Overwhelmed by information

As a newly qualified diver, and keen photographer, I would like to combine my two hobbies.

I have spent weeks poring through this site, but am now completely overwhelmed by information. :shock:

I have a Fuji F601Z. And a Canon 10D. I don't want to risk a flood on the 10D. :oops:

So to do u/w photography I can either use the F601Z (but I dont think there is a suitable housing for this) or buy something similar.

I don't need or want another land+u/w camera. I have two land cameras that suit my needs.

I have the "digital darkroom" all set up - PC, memory cards, p/shop etc.

So, could you kind & knowledgeable folks help me with:

1) I'd like a P&S camera with at least 4MP, and plenty of zoom, with ability to switch to macro mode. Preferably Canon or Fuji.

2) With a housing that is easy to get hold of and isn't too large and suitable for down to 40m (120ft).

3) And how could I attach an external flash, and what brand/type/name would you recommend for a camera set-up fitting (1) & (2).

A lot to ask, I know, but I would really appreciate some help!

many thanks,

Sunshine

Hello Sunshine-

you may want to check out www.splashdowndivers.com for a good review of Olympus point and shoot cameras. I personally use a 5050 in Ikelite housing with Inon macro and wide angle lenses and strobes. Excellent system with great results. The nikon cp5000 is also a good choice. Not sure what to recommend for canon or fuji. These pictures at http://www.scubadiving.com/article/0,7424,...8-0-905,00.html were taken with a 5050 with various inon add on equipent. Herb Ko at www.herbko.net also has wonderful photos using this camera. Good luck!

www.inonamerica.com

M.

Hi Starbuck/M.(!)

thanks for the info.

I'm based in SEAsia, so for some reason Olympus cameras are quite hard to get hold of in my part of this world - hence my preference for Canon or Fuji recommendations.

Sunshine

I agree that Olympus is the best point and shoot cameras around due to easy manual modes compared to other manufacturers. However, if you are having trouble finding one try the sonys. Canons and Nikons only have silly preprogrammed modes designed for land use. Sonys have small and versatile plexiglass type housings readily available. Problem with them is lack of hotshoe type strobes. (Personally i think slave strobes based on reflection of inside flashes are a waste of money) Many people have come onto my boat with these small housings and used attachable red filters with great results.

However, Olympus cameras, far and away the most versatile of the point and shoots, should be easy to find in Bangkok, Singapore, and HK no?

TahitiMike - could be - but that's the problem with SEA - that's still 8 hours travelling (car, plane etc) away!!!

Alrighty - if everyone is so keen on Olympus.... would someone be kind enough to show me (URL?) a camera, housing & strobe?

ta very much, mwah!

Sunshine :-)

A popular a cost-efficient combo is the Olympus 5050 (used) with the Olympus PT-015 housing, and either an Ikelite DS-125 strobe to start with or an Inon Z220 strobe (more compact). Strobes will be the most costly item in that setup.

Re "I don't want to risk a flood on the 10D."

If I had a 10D I would not hesitate to house it in an Ikelite housing. It's a great camera and popular with the underwater pros.

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/2d10canon.html

These housings use time tested technology that comes as close to flood proof as you can get.

Still worried? Consider flood insurance, if it's available in SEAsia.

Do you have a credit card registered to your current address?

If so then, try adorama.com or B&H (not sure their website) or any of the camera stores listed on Wetpixel. They should ship out equipment to you wherever you live. Hut by a beach? maybe not...

I lived in Palau for three years and always bought stuff from these online merchants and never had a real problem with delivery. Just make sure your shipping address and billing address are the same, sometimes they can be picky about that.

1 thing you may want to consider first is to get comfortable with your diving skills. Diving is an inherently safe sport like any sport, you have to get used to it first. Underwater photography will generally require excellent bouyancy skills, good (to great) air consumption. I saw a new diver once with his brand new housed camera system...it went like this...diver dumps air from BC, diver plumments to bottom and stirs up the bottom....in the middle of the swirling muck, he fires his strobe at something. Diver then tries to kick from the sea floor, raises even more muck, sees another photographer shooting something, lands on that photographer in an attempt to see what the subject is...well...was as it was spooked.

My fiance' is a very experienced diver but I'm only getting her started later this year on a Canon A80 with the Canon plastic housing. She has great diving skills and has been diving for 7 years now...but gets all flustered when handed a camera....

My 2 cents.

Stu

stu - I agree - and understand completely. It is easy to get flustered. That is another reason why I dont want to go the 10D route. Not only do I not want to risk a flood, I dont want to risk "forgetting"/"dropping" the camera!

That's why I'd prefer a (simple, cheap?) P&S.

I think you need to go with the oly 5050 and oly housing. Anything less and you won't be happy with the results. It gives you a lot of the features you will be sorry you don't have if you buy a simple camera. You can get the Ikelite DS-50 to save a few bucks on the stobe but the 125 is better if you can swing it. Just use the recomended manual presets and point and shoot until you are more comfortable with your diving. You can always upgrade your strobe later and use the smaller one as a backup.

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/oly_5050.html

I have the Ikelite housing for my 8080 with the 2 handles for better grip and strobe flexability.

Canons and Nikons only have silly preprogrammed modes designed for land use.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. The CP5000 has a full manual mode, exposure compensation, and bracketing (as well as aperture priority [great for DOF-critical shots], shutter priority [great for action shots], and program modes)... what do you want that is not there?

Dang, nailed myself with a generalization again.

Can't say i know every camera out there especially newer ones. I am generalizing on the cameras i saw guests bring to my boat over the last couple of years. Point and Shoots like Coolpix 4300, Canon Elphs and Sonys. I compared these to my Olympus 3040s and 4040s and felt those were superior models in that regard.

I am going to agree with Peter here, and suggest spending on only a housing and peripherals! Since you already KNOW the 10D well, you will substantially reduce the learning curve and therefore the task loading. It is also known to be a GREAT camera for UW, AFAIK.

And I am the one that always recomends waiting until you are a good diver before taking a camera down in the first place.