Anyone using digital underwater camera ?

[Dr Stevil]

Top of my wish list this year is an underwater digital camera, I know Ocean Optics are supposed to be very good on advice, but until I get down to "the smoke", anyone on here using one? I've seen some nice images from a 1.3 mega pixel camera on their website and wondered how much you cash you need to splash for decent results. What about wide angle images and close ups, do digitals handle them ok?
Chee-az
Steve

[andy2tanx]

i just oredered one of these
http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/w...ets/dstil.html so i'll be sticking results on hopefully soon!

[jjflash]

Mine coming tomorrow (Olympus C4000) so will get housing at LIDS and drop it in the water at Hodge on the 8th March.

No need (according to the guys at Ocean Optics) to go for 5 meg - 3.5 to 4 meg will be fine and blow up to A3 very well.
They have also said you don't need a strobe as digital works better the 35mm in low light - can't comment on that though till I try it out !!

Cheers
Paul

[Andy Phillips]

Digital cameras.

Well lads, this what I do for a living, so, are you sitting comfotably,

Then I shall begin;

All digital cameras are a compromise, this is between the number of pixels, the more you have the more you can zoom in (enlarge) the picture before you can see the pixels (becomes pixelated), but, this means that the pixels become small, this means that they are unable to absorb a large amount of light before they become saturated (full). If you thenk of them being as being a bucket, when they are full they overflow, this is called blooming. Anti-blooming circuitry is part of CCD (digital) camera design, this is there to minimise this effect.

When you are choosing a camera you have to think about what you want to use it for and then judge which is best.

For my money, the ideal compromise for underwater cameras, is a 2/3 inch (18mm diagonal) CCD with 3 - 4 million pixels.

I have an Olympus C300 Zoom and a Nikon DX100, the DX100 is an SLR, to be honest, I needed a lamp to get the best results and I am still experimenting with various types, but thats another story.

One big, and I mean big fault with digital cameras is there reliance on autofocus, there are various types out there, but they all require a certain amount of light to work. Strobes do little to really improve the quality of images taken, but a video lamp will. It gives more light plus aids the autofocus. I have found to get the best results you need a lamp with a colour temperature of around 6000 deg. Kelvin. The lamp will also help to minimise the delay you get with a digital camera.

If anyone wants some more advise, please mail me, I am only to happy to help.

Andrew

[jjflash]

Nice one Andy - cheers for the info!

Paul

[JohnK]

Hi Steve

I use an Olympus C4040Z in a PT010 housing with an Ikelite DS125 strobe and slave sensor. Much better than my previous S&S MMEXII.

Get a camera that will resolve 4m pixels - approx £500, Housing is approx £200, strobe cost me £750.

Strobes ARE useful but only up to a max of 6 foot distance in clear water, or about 3 foot in UK waters!!

Digi cameras are more effeciant - you see the results immediately and can bin the crap pics. The thing about film that really p****d me off was waiting for it to be developed only to find that only 8 pics out of a roll of 36 were good enough

You can get wide angle and macro lenses - I only bothered with wide angle due to the zoom on digi cameras can be used for macro work.

I have no probs with the autofocus, in fact I find it very useful. You can set the C4040Z to override ambient light and `force` the flash - great for night dive pics, some strobes have a modelling light built in that give sufficient illumination if you dont want to force the flash.

The only downer I have is that when you `click` the picture there is a delay in taking it so you have to anticipate the subjects movement.

I`m bringing my set up to the Anglesey gig so if you want, you can have a play with it.

I`ll be posting some pics soon taken with my set up in the maldives - this will show what digi cameras can do (particularly in a novices hands - which I am)

Finally - you will need to invest in some good rechargeable batteries - I can send details, they will save you a ton of money

[Dr Stevil]

Cool, I've just posted elsewhere to ask if anyone is bringing a camera to Anglesey.
AndyTT - looks like you got a good deal you got on your Sony package, very tempting, credit card is burning a hole in me pocket as I speak, m-u-s-t  r-e-s-i-s-t ..... warning! debt overload immenent arrrggg      
Chee-az
Steve

[andy2tanx]

go on steve, dooo ittt!!
thats what credit cards are for... for the i want it now syndrome.

[Dr Stevil]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (andy2tanx @ Mar. 03 2003,19:20)]go on steve, dooo ittt!!
thats what credit cards are for... for the i want it now syndrome.

and lets face it, I could get hit by a bus tomorrow.... will power draining awwwaaayyyyyyyy... I want I want....

[Graham]

Have just joined YD mainly to find out more about digi..have just ordered and received an olympus c50zoom with pt014 housing. was going to opt for c4000 and pt10 but felt the extra pixels and smaller size would be a benefit. taking it to sharm on 16th March so i'll update you with the results. Also got a UR PRO filter.........

Graham