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#205
Photography Gear recommendations
CaptainCaveman - 5/06/2009 8:46 AM
Category: Photography
Replies: 5

I am looking to put together a set-up for some underwater photography. Nothing too expensive - ideally $1000 or less. I would like a camera, housing and single strobe to start out with. Any recommendations? Ideally I would like the camera suitable for decent all around pics (not just underwater) as well.
#8046
Subscribed
Rich-D-Fish - 5/06/2009 9:30 AM


I’m sure there are many combo’s out there, but I’m really happy with my new purchase. I got the new Sea & Sea DX1200HD camera & housing together for only $600. The camera is a small point and shoot for on land. The housing is nice and compact so it’s not too bulky underwater. It takes 12MP pics and Hi Def videos! It’s also got one of the easiest menus to navigate I’ve ever used. I learned the whole camera in no time. You’ll want to add a $40 8gig memory card. You can add a nice Sea & Sea strobe + tray for around $300 I think. Another nice feature is that you can add an optional wet-mount wide angle lense for a couple hundred more (Xmas present?) I’m still learning with it, but you can see all my recent pics at the link below. The only two trips I had this camera was "Ruby-E" and "Casino Point" dives listed on the left column. Before then I was using a cheaper 7MP Canon which took really low res video, but still not bad. A good strobe makes a huge difference. Good viz underwater makes even more ;-) Good luck!


 http://s450.photobucket.com/albums/qq225/richardforster/?track=share_email_album_view_click
#73
burt - 5/07/2009 9:52 AM
You may want to look into an Olympus point and shoot. I rented a Olympus 730sw with a housing while in the grand cayman. It had no external flash. Check out my photos. For someone like me (dive maybe 6 dives a year) and only get to clear water once of twice a year it worked great. I have purchased an Olympus 850sw with an olympus case (camera 250.00 case around 200.00). I have puchased a cheap external flash (pixtreme) could not see dropping another 300 for a flash for the time I would get to use it. All my photos were taken with the external case on. The camera itself is water proof to 10 ft w/o case. They have another model that is waterproof to 33ft w/o external case. For the times i will get to use it in clear water it is great.
#252
ScubaTeve - 5/07/2009 4:35 PM
Check also Sealife such as the
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SKU: SLFDC1E
Sealife SL108 DC1000 Elite Set Digital Cameraat LiesurePro. It generally helps me to hit a site like LiesurePro and look at the cameras / housings and reviews and then get an idea of what will best suit your needs.

Good luck!
#635
BiancaC - 5/08/2009 6:33 AM


Reefmaster is a great camera, use it myself. I deal with them since many years and they have been great when there was a problem. For that reason I’d stay away from S&S. My next best would be Olympus.


http://www.divebuddy.com/photo.aspx?PicID=32267"> src="http://www.divebuddy.com/members/photos/pic_10452_32267sm.jpg" border=0>
#10632
m_grieco - 5/08/2009 7:46 AM
I used a Sealife DC 600 with a digital proflash (and flash diffuser) and wide angle lens. Set-up is under $1,000 dollars and I will let my photos speak for themselves. And I can second the GREAT service Sealife gives it’s cutomers, I just had the base replaced on my strobe as well as the lens dock for the wide angle lens (both were cracking) and they replaced everything for free (I just paid to ship it to them). Another member mentioned the DC1000 elite set at Leisure Pro...I’d imagine it’s a great camera (interested in one myself)...if money allows, go for it (you get everything I have minus the strobe diffuser which can be purchased directly from Sealife for about $29).