Buyer's guide to underwater video

Tara North

So, you are interested in getting into underwater videography? There’s no doubting that it’s an expensive hobby, especially in terms of the equipment you need to buy.

So this means it’s really important to buy the right camera & housing set-up first time - but without experience or being able to test different models underwater, how do you choose the right system for you?

Here, we will try and help you focus on the key aspects, so that you can make an informed decision on your camera & housing and start to enjoy your new hobby straight away.

Love marine life?

Which camera?

Setting the Budget
Firstly, what’s your budget? It’s easy to get drawn into the benefits of the next best model, and then the next, and so on. Technology has moved on so fast though that even standard consumer video cameras can now shoot some great footage. You should not feel that a slightly cheaper model would not suit your needs. Also, more expensive cameras and housings come with more expensive add-ons & accessories, plus service & repair costs, which should also be considered when you decide on your budget.

What's the Use?
You should also take time to consider what you want to use your camera for. Do you just want to film for fun on holidays. Are you planning to find work as a videographer with a dive shop? Or do you want to get into TV production and make very high quality underwater productions?

If you want to film just for fun, almost any consumer video camera on the market should be fine and produce images of a good enough quality to enjoy. If you want to work at a dive shop, you need a camera with a little more quality and a few more controls at your disposal underwater, especially the ability to manually set the white balance. Cameras like Sony HC range or Canon HV models are good choices on the market at the moment. You also ideally need a camera that is not too big and that you can easily carry around every day.

If you aspire to make programs for TV or to enter into underwater film competitions, then you need to think a little bigger and go for a camera that is ideally a 3-ccd model that can film in HD quality or above, such as a Sony HDR FX-1 or Canon XL-H1.

Working the System
Another simple decision that you can make straight away is whether you want a PAL video camera or an NTSC model. PAL and NTSC are two differing TV systems that affect your video footage as they use different frame rates. PAL systems record at 25 frames per second, while NTSC systems record at 29.97 frames per second. Generally, NTSC systems are used in North & South America, Japan, Korea & the Philippines, while the rest of the world use PAL. Make sure you pick a camera model that works with TVs for your area.

Jakob Owens

The extras

Wuestenigel

Unfortunately, buying the right camera is only half the battle. You also need to have the right housing and the right accessories to be able to start shooting great underwater movies.

Let's take a look at some of the options...

What's in the Box?
First, let's consider the housing. It’s very important to make sure there is at least one, but preferably a few housings are available for the camera you are looking at.

It’s not a good idea to set your heart on a particular camera, or even go out and buy it, only to find that there is not a housing available. Generally, the widest range of video housings available is for Sony cameras, but this is beginning to change.

You also can decide whether you want to go for a manual housing or an electronic model. Manual housings, such as Ikelite housings, connect to the camera controls manually via a series of rods & buttons. They are cheaper and considered more reliable, but on the downside, may not have all the controls you need easily accessible.

Electronic housings on the other hand, such as Gates or Amphibico, connect to all the camera functions electronically, and so all the controls you need are normally at your fingertips. This makes them very convenient & easy to use, but on the downside, they tend to be significantly more expensive to buy, and due to the complex electronics, a little less reliable than manual housings.

Bring Back the Light
Then, you need to decide whether you should splash out on video lights. It is easy to think that underwater, you have to have lights in order to make your footage sparkle, but this is not necessarily the case. Many underwater housings come with a simple red fliter that fits in front of the lens to replace lost colour and this solution works extremely well for many situations.

For low-light conditions, or if you really want your footage to shine brightly, then lights are the way to go. For video, two lights definitely work better than one. Make sure your lights have a good battery as well, otherwise your lights may go out at the crucial moment.

Starting on the right foot...

So by this simple thought process, you can narrow down a smaller range of cameras that are suitable for you and also what housing might be better. You will almost certainly be left with a few options though. How do you narrow this down to just one camera & housing? And how do you know you are making the right decision?

Ask the Experts
Firstly, if you are purchasing the equipment from a reputable dealer, they should give you honest advice on the strengths and weaknesses of individual models. Ask around a few different shops and concentrate on the quality of advice, rather than just the price.

Secondly, internet forums are a great place to receive advice or learn of other people’s experiences with a particular camera or housing. There are a range of useful websites with a wealth of information and forum topics, both for video cameras and specifically for underwater photography & videography. Things to consider are if the camera has been on the market long enough to have a good track record; if they are reliable; if you can access all the controls you need underwater; if they are considered to shoot good colours; if they are good in low light situations & if they have any glitches or small design faults.

Give it a Go
Another good option is to take a short course in underwater videography, or make a few try dives with an instructor and a video camera before making your final decision. Once you have a little experience for yourself, then you are in a much better position to make an informed decision on the features of a camera & housing set-up that are most important to you.

By following this process and finding the answers to these questions, you will be able to get an excellent idea of which video camera & housing is right for you - ensuring that you avoid any expensive mistakes & enjoy your new hobby from the word go!

Tara North

Kimbe Bay

Walindi scuba diving is excellent for underwater phorography

Kimbe Bay is on the island of New Britain, a large island running east to west that separates the Solomon Sea to the south from the Bismark Sea to the north.

The area is known for its stunning coral formations and boasts a huge diversity of marine life, from Dolphins, Sharks and Whales to endless tiny invertebrates.

Read more about Kimbe Bay

Scuba Diving Terms - A Dummies Guide

Scuba means Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

Frans Daniels

Scuba-diving, like many activities seems to have a language all of its own, with confusing concepts, technical terminology and an ocean of jargon to decipher.

To help newcomers break through this barrier we've developed a dummies guide to scuba diving, so that you can get to grips with what divers are talking about. Find out what SCUBA stands for, what PADI is, what it is to be narked, and so much more.

Read more about Scuba Diving Terms - A Dummies Guide

Alor

Alor lies to the east of Flores & north of Timor Island. Divers who venture this far will be rewarded with exceptional diving away from the crowds.

The area is characterised by two main forms of diving - current swept dives with a high chance to find pelagics; and world-class muck diving.

Read more about Alor

Negros & Dumaguete

Negros Island is a large island in the Visayas. It’s eastern shore is separated from Cebu by a narrow channel, while it’s west coast faces the Sulu Sea. Much of the diving is in the south of the island.

Like many of the Philippines dive spots, it is blessed with the combination of big fish encounters and fascinating smaller critters that will keep avid divers happy for many dives.

Read more about Negros & Dumaguete

The seas of Asia

Asia is caught between two huge oceans, the Indian Ocean to the west and the Pacific to the east. In between is a complex geography of land & water that has given rise to some of the most fascinating & species rich seas on our planet.

Read more about The seas of Asia

Setting up your underwater housing

Have you recently purchased an underwater housing for your camera? Maybe you feeling a little unsure how to set-up your new system correctly and are feeling in need of some tips and advice.

Don't despair. No matter what brand your housing, whether it is a simple own-brand housing or a state-of-the-art set-up, there are steps you can take every time you take your camera into the water to ensure that it is set-up correctly.

Read more about Setting up your underwater housing