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Help Me Pick Out A Camera

	Help Me Pick Out A Camera
Author: roxnatwist Posted: 21-Mar-07 IP: Logged	I am getting ready to buy my first decent underwater camera and am having a hard time deciding which model to buy. I don't plan on being a professional photographer but I would like a camera that I can use as my skill level increases. I have been looking at the SeaLife DC600 and the Sea and Sea 860G. Both seem to do the things I want them to do but I'm not sure if I may be better off buying a land camera with a seperate housing. I'd like to stay around $600-$700 so my choices seem to be limited. Anybody have any ideas?? I would appreciate your input as I am having a tough time getting the straight scoop anywhere else.     Reply | Report to Moderator
Author: krschmitz Posted: 18-May-07 IP: Logged	I use the Sealife DC on my more causual dives. it is fairly ures friendly (the push button controls are a little difficult to use with gloves) but the picture quality is above average, especially considering the affordability of the camera itself. (check out some of my pics i took with the sealife. They are from Key largo, Molasses Reef & Christ of the Abyss. My better pics are from the cayman islands.) This being said I have noticed that the sea & sea models produce somewhat better images, and as I am sure you know, they are generally more expensive. A lot depens on the options you want. A important feature to look for is a quick shutter. You do not want to miss the shot. I thought about getting a houseng for my nikon coolpix land camera, but I wasn't sure how the warranty worked if I flooded the housing. Good luck!     Reply | Report to Moderator
Author: saltydog68 Posted: 26-Jun-07 IP: Logged	I recently bought an underwater camera setup that I absolutely love. The pictures it takes are stunning and it is well within your price range. I have been a photography entusiast for years with many types of camera but have only recently become crazy about underwater photography. The set up I use is a... Canon Powershot A630(about $200-225) with a Canon WP-DC8 underwater housing(about $125-150) I had the camera, then bought the housing just before I went to the Bahamas to dive Theo's wreck and a shark feeding dive. The photos the camera took were stunning. I highly recommend this setup. I have heard complaints about camera battery life. One set of AA batteries lasted me the four day trip, photos taken above and below the water. The video quality is awesome. If you would like to see some of the photos check out the "Bahamas photo album" on my space. Also, check out the shark feeding video. It too was taken with my Canon Power shot, but keep in mind, upladed video is not near as good quality as the original. I almost bought a Nikon Coolpix. I am glad I didn't. http://www.myspace.com/salty_dog_68     Reply | Report to Moderator
Author: DivemasterFTL Posted: 05-Jul-07 IP: Logged	Don't waste your time with the point and shoot cameras. If you are serious about producing great images that can be used for print, web, commercial reproduction, etc - go with a housed system. By a Nikon SLR, like the D80 or the D40 - I used the D200 and the D2Xs. Then buy a Sea and Sea housing for it, the YS110 strobe and the 5-pin sync cord. IT will cost you a great deal more, but the end result will blow you way. I paid a little over $5k for my setup and I've makde more than $10k on the pics I've tken - that's a goodf investment.     Reply | Report to Moderator
Author: snappersnatcher Posted: 19-Jan-08 IP: Logged	I am new to diving & do not own underwater photography equipment yet but I have been studying the Sea Life webpage. There seems to be a lot of good quality equipment that they offer. I know there are a lot of higher quality, more expensive cameras out there but for this price range this appears to be a good product. I am particularly interested in the Reefmaster Mini SL 320. Good luck with your search. SS     Reply | Report to Moderator
Author: kevinlr45pilot Posted: 18-Jun-08 IP: Logged	My girlfriend has had a Canon Powershot A620 for above the water line for 2 years, she has been very impressed with that camera. Last year she got certified and bought a underwater case for that camera, and has taken some AMAZING photos with it. You will see several of her pictures posted on the dive sites from Ft Lauderdale to Boca, her name is "truered1", and may see a few from me on the Eagle in Islmarada. The color in her pictures is very impressive and that is without a strobe, which is her next investment. Some of her best pictures have come at night and of course had a dive light pointed at the subject. Enjoy and I think in a reasonable price range you can get a great camera, I just suggest finding something you are very comfy with and realize sooner or later the case is going to flood, so you may want to buy 2 cameras for the case while you can get that model. Ebay is great for finding older models. Good luck     Reply | Report to Moderator