Lens for underwater?

Just like the title says, what would be some lens options for underwater photography. I thought I might try some UP even though housing is expensive . I dont plan on getting into it right away because of $ but I am curious for the future.

Thanks,
BB

what kind of under water photography? sports? fashion?

What camera and lenses do you currently have?

I would say a wide angle of some description. The water magnifies things, making them look bigger and closer than they really are. Also, unless you find yourself diving somehwere where the water is gin clear, most things you will want to photograph will be within arms reach or thereabouts.

Wide and fast, but really most people find that a P&S with a waterproof housing is the only realistic way to go unless you dive all the time.

Waterproof housings for SLRs are silly money.

JeffreyG wrote in post #9769903
Wide and fast, but really most people find that a P&S with a waterproof housing is the only realistic way to go unless you dive all the time.

Waterproof housings for SLRs are silly money.

I agree 100%. Id get a G11 with underwater housing.

A dedicated underwater dslr housing is an expensive proposition. Cheap ones start at about $1500 and go to over $5k. Even renting them is silly expensive, hundreds of dollars a day. As others have mentioned, unless you're a pro, get a G series and a housing for it.

Until you've mastered your buoyancy you have no use for an underwater DSLR rig. Using one while diving is a big job and requires good skills, plus a big budget. Todays P & S offerings do mighty good at far less cost and actually offer some advantages over a DSLR because they can do both macro and wide angle with the same lens. Underwater photography is quite different to land based photography, but if you really want to explore the subject try www.wetpixel.com

A point and shoot will do ok, but at the very least an external strobe is a must. Unless you're using it solely for snorkelling in shallow waters, a strobe will be very helpful. For a dslr housing the two most common lenses for a crop body are the tokina 10-17 fisheye and the 60mm macro. You can buy used which will help. My 40d housing, strobe, arm, sync chord cost about $1600, and that was all used. So like others have said it goes pretty high up from there.