Underwater Digital Cameras

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Capturing Photographs Underwater

An underwater digital camera is not just used to capture underwater memories; some professional marine photographers also use them in their business. Even marine biologists and scientists use underwater cameras to capture marine life and thus be able to study the life and properties of the marine life.

But I think it is safe to assume that you, my reader, are neither a marine scientist nor a professional photographer. Like me, you are just some photo junkie who wants to capture underwater moments and just can't figure out how without ruining your cameras.

Underwater Digital Cameras 

from Amazon

Just because a camera is waterproof, does not mean that it is suitable for underwater photography. It has to be waterproof enough to resist the water pressure at certain levels.

Now if you're really serious about using an underwater digital camera, I suggest that you buy speciality cameras.

Vivitar VIVICAM-6200W 6.0 MegaPixel Underwater Camera with 4x Digital Zoom 2.0" LCD

6.0MP Underwater Camera with 4x Digital Zoom.
Image resolution up to 2816 x 21124x digital zoom.
Specifically designed for divers to take brighter, colorful pictures underwater up to 30 feet.

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VuPoint DC-ST531TBLK-VP - Digital camera - compact - 5.0 Mpix / 12 Mpix (interpolated) - supported memory: MMC, SD

This versatile lightweight model can be used as a digital camera, video camera or Web cam and is waterproof up to 50 ft. Hightlights include a 2-inch LTPS LCD Display, 8 X digital zoom, built-in 16 MB memory and SD memory card slot up to 2 MB

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SeaLife SL 320 Reef Master Mini Digital Camera

Compact, rugged, easy to-use-the ReefMaster Mini will accompany you on any dive or adventure you have in mind. The Land and Sea exposure modes ensure great pictures on land or underwater. The Ext Flash mode allows for easy expansion with one or two SeaLife external flashes and results in bright, colorful underwater images. The Sea mode color booster corrects for the underwater blue color effect.

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Sealife 6 Megapixel Underwater Digital Camera (DC600)

The new DC600 is Action Ready, with a fast shutter response so you never miss the action. 6.1 mp for sharp, crisp enlargements. Easy to expand with up to two SeaLife flashes. Enhanced Land and Sea exposure modes for the brightest, most colorful images.

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Underwater Cameras Cases 

True underwater digital cameras are quite rare and expensive, as cameras cannot withstand the water pressure. The closest manufacturers have ever got to producing underwater digital cameras are underwater casings for digital cameras. These casing will turn your conventional digital camera into an underwater digital camera.

Underwater Cases for Canon Cameras

Taking Photographs Under Water 

If you are shooting with your underwater digital camera, you need to take note of a few things to help you come up with the best images underwater.

Remember that as you go deeper under water, light diffuses. This means that your underwater digital camera will produce images darker than those images you took while on land - this is because of the light diffusion the red spectrum seems darker. To avoid this, use white balance come up with natural colors. Also, pictures taken underwater will come up larger than pictures taken on land with the same zoom effect. Be sure to check your underwater digital camera's viewfinder to check the right picture angle and size that you want.

An underwater digital camera with its built-in flash will produce marine show phenomenon. It is a phenomenon wherein your pictures come out as blurry and with white particles floating above it, to avoid this phenomenon it is advisable to use external flash for your underwater digital camera.

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How do You Take Your Underwater Photographs? 

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Using Your Digital Camera Underwater 

Before using your underwater digital camera, submerge the camera in the water first for several seconds then check if there are leaks through the case. Make sure that no grain of sand or piece of hair is stuck in between the seal to make sure that water will not permeate the case and thus wet your camera in the process. It is also advisable to put silica gel or two inside the case of your underwater digital camera as long as they don't disturb the camera's operation. (Silica gel will keep the moisture from forming inside your camera case.)

Most underwater digital cameras come with optional lenses. Don't be afraid to add these lenses to your underwater digital camera kit. Macro lenses will help you capture small things without getting too close and startling your subject.

Also, remember to always wash of salt when you've used it under salt water. If the salts are not washed off, in time they will crystallize; act as sands and cause leaks for your camera case. In cases when sands seem to get into the case, they are better washed off with streams of water.

Best Underwater Digital Camera Reviews 

Before You Purchase Equipment Read Waterproof Digital Camera ...
If you are considering purchasing a camera for underwater photography it is worth reading some of the waterproof digital camera reviews available. Many of these can be found easily on the internet and provide you with invaluable ...
Reefmaster Underwater Digital CameraReview | Waterproof Digital ...
So why on earth would you want Reefmaster even an underwater camera? Well, have you ever been snorkeling or scuba diving? It is so bad that you can see such.
Panasonic Lumix Dmc-ts1 & Dmc-ft1 Underwater Digital Camera Review ...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/pr... Panasonic DMC-FT1 / DMC-TS1 | PhotographyBLOG27 Jan 2009 ... Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 Review. Ricoh CX1 Review ... the.
Sealife DC600 6 Megapixel Underwater Digital Camera | Review ...
Sealife DC600 6MP Underwater Camera is designed for divers to take high-resolution (up to 2848x2136), brighter, and colorful mages in underwater, DC600 is.

Swimming With The Fishes 

Underwater Filters 

When you are underwater, the color that you see isn't really the true color when you take it in land. This is because the very first color that diminishes underwater is the color red. The color is distorted and therefore, will look dull. Because of this, underwater photography has different filters to adjust the lighting and color to help you to take accurate and clear pictures of the underwater subject.

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Underwater Flash 

The light also diminishes when you go deeper. In this case, special flashes and lights can be installed together with your underwater camera in order to create the best quality photos possible.

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Waterproof Cases 


Since underwater photography requires different kinds of equipment, you will also need a different kind of camera bag in order for you to better protect these sensitive electronic devices. Underwater photography nowadays will require you to have a digital camera and a specific underwater housing for it in order for you to protect your camera from water, and underwater pressure.

The camera bags are also very different. It will usually be on a hard camera bag because underwater equipment is extra sensitive. Special underwater lenses are also available for underwater photography. These lenses will be able to give you high quality and true color underwater pictures.

Getting the right camera bag for your underwater camera equipment is also a must. You should look for a camera bag that has a hard case, waterproof and one that can fit all of your underwater photography equipment. And, it should be positively buoyant because if you accidentally drop it on the water, it will float and can be easily retrieved.

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Underwater Digital Photography Books 

If you're still not sure about underwater photography, then these books will give you a lot more tips and advice before you take the plunge.

Master Guide for Underwater Digital Photography

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An Essential Guide to Digital Underwater Photography: A Complete How-To Guide

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The Beginner's Guide to Underwater Digital Photography (Amherst Media Inc)

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Digital Underwater Photography

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Underwater Photography Blogs 

Underwater Photography: Basic Tips for Taking Good Underwater ...
It's pretty obvious that fish make good subjects of underwater photography, but photographing a fish on a dive is not as easy as it seems. They constantly move and just when you think you've got them where you want in the frame, ...
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dallas dive bars. December 6, 2009 by sara kerens photography. I recently photographed a feature story and cover photo for the Dallas Observer. Check out the story and online slideshow http://www.dallasobserver.com/2009-11-12 ...
Albert Lea Tribune | Peobles attend annual dive equipment convention
Robert and Betty Peoble, owner and operators of Peoble Photography and Peoble Divers in Albert Lea, recently attended the 2009 DEMA (Dive Equipment Manufactures Association) annual convention held in Orlando, Fla. ...
Dive! on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Not the greatest shot of a diving Kingfisher, but I'd never gotten a shot like this before so I wanted to post it. STA-5 Clewiston, Florida Canon 50D Canon 100-400mm f4/5.6 USM IS L.

Going on a Diving Trip? 

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Reader Feedback 

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  • Reply
    BetterDigitalPhotos BetterDigitalPhotos Nov 16, 2009 @ 5:24 am
    I recommend the Canon D10 which is a waterproof digital camera that can be used to depths of 33 feet (about 10m) - just putting together a lens on it at the moment http://www.squidoo.com/waterproofdigitalcameracanond10 So far I'm getting some good results with it, but I expect at greater depths and in murky conditions it would need extra light for better shots.
  • Reply
    seedplanter seedplanter Oct 28, 2008 @ 9:54 am
    IThis is one type of nature photography I haven't explored. Loved this lens! Lots of good, practical advice, and your images are wonderful. Thx for the Twitter mention...think I'll take you up on your offer and steal the aquarium. It's great!
    Five *****'s!
  • Reply
    flowski flowski Aug 30, 2008 @ 1:30 am
    I've always been fascinated by underwater photography, and I'd love to give it a try someday, thanks for the helpful guide.
  • Reply
    Janet21 Janet21 Jun 17, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
    Welcome to the Everything Photography Group! :)

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