What To Consider When Putting Together Your Underwater Photo Rig

What to consider when putting together your underwater photo rig

- Alex Mustard

Making images underwater is a technical branch of photography, and specific gear is essential for many shots. There is also no escaping that this is a pricey passion; the specialist gear is more expensive than we’d all prefer. But it gets even more costly when you buy the wrong things for the job. This article is here to help. I won’t compare brands here, but hopefully will help you invest wisely.

Many underwater photographers are addicted to having the latest and greatest underwater camera. I know because I am one of these gear addicts! Nobody refutes that technology marches on, and it is pleasurable to own and use the latest tech. But despite what marketing sometimes tells us, the previous generation of gear is in no way obsolete. By far the cheapest way into underwater photography is to go for secondhand combos. Photography has always been a buyer’s market, so scan specialist classifieds and make an offer.

That said, here’s what you should know when you buy.

TIP 1

CAMERAS AND LENSES

Perhaps surprisingly, the actual camera is one of the least important components in an underwater photosystem. A compact camera properly set up for underwater shooting will consistently outperform a $10,000 SLR without the right accessories. Image quality is greatly affected when shooting through water, and the correct lenses, housing and strobes are what give you standout shots. That said, the camera remains one of the most expensive parts of a system, and you’ll want to choose the right camera for you.

Cameras with lots of physical buttons and dual command dials (separate finger and thumb dials for shutter speed and aperture) are much easier to use in a housing. Cameras that require you to navigate through on-screen menus or press multiple buttons to change basic settings will lead to missed shots.