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How to Make A Under $150 Camera Into a Great Underwater Digital Camera

Those high power, all everything, expensive cameras are what we drool over when looking to purchase a underwater digital camera. The problem is that many of us can't afford $800 or greater to plunk down for the purchase. There is a solution.

You can buy a camera for less than $150 that does a great job of recording our undersea exploits. Let's take a look at the top three brands.

The Nikon CoolPix L series

Nikon is world renowned for quality. The CoolPix series have great color, fantastic optics, and are simple cameras to use. These models are very small, fitting easily in your pocket. They use SD (memory) cards and AA batteries (alkaline, rechargeable, etc.) making them easy and practical. Both of these items can be purchased at many stores, from department to specialty stores.

Fantasea, a maker of underwater housing for digital cameras has a very sturdy and tight housing available for the Coolpix L2 adn L3. It is the FL-3 Underwater Camera Housing. It gives you full control over all of the functions of the camera and can be taken down to 130 feet. Fantasea has the exclusive feature of proving flood insurance in case of a leak for replacement of the camera. That is a lot of confidence in the performance of their housing. Caveat...it is not cheap.

Canon PowerShot A

Canon is also well known for their cameras. The Powershot series provides excellent color, great optics and have many additional features. They also use SD cards and AA batteries. Their slightly larger size normally means they have a larger zoom, aperture, and screen.

The Canon has an underwater camera housing available at Amazon. The manufacturer also offers housings directly. The Amazon offer certainly isn't as sturdy and tight as the (or as expensive) Fantasea so don't think you are getting a bargain here. You get what you pay for. This housing is only good down to 30 feet. Keep in mind that this is a generic housing or one size fits all.

Kodak C series

Kodak has been a name which always represented quality photography film, and their quality has crossed over in the digital age. The colors are always beautiful and their cameras simple and elegant to use, they also take SD cards and AA batteries.

The Kodak C series are good cameras but there don't seem to be any specialized housings available. The housings that are available fall into the generic category and offer some functionality. Ikelite does offer a generic housing that does seem to be built well and offers a tight, waterproof environment. It is a complete enclosure with handles that promise easy use. Check it out here.

Is an Underwater Camera Housing Worth the Investment?

The thought of purchasing an underwater camera housing probably does not pass through the mind of most digital camera buyers.  You ask why do I need this housing?  I can keep the camera from being damaged by just being careful can't I?  Well the answer to those questions may require a little investigation.  Your digital camera is a significant investment.  You bought it of several reasons....taking pictures at family outings, vacations, special events, etc.  You hope to keep it a long time.  If you agree with the previous statements then you will want to provide that camera a little insurance.  That insurance comes in the form of an underwater camera housing.

The housing will not only protect the camera underwater but it will also protect the camera during other potential damaging situations such as sand, sun and rain.  It just makes sense to have the correct housing for your camera.  The prudent camera owner will read a few reviews of different housings before making a purchase.  Camera housing vary greatly in quality so you must investigate and test.  Testing takes the form of checking out the housing at the store before you purchase.  The vendor should be willing to show how it is being used and to test it under the most severe conditions (i.e...underwater).

Some housing are quite expensive.  Expensive, however, does not always equate to quality.  Check the consumer ratings before purchase.  The best reviews almost always come from the people who actually use the equipment.  Find the ones that have the best ratings.  Getting a good one will be an investment that will last you for years.  Check out the reviews at Amazon.com.  They are the source of some of the best and most numerous reviews on individual products.  Digital camera forums are also a good source of practical and unbiased information.  Do your homework and you will come away with a strong and protective investment for an underwater camera housing.