Underwater shooting

A friend of mine is the coach of a YMCA swim team and wants an underwater camera. There is a rather limited budget. Does anyone here have any experince shooting underwater? Are there any recomendations for equipment?

Generally the words "underwater camera" and "limited budget" don't go together very well. How limited is the budget? Knowing your budget will make it easier to give you some suggestions.

Also, what type of shots is the coach wanting to capture.

You can go from $300 for housing and camera or for just a camera. Look in the latest edition of Scuba Diving magazine for a review of some current models. I've got over $3000.00 and change in camera, housing, lenses and ports but that is for a camera rig I can take to 130 FSW in scuba, I assume he only needs about 6-19 feet of depth. Look here:

http://www.olympusamer​ica.com …ction/oima_unde​rwater.asp

or here:

http://www.olympusamer​ica.com …ection/cpg_digi​tal_sw.asp

Mike

G9+ oem housing is a popular choice; but as said if you're looking for quality pictures you'll pay serious $$$ for UW strobe(s).

Yeah I told her that it might not be possible for the $350 she has to spend on it. And even if it is the camera might not be up to what she wants it for (which is mostly playing around, they already have pretty good video equipment that they can use to film from the pool windows.)

I'll check out some of the links you folks posted and see what is what.

Thanks

If she wants fairly cheap and works, I use a Casio Exilm with the case. Camera was around $200 at walmart, and the case was $99 online.
I have used it for snorkeling the barrier reefs out here in Guam and have some cool pictures and videos. The case even allows full use of the buttons. If you want sample pictures and the case number and all, let me know. (PM me incase Id ont check back for a few days)

Here you go, $400.00 camera and case, camera good to 30 feet by itself.

http://www.ikelite.com​/web_two/nik_l18.html

Mike

I do a LOT of underwater photography, both in freshwater and in salt water.

Not to stir up a major issue here, but there is NO WAY that camera will shoot a clear image at 30 feet. At 30 feet, even clear water is still very dense. Would you get "an image"? - Yes. But would you get something worth printing for a magazine, newsletter, or family portrait? Not in my opinion, no.

The only time I would be 30 feet from a subject underwater is when doing wide angle photography (Say, fisheye to 24mm or so), I use two and sometimes three very powerful strobes to light everything up. This camera is a relatively simple P&S. The flash underwater **might**be decent at 0-5 feet... but anything beyond that would have a pretty significant light falloff.

More realistically, this camera would work from about 0 to 5 feet. If you buy the optional flash kit, you might extend that a few more feet. Whatever you do, you wont be able to light something up beyond about 12 feet. Without the light, you would get some uneven lighting. Not a horrible thing, but we don't know your intent for the images. Since there is a limited budget, I can assume these aren't for professional publication.

However, remember a camera like this will have "shutter lag" - This means when you push the shutter button, you will have to wait a few seconds before the image is actually captured. In the real world, you are going to end up with a lot of blurry or unintended shots.

My advice: Contact a local scuba shop. They will know some folks with the right gear who would probably be happy to do this, just for fun. (Free beer after the shoot always helps too)

i think he meant 30ft of depth not a shooting distance.

Ah, LOL that would make more sense. I guess I am simply more focused on the limitations of a P&S camera.

The trick on pool work is definitely the lighting. Even with strobes, you have to be careful how you use them. The light tends to bounce off the white walls, which can seriously mess up some shots.

I am curious about the intent of the images though, it would help to know that. If it's just a one time thing (like a swim tourny) I bet there are some underwater shooters who would dig shooting that. Plus, they already have the dive gear. If it's just something for parents, then they probably don't care too much about lighting and weird color balance issues that will pop up in the images. Especially since many shots will be partially above water and partially below water.

But, if it's to take pictures of swimmers moving quickly (or even semi-quickly) in the water, I don't think a P&S camera is the way to go.

I agree that there are issues with shutter lag, that is the main reason I went to a DSLR and a housing. If you can live with shutter lag but want to look at finishes (as in photo finish) look at digital video, they are getting preaty cheap now and most yo can also do stills with. The housing could almost be home made, for my video camera mine is!

Mike

Maybe get a Canon Powershot A60 or A70 for $50 off ebay and then buy the $50 underwater housing here: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=553011

Thanks to adam8080 for the $50 underwater housing post on the market watch board (https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=553011)

I'd check out the Canon G9 with an Inon wide angle lens. It will not be perfect, but with practice you should be able to get some usable images. The Canon A series with a Canon housing would also fit the budget but they don't have RAW (at least not without the hack) and you'll likely want it. Shutter lag is going to be an issue, but as someone who has shot moving fish with these types of units, it can be done - you need to practice it and be willing to have missed shots, but it certainly can be done.

So saying, neither of those will produce fabulouso, can't believe they're real photos like a big rig would...but that seems to go without saying! And adding underwater lighting is a whole 'nuther ball game.

Another thought...there is a large scuba diving community in and around PA. Ask around at local dive shops for photographers who have the kit. I know many would love a chance to shoot something like this to keep their skills fresh and develop new ones. You might be surprised and able to work out a good deal that suits both parties. Doesn't hurt to ask.

You can also pop over to ScubaBoard and put a note up in the forums asking for people to help you out - it's a huge community that is very active.

Dang! I wish they had the Case for the A80 on sale like that. Is it at all possible that the A60/A70 case will work with an A80??