quality underwater camera

[zink12]

im looking for a underwater camera and/or housing.
I have a $600 spending cap on it but I want the best quality I can get with that price
must be able to go to at least 40 meters.
was thinking of getting a Panasonic ts4 with a ikelite housing rated for 60meters

any ideas what would be better?

[Treebeard]

I cannot comment on that particular camera, but I do have a Nikon S8100 with Ikellite housing which works nicely. The housing is well built but if I were to do it all over again I would get a camera without the long zoom.

[scubadawg]

Check this site out,

http://www.housingcamera.com/Mozaik-Combos-Digital-Camera-Housing-s/51.htm

[Treebeard]

Here is another site dedicated to underwater photography:

http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/

[Myka]

im looking for a underwater camera and/or housing.
I have a $600 spending cap on it but I want the best quality I can get with that price

I don't think $600 is enough for an underwater camera if you're looking for something better than a P&S. You're better off buying an underwater housing for your current camera.

I have a P&S underwater camera - a Pentax Optio WG-II. I bought it when it first hit the market (bad timing on my part) and it was $420, but I see you can get it for $320 on amazon.ca now. There isn't much that is better than the WG-II for less than $1000 from my understanding. The WG-II takes great photos - my only complaint is lack of zoom so it is limited in open water capabilities. It has an AMAZING macro setting including a 1cm macro with its own LED lighting whose quality is really beyond the $300-400 camera range. That was my biggest selling point, I use the macro and 1 cm macro settings in my reef tanks all the time.

So I guess it depends what you want...

[zink12]

Thanks for advise! Ill post the one I choose and maybe a few pics from scuba diving

[scubadawg]

When I started doing underwater Photography, I started with
Film Cameras

1. Nikonos, find out I didn't like guestiamate focusing underwater, with Nikonos SB105 and SB 102 strobes, Ultralite arms and tray

then went to a

2. Nikon F100 and Sea &Sea housing, Super wide dome port and flat ports for macro photography, 16mm fisheye lens, 17-35mm AFS f2.8, 60mm and 105mm macro lens.

Digital
3. Nikon D200 and Sea&Sea housing, and Light And Motion housing, added more lens
10.5mm fisheye, 12-24mm f2.8

These are some images done with the Nikon D200

http://s1048.beta.photobucket.com/user/scubadawg/media/Sharks%20Whales%20Eels/ocianic.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0#/user/scubadawg/media/Sharks%20Whales%20Eels/ocianic.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0&_suid=136159235281306561483235211841

The Nikon D200 is 6 years old now, so time for an upgraded underwater setup.

My current Nikon camera is the D800 which is a 36 meg full frame,
so my next upgrade is the new Sea&Sea housing for the D800, and 2 new Sea&Sea YS-D1, The new strobes are completely fully automatic with the camera, instead of using my outdated Nikon SB 105 strobes

http://www.housingcamera.com/Sea-and-Sea-Housing-4-Nikon-D800-p/ss-06162.htm

http://www.housingcamera.com/Strobe-YS-D1-p/ss-03114.htm

I'll be getting this setup in the next couple of months, going to Lembeh Strait, Indonesia in Aug 2013 for a couple weeks, the ultimate place for macro photography

[Jakegr]

Honestly, if you are on a tight budget I would recommend buying a couple of nice strobes, and an inexpensive housing/camera, rather than getting an expensive camera, with weak strobes.

I use the Nikon/Fantasea FP7000 camera/housing. You can get the housing and camera for less than $600 and a couple of Sea and Sea YS01 strobes for about the same amount as the housing alone for a SLR camera.

I would definitely recommend Mozaik cameras (the website Scubadawg posted). They are extremely helpful.

One cool thing about the Fantasea FP7000 is that they have a whole line of lenses that snap on to the camera, meaning you can switch lenses under water. I have the wide angle and macro lens. Both are freakin awesome haha. They are probably my favorite thing about the camera.

[RuGlu6]

Check this out
$340+tax
•Wearable full HD video camcorder with built-in Wi-Fi
•Waterproof housing good down to 60 m (197 ft.)
-Available Image Format(s): JPEG



Sony HDRAS15Ride 16.1 MP Action Mini Wi-Fi Camcorder Ride Kit
http://www.costco.ca/Sony-HDRAS15Ride-16.1-MP-Action-Mini-Wi-Fi-Camcorder-Ride-Kit-.product.100013399.html

Includes Water proof housing, Goggle mount, bike/bar mount & 2 adhesive mounts, 8 GB Micro SD Card, 4x Slow Motion HD.
.
Looks like a nice package. But i dont know how good it is for making still images though, need to look up some on line reviews.
here is one review
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/sony-action-cam-wi/4505-6500_7-35426716.html
.

[RuGlu6]

One more review

http://www.cnet.com.au/sony-action-cam-hdr-as15-339342124.htm#image3

[Jeff000]

Honestly, for the money, I am not sure anything beats the new GoPro Hero 3 under water. I have seen some amazing shots from it. And to top it off you can have a lot of fun with one.

[scubadawg]

I have a go pro, if you want to use the go pro underwater, you have to buy the flat port for it, the curve port, will not focus underwater.

[Jeff000]

I have a go pro, if you want to use the go pro underwater, you have to buy the flat port for it, the curve port, will not focus underwater.

The 3 comes with a flat lens.

[scubadawg]

Mines the older model, had to buy it:(

[Delphinus]

+1 on the Hero3 with a red filter. You might even be able to get a full rig with lighting for that budget. You would be amazed at how well this rig works.

Here's some good reading..
http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=57

Ok just checked and I guess the full rig with light is more like $870 but still what you're getting for that is pretty awesome.
http://www.backscatter.com/HostedStore.LassoApp?-ResponseLassoApp=detail.lasso&ID=3b6213feba254db57f5073b5b565b4d4&s3op=cn&s3=Housings&s4op=cn&s4=GoPro%20HERO3&s6op=cn&s6=Video&sop=AND&sf=Price&so=Descending&ftn=youbetcha&

[scubadawg]

I have an actual HD underwater video system

Sony HDR-HC9 Camcorder in a

http://www.backscatter.com/sku/gt-hc7.lasso

with WP25 FathomWide Angle Port , and flat port etc.

and 2 sets of Niterider HID lights

http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/NTR2040.html

but a little outdated, still works, but with the weight restrictions of airlines,
I will using a Nikon D800 underwater, since it does 36 meg still and HDV video.

[verongome]

So did you choose the one you wanted. How are the pics coming?