Can I use my Canon 6D Mk2 for diving?

[Forrestsupercars]

So I’m primarily a car photographer however have some experience in drone photography and above water nature photography.
I recently got my SCUBA divers license and so am hoping to start taking photos in the underwater world from now on.

Previously my thoughts were to use my GoPro Hero 9 black which I’ve used to film various sailing voyages (which experienced heavy water inclusion).
I hear GoPros are more focused on video in the underwater world however.

So as of I own a Canon 6D Mk2, Canon 800D and various EF/EF-S lenses including Canon’s 70-200mm and 24-105mm, as well as a 35mm Sigma Art.

I’m wondering if this gear is useable for diving and also where I should start (equipment wise) to set up for underwater photography, such as what housing unit, etc. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Tom59]

You may get some better responses if you post this in the underwater photography forum below.

 

[GreatWhiteWing]

So I’m primarily a car photographer however have some experience in drone photography and above water nature photography.
I recently got my SCUBA divers license and so am hoping to start taking photos in the underwater world from now on.

Previously my thoughts were to use my GoPro Hero 9 black which I’ve used to film various sailing voyages (which experienced heavy water inclusion).
I hear GoPros are more focused on video in the underwater world however.

So as of I own a Canon 6D Mk2, Canon 800D and various EF/EF-S lenses including Canon’s 70-200mm and 24-105mm, as well as a 35mm Sigma Art.
I’m wondering if this gear is useable for diving and also where I should start (equipment wise) to set up for underwater photography, such as what housing unit, etc. Any advice is appreciated!

The other forum as mentioned is a good resource.

When I have a question like this I often go to B&H, find specific camera and open the accessories tab and see what they offer.

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www.bhphotovideo.com

If not a "go to and buy" resource it's a fine starting point. BTW I often buy my gear from them just so I am not accused of abusing a website

 

[YehudaKatz]

[No message]

 

[Sittatunga]

So I’m primarily a car photographer however have some experience in drone photography and above water nature photography.
I recently got my SCUBA divers license and so am hoping to start taking photos in the underwater world from now on.

Previously my thoughts were to use my GoPro Hero 9 black which I’ve used to film various sailing voyages (which experienced heavy water inclusion).
I hear GoPros are more focused on video in the underwater world however.

So as of I own a Canon 6D Mk2, Canon 800D and various EF/EF-S lenses including Canon’s 70-200mm and 24-105mm, as well as a 35mm Sigma Art.
I’m wondering if this gear is useable for diving and also where I should start (equipment wise) to set up for underwater photography, such as what housing unit, etc. Any advice is appreciated!

TL,DR. Use your GoPro for now to learn the craft, think about a PowerShot or a TG-6 + housing, only go for a DSLR housing once you've found a housed compact too limiting.

You can use your DSLR underwater, but if you've only just qualified, you're going to find using a camera that size with a couple of flashguns, and keeping track of your buddy and your buoyancy control and the light and not stirring up the bottom very challenging. I'd definitely advise starting off with your GoPro to get the hang of underwater photography first, because it's very different to surface photography, and a camera complicates your diving more than you might think.

What sort of subject are you thinking of taking? Are you looking to do macro photos of nudibranchs, crabs, small fish etc, or do you want pictures of divers exploring reefs or wrecks?

You'll need a housing with a macro port for the former and one with a dome port with an ultra-wide or a fisheye for the latter. That's because if you're diving in 6m visibility, you will only get decent sharpness and contrast up to 1.2-2m away at most. Flash is essential for colours below about 6-10m depth. Look to brands like Ikelite, Nauticam, Subal for housings, Inon, Sea & Sea, Sealife and Ikelite for flashes and be prepared for eye watering prices. You'll also need a similarly inclined dive buddy, because otherwise your buddy is going to get very bored.

I used an Ikelite housed SLR in my film days, but I bought a cheap Sea Frogs housing for my RX100 together with a detachable sealed dome port to maintain the wideangle end of the zoom, and a Sealife flash to preserve colours at depth. The 1" sensor still gives very much better results than Kodachrome 200 or push processed Fujichrome 400 ever did, and I can take more than 36 shots on a dive.

 

[BlueRay2]

So I’m primarily a car photographer however have some experience in drone photography and above water nature photography.
I recently got my SCUBA divers license and so am hoping to start taking photos in the underwater world from now on.

Previously my thoughts were to use my GoPro Hero 9 black which I’ve used to film various sailing voyages (which experienced heavy water inclusion).
I hear GoPros are more focused on video in the underwater world however.

So as of I own a Canon 6D Mk2, Canon 800D and various EF/EF-S lenses including Canon’s 70-200mm and 24-105mm, as well as a 35mm Sigma Art.
I’m wondering if this gear is useable for diving and also where I should start (equipment wise) to set up for underwater photography, such as what housing unit, etc. Any advice is appreciated!

i have taken wonderful BIF shots with my old 5D, so anything is possible - depends on your technique and handholding the camera. if there is plenty of light and you increase the shutter speed, then there is nothing to worry:




5D CANON 400MM F5.6 ISO 250



--
Nature is under no obligation to make sense to us!!!

 

[Sue Anne Rush]

Hello...

Beautiful photograph of the duck. Thank you for sharing.

So I’m primarily a car photographer however have some experience in drone photography and above water nature photography.
I recently got my SCUBA divers license and so am hoping to start taking photos in the underwater world from now on.

Previously my thoughts were to use my GoPro Hero 9 black which I’ve used to film various sailing voyages (which experienced heavy water inclusion).
I hear GoPros are more focused on video in the underwater world however.

So as of I own a Canon 6D Mk2, Canon 800D and various EF/EF-S lenses including Canon’s 70-200mm and 24-105mm, as well as a 35mm Sigma Art.
I’m wondering if this gear is useable for diving and also where I should start (equipment wise) to set up for underwater photography, such as what housing unit, etc. Any advice is appreciated!

i have taken wonderful BIF shots with my old 5D, so anything is possible - depends on your technique and handholding the camera. if there is plenty of light and you increase the shutter speed, then there is nothing to worry:


5D CANON 400MM F5.6 ISO 250

--
Sue Anne Rush

 

[gavin]

You of course need water proof case which are not cheap. Most importantly you need external lighting as sun light is filtered out rvery quickly and you lose colours.