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UW camera purchase advice

Started Sep 13, 2020 | Discussions thread
kelpdiver Veteran Member • Posts: 5,564
Re: UW camera purchase advice

the usual question we ask here is diving experience, and how many dives or trips per year.     A housed camera is a massive undertaking, and not at all advised for those who still having to think about what they're doing to survive underwater.    For those, I'd say just take the Hero and remember not to crush the reef as you position for shots.

But even for an experienced diver, it's a big leap, and for the vacation diver, the first couple days get you back up to speed.  If you're doing 30 dives over a week, that's fine.  If you're just diving 2-3 days, use a simpler compact.  (sony RX, Canon G7x, Pansonic LX100 or similar 1", Olympus TG).

Housed SLRs and budgets of any reasonable size are also tough.   Housings can be 4k.   Dome ports can be 1-2k, and start at 500.   Used gear, and rentals are good bridge as you feel it out.   Your model being the II, you do have good shot and finding some stuff as people upgrade.

If you're fortunate enough to have easy access to a pool (esp your own), you can build a lot of currency with pool dives.   Easier to practice macro than WA, but for both can practice using the housing controls rather than the direct buttons.   You want to have finger memory so you can do changes while still focused on the target, or any other in water concerns.

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