getting started/ occasional use

[Gordon]

I've on occasion been interested in doing some underwater shooting (mostly swimming pool/ snorkel level of shooting though - for triathlons and swim training in particular)

Any advice on an affordable (even via rental) way to get in to this, for occasional use ?

I've seen what sort of look like ziploc bags with lens openings (maybe slightly heavier plastic ) all the way up to the full 'work every button through' cases for my camera that costs about $5k.

Anyone care to list out the entry options into underwater shooting (again, not diving so much) ? Is there a middle ground between using a plastic bag and using the full housings ?

[KJ Smith]

Hey Gordon,

I am not a underwater guy, but Nikon made a film rangfinder type camera called the Action touch. I think it was good to about 15 ft.

You might find one on the used market.
There are also one time cameras, but you may want better quality.

Kevin

[jazzdiver]

Gordon,

I began...or intended to begin...my u/w photography with a Minolta Maxxum 9xi housed in an EWA-Marine "ziploc bag" housing. The plastic from which it is made, while much stronger than even the heaviest weight ziploc bags I've seen, was indeed not bulletproof. Either from how I packed it with my dive gear or by some sort of unseen mishap while doing my first dive with the camera, the housing flooded through what I later found to be a pinhole puncture. Luckily, I had insured my 9xi prior to the trip for reasons of skepticism about the housing. From that experience, I cannot recommend them for anything but perhaps shallow water use as in a swimming pool (so possibly still worth considering for your needs) or as foul-weather protection when shooting outdoors.

Another thing to be aware of with those housings is how at depths of 1 atmosphere (33 ft.) or more they become shrink wrap around your hand (a molded-in glove providing camera access) and the camera itself. In fact, that can also result in auto-firing your camera due to the pressure of the housing against the shutter release.

Probably the least expensive yet still reasonably decent entry you can make into u/w photography is with a smaller digicam and suitable housing. I've not priced any but would guess you could do that for no more than $500 or so, including an external strobe. The latter might not be required if you are indeed shooting in shallow water, but I'd think it would still be useful to open up shadows.

If you had any desire to shoot film, you could also seek out a Nikonos V camera body on e-bay or elsewhere, along with a suitable lens for your need. Fair warning though, the camera is fully manual focus via estimating and dialing in focusing distances, but it still quite nice to use for being so compact and amphibious. That was the step I took after the EWA experience. Now that I've gone with a housed Nikon D200, I'm reluctant to sell my Nikonos V gear but suspect I will do so and soon try posting it on e-bay. Carrying one rig is enough for me in view of tightened travel and luggage weight restrictions these days, so I don't anticipate using the Nikonos V any more, even with the superb 15mm lens....the one thing I will really miss, as my 12-24mm DX zoom still doesn't have the ultrawide reach of that lens.

Regards,

Daryl

[jamesw]

Hi Gordon,

I've thought about this one a lot too as I've been asked this question many times. Firstly, I'd check out the classifieds section at Wetpixel.com You may be able to find a good deal on a camera and housing from someone who is upgrading to the latest and greatest. This goes for both DSLR's and Digicams.

Secondly, if you've already got a digicam, you can get a polycarbonate housing for it for like $150. If you can set up the on-camera flash so that it doesn't emit preflashes, then you may be able to use it to trigger studio strobes outside the pool. If that doesn't work then you may want to get a cheap underwater slave strobe like an old Ikelite Auto35. They sell for like $50 on ebay. Be advised though that most of the older underwater slave strobes fire on the first flash they see, so you'll need a camera that doesn't emit preflashes to use one of these older affordable strobes.

Here's a guy on Ebay that's selling a couple of Sea and Sea digicam setups: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZdoudive5082QQhtZ-1

Might be worth a look. The camera inside is a Ricoh btw which got decent reviews.

Cheers
James

[DavidsStudio]

Hi Gordon

If you want to start off not only inexpensively (relatively) and with something that is easy to use, I recommend you look for something like the Olympus C-4040 or similar. Olympus also makes very very serviceable underwater housing that are very reasonably priced. The housing is very compact. I have found it is great for traveling. I have used them for some time and have gotten some very nice pics. Seaworm
Blackside Hawkfish
Soft Coral - Bali

Best to you.

David
PADI MSDT/IDCS

[Torrey]

Originally Posted by DavidsStudio

Blackside Hawkfish

I love how this one turned out!

[Gordon]

Thanks for all the suggestions - very helpful.

[DavidsStudio]

Originally Posted by Torrey

I love how this one turned out!

Thanks. Hawkfish will let you get relatively close so they make good subjects.