Digital Cameras + Housings

[Manta 888]

I'd just like to post some further information on digicams since there were (are) a few people here interested in this aspect of UW photography.
If you are interested in comparing conventional to digital try checking out: http://www.scubadiving.com/members/gearreviews.php?s=190
(posted by Sharpdiver on the 12.12.00 in the gear reviews section) for an excellent, relatively unbiased, comparison of the two, especially if you are undecided as to whether digital is the way to go.

Other excellent sites to visit:
http://www.steves-digicams.com (superbly detailed writeups and reviews)
http://www.wetpixel.com (lots of links to housing manufacturers)
http://www.dcresource.com (deals, news and reviews)
http://www.digitalfoto.com (news and reviews)
http://www.oceanbrite.com (housing manufacturer)
http://www.marscuba.com/uwdigital.html (excellent site gives options for camera+housing combinations for under US$500 too)!
http://www.pricescan.com (good for all consumer products not just cameras)
http://www.scubadiving.com (check out the message board by searching for 'Digital Cameras' or look in the 'Gear Reviews')

Also check out DEPP for all UW photographic equipment insurance (details in the sites above).
Then of course there are all the major manufacturers of both cameras, and housings, some of which have excellent general information in addition to product writeups (Ikelite, Olympus, Nikon, etc.etc.).

Obviously one of the main considerations is going to be the availability of a suitable and affordable housing and it seems that one of the best options at the moment is the Olympus made (yes that's correct - a factory product, maybe I'm slow or something but I didn't realise they manufactured them !) PT-007 which fits a range of Olympus digicams including the 3030Z, 3000Z, 2020Z and 2000Z in addition to the new 3040Z and 2040Z .
It retails (in Japan)for, unbelievably, only US$200 (and that includes access to all functions and is rated to 30m I believe)and for US$399 in the USA (grey import but with support etc. - read more on the sites above esp. OceanBrite's).
There are many other options for digicams once you start looking - including some companies that will custom make housings for your particular favourite (Ikelite for example).
Personally, I still haven't made my mind up on what to buy yet (definitely digital though, for the convenience as well as the versatility) so I can't yet post any 'photos - although for me, the Canon PS G1 , Nikon E990 and Olympus 3040Z (f1.8 lens - great for low light conditions!!)are all strong contenders and I'm still busy checking out sites that feature images from these three cameras in particular (these three can all record short video clips as well - which may be fun if not true video quality). Incredibly an Olympus 3030Z with housing can be had for around US$1,100 and the prices are still dropping (check ebay etc. for 3030Z's or other brands as well)!
Tom, if you are still in the market to upgrade please take the time to check out the sites above (that is if you haven't been there already), they make very interesting reading if nothing else !
Now to check out the digital camcorders........ Mystic Meg forecasts many more sleepless nights glued to the web !
Dive safely everyone.
Manta 888, (and a Happy Chinese New Year in the year of the Golden Snake'too) !

 

[Iguana Don]

Manta 888,

This is really wierd, went to the pool today to get gills wet. Buddy of mine bought a new Sony DSC P-30. Asked me where he could get a housing for it. I told him I didn't know right off the top of my head, but I would check my Source and get back to him.
Came home, logged on and lo and behold here it is right in front of me. dodododdodododododododo ---Twilight Zone Music

Now this is just way too wierd

:devilish:

 

[Manta 888]

Don,
Better lay off the mushrooms !

Glad to have been of help !
Manta 888

 

[Tom]

I have been to some of them, but some are new to me. I pasted them to a listed and will be checking them shortly.

Tom

 

[jeffweiss]

After many years with my trusty Nikonos(and many flooding episodes) and moved over to a digital camera last fall. My research via the web and print media suggested that the Olympus 3030 and Light & Motion's Tetra housing were the way to go. Unfortunately, L & T missed there projected delivery date and I was off to Coco's with a loaner Ikelight housing and Nikon 990 coolpics camera. (Armado's Pro video gets extra points and kudo's for the loaner equipment, at no extra charge while we waited for L&T to ship the Tetras.)

Anyway back at the Cocos I spent 6 1/2 days in some of the most awesome diving I've ever experienced. Everything they say about Cocos is true. More sharks one the first dive than I seen in my prior 18 years of diving. Big animals everywhere; ad the Hammerheads.... Interestingly, on that same trip was a japanese diver who had the Olympus 3030 and the Olympus housing. It looked great, but had some significant drawbacks. First, it has no connection for an external strobe, so your limited to available light shots. Second, it's rated to only 90 feet; and while they say you can push it to 100 ft, after my experiences with my Nikonos V--no way jose!

The Ikelite housing and Nikon 990 worked Ok, but also had drawbacks. The Ilelite housing is a big sucker and seems to weigh a ton. But it does the job. The Nikon 990 on the other hand is not really designed for U/W work. It's controls are cumbersome and at times downright hard to work. Switching from macro to normal can be a nightmare U/W. On one dive I started with a marco setting, and after about 6 shots looked up and just over head were a school of 200 plus hammerheads. They were maybe 10 to 12 feet above me, and I couldn't get the camera and the Ikelite controls to mesh properly to switch out of marco mode. Switching over to video mode is equally problematic U/W due to the many sets invovled and the way the controls are layed out.

My japanese friend had no such problems with the Olympus. He went from normal to video with unbelivable ease, and got some great video clips of hammerheads, dolphins, mantas and a marlin. I missed some great shots not because I wasn't in the right place, but because the camera functions require 3 to 4 seperate steps using multiple controls to switch from one mode to another. On the plus side, I got some great shots when everything went right.

I returned home and just before Thanksgiving recieved my long awaited Tetra housing. Not cheap ($995.00) but it is everything I expected it to be. As with other L&T housings, it's small and compact, and ease to use. The Olympus 3030's control's mate exactly with the housings. The camera's control's are well thoughout, and you can go from normal to macro to video almost effortlessly. Also, the Olympus 3030 doesn't seem to eat batteries the way the Nikon did. On one dive in Cocos, the Nikon drained down a newly charged set of batteries and I was unable to take any shots during the last 15 minutes of the dive. The Olympus will let me go for twice as many shots and still have juice left over. I'm told this is a function of the difference on the draw on the lcd screens.

Anyway, I just got the strobe bulkhead for the Tetra and the wide angle port, and hope to get them wet very soon. For anyone considering digital, I recommend the Tetra and the Olympus 3030. I'll be happy to email comparison photos to those interested.

One last point, with the 3.3 resolution, Adobe PhotoPro and a steady hand when shooting you can almost reproduce 35mm quality out to an 8X10 print; and computer & T/V (video) slide shows are a breeze--even on board.
--JW

 

[ob1]

Maybe you might be interested in making a housing (particularly if there is nothing available on the commercial market for your model of camera). Have a look at turtlesarehere.com for some ideas and links.