Underwater Photo Thread: Pics, Tips and Queries

[hatch]

Okay, so I've gone out and splurged a little bit and got myself a new digital SLR, with a nice twin lens kit. Nothing over the top, but a good intermediate camera that should be able to do what I want.

I'm looking at spending a few more $$$ to get underwater housing for it, but I'm a complete newbie to this sort of thing. What sort of lens, and portal are best suited to fish photography? What sort of settings are best to capture those incredible underwater shots?

I really love the idea of getting underwater shots, so I'd love to see some other people's work, how they did it and what tips they have!

So fire away people

[Brad Y]

I honestly wouldnt be dunking an expensive SLR even if it had a waterproof housing. What if you slip and drop it? Bye bye camera.

Look at something like a small pocket sized camera that is rated for water. Some models like the panasonic lumix are fairly cheap and still take a good pic. That way if you drop it your not up for big bucks. The main thing with taking pics underwater is you need as much light as possible to maximise colours on the fish and show plenty of blue in the water as its looks so nice. Other than that I find the more pics you take the better the chances of getting something decent. Since you cant see into the camera while holding it under water you just have to rely on sheer numbers of photos until you figure out the best angles and distances to hold it away from fish.

[gez]

...heres few pics i got with one of the waterproof point and shoots. Like Brad said if you push enough buttons eventually you get a few good pics. You'll need good lighting cos if you have to use flash lighting it'll pick up every bit of sediment and stuff.

[hatch]

Originally Posted by gez

...heres few pics i got with one of the waterproof point and shoots. Like Brad said if you push enough buttons eventually you get a few good pics. You'll need good lighting cos if you have to use flash lighting it'll pick up every bit of sediment and stuff.

They look unreal mate. They just factory settings or did you set up differently

[hatch]

Originally Posted by Brad Y

I honestly wouldnt be dunking an expensive SLR even if it had a waterproof housing. What if you slip and drop it? Bye bye camera.

Look at something like a small pocket sized camera that is rated for water. Some models like the panasonic lumix are fairly cheap and still take a good pic. That way if you drop it your not up for big bucks. The main thing with taking pics underwater is you need as much light as possible to maximise colours on the fish and show plenty of blue in the water as its looks so nice. Other than that I find the more pics you take the better the chances of getting something decent. Since you cant see into the camera while holding it under water you just have to rely on sheer numbers of photos until you figure out the best angles and distances to hold it away from fish.

Was planning on setting it up so that I have lanyards and so forth so that dropping it wouldn't be an issue. Really want high quality images. Not doubting that a point and shoot can't do that, but I want to work my way up to top end gear so that I can use it for diving and so forth.

Thanks for the advice, I do have the Gopro, for quick point and shoot stuff when it is too cold to get in the drink!

[Gluey]

Originally Posted by hatch

Was planning on setting it up so that I have lanyards and so forth so that dropping it wouldn't be an issue. Really want high quality images. Not doubting that a point and shoot can't do that, but I want to work my way up to top end gear so that I can use it for diving and so forth.

Thanks for the advice, I do have the Gopro, for quick point and shoot stuff when it is too cold to get in the drink!

I feel I have a little bit of knowledge when it comes to underwater housings.

You'll find if you're looking for a housing for your SLR you will be looking for one that is actually specific to your body as you obviously the port needs to line up with the lens barrel and the shutter button lines up directly ontop of your camera body's button. (As well as your picture review button etc etc).

What you then have to consider is unless you've purchased one of the top dive cameras (i.e. Ikelite), you will not be able to change the settings of you're camera all that much until you pull it out of the housing = higher risk of an improper seal. (This includes zooming etc)

Unless you're going to go diving with your camera, your money would be much much better spent on a decent underwater camera with RAW editing capabilities + a pole to actually get some distance away from the yak/ boat. I could almost guarantee the shots will all look the exact same from the housing after ~10 fish shots.

[gtxrally]

Some cracker photo's there Gez as always,
here are a couple of mine.

[hatch]

Originally Posted by Gluey

I feel I have a little bit of knowledge when it comes to underwater housings.

You'll find if you're looking for a housing for your SLR you will be looking for one that is actually specific to your body as you obviously the port needs to line up with the lens barrel and the shutter button lines up directly ontop of your camera body's button. (As well as your picture review button etc etc).

What you then have to consider is unless you've purchased one of the top dive cameras (i.e. Ikelite), you will not be able to change the settings of you're camera all that much until you pull it out of the housing = higher risk of an improper seal. (This includes zooming etc)

Unless you're going to go diving with your camera, your money would be much much better spent on a decent underwater camera with RAW editing capabilities + a pole to actually get some distance away from the yak/ boat. I could almost guarantee the shots will all look the exact same from the housing after ~10 fish shots.

Any suggestions on a camera with raw style editing? If love too know what set up guys like Warren Keelan, David Granville and all the guys as FishLife are running!

[gtxrally]

This is what I will be going with hopefully soon.
http://www.dpreview.com/products/nikon/slrs/nikon_aw1

[Mark M]

Originally Posted by hatch

Any suggestions on a camera with raw style editing?!

Clay, the Canon Sxxx range of compacts will shoot in RAW and you can get very reliable housings for them. Here are a couple of links to photo streams from some young guys in Perth.

Good light is the key.

Canon S95
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmo_und...n/photostream/

Xander started with an S95 or S100 I think, now uses the fantastic Sony RX100.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xanderw...n/photostream/

Have a look through their streams and send them questions via Flickr mail..

I really like this shot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xanderw...n/photostream/

edit:
Kogan have the S110 for a bargain price,$209 at the moment, and you can get the Canon DC47 housing for around $270