Are all throw away underwater cameras the same?

susan & herb · Post by **susan & herb** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:39 am

May is fast approaching or so I am telling myself and I am wondering if there is any difference in throw away underwater cameras. I am so jealous when I see the great underwater pictures you guys get with the expensive cameras but since I will be using it underwater just when we are in St John I really don't want to spend the money. I also have a Pentax digital that I regularly use.

Last year I used a Kodak throw away and the pictures were, O.K. passable but not great. I have seen a few inexpensive underwater cameras on the website from this forum such as the "Snap", but I don't know much about brands. Is it worth trying some of the other brands. Can someone help me here?

toes in the sand · Post by **toes in the sand** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:18 am

I bought a cheap snap sights (intova) underwater 35mm underwater camera for what two of the kodak disposables would've cost. I have not had the pictures developed yet. I will give you a report when I get them back. It is nothing more than a cheap 35mm camera in an underwater case. This camera gives me flash which you do not get with disposable underwaters. It was easy to operate and change film.
Here is a link to the mfg website:
http://www.intova.net/swfc.html

susan & herb · Post by **susan & herb** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:31 am

That's the camera I had seen here on the advertisement for underwater cameras.
Will be waiting for your review of the camera. What kind of film does it use. I have gotten used to a digital camera not that I am a techy of any sorts.

Appreciate your help

Ksea · Post by **Ksea** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:38 pm

We used Kodak underwater disposable cameras on our last trip and they took FABULOUS pictures above water! The underwater shots were pretty good if you were close to the subjuect, but most were a little fuzzy and the color no so good. It's so nice to have a digital where you can review your pictures before wasting money on the prints.

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:59 pm

I'd buy a olympus 750 I have 720 and find my self just taking that one where ever becuse ifs in my pocket most of the time I leave my big camera at the villa so you could just have that one. The nice thing about digital is that you can make the undewater pics look so much better with the soft ware.

JC · Post by JC » Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:04 pm

For several years I resisted the urge to splurge on the underwater housing for my Canon digital camera. Finally...I bit the bullet and just bought it. Really wish I hadn't waited so long. To each his/her own...but for me it was soooooo worth it! Here is a link to some underwater photos taken this past March with my Canon in the underwater housing...

http://www.pbase.com/jen_p/stj_underwater_2007

Also...here is a link to the ws that I purchased the uwh from.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/2 ... Case_.html

Prior to purchasing the uwh...I used disposable Kodak cameras. From my personal experience...Kodak seemed to work best. Best in shallow water...close to the object...and the brighter the sunlight the better!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Cheers!
Jen
83 & counting

Schnell · Post by **Schnell** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:26 pm

I used a disposable kodak underwater on our trip a couple weeks ago and had surprisingly good results. Of course I was at waterlemon in very shallow water and the sun was shining. With a little color adjustment after I got them developed and a picture cd they turned out well. Only issue I had was where to point and shoot.....you can't see through that stupid little viewer to actually see what you are shooting. Since this was the first trip of many we bought a olympus 790sw while in the islands. It was a great addition and about 50 bucks cheaper than in the states. It takes good pics underwater as well as on dry land. I like it so well I sold my other digital camera on ebay last week. Have no need for two digitals and no more buying disposable underwaters and hoping for good pictures.

Since you don't sound like you want to purchase a new camera I think the key is shallow water or being close up to subject. Also get a photo cd made when you develop them. That way you can pull out some of the green that you always get in underwater shots.

Gizzmo · Post by **Gizzmo** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:34 pm

If you look at my previous post you will find one about 6 months ago discussing this topic. At that time I too was using throw away underwater cameras and defended my position. Gee.... Was I an IDIOT! On the other hand I am still terified

of losing or damaging an expensive camera. Soooo, I found the solution (at least for me). Look at EBAY for used underwater cameras. Specifically a camera that has an underwater housing. I got a Minolta Dimage XI with housing for 80 bucks delivered to my door. http://picasaweb.google.com/Gizzmos2007/StJohn
It takes great pics! You have plenty of time before May to find a great deal. One more thing. SOFTWARE to improve pictures is IMPERATIVE. Download picasa.google.com/download/index.html for FREE. It will make an average picture look GREAT!

susan & herb · Post by **susan & herb** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:16 am

Will the download of picasa help improve the pictures taken with a throw away camera?
Thanks for the infor. on the underwater camera, I will check it out. I am not much of a photographer, but just love the underwater sights!

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:53 am

No it will only work for digital I suppose you could get a cd made of your pics when you get them developed and try it then

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:40 am

The “problem” with the disposables is the grainy images you get from the high 800 ISO speed film they use. See these examples that I have tried to tweak with Picasa as much as possible. Got photo cd's made when developed so we would have digital versions, so these look better than the prints we got from the store.

[img]<a%20href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jmackq/07ST ... 7.jpg"></a>[/img]

[img]<a%20href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jmackq/07ST ... 9.jpg"></a>[/img]

[img]<a%20href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jmackq/07ST ... 2.jpg"></a>[/img]

Now if these are good enuff to your eye and for some 4x6 prints, fine. Anything larger and the grain really doesnt look so good.

That camera mentioned here earlier appears to an inexpensive 35mm that comes preloaded with that same 800 speed film as the Fuji or Kodak disposables.

The good news is it seems like you can reload it with the 35mm film of your choice so maybe you can try 400 or even 200 speed film IF the preset aperture and speed settings can work with that.

Note that film cant go through the luggage Xray anymore - they are way too powerful now. The images on the other disposable got completely erased when left in a bag by accident.

For a budget approach to underwater digital photography, contributors to scubaboard recommend the Canon A570 IS camera plus WP-DC12 housing combination. The combination runs just over $300 at Amazon.

The 570 is an inexpensive point n shoot camera with good optical quality and with "real" image stabilization, not just the workaround on some cameras like the Olympus waterproof models that kicks you up to higher ISO (and more image grain/coarseness) to stabilize images.

The Canon even has an optical viewfinder. I don't know how folks us those LCD screen only cameras in bright daylight. Users are quite happy with the camera in its housing, which apparently is easy to use and gives access to all camera features.

toes in the sand · Post by **toes in the sand** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:08 pm

I finally developed the photos from my Snap sights underwater 35mm. Please remember that these are scans from photos. They never scan as well as the originals.
Also consider that while at Trunk the water was "cloudy" because of wind and the day at Lamshur was overcast. I think with good conditions and a bit of experience with the camera that I would opt for it over the disposables.
http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg28 ... %20camera/

usvi-on-line

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Are all throw away underwater cameras the same?

Are all throw away underwater cameras the same?