Question for Divers/Snorklers

[willowisp]

I've been looking into underwater cameras, and being completely out of my league, the best I've been able to do is sort by price. I figure it can't hurt to ask people with experience, so here goes:

Should callicrates and I get a waterproof camera or would a case for our current camera be better? Things to consider:

1) This could be the only time we need an underwater camera, but on the other hand there is a non-zero chance we will go on future trips with underwater features.

2) The case which looked best to me costs more than some of the cameras I looked at.

3) Disposables are an option, though I mistrust their quality based on extensive on-land use of them by friends and family.

Finally, those of you who do have experience with underwater cameras and/or cases for SLR/digital cameras, please let me know which brands you use or avoid. Thank you in advance!

Comments

[twotone]

I don't know if this will be of any help, but my husband and I bought disposable underwater cameras when we were on our cruise in the Galapagos.

Each one stopped functioning after one or two pictures. We ended up getting a refund.

[kent.livejournal.com]

I got the official Canon case for my Powershot A620. The case cost about $150 on Amazon (list price was closer to $200). For me, it was totally worth it because I could take tons of digital photos and throw out the bad ones. It does only fit my camera and a couple of other models, so I can't upgrade my camera and keep using it. But if my A620 is still in my camera arsenal the next time we're somewhere where we can snorkel, I'll definitely bring it out.

My wife got a cheapo disposable underwater camera when we were in Hawaii, but she actually still hasn't gotten the photos developed.

For me, it was worth 1) having a camera I was familiar with in my hands in the water and 2) only having one camera plus the extra case with me on the trip instead of some other configuration of my digital and some unfamiliar-to-me underwater camera.

Of course, I am also considering an upgrade to a DSLR soon, so it wouldn't have been the end of the world if I'd lost the camera/memory card to leaks. I brought lots of memory and swapped them out so I never had more than a day or two's worth of photos on the card in the camera.

[goldenlily.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely go with the case. It's not worth getting a brand new uw camera, because the decent ones will cost you some $400-500. :) I don't really like disposables, but, there are some around that aren't too bad. Mostly your problems with any camera will be light - you need a decent flash, a high powered one or the colours will wash out completely.

Here's one that's reasonable, but uw if you want to look. Sealife are good uw cameras: http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-420/068003/Sealife-Reefmaster---Sportdiver-II-Camera.html


This is also a useful article: http://scuba.about.com/cs/uwphotoequip/bb/uwcamera.htm