With waterproof housings now available for many of the popular digital cameras, underwater photography is now a past-time available to many but what do you need to know about using an underwater digital camera?

Before taking underwater photographs there are two main considerations to plan for. One is the safety and integrity of the camera and the other is the difference in light, contrast and colour you’ll find under the sea.

Underwater Digital Camera Equipment

It is no longer necessary to invest in an amphibious camera to take photos underwater. Many point and shoot digital cameras and DSLR models can be protected by watertight housings which mean they can be safely used under water.

Be sure to always use a wrist strap when using your digital camera underwater. It is very easy to drop a camera underwater and very difficult to retrieve it.

You may want to invest in a large capacity SD or memory card for your digital camera for use underwater. You cannot switch cards over once the camera is encased in the waterproof housing and you will not want to ruin your dive experience by having to surface regularly just to reload the camera. Of course, you can instantly review the photographs you take using the LCD viewing screen and delete those which are not of an acceptable standard – this will mean your storage media is full of only the very best images.

In very shallow water your underwater digital camera should be capable of taking acceptable images but if you dive to any depth you’ll know how the water absorbs colour making everything take on a different hue. It is possible to compensate for this using camera settings, dependent on the model of digital camera you own. Some form of lighting will almost certainly be required be it flash or strobe.

Underwater Photography

Because the red and orange elements of natural light are absorbed by water it can be very difficult to capture colour-true images when taking photos underwater. This problem can be overcome by getting as close as possible to the subject of the photograph – without putting yourself in danger.

The use of the built in flash can provide the missing light components and improve the final colour of the images although it may startle the subjects of the photographs.

One of the enormous advantages digital photography has over film photography is the ability the photographer has to digitally alter images using computer programmes such as Photoshop. Colour balance can be restored and contrast improved to compensate for the difficult conditions underwater photography presents.

Using an underwater digital camera is fun and rewarding but never forget personal safety. Remain conscious of your location and surroundings and don’t let the distraction of the camera allow you to drift into unsafe areas. Don’t lose track of time – your air supply is as important as your camera. If you are diving in unknown waters or at depth ensure your dive buddy is camera free and paying attention to the dive considerations the photographer may have overlooked.

Canon PowerShot D10

If being underwater or being deep in snow is your idea of fun or relaxation then why keep this to yourself. There are plenty of solutions that recommend using an underwater camera housing but why compromise, go for a camera that has been designed for underwater photography rather than re-worked for this environment

The Canon Power Shot D10 is the camera that should be at the top of your list as this has been successfully designed to be waterproof, able to withstand falls onto a hard surface from 4 feet and is happy to operate at -10 degrees Celcius whilst being fully protected against dust particles

Which means that is as happy under water as it is in the frozen watery equivalent.

The problem with designing specialist cameras that is far too often the team forget to ensure that the camera can still capture great images. However as it is Canon that were responsible for bringing this great camera to market, the image quality has not been compromised especially as it has a 12Mp CCD to capture enough detail to allow your masterpieces to become poster size records of your adventures.

Of course whilst you are underwater you want to enjoy the view and not have to continuously adjust the settings as the light alters whilst you descend to 30 feet, this is where the smart auto setting comes into its own. This will ensure that each image is recorded with the most appropriate settings and you can be confident that those magical moments are recorded faithfully which of course you can check on the rear 2.5″ LCD screen which is easily visible as you are not having to view it through a plastic bag or an underwater camera housing.

With its aperature range of F2.8 – 4.9 it is designed for versatility but the true measure of a camera is in the images that it takes and this is not a weak point for this camera.

If you are planning a wintery adventure or a watery excursion this camera is for you and you can have it today plus lots more information if you visit Amazon by clicking on this link today:

Canon PowerShot D10 The Underwater Camera