Underwater Cameras

1. I looked at a Sony Cybershot, which has a casing that can go up to
4m under water. Is 4m-deep enough for most underwater photography? My
friend is a very experienced diver, and she goes to places like
Maldives, Manado, etc. often.

1. No

2. Is the macro function important for underwater photography?

2. can be nice since most work is done close up

3. What other features should I look for in the camera?

3. low cost

> 1. I looked at a Sony Cybershot, which has a casing that can go up to
> 4m under water. Is 4m-deep enough for most underwater photography? My
> friend is a very experienced diver, and she goes to places like
> Maldives, Manado, etc. often.
>

No, but I think you misread the rating, as most UW enclosures are rated for
40m (132ft) whish is adequate for many recreational divers.

> 2. Is the macro function important for underwater photography?

Yes, but it is more important to have a wide aperture lens (at least f2.8)
that is as wideangle as possible, as near to the equivalent o a 20mm lens on
a 35mm camera, which would probably be about a 12 to 15mm lens on a digital.

> 3. What other features should I look for in the camera?
>

Manual exposure override, especially aperture.
At least a 4Megapixel resolution.
A large memory card (at least 512MB).
Ability to synchronise with external flashguns through the housing. the use
of a separate external flash will be the single largest improvement to ANY
underwater camera system.

> Thanks & Regards,

IMHO the best VFM at the moment is the Olympus C5060 and PT020 housing, or
if you can get one as older stock, then the C5050 and PT015 is almost as
good (It's what I have). have a look at
http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/d...pus/index.html

> Patrick

Tony H

Patrick wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have a question regarding digital cameras for scuba divers. I am
> not a scuba diver, but I just want to get one as a present for a
> friend. I'd apprecite if someone can bear with my ignorance and give
> me their opinions on the following:
>
> 1. I looked at a Sony Cybershot, which has a casing that can go up to
> 4m under water. Is 4m-deep enough for most underwater photography? My
> friend is a very experienced diver, and she goes to places like
> Maldives, Manado, etc. often.
>
> 2. Is the macro function important for underwater photography?
>
> 3. What other features should I look for in the camera?
>
> Thanks & Regards,
> Patrick

If your friend is planning on using it for scuba and not
snorkeling, then 4 meters is not enough. You should look
for something in the 30-50 meter range.

And, yes, macro is probably the best type of photography for
a new photographer. It forces them to fill the frame with
the subject and will usually not give a lot of backscatter
from using the camera's internal strobe/flash.

If you can find a system that consists of camera, a
selection of lenses and an external strobe, that would be
great! However, this would have to be a VERY good friend as
it ain't cheap!!

Just my $.02

--

Ray Contreras
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Webmonkey for:
http://www.ossystems.com
http://www.bobs-garage.com
http://www.rayzplace.com

"Patrick" <patrick@computerbrokers.com.sg> wrote in message
news:56f76c6e.0411162348.1a73f806@posting.google.c om...
> Hi,
>
> I have a question regarding digital cameras for scuba divers. I am
> not a scuba diver, but I just want to get one as a present for a
> friend. I'd apprecite if someone can bear with my ignorance and give
> me their opinions on the following:
>
> 1. I looked at a Sony Cybershot, which has a casing that can go up to
> 4m under water. Is 4m-deep enough for most underwater photography? My
> friend is a very experienced diver, and she goes to places like
> Maldives, Manado, etc. often.
>
> 2. Is the macro function important for underwater photography?
>
> 3. What other features should I look for in the camera?
> Thanks & Regards,
> Patrick

Doing a little homework is probably a good idea. Here's a few, and there's
more to be found by googling.
http://www.uwphotographer.com/
http://www.photo.net/underwater/primer
http://www.underwaterphotography.com/Default.asp

Assuming the camera is for 'recreational' use and you are going 'digital',
take a look at the Canons. Most (all?) of their line has housings which I
think are typically good to 50m. In fact, a great 'starter' camera could be
had by buying an 'old technology' (i.e.2-3Mpixel) camera, and it's also
'obsolete' housing. Together you're good to 50m and 4x6 snapshots, and it
can probably be had for around $300 combined.
a

I was mistaken with the info - the camera can go up to 40m and not 4m.
I guess there isn't anything worth shooting at 4m deep.

patrick@computerbrokers.com.sg (Patrick) wrote in message news:<56f76c6e.0411162348.1a73f806@posting.google. com>...
> Hi,
>
> I have a question regarding digital cameras for scuba divers. I am
> not a scuba diver, but I just want to get one as a present for a
> friend. I'd apprecite if someone can bear with my ignorance and give
> me their opinions on the following:
>
> 1. I looked at a Sony Cybershot, which has a casing that can go up to
> 4m under water. Is 4m-deep enough for most underwater photography? My
> friend is a very experienced diver, and she goes to places like
> Maldives, Manado, etc. often.
>
> 2. Is the macro function important for underwater photography?
>
> 3. What other features should I look for in the camera?
>
> Thanks & Regards,
> Patrick

"Patrick" <patrick@computerbrokers.com.sg> wrote in message
news:56f76c6e.0411171819.1645be2d@posting.google.c om...
>I was mistaken with the info - the camera can go up to 40m and not 4m.
> I guess there isn't anything worth shooting at 4m deep.

Ok, let's assume you're not a troll...

There's lots to shoot in the upper 4m of water column. It's as you go
deeper that the real problems begin. Light begins to fall off with the reds
beginning to dissappear completely, rendering everything uniform blue.
Better start looking at serious strobes...
a

> patrick@computerbrokers.com.sg (Patrick) wrote in message
> news:<56f76c6e.0411162348.1a73f806@posting.google. com>...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have a question regarding digital cameras for scuba divers. I am
>> not a scuba diver, but I just want to get one as a present for a
>> friend. I'd apprecite if someone can bear with my ignorance and give
>> me their opinions on the following:
>>
>> 1. I looked at a Sony Cybershot, which has a casing that can go up to
>> 4m under water. Is 4m-deep enough for most underwater photography? My
>> friend is a very experienced diver, and she goes to places like
>> Maldives, Manado, etc. often.
>>
>> 2. Is the macro function important for underwater photography?
>>
>> 3. What other features should I look for in the camera?
>>
>> Thanks & Regards,
>> Patrick

patrick@computerbrokers.com.sg (Patrick) pounded away at his keyboard
resulting in:
:I have a question regarding digital cameras for scuba divers. I am
:not a scuba diver, but I just want to get one as a present for a
:friend. I'd apprecite if someone can bear with my ignorance and give
:me their opinions on the following:
:
:1. I looked at a Sony Cybershot, which has a casing that can go up to
:4m under water. Is 4m-deep enough for most underwater photography? My
:friend is a very experienced diver, and she goes to places like
:Maldives, Manado, etc. often.

For what it's worth, I just bought a Sony Cybershot as a land camera,
and a housing because I have more money than brains. I haven't had it
in the water yet. I will next month.

Personally, I think that unless I get an external strobe, I won't be
be able to take good enough photos to meet my own standards. I also
know that the strobe will cost more than the camera and housing
combined. This would be true for any camera, not just Sony.

So buy your freind the camera and housing for Christmas, and get him a
strobe for his next birthday.

Dan Bracuk
Is it my imagination, or do Buffalo Wings taste like chicken?
The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/


----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

On 16 Nov 2004 23:48:42 -0800, patrick@computerbrokers.com.sg
(Patrick) wrote:

>not a scuba diver, but I just want to get one as a present for a
>friend. I'd apprecite if someone can bear with my ignorance and give

Tony H and a give good advice. Also check helixcamera.com for more
info.

Scott W.

Thanks to everyone who replied to my posting. I think I get the
general idea about the basic requirements.

Hi,

I have a question regarding digital cameras for scuba divers. I am
not a scuba diver, but I just want to get one as a present for a
friend. I'd apprecite if someone can bear with my ignorance and give
me their opinions on the following:

1. I looked at a Sony Cybershot, which has a casing that can go up to
4m under water. Is 4m-deep enough for most underwater photography? My
friend is a very experienced diver, and she goes to places like
Maldives, Manado, etc. often.

2. Is the macro function important for underwater photography?

3. What other features should I look for in the camera?

Thanks & Regards,
Patrick