• 
• 
• 

Get Wet

Cameras and housings perfect for poolside

Ikelite DS-125 TTL

Combine it with an Ikelite DS-125 digital TTL strobe (or two), and the diver has a complete digital SLR system capable of even the most demanding underwater imaging scenarios. Estimated Street Price: $1,700 (Ikelite Canon EOS D40 housing with lens port); $800 (Ikelite DS-125 TTL strobe).

Olympus PT-E05 Housing

Olympus recently announced it would provide an underwater housing for its new EVOLT E-520 D-SLR, the PT-E05. This polycarbonate housing features optical-fiber connectors for Olympus' new, more powerful UFL-2 underwater TTL strobe and is rated to a depth of 130 feet. An advantage that the E-520 provides underwater photographers is the Autofocus Live View for easier visibility and composition. The E-520 also introduces image stabilization in the camera body, a feature that's sure to improve image sharpness in the low-light environment underwater. Estimated Street Price: TBA (Olympus PT-E05 housing); TBA (Olympus UFL-2 TTL strobe).

For Nikon D-SLR shooters, there are a variety of underwater housings. A popular system is the aluminum Sea&Sea MDX-D300 for the Nikon D300. This compact housing is precisely engineered to give divers easy access to camera controls while keeping their eye on subjects in the viewfinder. The housings are rugged with a wide array of options, including TTL converters, flat and domed ports and flash connectors. Paired with Sea&Sea YS-250 Pro strobes, this Nikon system is the ultimate underwater imaging powerhouse for photographers with the need (and the budget) for superior results. Estimated Street Price: $3,500 (Sea&Sea MDX-D300 with port); $1,100 (Sea&Sea YS-250 Pro strobe with connector).

VIDEO
While many of the cameras mentioned here have video capability, the Panasonic SDR-SW20 SD Waterproof Camcorder is built from the ground up for in and around water use. Waterproof to five feet, it features a 10x variable-speed zoom lens, underwater white-balance settings and SD/SDHC media storage and records in the MPEG-2 format. Small and easy to handle, the SW20 is the perfect camcorder for beach parties or a snorkeling adventure on your next vacation. Estimated Street Price: $369.

Add Comment