which camera????

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scubabrn

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Location
Braselton, Ga.
# of dives
25 - 49
I appologize if I'm in the wrong thread, BUT I am wondering which camera I need just to have one . Currently I have a $20.00 point and shoot 35mm without flash. I want one to carry just to catch the out of ordinary, like a Reef shark , Hammerhead, large Ray yadda yadda. From the results that I have aquired, I may need to get a lot better equipment, and if so, I wont be taking anymore photos. Any input will be appreciated.:confused:
 
No such thing as a camera just to carry for an occasional shot. Gotta spend a few bucks on a decent camera to get decent pictures.

Take a look at some of the more recent Canon cameras like the A630 and A640 with the respective housing or a Fuji E900. Gonna cost you around $600 for both.

Another option is to go to eBay for an older Canon or Olympus and housing.
 
What are you looking for exactly (I'm not sure about your reference to a $20 camera? Is that a current underwater camera, or something else?)

You can get something relatively cheaply, however your best bet is going to be E-Bay unless you are looking to spend something in the region of at least $500.
 
Try using photoshop or another comptuer program to edit your pictures. Even film pics can be edited if you scan them or get electronic copies when you get them developed. You might be able to salvage some pics you thought were worthless if you are just interested in documenting what you see and not trying to create art pictures.
I have taken some pretty good shots with the Sealife fSL545 Reefmaster SportDiver II
film camera (along with some computer work on the pictures.) You can find them pretty cheap on the internet.
http://www.sealife-cameras.com/cameras/sportdiver.html

This company can do amazing things to underwater pictures:
http://www.dalelabs.com/
You can upload pics to them and they do a special underwater processing.

These pics were taken with the Sealife or even with a disposable underwater film camera:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/47023/cat/500/ppuser/58541
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/47024/cat/500/ppuser/58541
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/47201/cat/500/ppuser/58541
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/47204/cat/500/ppuser/58541
They're not great, but they're pretty good for the price!
 
I knew I was wasting my time. A $20.00 dollar camera means a $20.00 dollar camera. AND THERE IS SUCH A THING as carrying a camera for an occassional shot if one dose not want to waste all ther time snapping pixs!! Why cant people just reply to what one ask?Thats like saying you want a good commuter vehicle just to drive back and forth to work and someone telling you that there is no such thing and you have to buy a Cadillac.All these "specailty" message boards are all alike....I do however appreciate what "trigfunctions" stated pretty much answering my question, thank you.
 
If you're looking for something cheap, you're most likely still limited to 35mm film...like a Sealife SportDiver (click) or something along those lines. It can be used on land as well. Problem is, you have to buy film (costly), you don't know what you've got until you get it developed (costly), and you're going to be disappointed with probably 50% or more of what you do get. A lot of people here are using the Olympus SP-350 which can be had new for $200 if you know where to look. The housing is another $200 and you're in business taking great shots.

By the way, the picture in my avatar was taken with a Sealife SportDiver...it was one of the 50% I didn't trash. When I switched to digital it was very much worth the money.
 
scubabrn:
I knew I was wasting my time. A $20.00 dollar camera means a $20.00 dollar camera. AND THERE IS SUCH A THING as carrying a camera for an occassional shot if one dose not want to waste all their time snapping pixs!! Why cant people just reply to what one ask?Thats like saying you want a good commuter vehicle just to drive back and forth to work and someone telling you that there is no such thing and you have to buy a Cadillac.All these "specailty" message boards are all alike,,,.I do however appreciate what "trigfunctions" stated pretty much answering my question, thank you.


If you don't like what you hear don't listen...

Best of luck
 
Scubabrn,
Obviously you have been on the board for awhile...you have posted 59 times. Therefore you should know by now that if you ask a stupid question as yours is (Gee will my $20 camera work underwater?) you will get a whole bunch of stupid answers. No sense in reply cause this thread is over.
 
Both Kodak and Fuji make underwater disposable cameras. They have a flash, but unless you are less than 3ft away the photos don't come out too well. I have used this camera in the past:
http://www.snapsights.com/products_dwdc.html

It's reloadable and takes better pictures than the disposable cameras. But "better" is a relative term, don't expect anything but mediocre shots. Costs $25. Kodak does offer special underwater film processing that tries to correct the colors of underwater photos so they don't come out so blue/green.

Or check out LP.com
http://www.leisurepro.com/Cat/Context_965/Filter_2=858/Page_1/Photography/971.html
 
scubabrn:
I knew I was wasting my time. A $20.00 dollar camera means a $20.00 dollar camera. AND THERE IS SUCH A THING as carrying a camera for an occassional shot if one dose not want to waste all their time snapping pixs!! Why cant people just reply to what one ask?Thats like saying you want a good commuter vehicle just to drive back and forth to work and someone telling you that there is no such thing and you have to buy a Cadillac.All these "specailty" message boards are all alike...I do however appreciate what "trigfunctions" stated pretty much answering my question, thank you.

While I don't condone an outburst like this, I thought I would come to scubabrn's defense. Who here has not felt frustration at trying to get a question answered? Whether it be fins, regs, or cameras. I know when I was shopping for a strobe I got sick of hearing, "Unless you spend $1500 for dual YS-90s your wasting your time and will get horrible shots." That's great for some but frankly they're more than I need or want to spend, irregardless is I won't need to upgrade the strobes for a million years. He asked a simple question and should be able to either get a "no, can't be done" or "here are cheap film camera options". I was happy with my first underwater photos from a crappy $25 camera. Granted, they turned out horrible, but I was more concerned with having a photo of the turtle I saw, not having a photo I could hang above my fireplace.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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