There is some good advice on here already If you do not want to break the bank have a look on ebay for a compact that has a manual setting and shutter speeds up to at least 5 seconds. Get a decent torch and cheap light weight tripod, the ones from Aldi are fine for a small camera, but eventually fill up with mud. Use the self timer, 10 seconds to let any vibration settle before the shutter opens. Find somewhere dark and play with light painting. I like Fuji compacts and yes you will drop them once too often, which is why I shop on the bay. Just bought 'Big Job' and a 7LED torch to try some handheld underground pictures, but work is currently getting in the way of play!

Panasonic Lumix LX3

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At the risk of sounding contrary, and to partially reiterate Simon's point, if you're going the tripod route, go for the most expensive compact tripod you can afford! I've used cheap tat, which lasts for about two trips underground - one spectacularly destroyed by being dropped down the P8 canyon, just before the second eyehole pitch. I managed to retrieve all the bits eventually!

The second bit of tat broke my DSLR, as it was too wobbly to work properly, and on some rough ground fell over whilst my back was turned, breaking the camera motherboard. Cursing that time.

After that I used a Manfrotto field tripod, which at nearly 6kg is no joke - but I hauled that up many deep shafts. Eventually though, dragging it through the confines of Peakshole Sough finally killed my spirit, so I bought a very nice lightweight Manfrotto compact. The price makes me look after it more carefully, and I wash it down scrupulously after every trip. The guy in the shop reminded me that every part on a Manfrotto tripod is replaceable from their after-sales. So if a leg catch breaks, it's fixable. Not so with others.

So far it's proved stable enough, and folds up small enough to fit in my bag with the camera and two lights.

I would agree on the tripod front, I originally started with a Hama tripod that was OK but a bit wobbly, the current Manfrotto is much more rigid. That said, I would have a trawl round charity shops, flea-bay, etc to start with.

For cameras, the Lumix waterproof, shockproof, tough compacts: DMC-FT5 (~£250) DMC-FT25 (~£100) & DMC-FT30 (~£140) are well worth looking at. Pretty good pictures when used on a tripod with a long exposure and an led torch as light wash and they are pretty resilient to normal use.

Compacts with a moving lens mechanism are less than ideal for underground as it doesn't take much contact with stuff (of which mines have a plentiful supply) to jam up the mechanism.

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James showed a good technique last month - a bright led light source with a white plastic bag held over the front as a diffuser. Spreads the light well and you don't get the bright bat burner ring in the photo.

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He's a good student .......:-[

Do you mean that it was your idea??

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'Something for the weekend Sir?'

Would be the ideal shape for most modern torches however I suspect that the brandishing of a 3000 lumen 'Rubber Johnny' is likely to have a disconcerting effect upon any other groups you might bump into! :-[

More practically, I've seen a latex glove pulled taut over a torch used to good effect (for lighting photos needless to say...).

4000 lumens is better

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My extra lights are two waterproof, shock-resistant LED lanterns from B&Q - the light color is virtually identical to my Stenlight too, which is handy. The 'beam' problem was solved by getting my handyman mate to cut me some discs of prismatic Perspex which he had lying round - this completely diffuses the beam, and is better with the points facing outwards.

This is then covered by a circular lid from a Tupperware-clone airtight tub, that has four snaplock tabs, and which are cable-tied to the lantern body. These keep the diffuser disc in place and protect the lens from breakage. It works a treat, and is a very robust system in rocky environments!

Well, it was my chosen career:smartass:

Slapping a lens cleaning tissue over a flash with laccy bands is an old trick, but a sodding good one. Never thought about a plastic bag though. Pinching that.

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I've used cheap tat, which lasts for about two trips underground - one spectacularly destroyed by being dropped down the P8 canyon, just before the second eyehole pitch. I managed to retrieve all the bits eventually!

I bought an El Cheapo tripod for £15 inc post which lasted two trips before it broke where a screw tightens against the stem to lock it at height.

I filed it up and used a very generous amount of car plastic bumper repair. Drilled and tapped it and put in my own screw. That was two years ago, could be more.

Life's a funny old thing

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He's a good student .......:-[

Yes I have to confess when it comes to lighting Manxman is the expert in this field and all my technical know-how with filters, lighting, etc was learnt from himself.:)

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THANKYOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR EXELLENT REPLYS 🙂 I didn't intend to mean it would defonately break- a lot of the mines in my location are lead mines and most if not all have water in them- its more the chance of dropping them rather than impact- im going to have to go for a waterproof camera in that respect- il get digging on ebay and find one and by a lot of peoples rule il get a decent tripod too- as for the plastic bag on the lense- does this just dull the light abit? ive managed so far to get reasonable pictures with a 5000 lumen cheap jap torch, but the reflection from damp surfaces has always plagued me- il have to try it! 😃