[WTB] Waterproof camera for recreational diving

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Forums › Offers and Wanted › [WTB] Waterproof camera for recreational diving

ringbearer

114 posts

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#165569 13-Feb-2015 15:44

My wife and I will be learning to dive in April, and I'd love to have a camera to use while underwater. I'm looking for something that is waterproof to at least 18m (50ft), which limits the selection the highest end models from each of the main manufactures. So far, the Olympus TG-3 or a Panasonic TS5 look pretty good.
If you have one lying around gathering dust, I'd be very interested.

PeterReader

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#1237421 13-Feb-2015 15:44

Hey, have you listed a price, location and how much shipping would be to other parts of New Zealand? Also if you are asking for a PM make sure your Privacy settings allow your account to receive PM otherwise people can't contact you. Also note if you are selling something we ask you to offer to other members first. Links to private sales (including Trade Me posts) aren't accepted anymore and will be removed.

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Dolts

214 posts

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#1237453 13-Feb-2015 16:10

Have you considered a GoPro?

ringbearer

114 posts

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#1237462 13-Feb-2015 16:20

I have thought about it, but my main goal is to capture still shots with maybe a small amount of video, rather than the other way round. It may end up being the better option though.

BTR

1527 posts

Uber Geek

#1239805 16-Feb-2015 11:00

Go pro has multiple still shot modes. A quick Google search will bring up many examples of underwater photography using GoPros. I plan you use both of mine while diving on holiday in Sept. One will be attached using the chest mount and the other will be on the floaty buoy.

frankv

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#1239823 16-Feb-2015 11:19

There are some quite cheap ($20) waterproof camera housings which claim to be good to 20m and fit most digital cameras.

I'm thinking about getting one of these for when I go on a dive in June.

Has any one tried these? Are they really waterproof to 20m? Do you get reasonable quality photos?

wasabi2k

2096 posts

Uber Geek

#1239894 16-Feb-2015 12:05

frankv: There are some quite cheap ($20) waterproof camera housings which claim to be good to 20m and fit most digital cameras.

I'm thinking about getting one of these for when I go on a dive in June.

Has any one tried these? Are they really waterproof to 20m? Do you get reasonable quality photos?

I would be concerned trusting my $x00 camera to a $20 case!

Test it first!

blakamin

4431 posts

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#1239897 16-Feb-2015 12:09

How about the nikon range? AW120 or AW130

Even the new AW130 is only $350 US

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Jaxson

8041 posts

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#1239922 16-Feb-2015 12:29

The GoPro's can record video and store stills at set time intervals, all tucked away on your head or chest so you can get on with whatever you are doing...
12MP in wide field of view. The amount of light is going to be critical for a good shot on anything with a smaller sensor.

LookingUp

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1240050 16-Feb-2015 14:20

Having done a bit of underwater photography, but still being quite new to it, I'll offer the following personal observations and suggestions:

* From what I've read, GoPros are ok for wide angle, but not very good for close up (macro). Underwater, there is very strong attenuation of the red end of the light spectrum, that means for wide angle you need VERY strong strobes or lighting for anything other than green wide angle photos.

* Unless you're very lucky, if you're diving in NZ you'll probably have very low visibility, which again kills wide angle. Down here in the South Island, anything better than 5-10m visibility is pretty good! (Fiordland excepted)

* Fish are damn near impossible to photograph, as they don't sit still, and lag with a digital camera pretty much guarantees they won;t be where they were when you pushed the button.

* Given the above, you'll want to start with marco shots of slow moving objects on the bottom or on rocks. These are plentiful, and good sport while you learn to dive.

* Learn to dive before you take a camera with you. If you find a camera a challenge on land you'll find it 10x harder underwater.

* I've had mixed results with cheap housings for a good point'n'shoot camera. One housing has probably done 50-60 dives with no issues, the other drowned the camera on the first dive.

* Back to the GoPro idea - underwater video is a LOT easier than photography. A GoPro might be ok for that, and I've had reasonable results with a good point'n'shoot camera on video mode, although not in NZ, as you need reasonable visibility - both to see the subject, and to allow enough light through for the camera to function.

* Assume that at some point you'll do your advanced open water ticket and be heading deeper, so maybe look for something that will go to at least 30m

You can find some example amateur photos here that illustrate some of the above: http://www.canterburyunderwater.org.nz/members-stuff/photos/

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

4possm

76 posts

Master Geek

#1240126 16-Feb-2015 15:54

LookingUp: Having done a bit of underwater photography, but still being quite new to it, I'll offer the following personal observations and suggestions:

* From what I've read, GoPros are ok for wide angle, but not very good for close up (macro). Underwater, there is very strong attenuation of the red end of the light spectrum, that means for wide angle you need VERY strong strobes or lighting for anything other than green wide angle photos.

These two items will change your life:

Macromate Mini

Flip Filters

I would certainly recommend the Go Pro, not only does it take great photos but it also has the advantage of taking amazing videos.
With the Flip filter you will get the clearest photos underwater. With the macromate mini you will take some amazing Macro photos Obviously the deeper you go you also want to look at lighting, that is where the price goes up

BTR

1527 posts

Uber Geek

#1240138 16-Feb-2015 16:06

Another comment on GoPros' there are aftermarket filters available for the purpose of underwater photography.

LookingUp

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1240173 16-Feb-2015 16:39

4possm:
LookingUp: Having done a bit of underwater photography, but still being quite new to it, I'll offer the following personal observations and suggestions:

* From what I've read, GoPros are ok for wide angle, but not very good for close up (macro). Underwater, there is very strong attenuation of the red end of the light spectrum, that means for wide angle you need VERY strong strobes or lighting for anything other than green wide angle photos.

These two items will change your life: Macromate Mini Flip Filters

I would certainly recommend the Go Pro, not only does it take great photos but it also has the advantage of taking amazing videos.
With the Flip filter you will get the clearest photos underwater. With the macromate mini you will take some amazing Macro photos Obviously the deeper you go you also want to look at lighting, that is where the price goes up

Nice video indeed! My only comment is that some pretty serious video lighting was also used in those clips, as it was quite evident in some scenes, and personal experience suggests that it was almost certainly used in all. You don't have to go very deep for things to get quite dark, as can be seen in the shadow in at least a couple of scenes.

Also, WRT to the filters - beware that filters REMOVE light to realign white balance, and the deeper you go the more filter you need to achieve this, and the less light left for the camera. Unless you're in gin clear water with the sun directly overhead, things get challenging quickly as you go deeper. I'd suggest the filters would be fine for near the surface (snorkel) but will be a liability at any sort of depth.

From personal experience, a camera that performs well at low light levels is the best bet, as it allows you to run a high ISO and fast shutter. While the subject you're trying to snap might be relatively stationary the sea generally isn't, and it's not easy to stay still and not blur a shot slower than 1/125 sec.

Note - good video lights and/or flash strobes are probably going to cost more than the camera and housing, so this is not a cheap sport to get into by any means.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

ringbearer

114 posts

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#1242338 19-Feb-2015 14:18

Thanks for the advice everyone. A friend has kindly offered to lend us a GoPro, which will be great while we actually need to focus on learning to dive. If we do get into it further, I might look into a housing for one of my other cameras.