New to Underwater Photography but...

[CompuDude]

DD is a good local resource, but for technical DSLR questions like this I would check in with the pro UW photogs on the WetPixel forums instead of here.

Ikelite housings are inexpensive, but there are downsides to them.

Personally, given your camera selection I'd be looking at picking up a Sea & Sea housing for the D300 instead of spending that much money on a D40.

For a D90 (you're considering buying another camera, I guess?), the Aquatica and Nexus housings have been getting some good reviews. There are a number of threads about housings for the D90 over on WetPixel.

I would also spend some serious quality time with this site, which has pretty much everything you'll need to know about UW Photography: Underwater Photography Guide

[GMDGeek]

Spent a chunk of time reading and getting emails and surfing sites getting more information:

I have 3 options I am considering at this time: I am still weighing out the pros and cons.

1. Sea & Sea package Kit: Dx2G $2,295.00
- Sea & Sea Dx2G 12.1 megapixel waterproof camera
- Sea & Sea Housing
- Sea & Sea Ys110a Strobe Kit (includes 1 strobe and bracket arm)
- Wide Angle Lens
- Lens Caddy
- Pelican 1500 Case to transport the kit
* I would need to pick up a 2nd Strobe

2. My Nikon D300 w/Sea & Sea: ~ $6000.00
- Tokina 10-17mm f3.5-4.5DX F for Nikon AF
- Sea & Sea MDX-D300 Housing for Nikon D300
- Sea & Sea Port Extension Ring 40 (105, 17-55)
- Sea & Sea Fisheye Dome Port Cover
- Sea & Sea Fisheye Dome Port W/ Shade
- Sea & Sea Standard Flat Port (105)
- Zoom Gear for Tokina AT-X 107 DX Fisheye AF 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Len
- Zoom Gear for Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED
- ULCS Strobe Arm Set for Subal SLR Housings
- Sea & Sea YS-110α Strobe
- Sea & Sea Nikonos Style Sync Cord
- B+W +2 Closeup Diopter, 77mm

3. Purchasing a Nikon D90 and using Ikelite housing: ~ $4800
- Nikon D90
- Tokina 10-17mm f3.5-4.5DX F for Nikon AF
- Ikelite i-TTL Housing for Nikon D90
- Ikelite 8" Dome Port Assembly with Shade & Neoprene Cover
- Ikelite SLR Focus Port for Micro Nikkor 105mm/2.8
- Ikelite Super-Wide Port Body
- 2x Ikelite DS-160 Package w/ TTL Sync Cord for Ikelite, Arm
* This purchase allows me not only still images but HD Video as well.

No matter which I choose I will end up with Insurance on the gear as well which is around $200 a year.

I am still gathering notes and chatting with a few people offline line and once I have all my notes typed up I'll post them along with what I decide on.

Again I greatly welcome the input and feedback.

Gerry

[GMDGeek]

Wanted to say thanks to DevilDiver for meeting me out at the dive shop (ScubaToys) today and letting me take a look at your camera rig and some of your other gear. Really answered a lot of questions and helped out a ton!

Thanks!
G

[Tassie Diver]

Wow, talk about jumping in at the deep end!

I'm seriously looking at getting a DX2G in the near future. I already have an Inon strobe I'm using with a compact Olympus, so changing cameras will leave me with change from $1500.

I use a Nikon D80 above water and the thing that's really put me off housing it, is that I've only had it a couple of years and it's already a couple of models out of date. Now if I'd splashed a $4k on housing/port/etc, I'd be pretty upset about now!

Wide angle is more important than long focal length underwater, so the DX format is not as useful as FX. More $$$$...

[Tassie Diver]

The thing that's really attracted me to the DX2G is a useful RAW format (I use Lightroom) and the fast shutter response. I've a friend with older Ricoh underwater and it works well. DX1G produces great images, so I don't think I'll go far wrong...