Equipment used by ReefColors
I started underwater photography many years ago with a film camera and have since moved through compact digital cameras, DSLRs and finally to a mirrorless system.
Yashica MAT 124 G with Baracuda housing
This was my first underwater camera. The Yashica MAT 124 G is a reproduction of the famous Rolleiflex, used by Hans Hass and others in the early days of scuba diving. The Baracuda housing was a lower-cost copy of the Rolleimarin housing. As I had no underwater flash, I used the camera mainly for black-and-white photography.
Olympus C-7070 with PT-027 housing — 2005–2006
The Olympus C-7070 was an excellent compact camera for underwater use, with a 27 mm-equivalent lens, hot shoe for external strobes and short shutter lag. The dedicated PT-027 housing fitted the camera very well and allowed all controls to be operated underwater. I used Sea&Sea YS-60S and YS-90 strobes with HeinrichsWeikamp TTL converters and an Inon UWL-100 28AD wide-angle lens. The housing eventually developed cracks and had to be replaced by Olympus.
Nikon D80 with Bruder/Fradotec Blueboxx housing — 2007–2010
The Nikon D80 was my first underwater DSLR. I used it in a Bruder/Fradotec Blueboxx housing. Fradotec was a small German/French manufacturer of underwater housings. In December 2010 the housing was accidentally dropped from a taxi at an airport. The camera survived undamaged, but the housing developed a hairline crack and started to leak.
Nikon D7000 with Aquatica AD7000 housing — 2011–2017
The Nikon D7000 was a major improvement, particularly in low-light performance and autofocus. ISO 800 was easily usable and even ISO 3200 was possible when necessary. The 3D tracking autofocus was especially useful for photographing moving fish. I used the camera in an Aquatica AD7000 aluminum housing with two Inon Z240 strobes. The housing was compact and robust, although its negative buoyancy required additional flotation on the ULCS arms.
Nikon D500 with Aquatica AD500 housing — 2018–2023
The Nikon D500 brought further improvements in autofocus, speed and high-ISO performance. Its fast autofocus, excellent subject tracking, 10 frames-per-second shooting and good high-ISO image quality made it particularly attractive for underwater photography, where fish and other subjects can move quickly and shooting opportunities are often brief. For these reasons, the D500 became a favorite among many underwater photographers. I used it in an Aquatica AD500 housing with two Inon Z330 strobes. It was my main underwater camera for six years.
Nikon Z8 with Aquatica AZ8 housing — since 2024
The Nikon Z8 is my current underwater camera. Its 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor, excellent autofocus and very good low-light performance make it particularly well suited to underwater photography. The electronic viewfinder is also a major advantage when working in a housing, especially in difficult ambient-light conditions. The camera's compact mirrorless design leaves relatively little space inside the housing while still providing access to all important controls.
I use the Z8 in an Aquatica AZ8 housing with two Backscatter HF-1 strobes. The HF-1s provide a high output with a very fast recycle time and are particularly useful for wide-angle photography where a large amount of light is required. Their compact size and good control from the housing make them practical for long dives and travel. For macro photography I additionally use a Backscatter MF-3, which is much smaller and can be positioned close to the subject.