What is a great underwater digital camera?

waterproof cameras best buy uk image

Boo

I'm looking for something that isn't bulky, and has pretty good quality photos. $200-500.

Cheaper the better, but I am willing to splurge to get great quality! (i.e. doesn't blurr pictures, vivid images, video with sound)

Answer
Firstly what depth are you planning to take it? Are you a swimmer, snorkeler or scuba diver? That will dictate pretty much what type of camera you need.

For swimming, or snorkelling at no more that a couple of meters a camera labelled 'waterproof' (check rated depth) would probably do. Here's a list of consumer digital & disposable underwater cameras;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=underwater+cameras&x=16&y=27

Alternatively you buy a camera & housing to go with it (slightly more expensive option);
http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/d_stills/packages.html

These housings are rated to deeper depths suitable for divers. However, because they are rigid, the buttons on the outside (which work the camera buttons on the inside) have to be in the right place and so a particular housing is made to fit a particular model of camera.

Then there's lighting. On camera flashes are poor at illuminating underwater without causing 'backscatter', so for top quality images, you'll need a separate strobe & arm. Again, these aren't cheap!

Rigid housings rely on rubber seals or O rings to keep the water out & it is CRUCIAL that these are well maintained. They must be cleaned, greased & reseated correctly before every swim/dive to prevent leakage. The slightest bit of sand, grit, hair or nicks/cuts in the ring & it will leak.

My rigid underwater housing (Sea & Sea) for my Nikon DSLR cost in the region of £1500, ports were around £200 each & the strobes & arms were around £1000 - so you can see underwater photography with DSLR's is not a cheap hobby!

Good quality u/w photos come from not only quality equipment but also knowledge of how light behaves underwater. You need to be close to the subject to get a good image.

What is the cheapest underwater photography solution available?

Guy Haimov

I want to take underwater photos in shallow reefs

Answer
Two questions - how deep are you going to go & what's your budget?

Shallow/cheap options - you can either buy a waterproof digital camera (usually ok for swimming pool depths - 2-3m or so) or you can use a flexible housing for a camera you already have (usually ok for 5-8m or so).

Fuji finepix is quite good at around £100;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePix-XP10-Digital-Camera/dp/B00342UTO8/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300631604&sr=1-7

or the Canon Powershot D10 for just over £200;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B001T9NH7E/ref=sr_1_12?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300631604&sr=1-12

A selection of flexible housings;
http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/ewa_marine/d_stills/index.html

If you are going deeper than about 10m you need a rigid housing, otherwise water pressure pushes buttons you don't want pushing. A selection of compact camera & housing packages here;
http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/d_stills/packages.html

These will be a few hundred pounds for both camera & housing.

At the top end of the scale is housings for DSLR's - these are several thousand pounds worth once you've bought strobes/ports as well.

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