New Starter

[barry120m]

The main reason for joining this site is to hopefully gain advice and experience on a number of things
What camera set-up to start with

1. The best all round lens to have for wreck photos
2. Will I need 2 or 1 strobe
3. The max depth I will be using this set up in is around 65 meters
4. Is it good to go for second-hand equipment first

I look forward to reading the responses

Best regards Barry

[KenByrne]

First you need to consider your budget and whether you are thinking of a compact or a DSLR.

A compact camera is cheaper, a lot smaller, more flexible and easier to manage during the dive.

A DSLR will give better quality pictures and more control over your photography. You will need a range of lenses to cover the same subjects as a compact and once fitted you are limited to a certain type of subject for the whole dive.

If it's wreck photography you're interested in maybe a single wide angle lens is all you need and all you'll ever have fitted. On a compact an additional wide angle adapter will probably be needed but it's likely to be a wet lens that can be fitted and removed underwater.

1 The best all round lens to have for wreck photos, need to decide on the camera setup first.
2 Will I need 2 or 1 strobe, A lot of wreck photography is available light but if you want to use strobes then you'll really need 2 to cover a wide enough angle.
3 The max depth I will be using this set up in is around 65 meters, this could seriously limit your options housings rated to 40 metres are common, some compacts and most DSLR housings are rated to 60 metres, a few notably aquatica are rated to 90 metres.
4 Is it good to go for second-hand equipment first, I wouldn't say it's good or bad. It'll save some money and if a camera was capable of taking good pictures 2 years ago it's still capable now. Many people chase the latest gear so there are bargains to be had. Accessories such as DSLR lenses and ports, comapct wet lenses and strobes tend to be carried forward from one setup to the next so you're less likely to find these second hand.

[Mark]

I use a Fuji F10 in an Ikelite housing with 2 Sea & Sea strobes for deep wreck stuff. I use a fisheye lens (165 degree) to get as close as poss, using this lens I need 2 strobes to cover the full width of the lens. The strobes only cover 105 degrees each, you'll need a lot of practice in the shallows with the 2 strobes as you don't really want to spend ages at 60m getting it right.

My Ikelite has been to 75m with no water issues apart from the buttons get stuck in, they popped out again at 70m. I'm thinking of uprating the springs to use the housing deeper.