Nikon D40

[Armis]

Hi,
I have DSLR Nikon D40 and also want to use underwater during spearfishing, but found that underwater housings costs double price of my camera :hmm. ''Ikelite'' for this camera costs arround 1500 $ , but this housing is for deep dives till 60 meters - I'll dive max till 20 m. Is there any other cheaper housing for Nikon D40 ?

 

[Jon]

You could try Fantasea, but you'll find that htye aren't much cheaper. This is pretty much the probelm with DSLR's- the housing cost 2-3 times more than the camera itself.

Something else to figure into the price is the Dome port that you'll need to cover the lens- which usually isn't included in the housing price. I've found that a decent port, for a wide angle lens, can run as much as $1,000!

All of this is assuming your just doing natural light photography and not budgeting anything for external strobes- the internal ones won't work.

Add the fact that cameras change design every 6 months, and each one needs its own housing, and I have been able to put off the urge to invest in one for quit a while now.

Jon

 

[Jon]

Scratch the Fantasea idea as it looks like they dumper their DSLR housing line: Fantasea Line Water Sports Photo Products & Accessories- Products Page

I'd heard that they had problems and needed to redesign them. I guess it was true.

Ikelite is still your cheapest way to go.

One note on the d40. The Nikon 10.5mm lens is considered one of their best for underwater work and it won't work in auto mode on the D40- you need to move up to something like the D80 to work with that lens.

Jon

 

[Armis]

Thank you, Jon for detailed answer. To buy expensive housing with additional quit big expenses for Dome port and external strobe...for few photos underwater during hunting seems to be stupid thing. Of course, if I would be a professional photgrapher diver, without any doubt I would take Ikelite. I've found one housing named Ewa Marine, but it seems to me cheap plastic. Anyway, thanks again for your reply.

 

[Jon]

Those are the plasitc garbage bag housings that are better for rain than diving. They have bouyancy issues and limited depth range.

As much as I'd love to have a housed DSLR, I just can't spend that kind of money on something that changes so often.

I get myself a new compact digital about every 3 years or so. I've been limiting myself, these days, to under $600 for camera and housing. That way it's not such a huge shock when I upgrade.

You can check out the wetpixel.com forums to see what the latest camera to buy is- it changes monthly. My latest camera is a Panasonic Luminix DMZ-5.

If I bought a camera today I would look at the Nikon Coolpix P6000 or the Canon G9. Canon has since come out with the G10, but it seems to have some problems that underwater photographers are taking issue with. They all seem to be clinging onto their G9's for a while longer.

Another, cheap, route to go is with the HERO line of cameras. They have a new one, as of this month, that is a 5 megapixel with wide angle lens for less than $200- and that includes the housing and mounting hardware.

Jon

 

[Armis]

Oh, thanks Jon for good link about underwater photo. This HERO is also interesting thing

 

[hudasmt]

I'm using the olympus sw 1030 and you can use it up to 10 meters without housing and the optional housing will only cost 1/3 to 1/2 of the price of the camera. small and compact and the software is upgradable. I'm also using it for video and can go 30 fps at VGA quality. Video is very clear in a 50" plasma and the picture too taken at 10 megapixels. There is also a panorama style in the photo mode. And a depth gauge meter that will tell you how deep you are without looking at your watch. Beats the Dslr in prices and sizes.

 

[Armis]

Hi, Hudasmt !
Depth gauge meter - that's cool ! Interesting camera and compact for spearfishing. Thanks for reply.

 

[whucash]

I've bought 2 months ago Olymps Sp-560 Uz..it has got an underwater housing made by Olympus too.. still it isn't so expensive .. I've payed for the camera and housing about 600 Euro..
It makes great photos and i love it:d
Cheerse

 

[hudasmt]

Hi, Hudasmt !
Depth gauge meter - that's cool ! Interesting camera and compact for spearfishing. Thanks for reply.

:fridayYour welcome dude:friday I hope you find the answer you are looking for:friday

 

[kmo]

I wouldn't recommend the olympus underwater cameras (I used to when I first bought mine though). They take nice enough pics and are cheap, but I know quite a few people who have had leaks. The olympus cameras in a housing are probably as good as any though.

Me and my fiance recently bought an ikelite housing for her canon S5 IS. Not the best underwater camera out there (my main issues are with the white balance and it doesn't shoot in RAW), but we have been getting some good shots. We also bought wide angle and macro wet-lenses which are very handy (especially the wide angle for spearing).

My next camera will probably be a compact with a manufacturer built housing. I'll buy another wide angle wet lens too. All of the cameras that Jon mentioned are top of my list.