Looking at Cameras - DSLR, SLR, Compact????

[Dangerous Dan]

Evening Peeps,

I'm looking at buying a camera this summer, I've had a couple of cheapish digital cameras in the past and am now looking for something a bit more professional. I've being looking on the internet and am struggling to understand the difference between a higher end digital and a DSLR camera??

Due to budget constraints if I went for a DSLR I have read good things about the Nikon D50 with 18-55 lens and at £383 is just within my budget constraints?

Eventually I would like to purchase a housing to use under water, but this wouldnt be for another year or two.

Any help on this would be great as with diving kit it's always better to buy the right equipment first time round.

Cheers

[samui13]

do not buy a camera now and hope to get a housing for it in a couple of years, as you will probably struggle. If I was you, I would save up until I had eough to go out and buy the camera and housing.

[B]

dslr's are superb but it is the housing that will knock you sideways... very expensive.

I agree with previous, do not buy housing and camera seperately, housings are contionously discontinued and you will end up suddenly with a fabulous camera and no housing...

I would love a dslr but have not got the money it takes to buy a set up, it is very expensive. I shoot with an olympus 5060 with pt-020 oly housing... super deal at luton cameras and I am very happy with it (pics in gallery), saving up for a strobe now for the set up.. currently using only a red filter..

tomorrow the camera/housing gets its very first uk water test... that will be interesting... cant wait..

good luck and ask if you want any further advice.. pm

[Dangerous Dan]

I'd like to get some good surface work first before i think about underwater, so when it comes to going underwater maybe i'll buy a new setup when I have the cash.

Im just trying to understand the technical differences between the different cameras.

Thanks
Dan

[recurve]

Digital SLR's tend to have much less shutter lag (delay between pressing the shutter and the picture being taken) than almost any compact. For this reason alone they are much better suited to any subject that moves faster than nudibranch rates.

Be prepared to be VERY scared at DSLR housing prices (I'm trying to decide if I can justify £900 plus port for a Subal for my Canon D60).

[yellowduke]

When people talk about housings being discontinued this is more of an issue for digital compacts. These cameras tend to be discontinued and replaced much faster than a DSLR so this is less of a worry when buying. You can still easily get hold of a housing for a Canon 300D and this was discontinued over a year ago.

The real costs come into play when you look at housings and strobes. £1000 minimum for a housing and port, about £700 for a decent strobe with arm and sync cord. You might as well call it £3000 to get yourself sorted with a land and underwater kit with a couple of lenses.

You can get snapping for £300 but you will be limited by what your kit is capable of. High end compacts are really very good indeed but pricewise I don't think they are massively cheaper than a DSLR setup. Choice really boils down to what will suit the photography you want to do above and below the water.

I have chosen the DSLR option and am slowly building up my kit. I always keep an eye out on Ebay for any bits I can get cheap but housings and strobes don't come up very often. For the time being I will keep using my old compact and housing until some more money comes my way!

Jim

[Pigpen]

I ain't no expert, but for a compact option I'd think about the Fuji E900 + Ikelite housing. A very good camera, with all the important options (white balance, minimal shutter lag etc) + ability to expand on strobes, lenses etc.

Check out Digital Diver Network and see how many excellent pics have been taken with this.

Think camera around £250, and housing the same, so good value!

[Tim Ingmire]

If the cost is an issue here's my advice.

Buy a really good digicam with housing as Geoff as suggested that allows you to build a good system. When it comes to strobes and arms etc choose stuff that you can still use if, and when, you upgrade. This means that when you do upgrade all that you will have to sell would be the housing and camera and any specific bits and pieces you bought for it eg tray, lenses.
Make sure you buy quality bits and pieces as they keep there value for longer eg. the second hand value of a c5050 camera was still very high until recently despite being discontinued ages ago.

A good strobe, like an Inon 240, will set you back something like £500 in the UK and will last you years despite what camera you use. It has optical and hard wire inputs so you can use it with a digicam and an SLR - two of those (with arms) will almost certainly be worth more than your digicam and housing.

In essence, choose your purchases wisely and you will minimise the losses as you upgrade.

You may also find that with a good compact set-up you may never need to upgrade to a DSLR.

[PBrown]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dan

Im just trying to understand the technical differences between the different cameras.

this might help:
Photographymags - Choosing a digital camera

speed (both shutter lag & power on times), & the ability to use different lenses are probably the main two benefits in using SLR.

HTH

cheers,
Paul

[aquayle]

My 2 cents worth:-
If you buy a DSLR your diving becomes a photography session, a compact still allows diving with 'happy snaps' an extra.
You can't stuff a DSLR into your pocket, they are BIG.
A compact is about £1400 cheaper, will do *most* of the things a DSRL does - BUT is slower to focus & very slow to write to card (about 7 seconds per shot).
have a look at:
Cameras Underwater Digital stills: Package feature comparison table.
I bought the Olypus SP350 - its brill!

HTH - Andy