spend just a third of your wealth on it?

OTOH: Yes, great AF will be very nice to have. You'll need something with a real point and shoot mode. Maybe Sony MILCs? On a (third of a)budget, I'd grab used DSLR stuff.

The important question is, 'how deep?'

 

Tide pool?

 

Swimming pool?

 

Snorkling?

 

Scuba?

 

6000 metres down?

 

Rather different requirements...

Nikonos if you'd like to mess around with film.

Same guy asking about a camera for passport business

To the OP - a continuous array of very general questions, such as the ones you have been asking, may make the membership think that the questions are not sincere.

 

It would be good if you would provide more information regarding what type of Underwater Photography, i.e. where, how deep, what subjects, what are the purposes for the photography, etc.

 

Additionally, it is always worthwhile to the OP to come back and engage in conversation at the least with a thank you, even better with feedback as to how any information was worthwhile or, on the other hand, if the responses were off the main ideas of what you're seeking.

 

Over to you . . .

There are so many camera for under water photography. As I like Canon Brand so I suggest you "Canon G7 X ll". Check this one. I hope you won't disappoint.

If you want a general purpose still camera that you can also take snorkeling, most major camera manufacturers offer a "tough" compact camera that will work. For example, Olympus has a TG-5 and Nikon has their W300. I have an older version of the Nikon (AW-110). There's different price points and feature sets.

 

To me which one you get depends on lot on if/how you will you use it out of the water. Are you going on a trip and not planning on bringing another camera? Then maybe you want to spend more and get a camera that's more than just a point and shoot. But that has its risks. That $400 Olympus has the ability to capture RAW and some manual shooting options, but there are stories of them failing their first time underwater, - as there are with any of these cameras.

 

Another option is an action camera like a Go-Pro. Probably the least likely to spring a leak on its first outing but not the greatest still camera for everyday use.

 

I'm a big proponent of buying used equipment but cameras intended for use underwater is where I make an exception. It's soooo important that the seals be in good shape and that the camera has been taken care of.

 

What is really important is ease of use. To get a picture to turn out at all underwater, you need to be close to the subject. If you're snorkeling that often means you are holding your breath. You don't have a lot of time to futz. You don't want to accidentally hit the power button instead of the shutter button.

Thinking about this a bit more, and again depending on how you want to use the camera, consider a 4k action cam for underwater photography and take video rather than try and shoot stills. The following do not represent the best pictures in the world but the video was handy on my computer and I think it illustrates the point.

 

These two shots were pulled from a video made with a cheap Go-Pro knockoff (not 4k). It was mounted to my inflatable catamaran.

 

 

 

This camera met its demise while diving last year. The housing got flooded through a tiny crack around one of the buttons. There are a few lessons to learn from that:

1. make sure you check the housing/camera for bad seals, sand/dirt in the seal, or cracks
   
2. spend more money on a housing or action cam and maybe (maybe) I wouldn't have had this problem
   
3. if you use cameras in these kinds of situations, sooner or later something bad is going to happen to the camera.
   

I was disappointed I couldn't use the camera on that trip anymore but I still had my AW110. I wasn't worried about the monetary loss because there wasn't much of one. There are much better ones available now anyway. I got my money's worth out of it.

 

Anyway, it's much easier to leave the camera running underwater and just enjoy the experience rather than hoping that fish holds still while you sneak up close and try and snap a photo, - especially while snorkeling. Diving is a bit easier. 4k video can deliver a decent quality still, though obviously still not as good a picture captured as a still.

 

Plus an action cam has so many mounting options that let you use it in ways you can't a regular camera.

 

That said, the "tough" cameras are better as general purpose cameras than action cams and I did get some really nice underwater picks from the AW110. I'll post a couple tonight.

Nikon AW110:

 

 

 

 

AW 110 did some decent work.

 

The reason im considering a camera actually meant for submersion is that it may have better survival rate then say you could get with an aftermarket under water housing for a used DSLR for example.

 

The AW110 has had its problems too. Last year the screen just blanked out. It thinks it's hooked up to an HDMI display. A common issue with these I guess. The fix is to plug and unplug an hdmi cable. Some suspect that corrosion leads to this. It's been fine of late but I don't know that I'd trust it on the underwater vacation of a lifetime. :)

 

The reason I chose it over the others at the time is that it was the only one rated for more than 30ft. If I had to do at again I think I'd go with a quality action cam. However, the olympus TG-5 is attractive because it's more than just a typical point and shoot. It's still only rated to 30ft or so. If you want to go deeper than that there's an optional underwater housing. It's not the cheapest but way more affordable than housings for DSLRs. Between that and the camera though it's a serious outlay of cash. But in some ways it might be worth it. If the housing leaks at least the camera body itself is water tight.

And since I know you're a film guy tomban, I wouldn't rule out a Nikonos V. The prices on used ones aren't bad. You can still get new O-rings for them and they've been known to survive getting flooded with salt water if they get rinsed out right away.

 

It's a zone focusing camera but has probably one of the coolest systems for showing the focus range for a give aperture and distance.

 

Shooting underwater is a challenging environment and modern digital cameras give you the best shot at getting good results. Looking through a viewfinder is not so easy under water vs a nice large screen. Further, being able to see the pics right away is really nice and I wouldn't want to be able to do without that. BUT, saltwater and electronics don't mix well. Plus I do enjoy film and as a 2nd underwater camera, the Nikonos is a good option that would probably outlive whatever digital camera you'd get.

If you get a Nikonos underwater film camera, get it with the 35mm lens. It's the only lens that focuses properly above water as well as underwater. The other lenses are for underwater only. Being able to do both allows shooting on the boat, swimming around, and above water just walking around as well as underwater. Use a faster film like ISO 200. Good luck and have a great time.

 

These shots were taken with a Nikonos IVa and that 35mm lens. Many were taken with a strobe light which is required if you're scuba diving at depth where it's darker.

Search: iva | Flickr

If you get a Nikonos underwater film camera, get it with the 35mm lens. It's the only lens that focuses properly above water as well as underwater. The other lenses are for underwater only. Being able to do both allows shooting on the boat, swimming around, and above water just walking around as well as underwater. Use a faster film like ISO 200. Good luck and have a great time.

 

These shots were taken with a Nikonos IVa and that 35mm lens. Many were taken with a strobe light which is required if you're scuba diving at depth where it's darker.

Search: iva | Flickr

 

Those are fantastic Alan !

 

The Nikonos was an underwater workhorse for many years. There's not really modern equivalent anymore that I know of. I'm an infrequent diver at best so I'm not sure what people that dive all the time use anymore. Last time I went, the casual divers seemed to be using mostly GoPros. I'm sure more advanced and affluent divers use housings.

 

Another option for shallow dives and snorkeling is a high quality phone case like a Pro Shot. They warranty your phone for a year but what I think what I would do is use an older model phone that's already somewhat waterproof and put it in one of those cases.

 

Warranty or not, it would stink to have your phone destroyed in the middle of a vacation. Buy an old phone for use as a camera for a couple hundred, then spend another hundred on the case. I'm also tempted to get a Nikonos for fun. :)

Thanks Tom. I like your pictures posted above too. I still have my Nikonos. But I haven't dived in years. I'd sell it too you, but I hate getting rid of stuff. For years I stopped using my Mamiya RB67 medium format film camera. Then a few years ago, I started again. I'm glad I didn't get rid of it. YOu ought to be able to get a Nikonos IVa for around hundred. The only problem is the seals, whether they're any good. Not sure if you can buy them anywhere as the main one is not round, special shaped only for this camera. It takes really sharp pictures, better than what shows on my flickr site. It's very quiet and just a fun camera to use even above water. On a sandy beach, parasailing, canoeing, in the rain, you never worry about it. It's like a tank.

Thanks Tom. I like your pictures posted above too. I still have my Nikonos. But I haven't dived in years. I'd sell it too you, but I hate getting rid of stuff. For years I stopped using my Mamiya RB67 medium format film camera. Then a few years ago, I started again. I'm glad I didn't get rid of it. YOu ought to be able to get a Nikonos IVa for around hundred. The only problem is the seals, whether they're any good. Not sure if you can buy them anywhere as the main one is not round, special shaped only for this camera. It takes really sharp pictures, better than what shows on my flickr site. It's very quiet and just a fun camera to use even above water. On a sandy beach, parasailing, canoeing, in the rain, you never worry about it. It's like a tank.

 

I almost bought a Nikonos V last night from an auction site. Current owner said it was untested and although it looked almost pristine, the price climbed a little too high for me to gamble.

 

The truth is that I have no great need for one right now, but if one came along at a good price I might snap it up. I see them crop up now and then on craigslist which would give me an opportunity to check it out first. I'm also in the market for a good medium format camera and should probably save my money for that. ;)