Underwater Picture taking options

[SilverGS]

I usually just get a disposable underwater camera and take a few shots but it seems there are more option these days from enclosures to digital cameras that are waterproof.

Anyone have experience with any of the waterproof cameras out there?

Are there any options other than a $300 enclosure?

[Freeskier]

Well like you said there are either dedicated underwater cameras or housings for non uw cameras. Housings are pretty expensive, but allow you to have just the one camera.

Underwater digitals have come down in price a lot recently. Depends how much you want to spend, how much you'll use it and for what purposes. If you're scuba diving, then you'll want either a decent housing or one of the dedicated diving cameras. If it's just snorkelling and water sports I think there are some point and shoots now that are waterproof.

A lot of the divers out in Victoria use sealife cameras which seem to be great value for an underwater point and shoot. They can all be upgraded with strobes and lights as well which is sweet.

http://www.sealife-cameras.com/

Also check this site out, they've broken down most of the housings available for non slr cameras.

http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=57

D'z nuts does some u/w shooting I think, he might have some more direct experience.

[kaput]

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[Mitsu3000gt]

By far the best option for underwater photography on a budget is buying a good point & shoot camera as well as a housing.

Fujifilm and Canon make housings for a lot of their better point & shoot cameras, so I would start there.

Those waterproof/shockproof/freezeproof cameras have fairly poor image quality, as you are paying basically for the durability. Unless you are on an incredibly tight budget I would forget those. They also aren't waterproof to very deep (10-30ft).

Underwater enclosures are typically MUCH cheaper, as much as 50%, in the states. I recommend www.bhphoto.com for the housing ($178 for most vs $250-$300 locally). Manufactuer housings are typically much cheaper than the 3rd party housings like sealife, ikelite, etc.

It will probably end up costing you more like $400-500 rather than $300 but you will end up with a way better setup and a camera that will also do great outside of the water.

Here's a few pics I got with my Fuji F30 and housing (which I sold for less than $300 by the way, not long ago haha...too bad).


http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Mexico-2010-2/Chitzen-ItzaResort/DSCF1226/888285628_522qV-L.jpg

http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Florida-2010/Discovery-Cove/DSCF0825/820448094_jdTSm-L.jpg

http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Florida-2010/Discovery-Cove/DSCF1004/820452326_D7hrY-L.jpg

http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Hawaii-Oahu-May-2008/Shark-Encounter-1/DSCF0486/310489828_qvm2M-L-1.jpg

[Kloubek]

http://zenstoves.net/PotAccessories/FreezerBag.jpg