underwater cameras eg Sealife DC500 Pro Kit

Abstract · Sep 9, 2006

anyone any experience of underwater digitals and flash sets? I'm going diving next year and would like a decent camera and flash to get some nice photos of the fish, reef, turtles etc no way I can run to a case for my SLR so I was thinking something like the Sealife DC500 Pro Kit http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/d_stills/sealife.html my budget is £500 max

midget patrol · Sep 9, 2006

You might have a really hard time finding a really solid underwater camera for anything under that budget. The best way to go is to house your SLR--which is expensive, I know (i'm a diver myself).

The other thing to consider is that most dive resorts or dive shops will rent you whole SLR setups. Very high quality and usually reasonably priced.

ksmattfish · Sep 10, 2006

The Sealife gear I've seen in the past was bottom-of-the-barrel, el-cheapo gear that they waterproofed, and marked up the price a whole lot. They'd put a $20 film point-n-shoot in a waterproof housing, and sell it with a flash and pelican case for $800.

You might consider a used Nikonos (Nikon underwater) 35mm camera. They go cheap on Ebay (I've seen them for less than $50). I have a Nikonos II, and while it has no bells and whistles, it's a really nice camera.

Abstract · Sep 10, 2006

thanks for the heads up! you can get cases for p&s digitals are they worth it? or should I stick to disposables? I don't need "wow" quality but I'd like better than norm.

ksmattfish · Sep 10, 2006

You can get a Nikonos II for the price of 5 or 6 disposables.

I have very limited underwater photo experience (a few rolls of 35mm), but for me the big issue was flash (the built in flash of a p&s is almost worthless underwater). The Sealife kits come with a flash, but I think you pay more than the value. The Nikonos cameras can take an underwater flash. As long as you could use an off camera flash with a p&s then that would work too (with the underwater housing). I would say in general that I'd expect the image quality from 35mm film to beat the image quality from most digital point-n-shoots, but then again you'd have to reload every 36 shots with film; it might not be worth it.