Digital camera for surf photography in the water

A friend of mine who is an avid surfer is looking to enter the world

of surf photography. However she is aiming to do this from within the

surf, and not from the beach, since her love is being in the waves,

and also that her position as a female photographer taking pictures of

female surfers would be very unique in our part of the world (South

Africa).

 

However, we are both at a loss as to what equipment to get her. She

wants a digital camera that will be capable of images for the magazine

market, and since she will be close to the surfers I would imagine

that wide-angle lenses would be a must. My personal preference for SLR

cameras is leaning me to advise her to get a digital SLR with

underwater housing, but this pushes the price up out of the price

range that she wanted to stay in ($1000 max). I have found the Sealife

DC500 and the Sea&Sea cameras but am not sure about their quality or

suitably for her requirements. Would this be acceptable or is the only

way to go digital SLR + housing?

 

Your experience and advice would be most welcome.

There are only a couple of ways to go. Most of the Sea$Sea and Reefmaster type cameras are underwater oriented, so they will be mostly wide-angle only and underwater flash is another big cost on those types.

I think for a water proof surface camera that will get banged around, a water proof 5mp P&S will be the best cost alternative. They are small. light and fast.

There are some DSLR housings like EWA-Marine that start around $300 or so but I'd be nervous to try one with a brand new camera! That will push her over $1,000 quick but will give more options and control - maybe a lot to handle (size, weight and balance) from a surf board though... She might prefer to just grab quick snaps.

I hate to say this but I think your friend is sort of stuffed digitally speaking. I would strongly urge her to keep away from the Sea&Sea and Sealife options as the lenses are specifically designed for underwater use and there is NO WAY she will get frame-filling images with them on the surface. A digital point and shoot or EVF may work IF there is a housing available and IF there is no shutter lag. For surfing and her budget I would look at a 35mm body and a couple of nice long primes....even better...get them used and then try one of those EWA marine 'bags'...although I am dubious as to the survivability of them going through the green room! With a 35mm body (available cheap) if it gets destroyed it is cheaper to replace. Just my 2 cents.

Get an used Digital Rebel, (around $450.00) an 8mm peleng fisheye (around $125.00) and an underwater case for the camera (around 250.00) That's going to keep you under $1000.00 for sure. and you will get control and nice pictures.