Century had passed since then, as Louis Bhutan, placing a bulky copper plate box camera, got the first underwater pictures. Modern underwater photographers have the opportunity to enjoy all the charms of the latest developments of the designers of underwater photography.

In the past, made repeated attempts to create a photographic and optical devices are not afraid of direct exposure to sea water. But further experiments, it is not gone. The basic technical principle of underwater photos - hidden objects, mechanisms, and film from the destructive actions of aggressive saltwater environment, appropriately sealed equipment - is preserved to this day.

Designers are two ways. First: create a universal tight amphibious cameras, suitable for work both on land and under water. This path can reduce the size and weight of the underwater camera, but not as significant as it seems at first glance. The need to create a solid frame design, in order to withstand water pressure at depth, to make a large government machinery chamber for convenience in diving gloves - all that is forcing engineers to increase the size, used metals, and consequently, increase the weight of amphibians. Therefore, under normal circumstances, on the surface, to use these cameras more difficult. Only in extreme conditions - in the mist, a spray of surf and waterfalls, flooding the caves - the use of such cameras is justified. Significantly, as the price of sealed chambers significantly higher than those in the class samples normal photography.

The second option is as follows. Conventional camera (film, video camera) is placed in a durable, sealed box, ensure the withdrawal of government through a special device. This method is found most commonly around the world. It allows for regular ground mirror and distance phototechnics, including Medium Format, using all of its technical capabilities. And they can be quite extensive: this is a broad line of interchangeable lens, viewfinder and optical devices, auto-focus and zoom, high-speed motor to rewind the film, a multizone metering, remote shutter release and the ability to use creative methods - imposing frame to frame (Multi Exposure), and timer Stroboscopic photography, etc. All this can provide let more bulky and heavy (on the surface), but reliable and functional fotoboksy, especially for SLR cameras.

I must say that today the person who has decided to do underwater photography, located in difficult circumstances. If 20 years ago it was easy to get let imperfect, but is easily brought to the desired condition underwater boxes for photo and movie cameras, but today the domestic industry did not offer potential customers. Therefore, photographer forced to rely on foreign schoolroom, as a rule, very expensive equipment or rely on their hands and head. Plus help friends and associates. Clubs divers, groups, associations of people keen on one thing - that’s the way out. Underwater photography, especially video and filming - the lot is not individuals, but collective, albeit small, but cohesive single interest.

We make a brief overview of modern underwater photo equipment available to the domestic amateur underwater photography. Market airtight chambers amphibious rather narrow. There are two types of such cameras. First - sealed “Soap”, with a slight chance deep dives and very limited possibilities. Such common amphibians, as even the AF on the surface, under water, working with a fixed focus (Focusing is usually carried out at a distance of 2 m). Zhestkovstroenny moderately wide lens (f = 32 - 35 mm) does not allow change, as well as the use of optical attachments. There is no possibility to connect and more powerful and presented in the side of a hermetic fotospyshku that it is highly desirable for underwater filming. Depth of such cells is typically less than 3 - 5 m. Nonetheless, these cameras are very popular, especially among hunters and divers. Price “soap-boxes” completely died - $ 200 - 300. As examples include the following models: Canon AS-1, Minolta Weathermatis 35DL, Chinon Speash-AF, Konica Mermaid.

The second type of tight camera amphibious truly underwater, with a great depth of immersion and capabilities, designed for serious, including professional work. This is usually the camera shkalnogo type that several narrows the range of applications. But they have lenses and viewfinders, the possibility of joining optical attachments and accessories, powerful external flash units. Working depth - to 45 - 50 meters. Currently, the most famous family of camera Nikonos. Especially popular Nikonos-V with an electronic shutter and TTL metering and discontinued, but still widely used and reliable mechanical Nikonos-III. They produced excellent lenses with f = 15, 20, 28, 35 and 80 mm $ 250 - 1500, accessories for macro photography - supplementary lenses and extension rings, removable and optical viewfinders frameworks, persistent framing “whiskers” and the scope, special flash handle and much more. Rewinding the film in these cameras manual. Nikonos-V in Russia is $ 750 - 800 (without lens), Nikonos-III in the commission trade - about $ 300 - 400.

Another system, has gained acceptance, particularly among amateurs, - Motormarine company Sea & Sea. These cameras are simpler, instead of interchangeable lenses have several attachments that change the characteristics of the core, zhestkovstroennogo lens that turns him into a pseudo-fisheye, just in osoboshirokougolny, you can take macrocosm. The main advantage of this method - the opportunity to change the nozzle directly under the water. This helps to quickly switch from one type to another shooting, depending on the prevailing situation. Currently the company produces two models - the semi-Motormarine-II, with manual focus and the ability to attach an external flash, and a purely amateur Motormarine MX-10 with fixed focus and complete the blitz ‘hammer’ moderate power (40 joules). Rewinding the film in both chambers of the motor. Permissible depth of immersion - 45 - 50 m, the approximate value in the standard $ 800.

Alone among airtight camera is unique Nikonos-RS AF. As its name implies that it is a mirror, autofocus camera. This is the top achievements of modern industry. The camera has a superb reflex viewfinder, large size, which allows a diver wearing a mask to see the details of the subject and “build” the frame, a passive auto focus system, operable under water, motor-drawn film, electronic shutter with multiple modes and line of lenses (including zoom f = 20 - 35 mm), specially designed for underwater environment. But the price of the camera is so high (about $ 3500 without a lens) that it can afford not every professional. For this reason, Nikon has recently been forced to curtail production of the model. Concluding talk about sealed cameras should be sad to note that the domestic industry has not yet mastered the simplest model of such cells.

Now a few words about fotobokse. Nearly every modern “max out” is perfect for underwater photography, being placed in a special air-tight casing. The main advantage of - an opportunity to observe the subject on the ground glass viewfinder, “build” a composition, to control depth of field and the effect of optical attachments to the lens. Foreign firms produce a large number of models of boxes for cameras from leading manufacturers. They are made of plastic and metal, corrosion-resistant, strong and light. Perhaps the most popular plastic boxes firms Ikelite (U.S.). They are produced for most small-format cameras, SLR and rangefinder, autofocus and manual focusing, with auxiliary engines and manual wire films. Transparent polycarbonate body lets you easily control germetichnoct, the operation of drive control, monitor and scale displays cameras. Corps maintains pressure at a depth of 50 - 70 meters. The cost is $ 400 - 700 as standard. However, polycarbonate, like all plastics, becomes brittle in the cold and more prone to sweat. Therefore, these boxes are not recommended for use in arctic conditions, or winter. Today Ikelite boxes become available, and Russia’s photos, they can be purchased in Moscow. Similar fotoboksy manufactured in Europe, the Italian firm Nimar manufactures plastic boxes for photo and video cameras.

The most practical, of course, boxes of metal. They are very durable, able to work in extreme conditions and at great depths. But much more expensive. Normal price - from $ 1000 up to 2500, and the cost of boxes for medium format equipment comes to $ 10000. The best-known firms producing boxes for small-format “SLR” - a Canadian Aqua vision (boxes Aquatica), Tussei (USA), Subal (U.S.) Sea & Sea (Japan), Sealux (Germany), Seacam (Austria).

In Russia, until the mid 70-ies was carried out at CMH boxing CPP-1 for the old “Zenith”. If you have some experience they are easily upgraded from domestic photographers. Those interested can try to look them through ads in newspapers and magazines. In addition, the Ukrainian NGO “Synthesis” (Kharkiv) produces limited batches very good boxes for “Zenit” FFT-1. With minor modifications it can be adapted and under some SLRs foreign origin, price is available - about $ 200.