has anybody every used either the Lumix underwater cameras like this one? or have they used a housing for their regular Lumix?
I'm heading to Hawaii in a few weeks and am trying to decide between a few options:
1) Renting an underwater housing for my 5D2 for a day. (about $100)
2) Buying an underwater camera like the Lumix (about $250)
3) Buying a housing for either the Lumix (about $500 or $$$$ for the Canon)
Does anybody have any experience to give me advice? :)
How much of your vacation time do you plan to stay underwater? ;D
Years ago when I went to Mexico I bought disposable underwater cameras and the pictures all turned out great. If I were you I'd go with the Lumix for the $250.
How much of your vacation time do you plan to stay underwater? ;D
Years ago when I went to Mexico I bought disposable underwater cameras and the pictures all turned out great. If I were you I'd go with the Lumix for the $250.
Well, probably only about 60 seconds at a time. :) I do love snorkeling and I think if I had a camera I'd shoot a ton. I've used disposables in the past and while they take nice snapshots, I'd love to see what a better camera could do. I'll have to try to search out reviews for that Lumix. I think I also saw a used housing for the Lumix I have for $400 instead of $500+.
It's really nice not having to deal with a clunky case. Just get out of the water, rinse it off, and keep shooting on land. Image quality is good, with typical annoying P&S low light slowness. Mine survived 3 weeks in humid/chilly/salty Maui without a hitch. I usually carry it around instead of my S90.
Thanks Mousie and Paul. That is really helpful. I'm really leaning toward the TS3 based on the pictures and review. Now, if a 5D2 housing just fell in my lap...but they are so expensive and I figure they will be obsolete as soon as you upgrade to another body (and being such specialized equipment, hard to resell).
Timely for me, too, as we shall be going to the Great Barrier Reefs in March.
Only yesterday, I was having a good look at the Pentax Optio WG-1 (the camera store is having a Pentax fair at the moment), but I wasn't bowled over by the buttons on the back - maybe they're good for people with small fingers. It's a camera that someone we met in Okinawa used.
So, next time I'll look at the Lumix.
not qualified to post on this having never done underwater photography other than the film disposable ones
but if using a 5d and housing i think youd want more than 60 seconds to get your shot, i.e scuba diving maybe? in the shallows etc itd be alright but diving down a metre or two staying steady while setting camera etc all on one breath might be hard?
Here are some early returns on the Lumix underwater. This is a video of an octopus I saw yesterday. Haven't had the chance to work with any of the photos, but I agree with the person who said it is somewhat difficult to hold a camera still underwater.
Here are some early returns on the Lumix underwater. This is a video of an octopus I saw yesterday. Haven't had the chance to work with any of the photos, but I agree with the person who said it is somewhat difficult to hold a camera still underwater.
has anybody every used either the Lumix underwater cameras like this one? or have they used a housing for their regular Lumix?
I'm heading to Hawaii in a few weeks and am trying to decide between a few options:
1) Renting an underwater housing for my 5D2 for a day. (about $100)
2) Buying an underwater camera like the Lumix (about $250)
3) Buying a housing for either the Lumix (about $500 or $$$$ for the Canon)
Does anybody have any experience to give me advice? :)
I have been using Lumix for few months now and I am pretty impressed with the photos that it can produce. I only bought it for limited use, mostly for underwater photography. I think you could go with the second option, mostly its all depends on your specific need and budget.
