Underwater Digital Cameras » Digital camera

Five Features That Every Underwater Digital Camera Should Have

Tony — Thu, 20 May 2010 03:14:49 +0000

: Image by CowGummy via Flickr

Housing

Underwater digital cameras almost exclusively have housing to keep the technological parts from getting wet and destroyed. These housings can be made of inexpensive plastic to higher priced aluminum casing. Housing offer many options for the user, since they can choose the housing specific for their every day land camera. They can also use any lens in their collection for their photography. Housings will also have watertight ‘o-rings’ at all points where materials meet to keep water out of the housing and the camera. Underwater housings are outfitted with control knobs that access the camera inside and give the photographer the normal camera functions.

Increased Memory

Digital cameras give the photographer an added advantage over simple film cameras. Digital allows for many more pictures to be taken in a session. Since there is no film to change (nor could you change film underwater anyway), you can take many more photos with your underwater digital camera than you could with an underwater film camera. Your digital camera can also be outfitted with increased memory cards as high as 8 and 16 gigabytes. Most digital cameras will have options where you can plug more than one memory card into the camera as well.

Flash System

Since typical flash on a camera will not be strong enough to penetrate the refraction of the water, many housing units will have a separate flash system that is outside of the underwater digital camera. This flash system will be found outside the camera and housing itself and be connected via fiber optic cable. Flash should not be used as the primary source of light. Flash should serve as a supplement. However, there are situations where flash is your only option. With these situations a strobe can be used to serve in a way that you can correct and re-correct your photos as you take them.

Fish Eye Lens

Using most lenses is likely to distort the image you are trying to take photographs with an underwater digital camera. One of the best ways to limit the amount of distortion due to refraction is to use a fish eye lens. In above water photography, a fish eye lens will make a photograph appear as if you are looking at it from the view of a corner mirror in a convenience store. However, when you put this lens into the water, the refraction effect will turn the photo from that of the mirror into a typical photograph.

Macro Lens

The problem of refraction is not a problem when using macro lenses. In fact, the increase of refraction actually helps the macro lens pick up more of the image one is trying to take pictures of. This is a benefit to photographers who are trying to take photos of very small subjects. With the macro lens, especially with wide angles, photographers can eliminate the need to have excessive water between the camera and the subject. Macro lens offers close focus which can be very helpful.

Glowing Life in an Underwater World (geeksaresexy.net)

Five Features That Every Underwater Digital Camera Should Have is a post from: Underwater Digital Cameras

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Tony — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:43:35 +0000

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

Tony — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:51:04 +0000

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.

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Finding Cheap Underwater Cameras

Tony — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:59:20 +0000

A cheap underwater camera is the goal for people that want to have fun and record their underwater adventures but don't want to break the bank. For those of us with sticker shock when we look at top of the line underwater digital cameras there are alternatives. When we look at the top brands like Nikon, Canon, Olympus, and Sony it's hard to believe that getting a camera that performs as well as these brands will be a possibility. What is the solution to this problem?

Well, one possibility is to consider purchasing a refurbished camera. The makers above sell cheap underwater cameras directly to the public from their refurbishment sites. Now keep in mind that they don't publicize this a lot because they want to sell you a new camera (higher margin). Some of them even sell their refurbished cameras through third parties. The fact is you can find them with a few searches on the internet.

You can also scour the classified adds to find deals. Underwater digital cameras are not overly common items on the classified ads so you will have to set up tools to the searching for you. Some of the classified ad sites have functionality to set up keyword searches and notifications when something is found. You just have to set up an account and put in yourkey words and wait for a notification that someone has listed a cheap underwater camera for sale.

Just keep in mind that purchasing directly from another individual carries the most risk. Rarely will they warrant the performance of the item. It is "buyer beware". For this reason it is prudent to insist on the best (cheapest) price on these types of transactions. That way you are not out too much money if the camera doesn't work and the seller disappears.

Another great source of cheap underwater cameras is EBay. The structured EBay auctions give you a much better chance of a fair exchange. EBay has some great deals but they also have some junk that is sold there. The best approach to EBay is to come armed with questions and background information so that you can query the seller. If you do this with some depth you will understand completely what you are purchasing.

These cameras are out there but they will take some homework on the part ofthe buyer to ensure getting a good deal.

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Taking Good Pictures with a Disposable Underwater Camera

Tony — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:13:14 +0000

: Image by Walt Jabsco via Flickr

Disposable underwater cameras don't get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to taking decent photographs on your underwater safari. If you say the word disposable then people will automatically think "minimum quality" or "last resort". The fact of the matter is that these cameras take pretty decent pictures depending on the situation. If you are just at the beach and near the water you will think twice before exposing you "dry land" digital camera to these elements because you fear damage. Damage such as sand, water, sun to be specific. This is where you disposable underwater camera will shine.

Chances are that you are taking casual photographs and not going for the Pulitzer prize in photography. The disposable will do more than an adequate job in recording your day at the beach. The other situation where the disposable underwater camera holds its own is in shallow depth underwater photography. At depths of 30 feet or less it will take good pictures as long as you stay within the rating for the camera.

The other key area that you should be aware of when using these cameras is the time of day. If you are using it in the morning or late afternoon you have to take in consideration the angle of the sun on the water. During this time of day the angle will be shallow and less able to penetrate the water. This means taking pictures will be less successful because of less light. It's best to shoot these pictures at midday when the angle of the sun is steepest. Also take note of the clarity of the water. You want to shoot when the water is relatively clear with little sediment.

When using a disposable underwater camera also keep in mind that water causes the image to distort. You will have to keep the image close in order to take an acceptable shot. Lastly, try to find a camera that has a sturdy strap and one that is tight enough that it won't come off in the water. It is very easy to lose your camera underwater, and depending on the circumstance can be quite difficult to retrieve. You'll also want the strap on the same side as the photo button for ergonomic reasons.

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Is an Underwater Camera Housing Worth the Investment?

Tony — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:05:54 +0000

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.

Is an Underwater Camera Housing Worth the Investment? is a post from: Underwater Digital Cameras

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Underwater Digital Cameras » Digital camera

Five Features That Every Underwater Digital Camera Should Have

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

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Taking Good Pictures with a Disposable Underwater Camera

Is an Underwater Camera Housing Worth the Investment?