Author Topic: Underwater cameras (Read 6405 times)

Fan of Dan · « **on:** September 19, 2012, 10:07:30 PM »

Does anyone have any experience with underwater cameras or cases? When I was by the great barrier reef I rented a camera for 60 dollars and after that decided that I need to buy one. I have found online different cases that you can use with your camera. Any tips or pointers?
I have the Canon elph 100 HS and the Nikon coolpix P7000.

sky121 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2012, 10:11:48 PM »

I use a plastic one I bought on Amazon that works great. You can buy a case from Canon that will work better. Or an underwater camera for $100-$250.

eitang · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2012, 10:36:10 PM »

I dive a lot and have a canon 850 IS with an underwater canon case. I also just purchased a GoPro with dive housing and a red filter which is supposed to be great for video. If you are just snorkeling you are probably safe with those cheaper plastic cases that go for like 30 bucks on ebay. I would not risk it though and get the case that is made for it....especially if you are diving. PM me if you have specific questions.

Fan of Dan · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2012, 12:48:03 AM »

Quote from: sky121 on September 19, 2012, 10:11:48 PM

I use a plastic one I bought on Amazon that works great. You can buy a case from Canon that will work better. Or an underwater camera for $100-$250.

A camera for 100 - 250 or a just a case?

yid · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2012, 12:55:20 AM »

http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-CHDSH-002-Hero2-Surf-Camera/dp/B005WY3TD4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348116865&sr=8-1&keywords=go+pro+hero+2+surf

Fan of Dan · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2012, 01:00:21 AM »

Quote from: eitang on September 19, 2012, 10:36:10 PM

I dive a lot and have a canon 850 IS with an underwater canon case. I also just purchased a GoPro with dive housing and a red filter which is supposed to be great for video. If you are just snorkeling you are probably safe with those cheaper plastic cases that go for like 30 bucks on ebay. I would not risk it though and get the case that is made for it....especially if you are diving. PM me if you have specific questions.

I usually snorkel but am I plan on getting a scuba license one of these days so I ruled out all the cheap plastic ones. I do find that my pics are always better when I snorkel as the lighting is better and I do not have the blue disortion as much.

I found one for 150 on EBay which has a hard case with access to the dials. Thing was that it can fit pretty much any small point and shoot which is nice because I can use any camera but was wondering if that would make it less tight. Also is it dumb to get a case for a camera with only 4x optical zoom?

I am willing to spend up to 200 maybe 250 for equipment.

Fan of Dan · « **Reply #6 on:** September 20, 2012, 01:03:41 AM »

Quote from: yid on September 20, 2012, 12:55:20 AM

http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-CHDSH-002-Hero2-Surf-Camera/dp/B005WY3TD4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348116865&sr=8-1&keywords=go+pro+hero+2+surf

Thanks for the link. Do you have this camera?

yid · « **Reply #7 on:** September 20, 2012, 01:05:39 AM »

no, but it seems to be a very popular seller on amazon

moish · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2012, 02:57:16 AM »

i bought a panasonic ts3 for $200 for my trip to the gbr, and it worked alright
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-TS3-Waterproof-Stabilized-2-7-Inch/dp/B004KKZ0KG

Yossi. · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2012, 11:15:45 AM »

Quote from: yid on September 20, 2012, 12:55:20 AM

http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-CHDSH-002-Hero2-Surf-Camera/dp/B005WY3TD4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348116865&sr=8-1&keywords=go+pro+hero+2+surf

I wouldn't buy it on amazon, at least today, the price is very high. Look online you'll find the outdoor or surf edition for ~$230...

Quote from: Fan of Dan on September 20, 2012, 01:03:41 AM

Thanks for the link. Do you have this camera?

It is the most used cameras for adventurous/sports/water users in the market. For divers, it goes 60m (200 ft) with their waterproof case.

Here is their video:

ChAiM'l · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2012, 12:56:37 PM »

+1 on the GoPro.

Fan of Dan · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2012, 01:36:18 PM »

Quote from: Yossi. on September 20, 2012, 11:15:45 AM

I wouldn't buy it on amazon, at least today, the price is very high. Look online you'll find the outdoor or surf edition for ~$230...

It is the most used cameras for adventurous/sports/water users in the market. For divers, it goes 60m (200 ft) with their waterproof case.

Here is their video:

230 is a great price for such a camera. I am assuming the underwater case though would cost more. I also ski alot and I think it will be great for ski pics when the weather is nasty.

eitang · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2012, 01:46:06 PM »

230 is amazing. I just paid like 265. Yes, u need the dive housing for good video which is 50 bucks and one of them comes w a headstrap not the surf one though otherwise that is 10 bucks. Also key for good red color at depths is a red oculus filter which is like 40 buckd on ebay. In all u can outfit it for 350 to 400 for an amazing camera. Mich cheaper than professional ones and pretty much does what you need it to do. This is a great vidcamera but not the best for still shots.

Fan of Dan · « **Reply #13 on:** September 20, 2012, 02:17:58 PM »

Quote from: eitang on September 20, 2012, 01:46:06 PM

230 is amazing. I just paid like 265. Yes, u need the dive housing for good video which is 50 bucks and one of them comes w a headstrap not the surf one though otherwise that is 10 bucks. Also key for good red color at depths is a red oculus filter which is like 40 buckd on ebay. In all u can outfit it for 350 to 400 for an amazing camera. Mich cheaper than professional ones and pretty much does what you need it to do. This is a great vidcamera but not the best for still shots.

Which one should I get if not the surf one the outdoor edition?

Does it need a strobe for good pics underwater?

Also how would you describe the quality of the stills underwater?

Yossi. · « **Reply #14 on:** September 20, 2012, 02:22:39 PM »

Quote from: eitang on September 20, 2012, 01:46:06 PM

Yes, u need the dive housing for good video which is 50 bucks

I am not sure why you need to buy a separate dive housing when every edition of the HD Hero 2 provide a 60m (200 ft) waterproof housing

Quote from: eitang on September 20, 2012, 01:46:06 PM

and one of them comes w a headstrap not the surf one though otherwise that is 10 bucks.

and the outdoor edition provides all kind of straps (including head and helmet straps)

Quote from: eitang on September 20, 2012, 01:46:06 PM

Also key for good red color at depths is a red oculus filter which is like 40 buckd on ebay.

I found a red filter for $15 on Amazon. Not sure what it is worth though.

Quote from: eitang on September 20, 2012, 01:46:06 PM

This is a great vidcamera but not the best for still shots.

I found the still shots to be actually not good at all (in the outdoor at least, they are too much convex). But for HD videos in extreme places and weather they are the best.

AJK · « **Reply #15 on:** September 20, 2012, 02:25:39 PM »

For my dive trip to MLE, I got the Panasonic Lumix TS4 12.1 TOUGH Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Optical Zoom (Black) from Amazon.

Worked great, but only till 12M

Yossi. · « **Reply #16 on:** September 20, 2012, 02:26:37 PM »

Quote from: Fan of Dan on September 20, 2012, 02:17:58 PM

Which one should I get if not the surf one the outdoor edition?

I would get the outdoor one, especially if you are not into surf or motorsports. The accessories they give with those are especially designed for those sports. The outdoor one provides more general items that any regular user would use.

Fan of Dan · « **Reply #17 on:** September 20, 2012, 02:54:47 PM »

Quote from: AJK on September 20, 2012, 02:25:39 PM

For my dive trip to MLE, I got the Panasonic Lumix TS4 12.1 TOUGH Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Optical Zoom (Black) from Amazon.

Worked great, but only till 12M

Yeah that is why I ruled out the Panasonic ones I wanted the flexibilty to go deeper.

Fan of Dan · « **Reply #18 on:** September 20, 2012, 02:57:01 PM »

Quote from: Yossi. on September 20, 2012, 02:22:39 PM

I found the still shots to be actually not good at all (in the outdoor at least, they are too much convex). But for HD videos in extreme places and weather they are the best.

Hmmm if the stills are not good then it would probably not be worth it. I would not want to limit myself to just video.

Yossi. · « **Reply #19 on:** September 20, 2012, 03:01:42 PM »

Quote from: Fan of Dan on September 20, 2012, 02:57:01 PM

Hmmm if the stills are not good then it would probably not be worth it. I would not want to limit myself to just video.

Well usually people use their go pro to try to recreate what they see and that's why the angle used is very wide (~170 degrees) so that you are immersed into the scenery... But I know that gopro offer free software to correct the pictures if they are too convex for you...