Re: dive cameras

[dfromyyc]

ok guys,
 how many of you use a digital for your underwater pics?
 
 is anyone using a housing on their camera, thereby getting dual use from their digital?
 
 is anyone using a high end camera? i.e. rebel  or g5 [$1000 or better cameras]
 
 the reason i ask is that i had to go to a professional grade of film for our sea and sea mx5II camera to get 36 exposure film. 24 just runs out too quickly when i let the wife have the camera
 
 david

Hi dfromyyc
 
 I now use a digital camera for my underwater pictures, and find it much more forgiving then when I use to use 35mm with my Sea & Sea.
 
 I started off with buying just a housing for my Sony P9, this is relatively cheap camera and a  relatively cheap housing as well. The results were o.k if you were diving on a 10-12 metre reef with good sunlight.
 
 Sample of picture I took with a P9.
 
   
 
 On an average dive I took 70 to 80 pictures, then deleted the majority of them when back at the hotel, as they were crap. There is obviously no way of doing this when using 35mm, with digital there is no waste and not the expense of having rolls of film processed, just for a couple of decent pictures (if you are lucky).
 
 I have kept my P9 & housing but also upgraded my camera to a Canon 350d with an Ikelite housing which enables me to dive to 60m, which is more suited to diving in the U.K. Again this gives me the option of using the camera for diving and normal use.
 
 Here is a link to some other pictures I took last time in Cuba with a P9.
 
 http://www.7daysinparadise.com/gallery/album18

[JohnnyCastaway]

Hi Dave,
 we purchased a sony dscw7 specifically for that reason, it has a marine pack available for it that is rated to 140' .  unfortunately it took a couple of months to get the marine pack, but we finally got it just before christmas, but haven't had a chance to try it yet.  
 
 I'm hoping to get to try it out soon...    :D

[dfromyyc]

thanks for the replys guys!!!!!!!!
 
 i was just 'looking around' and found this post.
 i had started this post just 2 days before our last trip and had forgotten about my post.
  while in sosua, we did 6 dives but the vis was 5 to 10 meters, therefore the number of pics that we took was far less than when we went to cayo largo or the [ now blau, holgin]. only used 2 rolls of 36 exp. film.
 
 it sure would have been nice to have taken some video as well and seen the results right a way. guess that i will have to look for another toy!!

[JohnnyCastaway]

Hi DfromYYC,
 well, Heather's going to get a chance to try the new housing for the camera next week, and then I'll get to try it in Mexico next month, so we're hoping for some great pics to post...

[Gambitt]

I just bought the new Sea&SeaDX-750G, so Cozumel will be the first time to try it at depth.
 
 http://www.divesource.com/product.html?prodid=623&catid=306
 
 I'll post the results here, so you can judge for yourself.

[flopnfly]

I didn't get a chance to try out the housing for our camera.  Too many buttons to figure out, and for some reason I didn't have any time to read the instructions.     :D