The opening question is posed by me and is to be read as you asking for advice, and I will remain as unbiased as possible whilst giving suggestions, at the same time explaining my gear choice and thoughts. This is a bit of a step away from my blog to date which has focused on sea life and ethical behaviour, but in reality it all merges into one along the way.
I have been an amateur photographer for more than 30 years, and during that time I have had many experiences, good and bad. I have taught photography for the last 18 years, and have done so using the skills and knowledge, along with those experiences, to give what I think is very important advice on capturing images and the equipment used. There are many techniques that people subscribe to when capturing images, and each one can have its success or failure which is governed by the ability of the individual to apply themselves. There are some very basic so called rules that apply to all situations, but then in general, the final images are the interpretation of what the individual sees.
The very first consideration that needs to be made is what you want to get from your photography or video work. Your budget will come into question here as well, but you need to be very mindful that if you truly have big aspirations, then skimping now will ultimately cost you significantly more in the future. Once you have decided what you want to do, then you need to research. Whether taking land based images or underwater, it is all about what quality you will get from a piece of equipment and what feels good in your hands. There are numerous web sites that do equipment reviews and these should be scanned as much as possible. At the same time talking with people about what they use, why, and how happy they are also has a major input to your choice.
Despite my jokes about Nikon equipment, I must say that generally, a camera or video is just a light proof box, and in most cases all are very good to a point (usually based on what you pay), so you just need to make sure that it has the functions you need for what you want. I use Canon equipment, both photo and video, with GoPro for some work. They are very reliable and give me the best quality for what I want. My video unit is an XF100, which is very good and produces crisp and clear images in most situations. My stills units are a Canon 5D mk2 and a 100D. Both have all the functions I need. My lenses on those units are what is critical, and I use the best Canon or Sigma lens I can to ensure that the images are of the best quality. For land these are great, and I get the same satisfaction underwater as well.
Underwater is where the biggest issues exist and the major considerations come in. What I am about to say is just my opinion, and I shall remain unbiased because I know others have strong differing opinions for different reasons, however I shall explain my thoughts in as much detail as possible. My wife and my friends have Canon G12 cameras they use underwater. All three of them have different setups with varying results. They have chosen these units for several reasons. They do produce excellent images, they can do still and video, they are very compact and reliable. One has a small Canon housing that is compact and from clear plastic that lets you access all the needed functions and produces great images most of the time. Because it is clear, it does let you see any water ingress and reduces the possibility of camera damage in most situations. The second person has their camera in a Recsea Housing, which is also quite compact, allows the use of strobes by fibre optic cables, and has access to all the functions of the camera. It is made from solid material, well built, but it does require a bit more care. It is harder to see if you have water ingress which for me is not something I like. It does have wet diopters that allow image magnification or filter use, which the Canon housing does not. The last unit is housed in an Ikelite Housing. A little bit larger, and from clear plastic, this allows you, like the Canon housing, to see inside and in turn catch water ingress early. It has ability for cable operated strobes, which can be more reliable, and the use of filters for the front that clip on. I am an Ikelite fan, and my SLR cameras are in Ikeliute housings as well. At the end of the day it comes down to partially budget, adaptability and how they fit your travel and use needs.
As I indicated before, I do use Ikelite on both my SLR cameras, and due to my stupidity, I did get a partial water leak on the 100D, but the ability to see what was happening meant I saved it and other than a slight heart murmur, it survived to shoot another day. The reality is, if you do it right, if you are methodical, you will reduce the chance of this happening, but as many have said, ‘it is not if, but when will you flood a camera’. Back to the SLR cameras. They are a little less flexible with lens choice, and pretty much you need to set up for wider angle, or close up shots before you dive, which can be a frustration. They do allow for video, as I have indicated, but as I shall explain later, I am not so wrapt in the results given there. I can use hard wired strobes but overall the units all up are fairly large and heavy which with luggage restrictions can be a bit of an issue. The 100D is the most compact of the two and certainly the Ikelite Housing for it is quite compact so it works well. Each Lens type needs a separate front port to suit, so all up the cost is also up there. There are many other housings that suit these cameras, but for me, Ikelite are very cost effective and very reliable, but that is just my opinion. There are many other cameras and housings that I have heard and seen rave reviews on, so I suggest you take my information and add it to everything else before making a choice. Be very careful. There are people out there that for different reasons give very poor reviews on housings, and I have heard some crazy ones about Ikelite that are totally untrue, so just read and know that systems over years have developed and improved, and if there were problems, they are generally engineered out in the next design.
When it comes to video, I use 3 units. A Canon HFG30, in an Ikelite housing. A Canon XF100 in an Equinox Housing, and the GoPro set up for 3D video. Now, due to human error, both Canon videos have been flooded and replaced. My stupidity and not a housing issue, which I need to make very clear. Both those housing have clear windows that are very big and can allow you to see small leaks very quickly. It was just unfortunate that in one instance my poor preparation meant that the Equinox housing flooded so quickly that it was over before I blinked. So, why video camera and not use the SLR and or G12 camera? For me, stability is the greatest bug bear of a videographer. You need the camera to be just weighted right, and at the same time you need it to remain stable. The advantage of the video set up is that because they are longer, they have a more natural stability when used. There is less shake from the camera housing rocking front to back, than a camera housing which is not as physically deep. Secondly, I also find the image quality very good indeed. The Ikelite housing has been modified by me to take an Equinox external monitor, because the mirror system used by them to see the viewfinder is more than frustrating. My Equinox housing weighs in at 15kg dry, but zero in the water, so it is a beast to transport when I travel, or have long distances to walk to a dive spot whilst all geared up, but I think it is an amazing unit that lets me produce some prize winning, high quality footage. All up as a kit, the cost is somewhere around $6000, but for me it is worth every single cent. Keep in mind that if that camera ever fails, the housing will probably make a great home for an octopus, because like most housings, it only fits one model of camera. The GoPro cameras are a super unit producing amazing images. They do suffer from not being too stable if you are not careful, however I have mine attached to my Equinox Housing an as a twin 3D set up, and on that it is as stable as the housing it is attached to and the GoPro produces top quality images and footage, especially 3D.
For image development, I cannot go past Abode Lightroom5 for stills, and my Apple Final Cut Pro X does absolutely amazing work editing my videos into short films with either narration or music. I also use a Mac with an i7 processor.
The last bit of advice I can give is about camera equipment insurance. For a couple of years I did not bother, but for $250 a year, I have saved myself $4000 in equipment replacement having flooded two units in a 4 week period.
So where now for you? The world is your oyster. Use my feed back, and if need be ask for more and I shall give it. Research and speak to other people, but most of all be so informed that you know the final choice you make will be yours based on good information. Yes your budget can be restrictive, but do not let it be the final determining factor if you can help it, because I can assure you that sooner or later you will regret that choice and it will cost you more money.
Comments