Underwater camera housing and photography in Hawaii: I will be traveling to Hawaii for the holidays and was wondering if anyone had any advice on a QUALITY underwater camera housing...

NegativeBLUR Loc: Dallas, Tx

I will be traveling to Hawaii for the holidays and was wondering if anyone had any advice on a QUALITY underwater camera housing for my Canon 5DMII as this is obviously an important purchase! Any advice on underwater photography and/or things not to miss while there are also very appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

NegativeBLUR wrote:

I will be traveling to Hawaii for the holidays and was wondering if anyone had any advice on a QUALITY underwater camera housing for my Canon 5DMII as this is obviously an important purchase! Any advice on underwater photography and/or things not to miss while there are also very appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Are you aware there is a UHH section devoted to underwater photography?
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-104-1.html

Kombiguy Loc: Cedar Rapids, IA

I use a Nikon DSLR, and my diving buddy uses a Canon DSLR. We both use Ikelite housings. Over 800 dives between us with those housings, and no problems ever.

Critter-Hunter Loc: Indiana

Same for me, Ikelite with Nikon D7000, with 1,000 dives. Be sure to purchase at least one Ikelite strobe if your budget does not allow for two. You can view underwater pics at the UHH section or go to my website.

www.critter-hunter.smugmug.com

Send email if you want more detail answers to underwater pics

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

NegativeBLUR wrote:

I will be traveling to Hawaii for the holidays and was wondering if anyone had any advice on a QUALITY underwater camera housing for my Canon 5DMII as this is obviously an important purchase! Any advice on underwater photography and/or things not to miss while there are also very appreciated! Thanks in advance!

If I were in your position, I would rent one. There is quite a bit of water around Hawaii, and I'm sure people take DSLRs underwater with them. Underwater housing can cost more than many cameras.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/858079-REG/Ikelite_6871_03_6871_03_Underwater_Housing_for.html

There are lots of choices for rentals.

http://www.google.com/search?q=underwater+camera+housing+rentals&oq=underwater+camera+housing+rentals&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.8852j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espvd=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#es_sm=122&q=underwater+camera+housing+rentals+in+hawaii

Critter-Hunter Loc: Indiana

Oh yeah, Ikelite Housing with port is $2K, strobes are $1K each

Gil Loc: Dublin, OH

Nikon just introduced a new camera in their series 1 line - I saw it yesterday at a trade show with a Nikon rep. It is waterproof to 50 feet and shock resistant. Will be available very shortly if that interests you and you have time to wait.

jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

You might want to check out the underwater point and shoot cameras. There's a bunch out there and they cost less then a housing for a dslr. The following link is an example of what's available.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824442-REG/Sealife_SL720_DC1400_Underwater_Digital_Camera.html

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

This folks is why I never could take up UW photography the 5 yrs I lived on the beach near Cancun - lighting is so important if one does not have a good lens & camera and like mentioned strobes on arms away from the camera for angled light is a must - most often.
Sorry to say the 1,000s of images I have of my snorkeling the reef are all in my head - not on film.

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Critter-Hunter wrote:

Oh yeah, Ikelite Housing with port is $2K, strobes are $1K each

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

Harvey wrote:

This folks is why I never could take up UW photography the 5 yrs I lived on the beach near Cancun - lighting is so important if one does not have a good lens & camera and like mentioned strobes on arms away from the camera for angled light is a must - most often.
Sorry to say the 1,000s of images I have of my snorkeling the reef are all in my head - not on film.

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Lived and worked in the Western Pacific Islands for years...Nikonis was the simple answer then...I continue to wish for a Nikonis-like digital camera...something at least that tough...and dependable...they were very much "guesstamatic" but if you knew what you were doing they were amazing....When I was an active photojournalist...in the film days...I always had a Nikonis in my kit. Minor events like typhoons, explosives, mayhem, mud and chaos...that was The Camera of choice....

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

I strongly suggest contacting these guys.

http://www.backscatter.com/

You are going to have to make some port decisions depending on the lens you plan to use, and they will help you with expert advice--on housings as well.

GaryS1964 Loc: Northern California

jerryc41 wrote:

If I were in your position, I would rent one. The... (show quote)

+1

That's what I did.

Cherihorn Loc: Toledo

jkm757 wrote:

You might want to check out the underwater point and shoot cameras. There's a bunch out there and they cost less then a housing for a dslr. The following link is an example of what's available.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824442-REG/Sealife_SL720_DC1400_Underwater_Digital_Camera.html

I am jealous! I would love an expensive housing. I fell in love with underwater photography this summer using a $ 300.00 Nikon Coolpix AW110 Waterproof 16 MP 5x Optical Zoom Digital Camera. I took this in Michigan in murky lousy water from a moving boat.

NegativeBLUR Loc: Dallas, Tx

Thanks so much for all the helpful advice! I may look into rentals as I had not idea it would be that expensive and I'm not sure how often I would get the chance to use one!

f-fpen

Not sure what is available in Dallas, but you may want to go to a scuba diving shop and see about renting something for the period of time on vacation or when you get to your destination. They may have some underwater P&S camera for sale also.