I know this is a bit more alt than a lot of things that get posted here…
I'm a scuba diver and a film junkie. I usually shoot medium format, but that can get impractical sometimes I love the look of black/white film, and use medium format to get decent quality on flatbed negative scanning.
I've been curious to pursue undewater photography, and am aware of what's out there for digital. I'm not so familiar with the film cameras. Is there anything affordable in terms of slr+housing, or underwater systems? I know the nikonos v is rated fo 150 feet, which is probably the depth rating that I would prefer. Also checking out the other nikonos iterations, such as the iv-a. Might try available light but would eventually like to use flash.
I use the nikonos v in my swimming pool with 400 speed film. Available light is perfect for that... But I can see how at 150 feet you'll want strobes. Good deals can be found on the nikonos strobe thingys - I've never used one though.
I don't have much advice to offer, other than dang those things have gotten cheap in the used market. IV-A is less than $150 used it seems!
As to available light there was some great work back in the day with ISO1600 B&W film. I got a think some HP5 pushed would do well at depth with available light. I was using one of those disposable camera housings way back when (couldn't afford a real underwater camera) and was getting ready to try fast B&W film by reloading the disposables when life intervened and the project never happened. Still have that Ikelite housing for disposables in a box some place - and its strobe.
I realized that one does not take snaps when the rain comes down, so I got a Nikonos with one of the two lenses adapted to both air and water. Reasonable quality in rough weather with b&w film, also a few feet below water. VERY finicky rules for keeping the O-rings in shape, so do not use at depth without looking into maintenance rules.
