A Brief Introduction to an Underwater Camera

It required special watertight housings in order to be used for underwater photography. Nikon underwater camera had water contact optics which allow underwater imaging possible but lacked the ability to focus correctly on land. Nikon was discontinued due its obsolete film system in 2001 but an amphibious range finder by the name of Motor Marine III is still being manufactured by Sea and Sea.

An underwater camera is specialized equipment which is obviously intended for underwater photography but it also can be used on dry land. Underwater camera have special protective camera specific housings intended for various digital point and shoot cameras, digital compact cameras and single lens reflex cameras. Housings are made out of a combination of Polycarbonate and Aluminum or either one of these. All of such housings are equipped with control knobs allowing photographer to carry out his task with ease. A system of Silicone O-Rings at some crucial joints makes the housing waterproof. Photographers use wide-angle and/or macro lenses in their underwater camera which enables them to have a close focus. This is especially useful when taking pictures of sea creatures which may prove harmful in a close range.

While using an underwater camera with wide-angle lens, a distortion in the image may be encountered due to refraction. Due to this reason an underwater camera manufacturer uses dome-shaped or fish-eye ports to maximize the effectiveness of their underwater camera.  Distortion caused by refraction is not an issue with use of macro lenses in underwater cameras. As a matter of fact refraction adds to its advantages by increasing its magnification allowing capturing of very small sea objects. Therefore a simple flat glass port is used.

Due to lack of sunlight exposure underwater, there are a few issues with an underwater camera with wide-angle lens regarding use of flash lights. Generally, wide-angle images can be 100% strobe light in interiors of a cave or a shipwreck but these are rare circumstances. Many modern underwater camera manufacturers have equipped their cameras with through-the-lens (TTL) metering for the purpose. While using underwater camera with macro lens, 100% strobe light for exposure is very likely to be used by photographers due to unavailability of sufficient sunlight and proximity with the subject. Whatever type of an underwater camera, housings, capturing technique and relative equipment may be used for underwater imaging, there is no doubt that we could never have had seen the wonderful world underwater camera up-close if such equipment would not have been invented.