Posted by ChrisS (66.87.66.158) on March 01, 2004 at 10:23:55:
In Reply to: underwater cameras on land? posted by Eric Bartee on February 29, 2004 at 13:39:08:
Hi Eric,
Go digital. The learning curve is very short. (exposure and composition can be confirmed with the LCD)
Digital Advantages:
-instant feedback
-100 or more frames per dive
-no film costs, no time for development
-camera technology changes quickly (six months to a year per generation; better quality pictures, cheaper prices with each generation)
Digital Disadvantages
-shutter delay on point-and-shoot digital cameras (hard to capture moving subjects)
-no optical through the lens focusing on point-and-shoot digital cameras (critical focus can be tricky; you won't know if your shot is in focus until you look at the shot on a computer screen.)
-camera technology changes quickly (which means the buttons and interface on the outside of the camera also change and the housing you bought for your original digicam probably won't work with the updated version of the same digicam.)
-lots of time spent post processing your images on your PC
-some problems capturing a "sun ball" (the image of the sun on the surface of the water from below)
Other notes:
-housings/ports/add-on external optics can be expensive
-for color UW, you will need an external strobe and a tray and arm to hold the strobe (the on-camera strobe will cause too much backscatter because it is too close the the lens)
Take Care,
ChrisS
: I just started diving (about a year ago) and am really getting into it. I am looking to find an underwater camera to enhance it even more. I currently don't have any cameras (land or underwater) and really need to get a land camera soon (which will almost certainly be digital). This leaves me with three options (unless you can clue me in to a fourth).