Underwater housing for DLSR

.Longshanks.

Has anybody got one / used one?

I've based in warmer waters these days and have a longing for one. It would be for a 5DII and google only gets you so far. I've love to hear others opinions.
I've seen online new prices from €/$ 1500-400 and haven't quite figured the difference in them to spot a good one from a 'bad' one.

A sample site I was looking at http://www.backscatter.com/hostedstore/products/canon5DmarkIIhousing.html

Cheers

Corkbah

Do you know how to scuba dive ? Are you certified ?

UW Photography is completely different to above land - especially as the light and colours fade as you delve deeper underwater.

if you are planning snorkeling and getting pics that way - use one of them baggies things !!

using a DSLR underwater requires a lot of equipment and a lot of knowledge - its not just the housing etc
- underwater strobes (to compensate for the lack of light...or more to the point to give you light for your exposure underwater),
- TTL Converter for the strobes - some systems have them built in, others dont.
- arms - to distance the strobes from the housing and assist in removing backscatter.
- white balance card - suitable for UW.
- strong connection cables - you dont want to accidentally drop your DSLR and watch it fall into the abyss below, I'd recommend a surfboard wrist cable.

Other things to note when photographing underwater - you MUST have your buoyancy (underwater Balance) correct - and understand that the current/motion of the ocean will not stop for you to take a photo so you are constantly moving while trying to stay still to take your photo, take movements slowly - smaller fish get frightened of something bigger than them moving fast towards them ....go figure !!

Bit of a strange one but - take your photo when exhaling ...its when you are at your steadiest (all you will see is bubbles but you "should" have a better chance of getting the pic)

.Longshanks.

Whooo....thats exactly the kinda info i was after. Somebody knows their scones

Scuba dive? Never been - but its in my list....Snorkelling photography - see above.

To be honest I should gave more info in my OP. I hoping to get shots like the below which I believe primarily rely on natural light?

CabanSail

As said above, Underwater Photography has all the issues of that out or water PLUS a whole set of new problems added in.

My advice would be to not be looking at 5DII housings just yet, but firstly get started doing your Open Water SCUBA course. Then get a few dives under your belt and then do the Advanced course. It will be at about this stage that you will be gaining familiarity with your SCUBA gear and be comfortable and safe underwater. It is only when you have gained that competency should you start to consider introducing distractions, like Photography.

To start off you may want to look at some cheaper options. I recently picked up a Canon G12 with a very good housing for about $700. That would be a good start.

The thing with water is that it filters out light, but it is NOT Neutral Density. It affects the lower frequencies first and moves up the spectrum the deeper you go. Remeber ROYGBIV? The ROY goes first (Red Orange Yellow) and all you are left with after about 10m is Green, Blue & Violet. You can still get some good shots but they tend to be Mono or shilouettes. What you need is some Strobes (Flash) and of course the bigger you go the more expensive. As said above if the strobe is mounted on the camera you will get Scatter, so you want to move the strobes away from the camera on arms. Often one strobe but two are common too, one each side. This of course adds expense and bulk to your set up, meaning that to keep safe you should be competent with you Dive Gear first.

When I used to work as a Deck Hand on a Dive Boat you would often hear of Novice Divers losing expensive gear. It rarely turned up on later dives either. The risk of Flooding is also very real and expensive. Only put a camera into a housing which you are prepared to lose or is insured against flooding.

The larger dive stores will offer course on Dive Photography. Look into these and check the work of the intructor before you sign up.

Good luck Grasshopper!