Underwater Anyone?

[HKMonkey]

Hey there. I was just watching a show on Nat. Geo. Channel about Minke Whales and I thought about how one would go about taking photos underwater. As I have absolutely no experience in this, I thought I'd ask here. Does anyone know what it takes to do underwater photography? Do you need a special underwater camera, or is there a way to do it with a typical SLR? Just wondering...

[SoCal69]

You can use any camera underwater, as long as you have a special underwater housing for it. Not ever having done this, I really can't give any specific help, but I have heard that the housing interferes with the on-board flash, so you will also need some type of underwater flash. I have seen the housings for SLRs in various catalogs, although I can't remember where specifically. I believe they run a few hundred dollars. I believe you can also get them for some of the smaller point and shoot cameras.

[PacAce]

Hey there. I was just watching a show on Nat. Geo. Channel about Minke Whales and I thought about how one would go about taking photos underwater. As I have absolutely no experience in this, I thought I'd ask here. Does anyone know what it takes to do underwater photography? Do you need a special underwater camera, or is there a way to do it with a typical SLR? Just wondering...

THere are several ways to go with underwater photography. You can take the economy route and buy underwater disposable cameras or waterproof P&S cameras but you can only go down 10 feet or so. Here we're talking a couple of bucks for the disposable to a couple hundred for a P&S like the Canon Sureshot A1. These are all film cameras and do not require a housing. I don't know of any digital UW cameras but you can get UW housings for your regular P&S cameras like the A70 or A80. The housings cost a few hundred bucks as well.

Or you can get a real underwater camera that will withstand pressures down to just over a hundred feet. The one I used when I was scuba diving was the Nikonos V which sell for over $600 (maybe less now). For deep dives, you will need a good strong flash on extension arms.

If you want to use your DSLR for UW photography, then the only real option you have is to buy a good housing for it and they usually range in the thousand dollar area. You will also need to get a good UW flash on extension arms. And if you don't have a very wide angle lens, then you'll need to get one of those, too. Water has a way of magnifying the images underwater. Add your DSLR mag. factor on top of that and your "normal" lens turns into a medium tele lens!

The hardest part about using a housing is that it becomes difficult to get at the camera controls. Most of the controls or settings have to be set before you go into the water and once underwater, you won't be able to change them.

[stopbath]

You can buy a underwater case for most cameras. Either a specific case made by the maker, or a generic case made by some third party.

There are some underwater cameras that don't need cases, but I don't know if they are in digital versions yet. Look for Nikonos. You may be able to rent one since they are quite pricey (but very good.)

If you intend on underwater whale shots, talk to your guide. They may even be able to arrange a camera for you.

Remember, never load your underwater camera in the open near water. Ocean spray can easily get in the camera and destroy it.

[KartGirlsMom]

There is a lot of good uw photography info on Scuba Diving Magazine's photography page (http://www.scubadiving.com/photography/0,7253,4-0-0-0,00.html)

[HKMonkey]

:shock: Wow, thanks for all the info! Like I said, I just thought about that question because I was watching a whale show on NGC. I would LOVE to do stuff like that, but alas, I don't have the money. I was only asking a question out of curiosity, but you all gave such wonderful answers. Thanks for the info! You guys are great!! :D

[dn7elson]

Does anyone know what it takes to do underwater photography? Do you need a special underwater camera, or is there a way to do it with a typical SLR? Just wondering...

You may have already seen this, but Canon has a website section on underwater photography:

http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/uwphoto/index-e.html