Underwater/waterproof cameras, cases and housings

[MarkBarbieri]

I use an EWA Marine ziplock bag and an old Canon 10D. So far no leaks. The hard shell cases look like a better option for p&s cameras but for SLR's, a hard shell case is just way to expensive for me.

 

[mishoe01]

Hi there - figured this was the place to come to w/ my questions

I'm looking for a digital camera that has a casing that allows me to use that same camera both on land and "under the sea" (heehee).

I figure it'll be costly (I looked several years ago and they were starting at $600).

If anyone has any thoughts/opinions/recommendations I'd really appreciate all the help.

Thanks!

 

[manning]

Have a look at the Pentax Optio W20. About $300.00.

http://www.pentaximaging.com/produc...a--Optio_W20/reqID--8356288/subsection--optio

 

[Jeanne B]

Well, you'll be happy to find that you can find a nice setup for a lot less money these days.

Many of the Canon cameras have u/w housings. I bought a Canon housing for my A610 back in the spring and it was $150, not bad IMO considering we took hundreds of u/w pictures with it during our trip to the Virgin Islands this summer, and it will get a lot of use in the future.

Check amazon and bhphotovideo for the Canon housings and the Canon A6x0 and A7x0 series cameras get very good reviews.

 

[boBQuincy]

The Ewa-Marine "housings" are often under $100 and are fine for casual underwater use. They don't look like much more than glorified heavy duty plastic bags but they are made well and I have never heard of one leaking.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I have an EWA bag. I use it for my 10D. It works pretty well. I'm always nervous about leaks, but I haven't had a problem so far.

 

[mishoe01]

Thanks for the replies.

I right now have a 3 (almost 4) yo HP digital camera, and I know they don't make a housing specifically for that camera.

Manning--thanks for that link, only issue I would probably have is that it's only good to a depth of 5 feet.

boBQuincy and MarkBarbieri - I think I know what the Ewa bags are - was worried about the leaking too, so hadn't thought too much about that.

Since I'm ready to buy a new camera, I just figured it'd be better to buy one that has a housing that comes w/ it....doesn't mean that I'm correct though.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[allyn]

most of the small canon cameras have underwater cases. for example, the SD600, which is now just a little over $200. but camera prices are dropping much faster than underwater case prices. the underwater case from canon is around $150.

we've had a couple of underwater cases for various canon cameras and we've never had a problem with leakage.

 

[tinksdad]

Nikon, Canon and Olympus all have a fairly extensive line of P&S cameras and UW housings. If your needs are basically on the surface and light diving during a snorkeling episode the bags "might" work out. Personally, I would spend a bit more and get something that would be safe to about 100' that way you know that its' built to stand the rigors of under water pressure.

Once you get something, make SURE you clean and take your time putting the camera in the housing. No lint, hairs or fuzzies since it WILL leak if one of those gets across the o-ring seal. Don't ask me how I know......

 

[Mi3stooges]

Would like to know what most feel is the best underwater camera, a one time use? The brand?
I found a link from here and it was to a dive shop, the camera is about $50 but it does not say if its reloadable.
Here is the link to it...

http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/CategoryID_971/Context_965/Sort_Stock/DescSort_0/AQUFE.html?Hit=1


Any suggestions?? I hope to take some nice photos in Maui and Oahu!!

 

[rtphokie]

Would like to know what most feel is the best underwater camera, a one time use? The brand?
I found a link from here and it was to a dive shop, the camera is about $50 but it does not say if its reloadable.
Here is the link to it...

http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/CategoryID_971/Context_965/Sort_Stock/DescSort_0/AQUFE.html?Hit=1


Any suggestions?? I hope to take some nice photos in Maui and Oahu!!

It probably is reloadable but you might not be very happy with the quality.Similar cameras can be found on ebay for around $20-$25.

If you've already got a camera you are happy with, consider getting a waterproof enclosure for it. I had very good luck with an EWA-Marine bag.:

http://rtphokie.smugmug.com/gallery/1862065

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

I'm still stuck in the film realm for my underwater camera. I use a Nikonos. It takes great pictures but I struggle getting them in focus all the time (I am getting better at distance estimation for shallow depth of field though). This is one of the photos I took in Mexico diving off the coast of San Carlos.

The next photo I have is all blurry of the inside of an eel's mouth as it tried to swallow my camera. I really need to quit sticking my head in underwater holes without knowing exactly what is inside.

Jeff

 

[Mi3stooges]

What do you think of this?? I would use it for an Olympus Stylus 500, so IF it were to get ruined, it wouldn't be my DSLR....

http://cgi.ebay.com/DiCAPac-WP-300-...3QQihZ001QQcategoryZ50506QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[tinksdad]

If you're just going to be snorkeling or light surface diving, then that bag will "probably" be OK. Olympus puts out some decent underwater housings that are good for diving down to 100'.

No matter what, you might want to get some additional insurance on the camera, just in case.....


This was taken with a Olympus C-770 and housing in Cozumel.

 

[Mi3stooges]

What an awesome picture!! I won't be diving, just some water shots while snorkeling.

 

[qanita92]

What cameras will work underwater? I think I will but the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 (does that work underwater?) and buy a one time use camera that works underwater from CVS. Do they work good underwater?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Very few cameras are made to work in the water. Most people that do underwater photography by a waterproof case or bag for their normal camera and use that.

 

[extreme8]

The Pentax Optio W10 and the newer W20 both work underwater. Another advantage to the waterproofing is that they are dust (sand) proof as well.
I have the W10 for times when I don't want to put my D200 in harms way and it's a lot of fun.

 

[rtphokie]

What cameras will work underwater? I think I will but the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 (does that work underwater?) and buy a one time use camera that works underwater from CVS. Do they work good underwater?

Any camera will work underwater with a waterproof housing or bag.

On a budget, Dicapac cases are very inexpensive ($35)

Take a look at what EWA-Marine has to offer. I've not heard a single report of leakage and the quality of the photos is great.

Personally I wouldn't mess with the new waterproof digital camera. You can get a much nicer digital camera with one of the bags above for the same price or less.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

You can see some underwater photos taken with an EWA Marine bag at:

http://barbieri.smugmug.com/gallery/1859532

Here are a few: