Hi, I am going to use this post to go into a bit more detail about my camera set up, since I often get asked. I have just recently ‘upgraded’ from a plastic housing to a Fantasea housing. Housings are different to a self-contained underwater camera and offer a bit more flexibility for the photographer.
My setup
Camera housings are designed for specific makes or model of camera and can cost you anything from a couple of grand to many thousands of dollars. Fantasea is a good entry-level. In my case, I bought one to fit the Sony RX100 series. They have great full frame (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensors and low light capability.
Consequently, it is also an upgrade on the level of difficulty. It’s not an easy setup to handle. It’s also very heavy.
Mostly it’s all about COMPOSITION and LIGHTING.
However, the techniques used to get nice rich colours, are composition, lighting and so on. They are not generally created by the camera or the housing. There is a separate level of skill needed for this, including ‘processing’ digital images. I can’t explain that much here. Suffice to say, a RAW image captures massive amounts of data and enables the user to calibrate the image to real conditions. Set to JPG, a camera’s software makes assumptions and modifies the images according to average criteria. As underwater conditions are particularly weird and variable, this often results in a washed-out image.
My camera setup
The system I use now comprises:
| Camera | Units |
| Sony RX100V Compact | 1 |
| Memory Cards | |
| 64GB SDXC 140mbps | 2 |
| Underwater Housing | |
| Fantasea Housing for Sony RX100 III IV V and VA – including vacuum system | 1 |
| Arms, Clamps & Bayonet Fittings | |
| Universal Torch Mount 25-50mm diameter – Ball Joint | 1 |
| UN Arm Clamp – UNZ-2515 | 6 |
| UN Arms – UNZ-2522 | 2 |
| UN Arms – UNZ-2521 | 2 |
| UN Adapters YS-mount -UNZ-2518 | 1 |
| Quick Release System 01 Adapter 3 for AOI UWL-400A – Fantasea UWL-400Q | 1 |
| Bayonet Female on Arm MB2 – cat 4061 – AOI product QRS-01-MB2 | 1 |
| Bayonet Male for 67mm Macro Lens – cat 4067 – AOI product QRS-01-M67 | 1 |
| Bayonet Female on M67 Housing MB1 – cat 4050 – AOI product QRS-01-MB1 | 1 |
| Underwater Lenses | |
| Fantasea UWL-400Q – Wide Angle Conversion Wet Lens | 1 |
| DYRON Macro lens UCL67II | 1 |
| Fantasea UCL-900F 15 Super Macro Lens – cat 5118 | 1 |
| Batteries / chargers | |
| 18650 charger | 2 |
| LP-E6 3000mAh 7.4v | 4 |
| Lights | |
| Scubalamp P53 LED VideoPhoto Strobe Light – 5000 | 1 |
| Fantasea Line Radiant 2500 | 2 |
You can add strobes but I just like to provide some fill-in light. Otherwise, natural light is better, where possible. It’s less impact on animals and for me, it’s a personal preference, for the type of landscape-style images that show animals in their habitat.
Even with this new camera, I had a lot to learn and it took me a few weeks. I fumbled around for a while, trying to work out the best standard settings. When I encounter a new situation, I am not always competent enough to adapt and modify everything quick enough. It takes time and practice to understand the new limits of any gear.
The right camera for you – get advice!
A lot of photographers try to push their equipment too far. If you shoot to within the limits of your skill and your equipment, you can get great results using anything. An iPhone in a waterproof case can capture wonderful images if you rely on natural light and don’t try to be too fancy.
If mine isn’t the right set up for you, then take advice from a specialist.
Call Tim Hochgrebe at https://underwater.com.au/ who will be able to advise you on the best starting point for you. He is highly respected and extremely knowledgeable. It’s not so much about the camera but what you’re like to need it for, your level of skill and ability.
