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Author Topic: underwater photography. Alternatives for expensive waterproof cases.  (Read 8709 times)

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« on: September 27, 2016, 05:21 »
0
Hi!

Me and my wife are going on Maldives for two weeks on our honeymoon to some super duper 5 star island hotel. I want to some snorkeling photography. Unfortunately I've just become aware that the waterproof case for my Canon 5ds R costs thousands of dollars. I don't want to spend that amount of money on a thing that I will use only once.
Are there any alternatives ? GoPro would be good but the image quality is not satisfactory nether for me nor for stock.

Thanks!


« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2016, 05:30 »
0
Hi!

Me and my wife are going on Maldives for two weeks on our honeymoon to some super duper 5 star island hotel. I want to some snorkeling photography. Unfortunately I've just become aware that the waterproof case for my Canon 5ds R costs thousands of dollars. I don't want to spend that amount of money on a thing that I will use only once.
Are there any alternatives ? GoPro would be good but the image quality is not satisfactory nether for me nor for stock.

Thanks!



Congrats on the marriage. Maldives is fantastic. Enjoy every day you are there. 

As far as Uw photo the first thing I would do is ask the resort if they rent cameras.  If it's a dive specific resort they probably do or can get you a local rental resource. I don't know where you are but in the USA you can rent housings and cameras at www.borrowlens.com.  However, if you are worried about quality, you would have to rent a lot of gear,  including lighting.  That gets expensive and heavy with such paltry weight allowances fo divers.  They only value a housing will bring with no strobes is some creative split level shooting. However, I think a GoPro with a red filter will be sufficient. The red filter brings back the red in the light spectrum, which is the first color to be absorbed in water......red then orange then yellow, then green, then blue, then indigo then violet. The reds go in the first 20-30 feet. This means that without artificial ligh your images will look green ........because the red is gone or minimized.  The red filter corrects for this and you can get attachments for your go pro.

So I would say that GoPro is sufficient if the light is good, but if you are looking for more then it will cost and I'm not sure it's worth it.....from a cost, complexity and weight perspective.
« Last Edit: September 27, 2016, 05:50 by Mantis »

« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2016, 09:14 »
0
Thanks Mantis.

It's not a diving specific resort, it is rather a super luxurious resort, a very tiny island with amazing coral reef a few footsteps from the beach.
What do you think about Ewa Marine system ? Their underwater camera housings are in the price range of a new Go Pro camera.

Hi!

Me and my wife are going on Maldives for two weeks on our honeymoon to some super duper 5 star island hotel. I want to some snorkeling photography. Unfortunately I've just become aware that the waterproof case for my Canon 5ds R costs thousands of dollars. I don't want to spend that amount of money on a thing that I will use only once.
Are there any alternatives ? GoPro would be good but the image quality is not satisfactory nether for me nor for stock.

Thanks!



Congrats on the marriage. Maldives is fantastic. Enjoy every day you are there. 

As far as Uw photo the first thing I would do is ask the resort if they rent cameras.  If it's a dive specific resort they probably do or can get you a local rental resource. I don't know where you are but in the USA you can rent housings and cameras at www.borrowlens.com.  However, if you are worried about quality, you would have to rent a lot of gear,  including lighting.  That gets expensive and heavy with such paltry weight allowances fo divers.  They only value a housing will bring with no strobes is some creative split level shooting. However, I think a GoPro with a red filter will be sufficient. The red filter brings back the red in the light spectrum, which is the first color to be absorbed in water......red then orange then yellow, then green, then blue, then indigo then violet. The reds go in the first 20-30 feet. This means that without artificial ligh your images will look green ........because the red is gone or minimized.  The red filter corrects for this and you can get attachments for your go pro.

So I would say that GoPro is sufficient if the light is good, but if you are looking for more then it will cost and I'm not sure it's worth it.....from a cost, complexity and weight perspective.

« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2016, 10:12 »
+2
When you consider the price of the camera you're thinking of putting in a cheap housing, I'd think the risk of destroying the camera would make that option really unappealing.

« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2016, 13:55 »
0
Thanks Mantis.

It's not a diving specific resort, it is rather a super luxurious resort, a very tiny island with amazing coral reef a few footsteps from the beach.
What do you think about Ewa Marine system ? Their underwater camera housings are in the price range of a new Go Pro camera.

Hi!

Me and my wife are going on Maldives for two weeks on our honeymoon to some super duper 5 star island hotel. I want to some snorkeling photography. Unfortunately I've just become aware that the waterproof case for my Canon 5ds R costs thousands of dollars. I don't want to spend that amount of money on a thing that I will use only once.
Are there any alternatives ? GoPro would be good but the image quality is not satisfactory nether for me nor for stock.

Thanks!



Congrats on the marriage. Maldives is fantastic. Enjoy every day you are there. 

As far as Uw photo the first thing I would do is ask the resort if they rent cameras.  If it's a dive specific resort they probably do or can get you a local rental resource. I don't know where you are but in the USA you can rent housings and cameras at www.borrowlens.com.  However, if you are worried about quality, you would have to rent a lot of gear,  including lighting.  That gets expensive and heavy with such paltry weight allowances fo divers.  They only value a housing will bring with no strobes is some creative split level shooting. However, I think a GoPro with a red filter will be sufficient. The red filter brings back the red in the light spectrum, which is the first color to be absorbed in water......red then orange then yellow, then green, then blue, then indigo then violet. The reds go in the first 20-30 feet. This means that without artificial ligh your images will look green ........because the red is gone or minimized.  The red filter corrects for this and you can get attachments for your go pro.

So I would say that GoPro is sufficient if the light is good, but if you are looking for more then it will cost and I'm not sure it's worth it.....from a cost, complexity and weight perspective.



EWA has been around for a long time, like 30 plus years.  A lot of photographers use them for wildlife imagery in streams and lakes to shoot migrating salmon. But they are also used for snorkeling like you are doing. The EWA is flexible so it cannot withstand much abuse. But if you do use one, make sure to test it without a camera in it. Put some toilet paper or paper towels inside, seal it up and take it snorkeling.  Make sure you dive to 10-15 feet to put pressure on it. Bring it to your room and remove the paper to check it for wetness. If wet you know that you either have a defective EWA or you didn't seal it well.

« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2016, 14:39 »
0
If you have a quality camera in your cell phone (gasp, I know,)  you can get a good waterproof case for $80-100.  I use Life Proof cases.  It takes a bit to get them on and off, but I have had good luck with them.  No, it's not your DSLR, but you should be able to get some shots near the shore line-they are only waterproof so far down.

« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2016, 18:49 »
0
You're correct. Go-Pro image quality isn't that good but the VIDEO quality certainly isn't bad and I know of quite a bit of footage shot with this camera being sold on Stock sites.

If you're actually planning to merely SNORKEL, you're actually unlikely to get much saleable or usable shots as you will be predominantly shooting DOWN on top of any fish/fauna; undesirable shots.

« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2017, 11:10 »
0
you should always be aware when doing underwater photography that the water pressure beneath the surface is enough to crush your camera and make it inoperable. just being waterproof only allows you to take photos or video near the surface. to go deeper, you need an enclosure that is water proof and can withstand the pressure of the water.

« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2017, 07:14 »
0
You're correct. Go-Pro image quality isn't that good but the VIDEO quality certainly isn't bad and I know of quite a bit of footage shot with this camera being sold on Stock sites.



totally where I come down, too: considering today's profits (or lack thereof) on microsotck agencies, I would not waste too much on specialty equipment either. Got myself a "No-pro" -- that is, a no-name GoPro clone -- for these types of shots, and I am quite pleased with them (accepted at both Shutterstock and Videoblocks so far in HD1080 and even 4K, and without any hassle, in case you're wondering)... Actually spent like $52 for this http://www.banggood.com/EKEN-H9-WiFi-Sport-Action-Camera-DV-Car-DVR-Ultra-HD-4K-SPCA6350-HDMI-2-Inch-LCD-p-994488.html?p=TW02092032782201508Q very usable piece of kit. Totally complements my "real" cameras, in a good way...
« Last Edit: January 17, 2017, 07:18 by lex-icon »

Jafo2016

« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2017, 11:47 »
0
You're correct. Go-Pro image quality isn't that good but the VIDEO quality certainly isn't bad and I know of quite a bit of footage shot with this camera being sold on Stock sites.



totally where I come down, too: considering today's profits (or lack thereof) on microsotck agencies, I would not waste too much on specialty equipment either. Got myself a "No-pro" -- that is, a no-name GoPro clone -- for these types of shots, and I am quite pleased with them (accepted at both Shutterstock and Videoblocks so far in HD1080 and even 4K, and without any hassle, in case you're wondering)... Actually spent like $52 for this http://www.banggood.com/EKEN-H9-WiFi-Sport-Action-Camera-DV-Car-DVR-Ultra-HD-4K-SPCA6350-HDMI-2-Inch-LCD-p-994488.html?p=TW02092032782201508Q very usable piece of kit. Totally complements my "real" cameras, in a good way...


There are many of these showing up all over. They make some inflated claims of video, which may be software enlarged. Also say 4K but it's at 10fps, or in words unusable. Be careful for that. A 5MP camera will make nice HD. Making a little sensor that's 4MP record 12MP is the same as digital zoom. Inflated advertising claims don't mention the truth.

http://pevly.com/eken-h9-review/

Some more on filters which Mantis explained but I think it got buried. http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/gopro-underwater-video-filters These are not expensive and make a big difference.

The H9 and others using the same sensor are a good value and fun. How can a $59 camera be bad? Never got the WiFi to work, tried many phones and a couple tablets. Android so might be my problem not the unit. Probably works with IOS


 

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