Underwater Camera Advice

[seareef]

I need advice on which underwater camera to buy. Id like to spend under $300. Looking at either the GoPro 3 or the SeaLife Mini II. I know the GOPro is primarily used for video & most of my shots will be within 10' of water & closeups.

Thanks in advance...

Chad

[jt_milstead]

I used my Gopro2 last summer in Kona for underwater video but wouldn't recommend it for still shots at all especially underwater. I'm not sure if any of their newer models have a display.

[jada1]

Sony has a nice underwater one for under 300..

[seareef]

I like the reviews on this $100 camera.

39116
SeaLife Mini II Underwater Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera

by SeaLife


Image Sensor: 9.0 mega pixel CMOS image sensor
Color: 24-bit color (RGB)Image Resolution: 9mp (3472x2604)Picture file format: JPEG
Movie Resolution: VGA (640x480) at 30 frames per second
Video file format: MJPEG (.AVI)
(http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_photo?ie=UTF8&field-brandtextbin=SeaLife&node=502394)

[wildtigg3r]

I've been using GoPro 2 & 3 Black Edition for all my snorkeling trips in Hawaii. It is great for video. I use a red lens filter. The red filter improves under water video colors by correcting the cameras white balance. Without a filter video footage will appear too blue or too green. But it is a pain to have to take the filter on and off the camera when you are closer to the surface or taking videos/pictures out of the water.

Since the GoPro doesn't come with a display screen, it is hard to know what exactly you are shooting at. You can always get the display screen attachment, but it does drain the battery life quicker.

I also use the GoPro to take videos on all the hikes I do in Hawaii.

[seareef]

I see a few GoPro's on CraigsList. Maybe I should have both (Still & Video)???

[antoneoh]

I like go pros but I can't stand that it doesn't have image stability. Video is shaky without a steady hand. Also, it doesn't do well in low light situations.

[wildtigg3r]

The less you carry, the better it is. You get to enjoy diving/snorkeling more and not worry about fiddling with the camera(s).

Or... you can look into getting a waterproof case if you own an iPhone or Ipad mini. Cheaper alternative and still works.

[SDguy]

Don't get a Sony camera... I hate mine. Canon point and shoots are sure bets. I have a D10 and an underwater housing for my Elph, and got great shots in shallow water, as well as in my tank. Looks like they now have D20 and D30...

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras

[jkennedy1007]

FUJIFLIM XP 200 Water/Shock/Dust/Freeze Proof

I love it got it at Best Buy

price range from $130.00 to $300.00 depending on MP's

can drop from 6 feet high and doesn't break

http://s30.postimg.org/qnuwmycv5/Fujifilm_Fine_Pix_XP200.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ntrr9iaot/full/)
image hosting 5mb (http://postimage.org/)

[h20poloman]

Chad, I have a older Nikon P&S with a hardshell underwater housing for it if you want to borrow without buying an actual camera. I believe it's a Nikon S2

[Laddair]

GoPro 3's have the ability to take 1080p video and still photos simultaneously. So you can go that route.

[Livinlocal]

The new gopro isn't really comparable to the 2 IMO, except that the stills aren't that great underwater but that has a lot to do with not having a red filter like said above. If you have Instagram; follow scripps institute of oceanography and their divers. They use a really cool gopro3 setup and they get amazing shots, and they also use a red filter and show you the difference with, and without the red filter.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac243/digitydrift/Mobile%20Uploads/51E9A3B4-B64F-4504-A34B-9E0FD9BA9E21.png (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/digitydrift/media/Mobile%20Uploads/51E9A3B4-B64F-4504-A34B-9E0FD9BA9E21.png.html)
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac243/digitydrift/Mobile%20Uploads/233802EA-AF51-4172-B5F4-7523CCF3EDC5.png (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/digitydrift/media/Mobile%20Uploads/233802EA-AF51-4172-B5F4-7523CCF3EDC5.png.html)
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac243/digitydrift/Mobile%20Uploads/CFD5E377-2360-463B-AEB7-D6A38917D677.png (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/digitydrift/media/Mobile%20Uploads/CFD5E377-2360-463B-AEB7-D6A38917D677.png.html)

[Livinlocal]

Also you can take a video and take stills from the video like said above. Not to mention you can use it for waaaay more then just tank shots or diving. I mount mine on my race truck and also have mounted it to my surfboard and snowboard. The gopro3 is awesome, but I wouldn't recommend it if you only want it for still shots.

[photoguy]

Hey Chad.
im going to put my two cents in

As far as GoPro's go i love them. i wont ever give mine up. but underwater there not good for much, unless you have the filter for it your not going to get very good pictures escpecially Macro.. its very hard. there are attachments you can get to be able to do macro then your going to have to add the red filter so what you end up with is a block.

I would tell you get a camera made for underwater or get a housing for one you all ready have. most point and shoot cameras someone has made an underwater housing for it and most run between $100-$300 and you will get good pictures you can also probably go macro depending on the camera, it also has a flash which is very helpfull underwater. what most dont realize is the deeper you go the colors start going. (divers should know this) the first color that goes is red, thats why alot of pics you see have a greenish blueish tint to them.

Gopros are great for somethings but macro and underwater not so much it seems like everyone is pushing the gopro.
I can upload pics from from one of my gopros from 6in away in anywhere from 10-30ft of water. NOT good at all.......

[Livinlocal]

Very true, an I would like to state that I said I wouldn't get a gopro if it was strickly for photos, but chad never said what he even wanted it for. He didn't say he wanted to taking it diving to take macros. Maybe I missed it in another thread or something but all he said was underwater cameras.


What are you trying to accomplish with the camera, chad?

[photoguy]

This is his first post, close up usually means these macro that you see from this site


I need advice on which underwater camera to buy. Id like to spend under $300. Looking at either the GoPro 3 or the SeaLife Mini II. I know the GOPro is primarily used for video & most of my shots will be within 10' of water & closeups.

Thanks in advance...

Chad

[Livinlocal]

Maybe, but we are just assuming. I don't think of macro shots when I think of "close ups" He is also looking to spend under $300 so unless he already has a camera a lot of options are already out the window, but I somehow missed where he said close ups. I'm not biased in either direction cuz I personably would use a cannon with a case but that's $1000+. We are giving out options and options off very little info.