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New Camera Gear


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6 replies to this topic

#1 ev780

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Posted 24 June 2013 - 04:30 PM

Although I think my Olympus C5050 was the best camera and housing setup ever (coupled with my D-50 strobe), I can no longer get the o-rings for the housing. Thus I must consider a new setup. I know, how sad for me!! Besides, the technology is probably much better now. I do not need higher end SLR gear (besides it takes up too much space) but I do want some good stuff. What setups are people using these days?
"I'd rather die while I am living, than live when I'm dead" Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers

#2 ev780

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Posted 26 June 2013 - 10:23 AM

So nobody wants to talk to me about camera gear?
"I'd rather die while I am living, than live when I'm dead" Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers

#3 Reef Photo & Video

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Posted 26 June 2013 - 11:26 AM

We will talk underwater camera equipment with you anytime :-)

Are you going on the Florida trip in late July? Stop in and see us.

Underwater photography is such a huge subject, but we can help you with specific or generalized questions.

Do you prefer macro? wide angle? both? Wreck penetration? Shore dives? Video or just stills?

Edited by Reef Photo & Video, 26 June 2013 - 11:27 AM.

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#4 Jerrymxz

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Posted 26 June 2013 - 11:43 AM

Fred, I'm an admitted rank amateur when it comes to underwater photography. I still have my Olympus 5050 but I was never able to get any kind of satisfactory results. I bought a Sealife DC1200 and I’m still trying to get it to do what I want it to do. I like the Sealife cameras as they are easy to use and their customer service is second to none. I know someone who does testing for them and her pictures are excellent. So I know it’s not the camera. I’m going to try several things before resigning myself to admiring other people’s pictures.

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If you are observant while diving in dark places listen to the account each has to tell, You cannot come away unaffected.   
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#5 ev780

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Posted 26 June 2013 - 11:47 AM

I need general purpose still. As I said, I loved the 5050 with a strobe. Something that replicates that or maybe a little higher in class would be great. Highest priorities in todays world. Portability, size/weight, cost, and versatility.
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#6 ScubaTurtle

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Posted 26 June 2013 - 02:01 PM

Although I think my Olympus C5050 was the best camera and housing setup ever (coupled with my D-50 strobe), I can no longer get the o-rings for the housing. Thus I must consider a new setup. I know, how sad for me!! Besides, the technology is probably much better now. I do not need higher end SLR gear (besides it takes up too much space) but I do want some good stuff. What setups are people using these days?

ev780,

I'm pretty new into UW photography and I'm in the process of upgrading myself before my upcoming trip to Truk and Palau.

I started off with a Canon SD1000 (compact camera) and a canon underwater case for it. Using only the built in flash. After two trips with the housing and more than 2500 photos I'm finding that the built-in flash is limited (which I knew) and I would like to have more control over focus, and other manual settings. Of which that camera doesn't really offer or they are difficult to change easily. I decided I would upgrade before my big trip in February.

I'm still going to go with a compact camera but one of the higher end models (Canon G15) and the associated Fantasea housing. After some research I'm going to add two (2) Sea&Sea YS-01 strobes. I'm also getting a wet macro lens and a wet wide angle lens for my setup. Overall the setup I hope won't be too large for me to handle but I did decide to stay away from the SLR type setup to avoid the complication of having to deal with ports and separate lenses on the camera base.

I'm still debating on the camera tray and strobe arms that I'm going to use. I was originally leaning towards the flexible ball type arm but I think after some further review I might look into the Sea&Sea style setup. It will I think be potentially more flexible in terms of setup variability.

Not sure if that's the info you were looking for but figured I would share my recent/current experience.

Edited by ScubaTurtle, 26 June 2013 - 02:04 PM.


#7 Racer184

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Posted 26 June 2013 - 05:36 PM

I started with a point-n-shoot and had a lot of fun with it.

However, for most people, I encourage them to consider a camera that offers manual control of everything that affects exposure (ISO sensitivity, aperture, shutter, focus, focal length). It really makes a huge difference after you learn to deal with it. Until then, you can use it in 'point-n-shoot' mode.


Among non-interchangeable lens cameras.......

All of these cameras (and others) ....
  • Can record in jpeg or raw
  • can record video
  • fully 'point and shoot" or aperture priority or shutter priority or fully manual control.
  • Housings available from Nauticam (below) or Ikelite.
  • Works well with many many wetmate wide angle lenses or macro lenses.


Consider the extremely popular Canon S110 (or S100 or S95 if you can still find them).

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Complete package with tray, arms, and Sea & Sea YS-01 strobe

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For Sony fans..... take a look at the Sony RX-100

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The Panasonic LX-7 is very nice also. In my opinion, it has the easiest to use manual focus of any compact camera.

Posted Image

Edited by Racer184, 26 June 2013 - 05:43 PM.

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