Underwater photographers face specific challenges that are ignored by camera manufacturers. With the camera locked inside a housing, some controls aren’t accessed the same way, batteries can’t be swapped mid-dive, and the much-praised advances in autofocus for sports and bird photography aren’t always relevant to the darker, monochrome environments where many underwater photographers shoot.

Underwater camera reviews are rare and tend to be conducted over short periods of time, limiting the variety of subjects, lenses, and dive conditions the camera is tested with. Long-term use, across a range of subjects and locations, is the best way to gain complete insights into a camera’s underwater performance.

In this talk, TUC founder Nicolas Remy will share his experience shooting the Nikon Z9 for over 2 years, the Nikon Z8 (2 months), the Sony A1 (2 months), and the Canon R5 Mark II (3 months), providing valuable insights into how these cameras compare for underwater stills photography, having used them at length in both clear and low visibility waters, by day & night, with a range of lenses / wet optics. 

After dozens of dives with these cameras (hundreds with the Z9), Nicolas found that high-end Nikon, Sony, and Canon models shine in different ways — but to his surprise, they also come with their own quirks in performance and usability that can slow you down, when the camera is locked in a housing. These issues may be irrelevant depending on the subjects you dive with and the conditions you shoot in, but if you’re curious to know the nitty-gritty that sets Canon, Nikon, and Sony apart, join this webinar by The Underwater Club. And bring your questions — there will be ample time for Q&A!