Capturing moments with an underwater digital camera

Memorable views can be found just about anywhere, even underwater. No surprise that we have seen the creation of underwater digital cameras and watertight housings.

An underwater digital camera is not just used to capture underwater vacation memories. Professional marine photographers also use underwater digital cameras in their line of work. Even marine biologists and scientists use underwater digital cameras to capture marine life to help them to study the life and properties of the marine life.

Note that even waterproof cameras cannot withstand underwater photography. To be waterproof is to resist the water in certain levels, submerging a waterproof camera under the water to get the perfect shot is like throwing it out of the window expecting the cam to continue working because the camera is shock proof

If you're really serious about using an underwater digital camera to capture those wacky and funny moments underwater, I suggest that you buy specialty cameras.

There are basically no underwater digital cameras in the traditional sense as digital cameras are electronic devices and cannot withstand water and water pressure. The closest electronics manufacturers have gotten to producing underwater digital cameras are producing underwater housings for digital cameras. These casing will turn your conventional digital camera into an underwater digital camera.

If you are shooting with your underwater digital camera, you need to take note of a few things to help you come up with the best images underwater.

Remember that as you go farther under water, light diffuses. This means that the camera will produce images darker than those images you took while on land – this is because of the light diffusion the red spectrum seems darker. To avoid this, use the white balance setting to come up with natural colors. Also, pictures taken underwater will come up larger than pictures taken on land with the same zoom effect. Be sure to check your digital camera’s viewfinder to check the right picture angle and size that you want.

An underwater digital camera with its built-in flash will produce a marine show phenomenon. It is a phenomenon wherein your pictures come out as blurry and with white particles floating above it, to avoid this phenomenon it is advisable to use external flash with your camera.

Before using your underwater digital camera, submerge the camera in the water first for several seconds then check if there are leaks through the case. Make sure that no grain of sand or piece of hair is stuck in between the seals to make sure that water will not penetrate the case and thus ruin your camera in the process. It is also advisable to put a pack or two of silica gel inside the underwater case of your camera as long as they don't interfere with the camera’s operation. (Silica gel will help to keep moisture from forming inside your camera case.)

Most underwater digital cameras come with optional lenses. Don't be afraid to add these lenses to your camera kit. Macro lenses will help you capture small object without getting too close and startling your subject.

Also, remember to always wash of salt when you've used the housing under salt water. If the salts are not washed off, in time they will crystallize and cause leaks for your camera case. In situations where sand has gotten into the case, it is better washed off with regular tab water.

Check out Sony, Nikon and Canon’s website for available underwater cases for your digital cameras.