Hello ScubaBoard,
I finally decided that paying $10 for a cheesy disposable u/w camera every time I went on vacation is a waste of money, especially for the quality of pictures I get back. I decided to check out ebay and see what was out there... turns out there's a lot. I'm a wanna-be (land) photographer... I've got an SLR camera and understand the basics of aperture, shutter speed, DOF, etc. Let's say my mind's eye takes great pictures but getting my camera to do the same is still in the learning stages. As such, I started hoping for an u/w camera that would give me a little more versatility than a disposable.
Just about every google search I've done on different cameras has led me to you guys! I've learned a lot just from reading your archives (thank you!) but have a few more questions. I will try to give enough details so I am not just asking the "pick a camera for me" thing:
1). I am not a scuba diver, only a vacation-type snorkler. But I've always lived near the beach and have dreams of someday getting certified. I also know that some vacation spots will let you do shallow-water scuba (like snorkeling without coming up for air) without being certified. For this reason, I was thinking of buying a camera I can grow into a little bit, like the Sea&Sea MX-10 or MM-II EX. However, I've also read that these cameras take a lot of practice before you start getting good pictures, and I am afraid that even with my little-bit of knowledge of land photog, I won't know what I'm doing at all since I cannot practice often, and I'll end up with back-scatter filled blue pictures.
-Q: Are these cameras too much for my level of experience?
-Q: The MX-10 comes with an attachable strobe, but it still sits relatively close to the camera and on the same plane as the lens. (I'm learning!) Is this pointless?
2) So then I'm thinking of downgrading a bit to something like the Reefmaster RC. Most likely, I won't be able to afford the external strobe, which I know is recommended. Also looking at the CL, since it seems pretty similar to the RC.
-Q: I've read that these on-camera flashes are pretty useless in depths more than a few feet. Is this true?
-Q: Are these cameras any better than cheapy resuables or disposables? There's not many frills to them, but maybe that is better for me.
-Q: How well does the coral flash on the RC work compared to the regular flash on the CL? Are there other major differences between the RC and the CL?
-Q: My trusty (land) point-and-shoot died recently, so I kinda like the fact that these cameras can be taken out of the housing for land use when I don't want to use my bulkier SLR. But how does that coral flash on the RC make land pictures look?
3) Unfortunately, cost is an issue. Definitely can't afford a housing for my SLR. Nikonos cameras are similarly out. Can't really afford extra accessories for the cameras I'm looking at. Pretty much, a used Reefmaster is about what I'm looking to spend, although I would consider the Sea&Sea cameras if that was more appropriate. If you know of a camera that would be more appropriate for me than either of these, let me know.
Of course, everything I've written above is based on what I've learned scouring the 'net in the past week or so. Please correct me if I'm working off bad assumptions!!
Apologies for the long post.. I'm hoping to avoid the rule of being too vague for anyone to help me. Thanks in advance...
Lori
I finally decided that paying $10 for a cheesy disposable u/w camera every time I went on vacation is a waste of money, especially for the quality of pictures I get back. I decided to check out ebay and see what was out there... turns out there's a lot. I'm a wanna-be (land) photographer... I've got an SLR camera and understand the basics of aperture, shutter speed, DOF, etc. Let's say my mind's eye takes great pictures but getting my camera to do the same is still in the learning stages. As such, I started hoping for an u/w camera that would give me a little more versatility than a disposable.
Just about every google search I've done on different cameras has led me to you guys! I've learned a lot just from reading your archives (thank you!) but have a few more questions. I will try to give enough details so I am not just asking the "pick a camera for me" thing:
1). I am not a scuba diver, only a vacation-type snorkler. But I've always lived near the beach and have dreams of someday getting certified. I also know that some vacation spots will let you do shallow-water scuba (like snorkeling without coming up for air) without being certified. For this reason, I was thinking of buying a camera I can grow into a little bit, like the Sea&Sea MX-10 or MM-II EX. However, I've also read that these cameras take a lot of practice before you start getting good pictures, and I am afraid that even with my little-bit of knowledge of land photog, I won't know what I'm doing at all since I cannot practice often, and I'll end up with back-scatter filled blue pictures.
-Q: Are these cameras too much for my level of experience?
-Q: The MX-10 comes with an attachable strobe, but it still sits relatively close to the camera and on the same plane as the lens. (I'm learning!) Is this pointless?
2) So then I'm thinking of downgrading a bit to something like the Reefmaster RC. Most likely, I won't be able to afford the external strobe, which I know is recommended. Also looking at the CL, since it seems pretty similar to the RC.
-Q: I've read that these on-camera flashes are pretty useless in depths more than a few feet. Is this true?
-Q: Are these cameras any better than cheapy resuables or disposables? There's not many frills to them, but maybe that is better for me.
-Q: How well does the coral flash on the RC work compared to the regular flash on the CL? Are there other major differences between the RC and the CL?
-Q: My trusty (land) point-and-shoot died recently, so I kinda like the fact that these cameras can be taken out of the housing for land use when I don't want to use my bulkier SLR. But how does that coral flash on the RC make land pictures look?
3) Unfortunately, cost is an issue. Definitely can't afford a housing for my SLR. Nikonos cameras are similarly out. Can't really afford extra accessories for the cameras I'm looking at. Pretty much, a used Reefmaster is about what I'm looking to spend, although I would consider the Sea&Sea cameras if that was more appropriate. If you know of a camera that would be more appropriate for me than either of these, let me know.
Of course, everything I've written above is based on what I've learned scouring the 'net in the past week or so. Please correct me if I'm working off bad assumptions!!
Apologies for the long post.. I'm hoping to avoid the rule of being too vague for anyone to help me. Thanks in advance...
Lori