So you’ve been planning a trip to Honolulu – an unforgettable adventure. Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate, or a seasoned diver, you owe it to yourself to document the experience! So make sure to bring the right equipment to photograph your underwater exploration: if not for memory’s sake, then at least to make your friends and family members at home sea-green with envy.
Selecting the Right Camera
There are a lot of cameras out there, and choosing the right one for underwater shooting can be a bit daunting. We have a few favorites, from compact to mirrorless, to some really great dSLRs that will help you get that underwater shot just the way you want it. Here are the basic categories to choose from:
Compact Underwater Cameras
Because of their small size, compact cameras create very little drag underwater. This means you can shoot macro, wide-angle, and video all in one dive. They are generally the least expensive of the three types, and one of the reasons is because they have smaller sensors, which also means less range and more noise when shooting. They also have lower-quality optics, fewer selections for good quality lenses, lower battery life, slow RAW write speeds, and less control over your depth of field. With that in mind, there are definitely some good models out there, along with good-quality UW housing. Look for one that provides full manual mode, the ability to take wet and fisheye lenses, low shutter lag, longer battery life, manual white balance, and the ability to fire strobes via sync cord so you don’t have to use pop-up flash or find a fiber optic solution. You will also need a solid auto focus capacity and an easy-to-adjust aperture and shutter speed UW. Try either the Sony RX-100 or Canon S120.
Mirrorless Underwater Cameras
These cameras are a more high-end alternative to compact versions. They provide a smaller size, a larger sensor to give a greater dynamic range, less noise when using high ISOs, and an excellent depth of field. With small lenses, HD video with autofocus, and a larger zoom range for telephoto, we recommend the Olympus E-PL2 or the Panasonic GX1.
dSLR Underwater Cameras
The digital single-lens reflex camera combines the optics and other aspects of a single lens reflex camera with a powerful digital imaging sensor. This brings excellent image quality with larger pixel sizes and less grain. dSLRs also deliver faster shutter speeds, less noise, greater depth of field, the ability to be fitted with many high quality lenses, depth of field, and manual controls. They also tend to hold on to their value throughout the years. Nikon D7100 gives the best image quality, ergonomics, and high ISO performance. The Canon 6D is another excellent choice.
Document Your Dive with Us
For more information on underwater photography, as well as everything you want to know about diving with Island Divers, drop us a line today!
