...What entry-level digital SLR camera/housing/strobe would you suggest? And how much cash are we looking at? I'd be looking to spend as little as possible to claw my way up to better photos from my Oly 3040/Pt-010/internal strobe setup, with which I've managed to take some pretty decent pix, shooting all manual.

I'd consider used from eBay or elsewhere, as long as I'm looking at at least 5mp. What are your thoughts? (And thanks for your indulgence for a barn-door broad question).


Best Regards,

I own a Nikon D100, and find it a great camera to move up to from a P&S. Since you mention eBay, there's a Subal housing currently for sale at $1,200 without port, so you'll have to fork out a few 100s more for those:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?c...sing&category0=

You can also find plenty of D100 bodies for sale on ebay, starting at just 10 bucks!

You'll also need to get strobes and arms (also available on ebay ), unless you already own that...

Cheers,
Mat

Hi Peter

I agree with Mat. I moved - as I think Mat did - from a Coolpix 5000 to a Nikon D100; and have never looked back. The D100 plus my Subal housing is proving a delight. Of course my bank account has never looked back either - but that is another story.

It's a good time too to be shopping for a D100 with the D200 due to appear in the next few days. Many will move up up the D200 (including probably me) and second-hand camera bodies and housings should be readily available at good prices. I can heartily recommend Subal to go with ithe D100; and if you buy ports for the housing you should be able to move these from one Subal housing to another as you progress onwards and upwards with camera bodies. If you can get a Subal D100 housing for $1200 - and its in fair condition, snap it up!

Thanks, Mat and Tim!

I'll start looking into the D100 setup. Now for a demonstration of my ignorance: what are the "ports" you're referring to?

Thanks,

Peter

Peter,

While the Nikon D100 can be had for bargain basement prices (I had one for 20,000+ clicks previously) the Nikon D70 and D70s has some better features if you want to go with a Nikon dSLR for only slightly more $$$$$.

If you don't have lenses you want to use on a Nikon dSLR check out the lower priced Canon Rebel and Rebel XT models, too. There are probably some used original Ikelite Rebel housings without eTTL out there that can still be used to make great photos, too.

Just a thought.....

dhaas

I'll go also with used D70, there are a lot of them in the market now and it’s the best used entering level (and more) camera for now.
Another option is the Fuji S2, still Nikon lens, good camera and even TTL.

I recently move up to a Canon 350D, Ikelite housing and DS125s strobes from a Oly 5050.

I've been rahter happy with the decisoon. The camera, housing and strobes are great, though I don't have any other DSRL/Housing to compare this too.

ds

Peter,

SLR cameras use interchangeable lenses. These come in all shapes and sizes, and have varying optics. In order to accomodate these differences, the front of underwater housing (for SLR cameras, generally) have an intercahngeable section. This section is called a port. Each port is able to accomodate only a certain number of lenses. The housing/port manufacturers generally give recommendations as to which combinations of part and lenses work best.

Cheers,
Mat

Hi Peter,

While you are looking into a D100 (4 years old) setup, don't forget the D70 (1 1/2 years old) or D70s (6 months old) which is a far better camera for not much more $. You might also consider a D50 (but has no RAW) or Canon 350D.

This link has good general advice on digital SLRs: www.kenrockwell.com
Whatever camera you buy, don't forget to check that housings are available for it.

Thanks so much for your input, guys! (And for tolerating an SLR babe-in-the-woods). Your info is helping me to form my first opinions about moving up.

I've been avidly shooting on my Oly 3040 for four years, fully manually (except for focus--can't see well enough) for quite some time and I believe have gotten some good shots. I'm really itching to get closer to my macro subjects, get more light and depth on wide angle shots, open up the parameters of film speed and cropping, and just improve image quality.

Thanks again.

Best Regards,

Hi Peter

Mat has told you about "ports" - a key issue - but don't worry about "ignorance": that's what Wetpixel is for - to get your questions answered. Besides, the more time I spend in life, the more I realise just how ignorant I am!

Thanks, Tim,

I'll take you at your word and ask another newbie question: What would you consider to be the most critical lenses (type and size) to start out with? My priority would be macro (pygmy seahorse filling frame) with a 2nd choice of wide angle that would allow me to get reef scenes at a distance of, say, 25 feet.


Thanks much,

HI Peter,
I started with a point & shoot (Sea & Sea Aqua pix) & got some
decent pics. I upgraded to a nikon D70 & could not believe the
difference in the images they are amazing, now there is no looking
back.Use all of the information you get of this thread as there are
alot of very experienced photographers on wetpixel who take
outstanding images. So I would advise any one to take in as much
information as possible.


Andy :ph34r: :ph34r:

I would suggest you look at the Splashdown site, because the site owner went through just the progression from Olympus PS to Nikon DSLR that you are considering. His experience and recommendations are helpful, and there are lots of photos to demonstrate what the various rigs are able to do. He also recommends some lenses, interestingly the same ones I would suggest.

Here are my recommendations based on your expected uses.

Nikon makes some outstanding macro lenses. Probably the AF 105mm F2.8 lens would be a good first choice ($450+), giving you more distance to subject than the 60mm. It's my favorite on land for closeups, and is a great lens. The 60mm is also great, for larger subjects ($350+). If you want the sharpest closeups possible, these are the ones.

For wide angle, the most popular is the 12-24mm Nikon, but it's very expensive ($900+). You might consider the Sigma 10-20mm zoom at half the price ($450+). You can do some interesting close wide work with these, because of their ability to focus closely while displaying the environment of the subject in the wide background.

Whatever lens you buy, you have to match it with an apropriate lens port for your housing. If you use the Ikelite housing, the ports are listed here for example:
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/2port_nikon.html

These two lenses, a good macro and a wide zoom, will do nicely for a start, and I would get some experience before buying more.

I'd pretty much agree with Slowhands. Its not an easy choice and you may well find as you get more experienced that your favourite choice changes. This makes puchasing on a limited budget tricky.

I'd say, to start off with, the Nikkor 12-24 and 60mm lenses are winners. Although not everyone's favourite, the 12-24 is very versatile and will do the reef shots you want - and its a great topside lens too.

However I am now really getting into the 10.5mm which can produce awesome results - but is much harder to use and, for me at least, is pretty hopeless topside.

No-one will argue with the 60mm which is just excellent. It is very versatile for fish portrait shots. But you are right too, if you want the pygmy seahorses (and that's what I'm now hunting too), the 105mm is The Business. I bought one about two weeks ago to use in Indonesia - and just love it. But, it is harder to use than the 60mm. Focussing is just trickier and needs more work. And it is not so easy to use for standard fish portraits.

So, I would say 12-24 and 60 or 105. But maybe start with the 60: you'll just be able to use it in more situations - and then keep an eye out for the 10.5 and 105.

Of course, you could just buy them all and remove the agonies of decision. Remove your bank account too