Hi all....
I plannin to make underwater photography as a hobby so here's the question...
Which digicam + underwater housing do u pros suggest...?
Preferbaly slim P & S , 7 - 8 mp , budget around 2k...

Currently im having an eye for Canon ixus 75 and Sony DSC T-100.. Are both of these good for underwater photography?

But so far i cant find canon underwater housing in shops... Only online...
Any1 knows where to get it without having to preorder....?

C'mon... Lets hear some suggestion.. Hehe..

This post has been edited by Proclaimer: May 18 2007, 01:45 AM

SONY STLYE my fren ~ ur underwater is how deep ? 1 meter also called underwater u know ?

Hehe my fren...General Underwater housing is capable of reaching 40m rite...?


BTW im using it 4 diving...

what's your budget for the housing? some people say Olympus is good, others say Canon G7 is good, others say generally it's the settings - which i believe is more appropriate, it's about settings.

spoken to some diver guys, getting housing + strobes or whatever you call it could be costly.

Internal flash can be used underwater. Internal flash can be used to trigger external slave flash. So i guess strobes wont b nessecity yet... Hehe...

Hmm.. I kno Sony T-100 housing cost rm699 but i cant find out about the ixus 75 housing price...

So any1..?

My budget for both casing and camera should b around 2k -+ but it would b better to get a housing which is cheaper...

I've seen the olympus housing for the mju series is dem expensive 1k+ so i'll try to avoid such expensive housing unless the digicam is good.. Hehe...

So any1 wif experience might suggest something?

From what I heard, you have to be careful when buying housing. It's better to have a housing with double seal, so that if one seal fail, you still have a second seal to prevent leaking.

wha about DICAPAC underwater housing

Hi, I am Sameul Tan from Tan Alliance Trading Sdn. Bhd. We are distributor of the Dicapac in Malaysia now, may be our product will suit you. For any further information, search for the dicapac forum in Lowyat. Thank you.

Yes, you can. You need to order 1st.

It is advisable go for underwater casing for diver.

Erm. It is best using the underwater casing if going for diving. Yes, Dicapac can go to 18m deep. But, diver might go deeper.

Yeah.. Dicapac is not so practical to bring 4 diving as recreational diving can go as deep as 40m...

So i would like opinions from u all to get the best camera for diving...

Preferbaly Slim and Good pic quality.... The rest are like in the first post....

TQ for ur opinions...

1st of all, you are diver but don't have digital camera?

Try to get a camera that have wide lens and can snap a good macro.

Compare with Canon ixus 75 and Sony DSC T-100? I would advice you go for Canon Ixus-75. Canon Ixus75 + casing will cost you around RM2k which are your requirement already.

I have seen a Canon A80 housing for sale at Foto-Shangrila Mid Valley. Could remember the price though, it's about RM700~RM800.

Yea plannin to get ixus 75 also... but the prob is ixus 75 got no IS and wide angle but ixus 850 does but it is kinda bulky...
Hard desicion le..


Hehe.. A80 kinda bulky to me...

diver not necessarily mean having to own digi cam.

Mmm... I am not sure IS is it important for underwater photography.

Ixus 850 aren't really that bulky. You put on your underwater casing, it is still the same. It will be still bulky.

Then it would be waste for diving. It is beautiful under the water there.

This post has been edited by Joshua_0718: May 19 2007, 12:44 AM

hehe.. get those disposable underwater camera .. haha.. joking joking..

just tha the canon underwater casing ald cost almost 1k.... i think u better increase ur budget...

possible get some other equip to use also.. buy those with double seal... prevent leaking...

hehe. you go visit those dive trainers la, ask them how many people actually bring camera.

not everyone could afford camera + housing.

most people just go for simple dive trips.

Yeah dun think IS is important for underwater photography but wide angle sure is.... Bulky when i do bring it around for normal use...

yea... A guy quote me arund 800.... double seal? Heard of that buy i havent seen one wif a double seal... Kno where got get that?

But wif a camera underwater = experience worth recording



Hmm... I went to bintang maju in lowyat n the guy there quote me this =
Ixus 75 = rm1199 including 1 gig sd, leather casing + mini tripod

Ixus 850IS = rm 1350 including 1 gig sd, leather casing + mini tripod

i prefer 2 or 4 gig sd but any1 can get better deal than this...?

Preferbaly in selangor area....

This post has been edited by Proclaimer: May 19 2007, 04:01 AM

Double seal is not that common for Canon cam. But Olympus cam is quite common. You may need to get a third party casing, but you know, a normal camera shop doesn't carry those.

just wanto ask hav u gov underwater photography certified? if not can't bring camera down too deep or not at all oh........

Double seal meaning? I saw my brother will be putting lubricant of the o-ring. Why huh?

Hehe, sd card are very cheap nowadays. You can look for me

For every dive you go, you must register your diver id then only can go down for diving. If not, they won't allow you for diving.

If you without license, you can dive too. Dive fun. A instructor will follow you all the time. RM100 for 20 minutes

Yeah dats d prob... Hav to order n duno where to get it...

As far as i kno recreational diving dun need to have licence to do underwater photography... Juz need to have OW certificate to dive
Do correct me if im wrong...


Double seal meaning 2 o-rings...? Not too sure myself..Hehe
Owh.. putting lubricant so that to o-ring can be easily put in place.. Thats all..
hehe... If ur sd card is cheap i might get from u...

Buy your camera then we discuss

as if we all don't know that. just that not everyone is into lugging a camera around when diving. not everyone's into spending more for that either.

i do have some videos captured by cameras, they're nice.

hehe

Yea.. Im sure most average divers wont b spending at least 2k on underwater photography...
Although im a newbie in diving, underwater photography facinates me..



Btw between Kingston 120x or(any high speed SD)and kingston SD HC class 4, which is faster...?

Usually a new diver won't bring the camera, because he's already having problem balance himself in the water, a yo-yo effect is kinda common for a diver (going up and down trying to balance the buoyancy).

Won't spend more than 2k? You must be kidding. A decent camera will cost you at least RM1500. You think you can get a casing for less than RM500? RM3k will be an acceptable figure.

SDHC of course.

Nah. You could go for RM1200 camera + RM800 casing.
A casing doesn't cost you RM1.5k unless professional type that bring their video, flash gun, etc....

Erm.. Well thats if u buy extra strobe n stuff... Basic housing will cost around 700 - 800 only
Yeap dats true..

Well im plannin to get canon ixus 75, havent totally decided yet...
Any1 kno where to get it cheap in lowyat or sg wang?

not easy also. got technique wan, it's not like just simply dive down with camera.

like for example, how to land on sea bed without disturbing the sand blablablabla. and when you hold camera stuff with 2 hands, how do you go about navigating in the water?

RM 2k for camera and housing. hrmm. most people will probably go for a few dive trips before thinking about getting camera to go even though they may really want to. and it's not like diving trips don't cost.

i plan to dive soon but not with camera la. that one later.

Btw, are you a diver?

Yup, I could say not all diver has DC. But, we all are saying, most of them.

Anyway, IMO, diving is really expensive hobbies. Yes diving is costly. If you can afford diving, I guess you can afford a camera+casing. If you don't want bring down camera, it is fine. I can see always the head of diver that leading the diving trip always bring camera and will burn for you guys. Once again, don't again say not necessary

Diving is indeed expensive. My colleague just came back from Layang-layang last week, he spent about RM4k. That's the price he paid as an organizer. He brought 6 people (if not mistaken) and they paid more than that. It's a 7day trip.

me? would be diver.

aiyah nowadays most ppl have DC already la. just for divers, depends la.

not everyone wants to increase cost, some people they just like to go dive without hassle of camera. dive trips about RM 600 - 700 range for a few days also got mah.

but seriously la after diving, who wouldn't want to bring DC underwater la. i know i would. just that for about RM 2k, i have a choice to get a new DC + housing or go for diver certification. tough choice.

Huh? Tough choice? Of course the Open Water license lar. Without that, no point buying camera. For the OW, total cost will be around RM1.5k

After getting the license, then only think twice whether you need a camera a not.

Yup, around RM700 at redang for 4 days 3 night. 1 day dive 5-6 times, worth diving actually.

no leh. see on my side RM 2k can get a lot of camera stuff - including housing if needed.

you don't need that RM 1.5k license to dive mah, just pay RM 600 -700 they can bring you to dive already.

Yeah, RM2k can get a lot of camera stuff.. Including a 4GB or 8GB memory card

Erm.... I very unclear the RM600-RM700 is how they bring you to dive. Is that fun diving where will have instructor bring you diving? That diving isn't deep 1.

Anyway, let me figure out the course lar. Don't know got price change a not. This is according to last month price. And of course, we are OT

Open Water:
Course = RM800
Examination for diving, go to redang, pangkor or whatever, 4 days 3 night = RM700
Total = RM1500

Yeah.. I agree its not easy... Dats y im reading Underwater photography stuff like mad now..

Gonna b an official diver in 2 months time... Done like about 5 dives and totally got addicted to it.. Haha... Dive instructor says there is no prob 4 me to get the licence.. Keke.. Except mayb buoyancy prob but its gettin better... Hehe


Hoho.. Layang2 is paradise leh...
Too bad im still a student cant afford that price.... Huhu..

Tough choice but i probably get the certificate first...If i have to make a choice la..

Huhu... Dat wont b a prob coz my dad works at Laguna Redang so..
Accomodation = free
Food = free
Diving OW course = staff price

This post has been edited by Proclaimer: May 21 2007, 01:00 PM

its going to cost a bomb lol

it's not a matter of fun la. newbies would need instructors for safety purpose.

anyway for me, i'll probably get certification first too.

EDITED : darn, combining 2x expensive hobbies.

This post has been edited by goldfries: May 21 2007, 01:58 PM

Hey, I would like to go there again. Go there can get cheaper price for us?

Erm, diving without certificate is call dive explore lor. And that of course need instructor to follow you. Even you got certificate, you can't dive alone. For safety purpose, you will have a dive partner, and you can never never leave your dive partner during diving.

Hehe, I suppose you enter into DSLR dark world also if I not mistaken right?

My hobbies:
1. Ice hockey
2. Paintball
3. Scuba Diving

So, you guess my expense is

This post has been edited by Joshua_0718: May 21 2007, 02:30 PM

haha. of course, note my gallery.

and yes, i do paintball as well. that one also i haven't bought my gears, so far i only bought a mask. and i bring my DSLR into the game so i shoot everyone.

scuba diving is my upcoming venture. looks like we have a lot in common, other than ice hockey.

I've been looking around for an underwater compact too. More for snorkelling than diving now as i've yet to get my OW license. Would prefer to get waterproof camera than pairing it with a housing.

Have you guys checked out the new waterproof Olympus 770SW (up to 33ft) and Pentax Optio W30 (10ft depth)? What do you think of those two models? The Oly 770SW would have fit my requirements if it allows Custom White Balance!

Let me know what you think.

Reviews from ScubaDiverInfo and there are some sample pictures there as well :

Olympus Stylus 770SW



Review from http://www.scubadiverinfo.com/3_cameras_olympus_770sw.html


We like:
- Real diving now possible with new 33 feet depth limit
- Can actually handle depths of 66 feet and more (not recommended, but we tested it)
- Inherent waterproofing provides peace of mind when handling in/around water
- Can survive 5-foot drops and 14 degree temperature!
- Optional PT-035 underwater case good for 133 feet diving
- Superb wide-angle, high-res LCD
- Very good underwater macro mode
- LED illumination and manometer useful.

Not so much:
- Use of underwater wide-angle modes requires practice
- Strictly point & shoot
- Elegant metal body easily gets scratched, so get optional protective skin (US$15)
- Wish it'd fit into the PT-033 case
- Need better handstrap for underwater use
- Uses often hard-to-find xD-Picture Card


Pentax Optio W30



Review from http://scubadiverinfo.com/3_cameras_pentax_w30.html


We like:
- Waterproof down to 10 feet
- Internal optical zoom
- Excellent underwater image and movie quality
- Innovative synchro sound mode
- Digital shake reduction with ISO up to 3200
- Versatile, useful "Green Mode" button

Not so much:
- Low-res, narrow viewing angle LCD
- Fairly large
- Needs better handstrap and protective boot underwater
- No autofocus illuminator light

This post has been edited by ashlight: May 21 2007, 11:30 PM

33ft is barely 10m depth. for snorkling it'll be fine, but for diving i think you should consider a housing to bring it down to greater depths.

I can ask my dad n c but most probably u need around 10 ppl n u can get around 10 % discount for the group i think...

Paintball happens to b 1 of my favourite too.. Hehe..

Yeah.. 10 m for snorkelling is fine.. But from the reviews i read the 770 pic quality is bad coz its bulid for endurance rather than pic quality...

gov means government ?? taking photo under water also need certified ? never heard of ler .... can giv me details ??


haha this is my fren specially bought olympus u720sw for the redang trip. and this is the last photo b4 it ends it life coz dive more then 3 meters......




This post has been edited by kevinyong84: May 24 2007, 11:48 AM

I don't know abt you guys but i'm using olympus 720sw with under water casing (up to 40M depth). I brought this cam around last year at S'pore expo for SG999. It work wonderful for me as this cam already a waterproof itself, no danger of the casing leaking to caused any damages to the cam. So no need for double seal.

For new starter, either you buy a casing for your existing cam or you get a very good one because you won't want to change your cam and casing every 1-2 yrs. Which ever cam you going to get, it need to support your needs for at least 2-3 yrs.

My advise to take underwater pic, is better if you did more than 10 dives at least. This is to get your buyoancy control much better so that you don't go bang to the corals (we not worry abt u getting hurt but the damages to the reefs). IMHO, Diving is still an extreme sport, so is better that you are comfortable with the equipment and more experience before taking up something extra.

Remember, once you start taking photos, just the basic setup will never be enough. You will upgrade the cam with additional stuffs like strob, lens, etc.. even the extended arm cost more than the cam or the flash.. When you see other pro pic and compare with your one, you just need to buy the extra stuffs for it...it will slowly poison you to buy and buy and buy... I already dying bcoz of this... keep away if you can.....

yeah. diving isn't cheap and the equipment. if you wanna get a good set be ready to pay around rm7k.

i've done 30+ dives, i've got my advance as well. when i think about it, i did ALL my dives with my instructor. he's a really good diver with a sharp eye and he's a photographer.

he uses one of the sony cybershots, its around 3-4 years old, 4 megapixels.
not exactly a dream camera today but he takes some wonderful shots, only with the camera, no strobes or cranes/claws/arms.

if you aren't a really serious diver, camera and housing will do.

and on buoyancy, you'll get it over time, you need good buoyancy for sipadan though, otherwise, you'll end up at 40+ metres. dangerous.

i actually thought of those 2 models... but then 33ft is not good enough without an extra casing... as we are diving obviously more than 10 meters...

i am planning to get the sony w80 with the marine pack... what do u guys think???

i took this picture in redang wif sony P100 + marine pack

This post has been edited by ymtoh: Jul 7 2007, 05:46 PM

Just wanna revive this topic. Thread starter, have you bought your camera+casing? How much? I would like to buy one recently. I saw one website where this guy use Canon A80, checkout his website. Photos are all superb.

http://www.malaysia-islands.com/html/sipad.../mid-reef.shtml

And this guy is using Olympus SP350 (below):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leafbug/sets/72157600313148900/

This post has been edited by freshyyf: Aug 13 2007, 02:43 PM

I'm also planning to get a proper underwater digicam. Tired of using disposable camera, quality not good. That Olympus looks good, I wonder how much is it now....

The 2nd hand Olympus SP350 most probably cost less than RM800. So does the 2nd hand casing. But the strobe will be expensive. Say RM 2500 - RM 3000 for a complete 2nd hand set, inclusive everything. Just my estimation from the research I did in the internet.

Hehe, thanks! malaysia-islands.com is my pride and joy. Yes, right now still am using A80 + WPDC-900 u/w casing. Before this I used Canon A70 before underwater leak rendered the camera broken for good.

Anyone try the Fujifilm F30/F31fd + underwater casing?
Underwater = low-light = F30/F31fd (best high ISO compact camera)
The camera + underwater casing = < RM2k.

This post has been edited by pac1: Oct 27 2007, 03:04 PM

anyone know where i can get 2nd hand housing for d70s?

thanks..