Camera/ case for Diving!!

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Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Location
Melbourne
Howdy,

So me and the other half are going to Brazil for Carnival in March-we're also doing some diving whilst we are there.

We want a compact to take photos of the marine life.

The Samsung WB600 is reduced to £129 at the moment, but I cannot for the life of me find a case for it which is waterproof past 5 metres.

Can anyone help with:

A) cases

OR

B) A good camera for underwater with a case

Thanks
 
Don't know where you are, but if you're in or around London, then there's a massive dive shop that does all sorts of cameras and housings just outside Embankment tube station. Especially with dive stuff, I've always found a hands-on approach to buying more useful.
 
Ah lovely, I am in Greenwich, so will pop down (or up?) to Embankment this week... Thanks!
 
Well yeah, cases for DSLRs are expensive. I'd counter and say they're not the best cameras for scuba though.

If you do scuba photography there are some key features that will make it a better experience:

:- It needs to be quick and easy to use
:- You need to be able to do manual white balance (probably the most important)
:- Ideally you should be able to fit a wide-angle lens

The white balance bit is important as the water filters an awful lot of the light.

By way of example - manual white balance:

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Automatic white balance:

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Personally I've had more success with small handhelds rather than DSLRs. I went from a Fuji F30 to a Canon IXUS. Both units have an external wide-angle lens on the case... The wide angle is important as it reduces the distance between you (the camera) and your subject - and therefore reduces scatter from the particles in the water.

Some of my fave dive shots are here: http://gallery.me.com/macrs4#101113&bgcolor=black&view=grid
 
^^Thanks :) Some lovely shots. Where were they taken?


I am looking at the Samsung WB600 (Linky) and the universal case from the shop in London. What do you think?

Camera is 120-ish and about 140 for the case... Expensive but hopefully worth it!
 
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I'd agree with the above and say that SLRs aren't necessarily the easiest (and certainly not the cheapest) option for diving unless you're specifically there for the photography. If you're going diving for the fun of it, then you're not going to want something massive, as you're simply not going to take it.

On the other hand, a lot of the smaller cameras I've seen are really crippled by the proximity of the flash to the lens (causing back-scatter). If you're not too deep, then that's not so much of an issue and you won't need flash, but if you're deeper (or night diving), then it's a problem.

Haven't used that Samsung, but I like Samsung compacts in general. For diving though, a menu system that a 2 year old could use is easier underwater, so go and try anything in the shop (preferably in the case) before you buy!
 
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Most of my stuff is in and around Sharm El Sheikh, probably been some 30 odd times now.

Paul, from Cameras Underwater mentioned above, will give you great advice. He really knows his stuff.

I'm not that familiar with that Samsung, however the specs look good. Does 720p video too. I use a Canon IXUS 100 now - it seems pretty similar to the Samsung.

Two things I'd assess - how easy is it to do a manual whitebalance, and can you (later, if necessary) get a lens adapter to fit the case so you can fit a wide-angle or fish eye lens.

You can see some of the video from my IXUS here: http://gallery.me.com/macrs4#100962

Also a write up from a Sharm trip that includes some references to photography: http://www.markc.me.uk/MarkC/Personal_Blog/Entries/2010/2/22_Sharm_February_2010.html
 
Sorry how do I do manual WB under water? Do you take a white card down and do a reference photo? That's how I do it for my D80 on dry land but might be a bit tricky 20m under water! :D

Thanks
 
You can either use a white slate or do what a lot of divers do (me included) and use the sand.

It's a doddle really - if it's easy on your camera that is. Essentially you should be w/b everytime you have to equalise.
 
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