To go DSLR or Not?

[sportdiver_editor]

We'd like to hear from the Sport Diver Community on this subject. What are your thoughts? Your likes and dislikes? Any recommendations for specific DSLR packages? Suggestions for new DSLR users?

Thanks for your participation!

---Sport Diver Staff

[confuzioncity]

After shooting with an underwater point & shoot, I'm personally going to put a housing on my SLR. At times I wish this was the way I had went originally but fear of flooding out my camera kept me from it.

I think the point & shoots are great for learning the ins and outs of underwater photography but overall SLR is the way to go.

[Neptune Nick]

I recently purchased a Sea&Sea DX-1G and was extremely happy with the results. In some cases I used duel strobes but most of the time just used the one.

[highliner]

I started with one of the first digital reefmasters. I was not happy with the 1.5 mb pix it took. I then moved on to the Canon A95 with the Canon housing. What a difference in digital camera technology. I was very happy. Simple, easy and low cost. Just what a begginer needs. Now I have a Olympus E-PL1 with the OLY housing. Obviously I am progressing with the cost of my toys (maybe not with the quality of shot). I am very happy with my new purchase. So I feel the correct answer is both. I think it is very wise to use the point and shoot as the entry level and the DSLR as the experienced level. Unless you are in a money is no option kinda place, it can really hurt to drown a DSLR vs a point and shoot because of inexperience. It can also really hurt to have a couple of grand tied into a DSLR and find out you do not like to take pix underwater. In the time it takes to wear out a point and shoot (say 3 years) you should have a real good idea of the level you want to shoot at. Choice is good

[highliner]

Had some difficulty getting this picture to size requirements. Taken on a sightly overcast day at 25 ft. Good vis (better than 35 ft). Canon A95, no strobe, in undersea mode. Picture was cropped for effect.