Which DSLR ???

Oh my goodness... i have done my research but the more i read the more indecisive I become....Im not asking you guys to make my decision but rather critique where I have got to and offer me the wisdom of experience....

Any help would be appreciated...........

This is my first DSLR and I will use it almost solely to take underwater shots - with a view to land photo experimentation. To be honest most of my photo experience has been underwater. I am currently using an olympus 8080 which Ive now grown out of, I still like the camera and it has ensure my familiarity with manual settings but now want to be able to take wide angle, close focus wide angle and fish eye shots. Im an experienced diver and have lots of opportunity to practice. Im a very keen wreck and technical diver too. I want to move towards making underwater photography a source of income - i know this is a challenge but i have time, opportunity, budget and a gameplan.

So in short - I need a system that Im not going to outgrow too quickly - ie one that i will grow into but not one so technically limiting that it makes my hair fall out. I need a housing rated to depth 70-90m and given the narcosis - easy functionality. The camera technically should be able to produce shots good enough from magazines. My budget can only afford a single strobe, one wide angle and one fish eye lens and ideally one dome port that supports both these lenses. I can still use the above mentioned olympus for macro.

So ...... where Im at is ..... a Nikon either d80 d100 d200 or d300 in a light and motion or subal housing.

What say you ??? And which lenses would you advise for a newbie for WA CFWA and Fish eye......

I know everyone will have an opinion based on their own experience and knowledge - thats what Im hoping....

Thanks

What's your budget?

(Saying you can only afford a single strobe _then_ looking at high-end housings[light&motion, subal] never mind the cost of the camera, lenses, port(s). Tells me you haven't done your research.)

In underwater photography, it's the person behind the camera that _makes_ the image _not_ the fancy camera. (Rats!, my pencil can not draw as well as yours. >> the artist draws not the pencil.)

There are plenty of threads here on wetpixel to answer your questions.

A good choice would be a used D200, an Aquatica housing with 8" dome port, Tokina 10-17 or nikon 16mm fisheye, a single used Ikelite SS-200 on a ulcs 8-8 arm, and a sync cord. You're still talking close to $5000.

Most people won't outgrow that system for many years.

(camera envy is another story with newer cameras coming out every year)

Take Care,

ChrisS

So in short - I need a system that Im not going to outgrow too quickly - ie one that i will grow into but not one so technically limiting that it makes my hair fall out. I need a housing rated to depth 70-90m and given the narcosis - easy functionality. The camera technically should be able to produce shots good enough from magazines. My budget can only afford a single strobe, one wide angle and one fish eye lens and ideally one dome port that supports both these lenses. I can still use the above mentioned olympus for macro.

 

So ...... where Im at is ..... a Nikon either d80 d100 d200 or d300 in a light and motion or subal housing.

 

What say you ??? And which lenses would you advise for a newbie for WA CFWA and Fish eye......

Hi Ayesha

As Chris says, you can't go far wrong with a Nikon D200 - and your choice of a Subal housing is very good. They are excellent and there will be an increasing number on the second hand market (mine included! If you'd like to talk D200/Subal housing PM me).

You could certainly get a wide angle and fisheye to work with one port: the DP-FE2. You'd probably need a flat port then for, say, a 60mm macro which would give you a good fish portrait capability. For lenses I'd suggest the 60mm macro plus either the Nikkor 12-24 to start off with, then the Tokina 10-17mm or the Nikkor 10.5mm. All the wide angles fit in the DP-FE2 with differing extension rings. The 12-24 is easier to use; the last two certainly take more practise because of their more extreme wide angles.

One strobe is fine to start with and get used to the system. the Subal/D200 combination is ready for a second strobe when you're ready and have the cash.

Hope this helps.

If you are looking Nikon, forget D100 if you don´t want something that already has outgrow (even when is still a great camera).

D80, D200, D300 are your choices. Then if you need 80 - 90mts housing that´s Aquatica or something in the same segment, but let´s say 2.000$ an used one. I think D200 + housing is close to 3.000$ used. Then you need ports, maybe an extra 500$, You can find an used Ikelite DS125 close to 500$, as for lens look on e-bay or put an extra 1.000$ for tokina 10-17 + a 60mm for macro.

As you can see your budget must be close to 5.000$

If you are really on tight budget forget the high end housing and get a second strobe instead. Ikelite are cheaper (and still very good) housings and ports.

I used to own a c8080 and belive me, the change would turn you upside down. (The first thing is that you get rid of that anoying and lousy focus hunt and shutter lag)

Add my $0.02 to help establish overall consistency of recommendation ...

Nikon D200

Nexus housing

Tokina 10-17

Nikkor 60mm

2 Inon Z240F

2 ports

Add Nikkor 105VR after tax refund.

All set for live !

to be able to take wide angle, close focus wide angle and fish eye shots. Im an experienced diver and have lots of opportunity to practice. Im a very keen wreck and technical diver too.

 

I need a housing rated to depth 70-90m and given the narcosis - easy functionality.

One thing that hasn't been properly noted yet in this thread. My Subal DP-FE-2 8" dome port - the most versatile and popular one from Subal is rated to 60m = 180 feet. The Nikon d200 ND20 Subal housing is rated to 70m = 210 feet. But with the dome port on it is less as you can see.

I don't know about the other brands but you need to look at how much the port is rated to, not just how much depth the housing is rated - as the figures can be different.

Also if you will be adding an extension ring (to accommodate the Tokina 10-17 for example) you need to also check the depth rating of the extension ring - and plan for the "weakest link" so to speak.

Just something else to consider carefully.

Best, Carol

One thing that hasn't been properly noted yet in this thread. My Subal DP-FE-2 8" dome port - the most versatile and popular one from Subal is rated to 60m = 180 feet. The Nikon d200 ND20 Subal housing is rated to 70m = 210 feet. But with the dome port on it is less as you can see.

 

I don't know about the other brands but you need to look at how much the port is rated to, not just how much depth the housing is rated - as the figures can be different.

 

Also if you will be adding an extension ring (to accommodate the Tokina 10-17 for example) you need to also check the depth rating of the extension ring - and plan for the "weakest link" so to speak.

 

Just something else to consider carefully.

 

Best, Carol

Subal now rates the FE2 to 80m, so that is not an issue any longer. The extensions are rated to the same 80m.

Subal now rates the FE2 to 80m, so that is not an issue any longer. The extensions are rated to the same 80m.

That's cool Ryan, does that mean they have now made the FE-2 dome port different (than mine that says 60m = 180 ft) or does that mean that mine has just been "re-rated" to 80m (and that means the ND20 housing also must have been re-rated or "re-made" to 80m also, cause my manual says 70m?). Not that I'm planning on testing its limits next week or anything like that......

Thx, Carol