waterproof cams/equipment

[THaNaToZ]

I'm curious to know if anyone has any experience with underwater equipment.
I've come across an underwater case for my P&S camera and also have seen cameras designed for some level of water before.
I've taken a disposable underwater camera kayaking and while it took mediocre pictures, i'm curious if any of the above would be better?

[Glenn NK]

I built my own quite a few years ago (actually many years - 1965) for a Pentax SV. I used plexiglass for the case and the front. If doing it again, I'd have a custom faceplate made of tempered glass.

Plexiglass isn't hard to work with and can be glued together quite easily.

The hardest part is that any controls that penetrate the case should be fitted with O-rings (nothing else really works very well to keep water out). But with a drill press and the right size O-ring and some knowledge about the hole size required, it's doable in an average workshop.

Another factor is the depth to which you expect to dive; I had mine to maybe ten feet deep max and it was fine, but at typical scuba depths the pressures are much higher and things change dramatically.

Manfred may know of people that do UW photographer (Grumpy Diver).

Glenn

[matman4u]

I purchased an Olympus Tough series P&S and took it kayaking and in the swimming pool.
It is waterproof/shockproof and It took excellent high quality shots in and out of the water.
It even records 1080p video from which I was able to save individual frames of the dolphins that we saw from the kayak.
Overall very happy with it and will take it everywhere that I would not dare bring my DSLR.

[benm]

Get a camera specifically made to get wet, as suggested by matman4u. I have used a plastic bag designed for a P&S (DiCAPac) but since these bags are designed to be generic the fit is not ideal. And using the camera controls is a little difficult. But it is waterproof (down to about 10-12 feet).

[Andrew76]

I am an Ikelite dealer - if you have any questions specifically on Ikelite products, or any other SCUBA specific brands, I would be happy to try my best to help you out.

If your intention is to use it for SCUBA, I would heed Glenn's advice, and let us know how deep you're intending on taking it. In which case, I would disagree with Ben's advice. Often the cameras that are 'intended' to get wet, have very shallow depth limitations, and max out around 50-80'.

Ikelite is a fantastic, reasonably priced company that offers a full range of housings, accessories, and even lighting - although I do use strobes from another manufacturer, and arms/trays from even another manufacturer, I've just tried to get the best of everything I want, and that meant dealing with multiple sources to get exactly what I was looking for.

I've sold well over 100 systems from point and shoots, to full SLR sets with lighting, arms, ports, etc. Let me know if I can help with anything, I'd be happy to try.

[Andrew76]

This is a photo I took, of my best friend. My system is EXACTLY the same as what he's shooting. It's a pretty good set up, but it's a huge learning curve compared to land photography.

[Nickding]

Ikelite housing is really wonderful but too expensive. Not suitable for the guys that only has the chance of underwater photography twice a year.

[Andrew76]

Ikelite housing is really wonderful but too expensive. Not suitable for the guys that only has the chance of underwater photography twice a year.

Aquatica or Hugyfot are really wonderful but too expensive. Ikelite offers an affordable option for people who want to take expensive gear underwater, where it really doesn't belong.

I'd have to disagree with you on that one, Nickding.

EDIT - ** I felt I should clarify my view. I suppose this is a relative statement. Relatively speaking, Ikelite is MUCH less expensive than Aquatica, or Hugyfot. There may be products on the market that are less expensive than Ikelite. But I've more than $2,000 invested in a body, lenses, and ports for my system. I wouldn't be trusting it inside a cheap plastic 'bag' regardless of whether I was using twice a year, once a year, or every weekend!

Without speaking for him, I think maybe Nickding was meaning that a full SLR system for underwater use is a considerable investment, maybe one that isn't worth the expense, or time and effort to learn the ins and outs, for the occasional shooter.

[Colin Southern]

Are Nikonus still un the underwater camera and equipment game Andrew?

[Shadowman]

I'm curious to know if anyone has any experience with underwater equipment.
I've come across an underwater case for my P&S camera and also have seen cameras designed for some level of water before.
I've taken a disposable underwater camera kayaking and while it took mediocre pictures, i'm curious if any of the above would be better?

Some not all, of the underwater cases sold for P & S cameras are made from polycarbonate. These provide good protection from water, but your duration under water is limited. A friend purchased one and he said that after ten minutes condensation would form on the casing.

[Andrew76]

of the underwater cases sold for P & S cameras are made from polycarbonate. These provide good protection from water, but your duration under water is limited. A friend purchased one and he said that after ten minutes condensation would form on the casing.

I can't speak for all, as I'm not an expert in all, but Ikelite, arguably one of the largest 3rd party manufacturers of housings for P & S cameras, are actually made from Acrylic. Basically plexiglass - which has many, many better features for underwater purposes than a polycarbonate material such as Lexan. In fact, Acrylic is used for many aquariums, swimming pool viewing windows, and even submarine windows. Here's a link to a decent article on it : http://www.hydrosight.com/acrylic-vs...ve-comparison/

It does have it's downsides too, don't get me wrong, but it's a superior product for this particular application. And unless you're going from extreme to extreme as far as temperature, and humidity goes, I've never had a single Ikelite housing form condensation on me. And I don't even use silica gel packs. In fact, Ikelite technical support suggest you don't need any sort of desiccant product.

As an example - the water in the photo I posted above was about 4C (40F), and that dive (if I remember correctly), was well over 1.5 hours long. The surface temperature when the shot was taken, was at least 25C (82F), and I had no issue.

One must be careful not to load the camera into the housing in the comfort of your uber-air conditioned hotel room, and then expect to take it on a dive in the tropical Caribbean, and expect not to have any issues though.

[Shadowman]

I can't speak for all, as I'm not an expert in all, but Ikelite, arguably one of the largest 3rd party manufacturers of housings for P & S cameras, are actually made from Acrylic. Basically plexiglass - which has many, many better features for underwater purposes than a polycarbonate material such as Lexan. In fact, Acrylic is used for many aquariums, swimming pool viewing windows, and even submarine windows. Here's a link to a decent article on it : http://www.hydrosight.com/acrylic-vs...ve-comparison/

It does have it's downsides too, don't get me wrong, but it's a superior product for this particular application. And unless you're going from extreme to extreme as far as temperature, and humidity goes, I've never had a single Ikelite housing form condensation on me. And I don't even use silica gel packs. In fact, Ikelite technical support suggest you don't need any sort of desiccant product.

As an example - the water in the photo I posted above was about 4C (40F), and that dive (if I remember correctly), was well over 1.5 hours long. The surface temperature when the shot was taken, was at least 25C (82F), and I had no issue.

One must be careful not to load the camera into the housing in the comfort of your uber-air conditioned hotel room, and then expect to take it on a dive in the tropical Caribbean, and expect not to have any issues though.

Keep in mind I wrote: Some not all, of the underwater cases sold for P & S cameras are made from polycarbonate. These provide good protection from water, but your duration under water is limited. A friend purchased one and he said that after ten minutes condensation would form on the casing.

[Andrew76]

Are Nikonus still un the underwater camera and equipment game Andrew?

They are not. Although quite a bit of the product line still exists out there. And although I'm a Canon guy, I have no quams admitting that Nikonos had some well thought out, and designed products.

Officially, they let their trademark expire in 2008. I think at one point a few years ago, there were rumors about them bringing them back, but companies like Ikelite, Aquatica, and Hugyfot have such a HUGE presence in the market now, and quite frankly, one of those 3 names is pretty well what all pros, including videographers, and 3D videographers are using, that I think they'd be silly to try.

[THaNaToZ]

I'm looking for something for snorkeling. I can't find how deep exactly but I don't imagine it would be too deep (I can't find it on the website). Looking to snorkel with stingrays in cayman islands. So I'm not looking for something as big as what Andrew posted. Here's a general idea of what my original question was for what I was look at:
https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...d=0CIwEEPMCMAI

or

https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...d=0CJcEEMQVMAA

Those are just examples and not necessary the specific camera i was looking at. but that is the case that goes with my current PS

[Andrew76]

I'm looking for something for snorkeling. I can't find how deep exactly but I don't imagine it would be too deep (I can't find it on the website). Looking to snorkel with stingrays in cayman islands. So I'm not looking for something as big as what Andrew posted. Here's a general idea of what my original question was for what I was look at:
https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...d=0CIwEEPMCMAI

or

https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...d=0CJcEEMQVMAA

Those are just examples and not necessary the specific camera i was looking at. but that is the case that goes with my current PS

Then I would consider something like the Fujifilm camera you've mentioned above.

Your Canon is about 4 or so model years old, and so I would stay away from a housing for it - if you were to ever flood it, I would be worried that you couldn't find a replacement camera to go into it. Then you'd be out the camera, and the housing. Where if you buy a dedicated new model snorkeling camera, and something were to happen, you'd only be out the cost of the housing.

Out of curiosity, I looked on the Ikelite site, and they DID make a housing for the SD880, but have discontinued it, since several models newer have taken it's place. Even the ones for the SD940 are on a blowout special as they're discontinuing those as well.

PS - Stingray city in the Caymans is AWESOME - you'll really enjoy it - well worth taking a camera.

[benm]

If you go to Stingray City the water is no more than 5-6 feet deep. So the plastic bag is suitable. [Plastic bag - down to 10 ft; waterproof P&S - whatever the manufacturer recommends; Nikonos - down to 125 ft]. This was shot with a Nikonos IVa. If you think today's DSLRs are heavy you should pick up a Nikonos!

[THaNaToZ]

DP Review had the following 5 as the top and the other sites I looked at confirmed as much
Anyone have any experience with the following:
Nikon 1 AW1
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
Pentax WG-3
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 (Lumix DMC-FT5)

Anything to steer away from or good quality no matter choice?

[JR1]

Unless someone says NO for a reason I am looking to get this next week.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Pro...kon-1-AW1.html

[Andrew76]

Anything to steer away from or good quality no matter choice?

They're all 'good quality' cameras. Just understand you're buying something that has been 'weatherised' to avoid damage to the camera. This is why they're made.

They are NOT made to replace an underwater photography system. So, if National Geographic quality shots of the underwater world is what you're looking for, then no, they are not good quality.

If an inexpensive P+S camera that you can drop, get wet, get dirty, to take some snapshots of cool things you may never get to see again, is what you're looking for, then I would say they're all good quality. A friend has the AW1, and really likes it. He brings it on the boat when we're diving, and even on some hikes. But he doesn't bring it into the water. I've never used it personally, but he really does enjoy it.

Hope that helps! And, good luck!