Forum Members Poll: Your first underwater camera

rx100 m4 was my first camera.

some sony actioncam, then Nikon aw110, sony rx100mk2, Nikon d800, Olympus omd em5, Olympus omd em1...

Started with a Canon G9 in it’s WP housing, I don’t think gopros were around back then. Technically this is still my rig. I do have a go pro since last year, but it doesn’t really talk to my Inon z240 .

It’s probably time for something new...

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Canon G7XII... Love shooting UW with it 

I built my first camera housings. The very first was a AGFA 35mm in a Plexiglass box using glands gotten from a listing in Skin Diver magazine and using the book How to Build Your Own Housing or something like that. I built a number of variations even fabricating a dome port from a marine compass bubble. The HS shop teacher helped a few times with the more complicated versions to machine various parts. During that time I was gifted a used Nemrod 120 camera. I then moved to a Nikonos I that was also well used when I got it and then I bought a new Nikonos III that I used in addition to a Nikon FE and then a Nikon FMIIT SLRs (in Ikelite bubbles). Then an Oly 5050 in Ikelite until it flooded, then a Canon A570 in Ikelite until it flooded and then a Canon S90 in FIX (still going strong) and now a Nauticam with Sony A6400. 

Nikonos III- no strobe, no corrective lenses in dive mask. Still shooting manual today. 
 

Sea & Sea DX860g with a Sea & Sea YS-27DX strobe.

It was a great camera, IF you didn't mind the insane shutter lag.

 I currently use an Olympus TG5 in a housing.  Good camera and easy to travel with - but looking to move to my Canon DSLR very soon.  

I should mention that I actually started with a GoPro 2 in a housing.  The only housing available to me had a dome lens, so the images were all distorted - I tried many times to get a proper dive housing, but by then you could not buy anything for that model.  I will likely buy a newer model for my wife one day soon as we dive together.

On 10/14/2019 at 8:34 PM, Barmaglot said:

There are less and less compact cameras in general, phones have taken over that slice of the market - and incidentally, phone housings (Weefine Smart Housing et al) are becoming more common. The basic compact (Canon S-series) is dead completely, and premium compacts (RX100 series, G5X, G7X) are priced out of many people's reach.

Port systems for compacts are still quite rare though, it's only RX100 M6/M7 that needs one. IIRC Nauticam made a basic port system for G7X II some time ago, but that camera functions fine with a fixed port.

The reason for the port system is to facilitate the use of the various wet lenses - the long port means you need to zoom in to stop vignetting with the wet lens, losing field of view,  so while the G7X-II functions fine for many purposes it does not if you are trying to maximise field of view.

1982 Started with a 26mm If I recall-a real piece of crap.Same year I certified  working up to Divemaster.. One year was enough-

Next one was a 35mm in a  new Ikelite housing-At depth the controls where not happy. One season was enough

Next one was a New Aquatica aluminum for a Nokon F3-bought two of them over time was happy for a long time.

During this time  also had a used nik 3 and some nikonos new Vs with all the lens and tubes-sold it all some time ago.

Next was a Used Subal for the nikon F5 -my favorite film housing bought two over time-shot those until 2009. Still have fond of that housing and its viewfinder still-have not sen as good as one since.

Then went to digital and  a used subal and Nikon D300-

Got a go-pro somewhere when the 4s came out-do not use it much-no a video person much

A few years back upgraded to a subal custom used housing and a d800. Still very happy-its a bit big an heavy now that I'm older same with the Ike strobes

Dinosaur for sure now

Nikonos 5 with single Helix strobe.

Nikonos  II, 28mm lens and Nikonos bulb flash.

Nikonos V

Then a Ricoh compact in UN housing.

Nikonos III, 35mm lens and single Oceanic 2001 strobe

Nikon P7000 in a Fantasea housing.  Started with UW video using Sony camcorders before venturing into still photography.  

Panasonic LUMIX LX-100 ii with Nauticam housing


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Canon g7x m1 in an Ikelite housing

I started with a GoPro. They take surprisingly decent photos of done correctly. It’ll never be as good as a more versatile camera, but was good to start with.