What equipment to get?

[peppermintkid]

I am an avid diver and I want to pick up underwater photography. I borrowed a friends Sony T1 with marine casing to try it out at Tioman last weekend. I realised that the photos are dark and not very clear. The flash doesn't seem powerful enough. I want to get my own set but I would like some advise on what is a good model to start off with? Should I go for the strobe lights and stuff together with the camera and where can I find these items.
Thanks.

[lovells19]

first question

Do you have a budget?

[Gymrat76]

LOL yeah.. budget budget budget. A basic setup (point shoot) can start from $800 and head all the way up in excess of $10k for a full DSLR setup

[bugsz]

Originally Posted by Gymrat76 LOL yeah.. budget budget budget. A basic setup (point shoot) can start from $800 and head all the way up in excess of $10k for a full DSLR setup

have to consider the price of the camera esp if your camera flood like mine
if u flood a dslr u have to spend another dslr to replace if u flood a compact not so xiong but still heart pain.

[peppermintkid]

Well, I'm currently using a Nikon D200. I don't know if i should go for a marine casing for my DSLR as I checked, a marine casing for my D200 will cost around $1600 to $1800. My budget is about $1000. I was thinking of getting the Canon G9 with marine casing. I heard it would cost $1118 for camera and casing. Is the Canon G9 a good buy?

[bighead]

Many people use that G9 and had gotten fantastic results. It just a case of getting the best of what you have ...

[bugsz]

Originally Posted by peppermintkid Well, I'm currently using a Nikon D200. I don't know if i should go for a marine casing for my DSLR as I checked, a marine casing for my D200 will cost around $1600 to $1800. My budget is about $1000. I was thinking of getting the Canon G9 with marine casing. I heard it would cost $1118 for camera and casing. Is the Canon G9 a good buy?

G9 itself is a very expensive camera already. with marine case + strobes i think might cost u up to 1.5k

[antacid]

i think it's closer to 2k and up. a decent strobe and arms will set you back almost 1k already.

the camera is about 7-800, and the canon housing probably $300. if you choose to go with the ikelite housing (which i think is the better option), it'll be $800.

now, who said underwater photography is a cheap hobby?
((=

[howeikwok]

Originally Posted by peppermintkid Well, I'm currently using a Nikon D200. I don't know if i should go for a marine casing for my DSLR as I checked, a marine casing for my D200 will cost around $1600 to $1800. My budget is about $1000. I was thinking of getting the Canon G9 with marine casing. I heard it would cost $1118 for camera and casing. Is the Canon G9 a good buy?

It's capable enough to get shots like this.

Eat your heart out DSLR users.

[diver-hloc]

Originally Posted by antacid i think it's closer to 2k and up. a decent strobe and arms will set you back almost 1k already. the camera is about 7-800, and the canon housing probably $300. if you choose to go with the ikelite housing (which i think is the better option), it'll be $800. now, who said underwater photography is a cheap hobby? ((=

Bro.... a decent Strobe & Arm set will cost you much more than 1K....

Inon Z240 = $900++
Ultralight = $400 and above

[diver-hloc]

Originally Posted by howeikwok It's capable enough to get shots like this. Eat your heart out DSLR users.

But sadly..... still no 1:1 in macro mode.....

[antacid]

wow, right place at the right time. what can i say.

that's the great advantage of P&S and cameras with an electronic shutter. shutter speed of 1/500! shwing!

[antacid]

Originally Posted by diver-hloc Bro.... a decent Strobe & Arm set will cost you much more than 1K.... Inon Z240 = $900++ Ultralight = $400 and above

that's not 'decent', that's "high-end"

haha. try D2000s with 10bar arms or maybe even ULCS arms. or an ikelite DS51 with ikelite ball-clamp arms. S&S YS27 with tray and arms. all under $1k.

compacts have more than 1:1 now. the ricoh gx100/S&S DX-1G has a 2inch MFD at 72mm equivalent. that's definitely considered super macro. and you can stop down to f/15.6 i think.

[howeikwok]

Originally Posted by diver-hloc But sadly..... still no 1:1 in macro mode.....

With add-on lens from inon you're able to get more than 1:1. My friend's old foggy olympus with 10X optical zoom is able to get a half body shot of a pygmy filling the frame, that's super macro, haha...

[diver-hloc]

Originally Posted by howeikwok With add-on lens from inon you're able to get more than 1:1. My friend's old foggy olympus with 10X optical zoom is able to get a half body shot of a pygmy filling the frame, that's super macro, haha...

Wow.... now I got some more things to 'ADD-ON'.....

[kirkchua79]

Originally Posted by howeikwok With add-on lens from inon you're able to get more than 1:1. My friend's old foggy olympus with 10X optical zoom is able to get a half body shot of a pygmy filling the frame, that's super macro, haha...

10x optical? sounds like my c750

[divingcat]

Photos fr G9 taken without strobe http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianmayes/ (w lots of talent & some diy - add-on macro lens adaptor) But if u like wide-angle stuff, then large investment is required..
So i would say buy a 2nd hand G9 (which is still very new) & get a Canon housing if u dun mind (mine s a 2nd hand housing - working ok touchwood)... Or wait for G10 (to enjoy taking wide-angle ambience shots & maybe a whaleshark or 2??)

[onntkkk]

Originally Posted by divingcat Photos fr G9 taken without strobe http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianmayes/ (w lots of talent & some diy - add-on macro lens adaptor) But if u like wide-angle stuff, then large investment is required.. So i would say buy a 2nd hand G9 (which is still very new) & get a Canon housing if u dun mind (mine s a 2nd hand housing - working ok touchwood)... Or wait for G10 (to enjoy taking wide-angle ambience shots & maybe a whaleshark or 2??)

What is the depth when the photo taken? It is so clear without strobe!

[jazzhawk]

Hi Guys,

What about S&S DX-1G (ricoh gx100)? Anyone use this yet underwater? Is this camera better then the G9?

I know someone here use the Ricoh gx100 on land and it seem pretty good...wonder how its' performance underwater?

[gooseberry]

Originally Posted by jazzhawk Hi Guys, What about S&S DX-1G (ricoh gx100)? Anyone use this yet underwater? Is this camera better then the G9? I know someone here use the Ricoh gx100 on land and it seem pretty good...wonder how its' performance underwater?

I'm using the S&S DX-1G - it's a pretty good camera underwater. These are some of my shots taken with this cam

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=416230

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380212

What I like is the wide-angle (24mm native and you can go as wide as 16mm with the wide-angle converter lens for it). Macro ability is good too (I haven't tried it with any close-up lenses yet). I also like how compact it is with the housing - unlike a G9 with ikelite housing which is huge (as big as a dslr). Only downside is that it is a little slow when shooting RAW (I'm comparing here to using DSLRs) - I always shoot RAW though.