Hey underwater photo family,

I'm looking to build my first underwater camera system and have the opportunity to pick up a kit for my old Canon 5D Mark III. The kit includes Sea & Sea underwater housing (recently serviced by Backscatter), dome port, macro port, and a Sigma 15mm EF lens, all for $550. I already have some Sea & Sea strobes, so this would likely go a long way to kitting me out.

Any thoughts on the viability of an older DSLR for underwater photography in 2026? Am I silly for not picking this up instantly?

Sidenote: I just registered for the 2027 Monterey Shootout and am looking forward to trying my hand in the "Beginner" category!

Thanks ever so much,

Eric

You can still create award winning images with the camera. If it were me that would be a no brainer.

1 hour ago, brightnight said:

You can still create award winning images with the camera. If it were me that would be a no brainer.

Thanks for the reply! That’s what I was thinking too but wanted to get some other perspectives. I appreciate yours!

No reason it won't work for you, just check out how you plan to trigger your strobes - can you optically trigger with this housing or is it cables? You mention S&S strobes - just be aware the older S&S strobes are known to be difficult to trigger optically - specifically the YS-D2 model need a good strong trigger.

As long as you are happy with this camera over the water, it will be fine for UW as well...

9 hours ago, Chris Ross said:

No reason it won't work for you, just check out how you plan to trigger your strobes - can you optically trigger with this housing or is it cables? You mention S&S strobes - just be aware the older S&S strobes are known to be difficult to trigger optically - specifically the YS-D2 model need a good strong trigger.

Thanks, Chris! I was thinking of using 5-pin connectors like what I attached. Think this is a good option? https://www.backscatter.com/Sea-and-Sea-5-pin-Dual-Sync-Cord-Single-Nikonos

8 hours ago, Architeuthis said:

As long as you are happy with this camera over the water, it will be fine for UW as well...

Thank you! It was my first pro camera so it would be great to use it again in this way.

11 hours ago, ericstrege said:

Thanks, Chris! I was thinking of using 5-pin connectors like what I attached. Think this is a good option? https://www.backscatter.com/Sea-and-Sea-5-pin-Dual-Sync-Cord-Single-Nikonos

The wired connectors will work as long as you have a matching bulkhead. Not as convenient at optic fibre as they require maintenance of the o-rings and are prone to corrosion if not well cared for. Having said they will certainly work though quite possibly they will be restricted to manual flash only unless the housing comes with the YS converter for your camera, assuming again your strobes are TTL capable. Otherwise you would be looking for a third party TTL converter.

There are several types of bulkhead connectors and I believe Canon TTL bulkheads are 6 pin. This won't stop you using the housing - just make sure you get the right hardware to avoid surprises. You will need to talk to a vendor to get the right combination of housing bulkhead, sync cable and if needed a TTL converter. For manual you only need the correct hot shoe cable.

Two-part reply from the wordy dude:
1).
Isn't it cheap enough that you could still offload it a season later for the same or a little less and in effect have had a free or a cheap "rental" for the whole time?
The lens and the dome may get your 300 bucks without much trying? (Granted, pure speculation).

2).
Don't put too much into what I say as even though I made a career in photography, it was above water.
My UW work is limited and very much still docu style (people working in the ocean type stuff) but I did shoot the first three 5D series cams professionally until the first A7 came out and I did shoot a 5D3 in the ocean for a while.
But if I had an assignment coming up that needed an underwater element and I needed affordable gear without the newest bells and whistles, I would go for for that deal and be pretty thrilled.

However I made the switch and lived with all the shortcomings of the early A7 models because of Sony's better high ISO and dynamic range, especially the shadow recovery (as well as the smaller camera suiting my type of work).
Now, I think this is only a point to consider if you like to rely on that level of shadow recovery.
I don't really know enough about how UW shooters process their pics so it may not be a thing at all. And if it's mostly strobe type work where you can take your time and light it well, it's likely even less of a differentiator. Or if you end up crushing your blacks at the end anyways;)

As for AF, I honestly can't recall if I missed shots underwater. Since I can't, I speculate it was fine and I don't really know how much the improvements in that area is actually used UW? Maybe for animals on the move it matters more?

I do still miss my 5D cams from time to time. The files that came out of those cameras were just so pleasant to work with, so close to the final product with no bad tendencies to skew colors (especially reds/yellows = skin colors). Even the noise was famously "grain like" which my gen of shooters appreciated having started on film and having had to live through horribly noisy early dig cameras.

P.S.

I just read your member intro and saw you make a living shooting and teaching photography on land. So, yeah, you know what to expect from that camera color and DR wise:).

Heck, I just remembered, I shot a handful of assignments during Covid on a 10 year old 5D3 as I was without my Sony gear at the time. I am sure most people can't tell it was an older cam - and I was impressed myself. Tropical sun, harsh light sometimes. Highlights hold up super well, better colors though less shadow detail than my Sonys.
(On my site it's the "Pamilacan", "Small Scale Fishermen" and "Typhoon Rai" stories.)

Edited October 18Oct 18 by GeckoSub

9 hours ago, GeckoSub said:

Two-part reply from the wordy dude:
1).
Isn't it cheap enough that you could still offload it a season later for the same or a little less and in effect have had a free or a cheap "rental" for the whole time?
The lens and the dome may get your 300 bucks without much trying? (Granted, pure speculation).

2).
Don't put too much into what I say as even though I made a career in photography, it was above water.
My UW work is limited and very much still docu style (people working in the ocean type stuff) but I did shoot the first three 5D series cams professionally until the first A7 came out and I did shoot a 5D3 in the ocean for a while.
But if I had an assignment coming up that needed an underwater element and I needed affordable gear without the newest bells and whistles, I would go for for that deal and be pretty thrilled.

However I made the switch and lived with all the shortcomings of the early A7 models because of Sony's better high ISO and dynamic range, especially the shadow recovery (as well as the smaller camera suiting my type of work).
Now, I think this is only a point to consider if you like to rely on that level of shadow recovery.
I don't really know enough about how UW shooters process their pics so it may not be a thing at all. And if it's mostly strobe type work where you can take your time and light it well, it's likely even less of a differentiator. Or if you end up crushing your blacks at the end anyways;)

As for AF, I honestly can't recall if I missed shots underwater. Since I can't, I speculate it was fine and I don't really know how much the improvements in that area is actually used UW? Maybe for animals on the move it matters more?

I do still miss my 5D cams from time to time. The files that came out of those cameras were just so pleasant to work with, so close to the final product with no bad tendencies to skew colors (especially reds/yellows = skin colors). Even the noise was famously "grain like" which my gen of shooters appreciated having started on film and having had to live through horribly noisy early dig cameras.

P.S.

I just read your member intro and saw you make a living shooting and teaching photography on land. So, yeah, you know what to expect from that camera color and DR wise:).

Heck, I just remembered, I shot a handful of assignments during Covid on a 10 year old 5D3 as I was without my Sony gear at the time. I am sure most people can't tell it was an older cam - and I was impressed myself. Tropical sun, harsh light sometimes. Highlights hold up super well, better colors though less shadow detail than my Sonys.
(On my site it's the "Pamilacan", "Small Scale Fishermen" and "Typhoon Rai" stories.)

I really appreciate your thoughtful response! Thanks so much. Also, I’m a pretty verbose person myself so I enjoyed the ride haha.

Seems like you and I have been on similar gear journeys with digital. Started out with the canon 5D series then switched to Sony not too long ago. I now shoot with an A7rV and A7rIV for topside work (landscapes, wildlife, client work).

I loved the files I got out of the 5D cameras and particularly like the idea of putting the ol' girl back into the field.

Your galleries look great BTW. Checked out your website a bit.

2 hours ago, ericstrege said:

I really appreciate your thoughtful response! Thanks so much. Also, I’m a pretty verbose person myself so I enjoyed the ride haha.

Hehe, you're welcome:)

2 hours ago, ericstrege said:

Seems like you and I have been on similar gear journeys with digital. Started out with the canon 5D series then switched to Sony not too long ago. I now shoot with an A7rV and A7rIV for topside work (landscapes, wildlife, client work).

I loved the files I got out of the 5D cameras and particularly like the idea of putting the ol' girl back into the field.

Not my money, but now I am even more inclined to just say go for it:).
I think the fact you that aren't a beginner to cameras at all means you are much better equipped to get good results out of it. You'll know where it can and where it can't be pushed.

2 hours ago, ericstrege said:

Your galleries look great BTW. Checked out your website a bit.

Thanks man, much appreciated.
I'll be cheering for you. I think it's healthy getting reminded that in good hands, gear matters less. We forget too easily that it's not just the arrow. Happy hunting:)

Edited October 19Oct 19 by GeckoSub

On 10/16/2026 at 10:15 PM, ericstrege said:

Hey underwater photo family,

I'm looking to build my first underwater camera system and have the opportunity to pick up a kit for my old Canon 5D Mark III. The kit includes Sea & Sea underwater housing (recently serviced by Backscatter), dome port, macro port, and a Sigma 15mm EF lens, all for $550. I already have some Sea & Sea strobes, so this would likely go a long way to kitting me out.

Any thoughts on the viability of an older DSLR for underwater photography in 2026? Am I silly for not picking this up instantly?

Sidenote: I just registered for the 2027 Monterey Shootout and am looking forward to trying my hand in the "Beginner" category!

Thanks ever so much,

Eric

Sometimes, I still use an old 5D MI II and 7D (even if I hav a 5D MK IV), and they are still making really good photos compared with the newet cameras. You will lack a bit on the color depth on higher iso and the quality when filming is a bit lower and the autofocus is a bit slower, but the digfference is not enough to be significant for a non commersial user. I'd say 5D MI III is still good enough for all underwater photography.

7 hours ago, Rune Edvin Haldorsen said:

Sometimes, I still use an old 5D MI II and 7D (even if I hav a 5D MK IV), and they are still making really good photos compared with the newet cameras. You will lack a bit on the color depth on higher iso and the quality when filming is a bit lower and the autofocus is a bit slower, but the digfference is not enough to be significant for a non commersial user. I'd say 5D MI III is still good enough for all underwater photography.

Thanks! How does the 5Dmkii autofocus do underwater? There are a ton of housings out there for mkii not so much for mkiii.

Because of that I’d thought about getting a mkii (even though I have a mkiii) since there is so much available gear.

It's a bit slower than the MK iii, but the largest difference is up to MK IV, so my conclution while using my MK II was that it wasn't worth the money to change before the next camera model. Good focus light and high quality lenses will give you more than a slightly upgraded autofocus. If you use it, the auto color ballance seems (in my oppenion) better in MK II than in the following models.

By the way: The reason why noone sell the MK III underwater housing is becauce you use the same housing for MK IV, so If you want to upgrade for a MK IV, it will be wise to buy a MK III kit. .

Edited October 20Oct 20 by Rune Edvin Haldorsen

9 hours ago, Rune Edvin Haldorsen said:

It's a bit slower than the MK iii, but the largest difference is up to MK IV, so my conclution while using my MK II was that it wasn't worth the money to change before the next camera model. Good focus light and high quality lenses will give you more than a slightly upgraded autofocus. If you use it, the auto color ballance seems (in my oppenion) better in MK II than in the following models.

By the way: The reason why noone sell the MK III underwater housing is becauce you use the same housing for MK IV, so If you want to upgrade for a MK IV, it will be wise to buy a MK III kit. .

Agreed, at least for a nauticam housing, I shoot with the 5dmIV in a 5dmiii housing. Couple minor changes to make it work but all were pretty simple. I would love to shoot a new mirrorless sony but the cost holds me back and the images on my 5D are still fantastic. You can get a primary setup and a backup for a good price too. Once you spend time with your underwater setup you'll learn more about what you like and don't like and can make a more informed decision down the line should you choose too.

Nice websites @ericstrege and @GeckoSub Some wonderful images there David. https://www.davidhogsholtvisuals.com/sardines

Thanks to everyone who has been sharing their insight. I officially picked up the Sea and Sea 5dmkiii housing v2, an acrylic dome, macro port and even came with the Sigma 15mm 2.8 fisheye.

Here are some pics of the new rig!

Looks like you've got everything you need to get started. You might want to consider seeing if you can get a vacuum system for the housing, the manual doesn't talk about it but it looks like there is an additional connection plug that is retained with a circlip on LH side front section.