Sony a - Sony's latest budget base model with many perks of the a Sony a, a - Probably the most popular interchangeable lens cameras for underwater photography today. Read the full a review here. We are looking forward to getting this one underwater.
Small overall size, Nikon's Z7 has proved to take the stage in the full frame mirrorless category. Although Sony is more popular, the image quality from Nikon is superior. Canon EOS R probably has the best, fastest focus ability underwater, but not topside. The Sony A7r series are small, full-frame mirrorless cameras that can take exceptional images. Although Sony lens selection is a little limited, there are adapters to use high quality lenses from Nikon or Canon. A full-frame sensor, plenty of megapixels, a range of lens choices, a small size and professional video capability make the A7 line a popular choice.
Battery life has much improved but don't expect it or the responsiveness to be at the level of a high-end dSLR. Nikon Z7 - Nikon's flagship full frame mirrorless camera. Read more about the EOS R here. Sony A7r IV - 60mp high resolution full frame sensor, 10fps, improved autofocus.
We had the opportunity to be the first to take it underwater with a prototype housing from Ikelite. Check out the details of shooting wide angle and macro close ups with the new A7r IV. Cropped sensor type cameras are great for advanced enthusiasts looking to step up the quality of their images. They are the most popular mirrorless and dSLR's underwater. So who shoots full frame? Generally people who already own a full-frame camera for indoor sports, weddings, and landscape photography , and want to house it, or pros that have specific shots in mind with a wide-angle lens, often of sharks, dolphins or other pelagics.
Professionals who have a requirement to print larger than 20x30 at DPI also must sometimes shoot full frame to get the required resolution. Full frame sensors measure 24mm x 36mm with an unsurpassed quality right down to the pixel level. Why did I get a Nikon D?
I shoot a lot of telephoto and wildlife photos topside, so the low-noise and fast frame rate of the D was perfect for my topside use. But I must say, after shooting with a Nikon D on several trips, having 36 megapixels is truly amazing - and you should definitely consider that camera if you can afford it. Read out full Nikon D review here. The D gives improved low-light auto-focus performance over the D Less noise in high ISO limited use underwater, except in dark conditions shooting ambient light.
Technique, lenses and dome optics all must be top-notch to take advantage of any increase in resolution. There are a large number of dSLR camera bodies out there.
Whichever brand you choose, make sure you are happy with the lens selection that brand supports. A good lens, proper composition, and proper lighting are important for making great photos. The camera body is less important, and excellent shots can be made with Canon or Nikon bodies.
Your photography is unlikely to improve dramatically just by switching camera bodies. If you choose Canon or Nikon, you will also have to choose between cropped sensor or full frame sensor cameras. If size and cost are less of an issue, a full frame dSLR may be the best underwater camera for you due to exceptional image quality and the fastest focusing speed and response time - but mirrorless beasts like the Nikon Z7 and Canon EOS R are not far behind in those areas.
Nikon d - Paired with Nikon's quality optical lenses this is a great mid range choice. Nikon d - Nikon's flagship DX camera. Read the review specs.
Canon 7d Mark II - See the review and compatible lenses. Read the review here. With unsurpassed quality lenses from Nikon and Canon, the following are the best underwater cameras available today. Nikon D5 — Excellent camera, but keep in mind people have been having problems getting the mm lens sharp behind a dome port. Read our 5D Mark IV review. Canon 5DSr - High resolution, professional camera with advanced mirror vibration control and low pass filter effect cancellation to take full advantage of the 50mp clarity right down to pixel level.
Dual memory card slots. On a budget? Into macro? Really interested in live view underwater, or great image quality in a smaller package? Looking for the most compact setup with a larger sensor? Look at a mirrorless camera setup. What's the hottest bodies out there right now for underwater use? The faster the sync speed, the easier it will be to light up subjects with your strobe with the sun in the background.
With a slower sync speed, you need a small aperture to properly expose the sun, and therefore even stronger strobes. Used cameras are fine; just make sure you check the shutter count. Mechanical shutters will eventually fail. The shutter count is also referred to as the number of actuations. If you're buying used, and your camera uses a mechanical shutter e. You can't check on the camera, so you'll need to bring your laptop and a card reader if you're meeting someone to buy a used camera.
Look for "shutter count" or " camera actuations". We hope this guide helped you find the best underwater camera for you. The TG-5 is just as good as the TG-6, and we have a great deal on it. Although we are calling this a budget option, the TG-6 is a very good underwater camera. It's a good option for snorkeling because it's waterproof without a housing down to 50 feet 15 meters.
In fact, it is the only camera mentioned in this guide that is waterproof. The TG-6 has a high speed 12 MP sensor designed for excellent low light performance and noise reduction.
It's important to mention that there is no full manual control on this camera like the Canon G7X and Sony RX series. This should be fine for any casual shooter who doesn't want to have to think about their camera settings. But if you want more control, you'll be happier with an of the other cameras we mentioned above. This housing option is more flexible than the Olympus housing option because you can customize the housing with an Ikelite TG-6 fluoro kit if you're into fluorescent photography or equip it with an FCON-T02 fisheye lens and port.
Pros - compact size, great macro capability for still subjects using microscope mode, and support for beautiful wide-angle images when used with the Kraken KRL , KRL , or UWL fisheye lens.
Wolf Eel photographed with the TG We hope you enjoyed this underwater camera guide, and your search for the best camera for underwater photography. Don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or comments.
Smartphone are quickly becoming more popular, more advanced, and more capable than compact underwater cameras - even for underwater photography. Highend smartphones like the iPhone 12, iPhone 11, Samsung Galaxy S20, and the Google Pixel 5 are all phones that perform at least as good or better than top compact cameras like the Olympus TG We have been on many dives with smartphones inside of underwater smartphone housings and have been thoroughly impressed with the underwater video and photo quality - especially when combined with an underwater video light.
Smartphones also present the unique opportunity of posting directly onto social media as soon as you come back from your dive - something you camera cannot do. We have had the opportunity to dive with some of the top smartphone housings on the market. They are all very safe and secure and will easily protect your smartphone. Many of them offer a vacuum system for additional protection from leaks and floods.
Currently, all smartphone housings must be used with a video light and cannot be used with an external strobe. All smartphone housings can be used with multiple models of smartphone. If you're unsure that your smartphone will work with a certain model, then please contact our knowledgeable sales staff at sales bluewaterphotostore. These are some of our top picks:.
The build quality is outstanding and is packed with lots of awesome features. It has a built in vacuum pump and sensor which allows you to draw out air from the housing and check if there are leaks prior to diving. This gives you the peace of mind the your phone is safe inside. There are also 2 options, basic and pro version with temperature and depth gauge.
To enhance your shooting experience, wet lenses are compatible with the housing. Most important feature of the housing is that it is compatible with the lastest and most popular smart phones available in the market. It built from polycarbonate, stainless steel, aluminum and optical grade glass.
It can also withstand a beating as it is durable and robust. It is also very simple to setup and operate which makes your shooting experience wonderful with its l arge shutter lever and rear control buttons. The Nautismart Smart Phone Housing is the most afforable and bang for the buck underwater housing for smart phones. It is made from polycarbonate material which makes it lightweight yet durable. Operation is a breeze with its easy.
It also features a 67mm thread attachment which is compatible with most wet lenses. With its clear back, it is capable of capturing underwater selfies! Compatbile with both Android and iOS phones.
Enter your keywords. Photography can be as simple or as sophisticated as you like it. Lots of traveling divers purchase one-use film cameras in housings through their local dive centre or destination dive centre, just to make sure they record their trip. Likewise, if you already have a GoPro or similar action camera, or video capable compact camera, all you probably need to take it underwater is an appropriate housing.
But take a hard look at your camera first as the technology in this field changes so quickly that, if your camera is more than three years old, you might be happier buying an all new setup camera and housing both , as you'll have all the latest features and image quality developments.
The smartphone has been said to make "everyone a photographer. Some people get started by taking a phone camera down when snorkeling and try it out just for fun.
We've seen some incredible snorkeling shots — great natural sunlight at work, and some cool fish and other animals that hang out in shallow water. However, it's clearly a risk to use your main phone in an underwater environment. Also, many of the early underwater cases for the phones are rather lightweight, and not meant to take down below about 3 to 9 metres feet , max. Not good enough for typical recreational scuba diving depths. If you want to start slow and easy with a smartphone, just be aware of these limitations.
Perhaps use an older, backup phone as the camera, so you don't ruin your main phone. That said, there are now very high-quality and trustworthy marine-grade diving smart-phone housings on the market now, and surely more to come.
Keep an eye out for good brands that create phone housings that truly stand up to the pressure of deeper water, and are used more and more for bonafide underwater photography. This could be a great user-friendly and economical option — but do make sure to protect your phone with the right high-quality marine housing.
This universal smartphone housing includes a temperature and depth sensor, plus has an adjustable shim system allowing you to fit most popular smartphones on the market into it. It also has a vacuum port system built-in! No longer worry about if your seal is safe. Simply give a couple pulls on the vacuum pump included and the housing will let you know that it has a vacuum and is safe to dive.
GoPro HERO9 Black Action Camera Action cameras like the GoPro are small, simple cameras, designed to withstand various conditions including wet environments, capturing a wide angle of view with pretty decent quality.
They usually have very few buttons and controls, for ease of use while performing an extreme or less than extreme diving diving activity. These cameras are mostly recommended for videos since focus is infinite, resolution is great Full HD to 4K and you can turn them on and forget about them. They are awesome for creating souvenirs, sharing with your friends and documenting cool marine life that you saw.
However, keep in mind that you probably won't be able to produce contest winning imagery with these. Olympus Tough TG-6 Camera Compact cameras are currently the most widespread choice for underwater photography. The latest technological advancements for the past few years have shot the compact quality to the sky.
Small cameras which can fit in your pocket can produce outstanding imagery while keeping the housings small and the complete package very travel friendly. This is probably the best choice for most divers looking to enter the world of underwater photography, thanks to their versatility. You can use them on complete Auto Mode or even UW Mode if they support that, getting pretty decent shots without putting too much thought into it. With the same cameras, you can switch to Manual mode, shoot RAW, add strobes, video lights and wet lenses, producing contest quality shots and high quality videos.
Compact bundles, including camera and underwater housing, start at reasonable prices with cheap manufacturer housings, but can get more expensive when high-quality housing. They are compatible with a huge array of add-ons and accessories, such as macro lenses, wide angle lenses, filters, video lights and strobes mounted on many types of arms and trays. Each add-on opening a whole new world of imagery and creative options.
This is really a system you can grow with. These are the big guns. The serious cameras for people who dare call themselves Underwater Photographers or Videographers. High quality optics, advanced settings and large sensors help the photographer achieve top quality both above and of course under the water.
Since these cameras are naturally bigger, the housings which accommodate them tend to be bulkier, pricey, and not suitable for everyone. When taking an interchangeable lens camera underwater, you will need to deal with interchangeable ports, extensions and gears, making the process more complicated and more prone to human error and leakage. The advanced settings allow more things to be changed underwater, which requires good diving skills to focus on camera operation without endangering yourself and others.
The great things about them of course, is that you will be able to produce amazing images and videos, take sharp macro shots and colourful vivid wide angle shots, as well as production quality videos. As a bonus, you will also be the envy of all the divers around you, which is always great. Olympus PEN E-PL10 Mirrorless Camera When choosing such a system, it's usually best to choose the housing first, and only then the camera body and lenses, since the housing is usually the larger investment in such a purchase.
Mirrorless systems usually lower the cost a bit, since the housings are smaller and less expensive, but other than that it's very similar to DSLR systems.
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera If you are oriented towards video, with the intention of concentrating only on that type of photography underwater, you may consider a dedicated camcorder or video camera with a video housing.
Camcorders underwater are almost obsolete today with the majority of videographers these days would use a compact, mirrorless, DSLR or Cine camera systems. Please see Best Underwater Cameras and Housings for our picks of the best cameras in the above categories for capturing underwater memories.
Oftentimes underwater camera gear is available through camera shops but, unless the shop has a dedicated underwater imaging department staffed by knowledgeable professionals, you are not as likely to encounter the hands-on know-how that you'll find in a dive centre with a underwater imagery knowledgeable staff.
A dive shop like The Scuba Doctor is probably your best bet when it comes to shopping for underwater camera packages. The staff is familiar with the product and they also know how it works and how easy it is to handle underwater. For more advanced camera gear, our staff at The Scuba Doctor is equipped to not only sell you the gear but to explain to you or even show you how to use it. We also have access to the specialist knowledge of the experts in various brands of underwater cameras, lights and accessories at our suppliers.
Camera housings, underwater cameras and strobes should be left connected and set up while on the dive boat, and rinsed in clear water and kept moist so salt crystals do not form on it after each dive. At the end of the day, before breaking down your camera gear, soak and then rinse it in warm water the bath tub or a deep sink are good places to do this.
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