underwater Photo Course :: (2) Equipment Guide :: Underwater Camera Housings :: Camera Housings

Increasingly, the trend in underwater photography is towards camera housings (even at entry level). On price and performance they usually come out on top.

There are two types of camera to consider housing...

• Point and shoot (AKA compacts, digicams, prosumer) cameras are the most popular cameras to house. If you are a ‘snap shooter’ and already own a recent digicam you should find a housing for it. However, point and shoot cameras usually have a zoom range that was designed for use on land, and is not wide enough for underwater photography.
• D-SLRSingle Lens Reflex Camera. A camera that uses a mirror to redirect the image projected onto the film into the viewfinder. The mirror flips out of the way when the button is pressed to take the picture. cameras have detachable lenses, which can be chosen to suit underwater subject matter. They also take better pictures so, if you are serious about underwater photography, you should choose a housed SLR system. This type of camera is favored by pro's, and essential if you hope to get your work published.

Remember, you always buy a system (not just a camera housingA casing or box with waterproof seals designed to contain a camera or other equipment in such a way that it can be used underwater.).

 We recommend buying a system that you can grow into, rather than out of. Housed DSLR systems cost slightly more initially but, when you weigh up the cost against the expense of a foreign dive trip, you should be able to justify it to come back with more (and better quality) shots.