Newbie question, sorry if it has been told many times....

[*~Karena~*]

I know you guys have been asked for many times but as a newbie like me, I still don't know what to do, would like to have your advise....

I don't have any underwater equipments right now but I am going to Cancun for 4-day trip, that's probably the only chance I would like "water pics" in this year....Is there any inexpensive way that can serve the purpose? I currently own a Canon Powershot S60 and SD 400 (also 350D, but won't bring this for water purposes...)

I also heard about there are one-time-disposable camera which is waterproof, however, I doubt its quality, and also I have been using digi cam for so many years that I always shot a lot of pics (cause it's almost no cost and I am not a pro and always take 3 pics of same thing to ensure I can have a nice shot)....so I think for those film disposable, 24 or 36 pics is way not enough...plus, I can't see the outcome until I come back the trip and process them, if it's bad, it's too late to take other shots!!!

So I am struggling, please advice! THANKS!

Karena

[RGWeber]

Karena,

The most inexpensive way is the disposable. Fuji makes one that gives you 27 pictures and you can buy them at WalMart for about $10. They are good to 10 ft. and do not have a flash. The other option is the waterproof housing made by Canon for your Canons. The housing for the S60 should run about $90 and the housing for the SD400 should cost about $150. Both are also only good to 10 ft. water depth. Check the Canon website. If you go the disposable route, go with the 400 speed film as the 800 speed turns out grainy.

Trade-offs:

1) It won't take long to use up the cost of the housing with the disposable cost and film processing cost.

2) You can see your shots immediately and adjust if necessary with digital.

3) Unlimited photos with digital, no need to scan when you return.

4) You ruin your Canon if you develop a leak.

Search for underwater disposable cameras and you will find several forums with information and quality of photos. Hope this helps.

Rick

[tropicdiver]

Karena, I'm guessing you're snorkeling, right?

You can purchase a flexible housing from B & H Photo that is made by EWA-Marine and it will cost you right at $100.00 and there will be one that works for your camera.

When I was playing with U/W photography many years, ago, I bought one for my old Canon AE-1 and it worked just fine.

Remember that you basically lose all light once you get below 10' and everything will go from green to violet, so to get any colors, work that flash on your camera and get close to your subject, as your light won't work very far underwater. Also, remember to shoot pointing the camera a bit in an upwards direction. When pointing the camera in a downwards motion, most pictures end up looking very one dimensional and very flat.

I have only 1 photo that I took with my AE-1 underwater using the EWA-Marine housing and here it is. Keep in mind that this photo was taken some 20+ years, ago, with no flash and in 30' of water. Back then it thrilled me, now it kinda' embarrasses me to share it.

[justin-branam]

if i were you, i'd take a look over at some of the underwater photo sites like www.digitaldiver.net and www.wetpixel.com as well as the photography forum on www.scubaboard.com and check out the classifieds. I took my girlfriend to Bonaire last summer, and wanted to get her a little camera to shoot with and i ended up picking up a Canon digital 4mp with a housing and extra batteries for $200. i dont remember which model it was (got stolen on my next trip!), but it took great shots, and it shot in RAW format, which i highly reccomend, so you can change the white balance afterwards.

If you want to check on housings for your cameras, go to www.digideep.com and you can view all of the housings made for your camera. I would not suggest any of the "ziplock bag" housings, even if you are just snorkeling. problem with these it when you go even a few feet under the water, the bag compresses and can actually puch buttons and hold them there, which you definitely dont want. plus an o-ring is a lot safer than a plastic zipper lock in my opinion.

[*~Karena~*]

Thanks for all the info, I will definitely go look into them further....if I can get something around or under $100 for a 4-day trip, it still sounds reasonable....(I simply have go swimming and snorkeling as much as possible!)

Hopefully I would have something to share when I am back!!!

[Torrey]

The waterproof disposable cameras really don't do too bad of a job for the cost. If you're willing to spend a little more, you can get a Sealife Sportdiver pretty cheap. This is a 35mm film camera that is good to 120 feet underwater, and can be taken out of the plastic housing to use on land also. Then you've got something you can use over and over.

As RGWeber mentioned, getting a case for your S60 is what I would do. I have used the disposables and own one of the Sportdiver's and since I went digital I haven't used the others at all. Just be really careful that you inspect the rubber gaskets thoroughly before you close the case and take it underwater. If you go this route, you might want to look into insurance through a company like DEPP also.

[RGWeber]

Originally Posted by Torrey

Just be really careful that you inspect the rubber gaskets thoroughly before you close the case and take it underwater. If you go this route, you might want to look into insurance through a company like DEPP also.

Clean o-ring gaskets are critical. Something as small as a hair across a gasket can cause a leak. There will be a lubricant you grease the gasket with, but a caution here as too much lubricant can cause problems as well. DEPP is a good insurance as well as DAN (Diver's Alert Network).

Rick