Need Advise on Best P&S for underwater

[phusis]

Want to get a point and shoot for underwater pictures. don't want to bring my SLR down, just kiasu.

Any advise on which camera is the best to get? Based on pic quality, handling, accessories, etc.

[beivied]

hi phusis,

there is never a best camera for anything... it all depends on your criterion, expectations and most importantly, budget. maybe you like to elaborate on your requirements in order for the rest of the members to give you their two cents.

[yzr500abe]

Canon A70 is cheap and idiot proof. Some guys have gotten very good pics out of this camera. btw i'm not selling mine...at least for now

[yzr500abe]

Canon A70 is cheap and idiot proof. Some guys have gotten very good pics out of this camera. btw i'm not selling mine...at least for now

[phusis]

Well i am looking for a camera that is easy to handle. One that takes vibrant colours.
So far it's between the nikon,canon or Olympus.

[kthan]

generally, P&S doesn't work for u/w photography.

but the brands u mention can't go wrong either.

[phusis]

I currently use the D70. But i can't afford the underwater housing. I have heard of the plastic bag that is water tight that you can put the SLR in. would you recommend that?

[lanxx]

Originally Posted by phusis I currently use the D70. But i can't afford the underwater housing. I have heard of the plastic bag that is water tight that you can put the SLR in. would you recommend that?

not unless you want to risk buying a new camera

[phusis]

Haha ... That's what i thought!

That's why i am looking for a P&S and maybe get a strobe flash

[lanxx]

forget about the strobe first,
get use to u/w photography and your new camera,
before deciding investing in a strobe, cos it's gonna to cost
quite a bit.
You have to take, arms, clamps, base tray, base adapter, optic cable...
into consideration, not just the strobe. easily $1K here for a good set.

[beivied]

can reach more than 1.5k if you are talking about ikelite

maybe seewhy can give some opinion on using P&S (by that i really mean those with limited manual controls) and an external strobe together. the external strobe was of a lower end, just in case if you are considering that you dont have to buy a very good strobe to use with a P&S

[kthan]

Originally Posted by lanxx not unless you want to risk buying a new camera

i think we should give Ewa Marine bags a fair chance. There are lots of people using them and if they were really that bad, Ewa Marine would be out of busniess long ago....

I, for one, would like to see the results taken. Someone did post shots at Fins using one such bag with his DSLR and the photos weren't too bad and he survived to tell the tales...

When i was shopping around for a housing, many shooters in Asia were condemning Ikelite and asking me to go for the Jap or German brands...Now, even the camera manufacturers are producing "plastic" housings for their own line of digicams.

eric

[seewhy]

Am using a simple PnS camera with no manual control over exposure and flash power. Good enough to get record shots, but need a bit of patience to adjust distance between you and the subject. Sometime when you are too close to subject (in macro mode), the flash might flood the shot. So I have to cover part of flash to get better exposure. Good thing is the small size of these camera that you can operate them with 1 hand easily and cover with the other hand.

So I thought of getting an external strobe which I can control the flash power. Not as easy as I hope because the power control rating is not linear and the knob is analog, a slight turn will give a lot more power which still flood the shot with light. So some patience is needed to take a few shots, provided your subject is still around.

Other more obvious problem is the lack of manual white balance control.

[lanxx]

Originally Posted by kthan i think we should give Ewa Marine bags a fair chance. There are lots of people using them and if they were really that bad, Ewa Marine would be out of busniess long ago.... I, for one, would like to see the results taken. Someone did post shots at Fins using one such bag with his DSLR and the photos weren't too bad and he survived to tell the tales... When i was shopping around for a housing, many shooters in Asia were condemning Ikelite and asking me to go for the Jap or German brands...Now, even the camera manufacturers are producing "plastic" housings for their own line of digicams. eric

That chap must be really lucky.
I have heard bad stories too but....

If you can affoard a DSLR, I think a proper housing is the way to go, though it maybe be expensive, it shows you are serious in u/w photography. Since you can pay for a DSLR compared to a DC, why not buy a proper housing?

If like most of us who cannot afford it, then don't think about housing a DSLR. Just use it for land and a DC w/ housing will suffice. Anyway the new camera's shutter lag are getting shorter and shorter. But hey, it sure beats flooding a DC then a DSLR unless you shoot big time like Eric Cheng and can spend big bucks like him.

[yanyewkay]

Originally Posted by lanxx That chap must be really lucky. I have heard bad stories too but.... If you can affoard a DSLR, I think a proper housing is the way to go, though it maybe be expensive, it shows you are serious in u/w photography. Since you can pay for a DSLR compared to a DC, why not buy a proper housing?

you can't put it this way.. the DSLR housing costs just as much or even more than the entire kit. Unless you go on dives with your camera every week, or 'frequent enough' I don't think it's worth the investment. The oly E300 seems to be top divers choice I heard from shops becos of the cheap u/w casing from oly.

I have thought about getting a housing previously but was put off by the high prices. I'm looking for a P&S with housing right now. The F10 is my top choice currently and I'm saving.. and saving.. and saving.. just to lay my hands on that F10 .

[kthan]

F10 has no manual exposure control....that's all i have to add, excellent camera aside.

[Photosmart]

Originally Posted by yanyewkay The oly E300 seems to be top divers choice I heard from shops becos of the cheap u/w casing from oly.

You sure

[lanxx]

Originally Posted by Photosmart You sure

I hear like wise about the E300 from other u/w diving boards.
Maybe the shop is trying to sell you the camera hard?


But to be fair, cannot comment much on the E300 as I have not personally
tried it, but based on the reading specs last time and the color profile of Oly,
it is definately not my choice.

Nevertheless, price wise, it's more resonable though.
to each, his own

[lanxx]

Originally Posted by yanyewkay you can't put it this way.. the DSLR housing costs just as much or even more than the entire kit. Unless you go on dives with your camera every week, or 'frequent enough' I don't think it's worth the investment. The oly E300 seems to be top divers choice I heard from shops becos of the cheap u/w casing from oly.

True, I agree with what you say, Housing costs like 3-4 times more, if not way much more then the cam+lens itself.
But as we all know, since diving is a expensive sport and u/w is defiantely NEVER a cheap hobby, if you a prepared to step into it, esp DSLR,
better be prepared to fork out $$$$$ (4-5 digits). IF not, dun even think about it

What I am trying to say is, dun thrift a proper housing and shoot with a cheap alternative (eg 'zip lock' bag).
Never flood, u smile and say, 'Hey, it works and it costs $$$ less then....'
if flood, u curse and say " I should have...'.
Seen alot of ppl like that around and I do not pity them.
IF you cannot afford the housing (how mahy of us can?), then go for a DCs with housing.

Just my 2 cents

[yanyewkay]

Originally Posted by Photosmart You sure

nope I'm not. Never bought it and never went to find out the price. That was what the guy over the counter told me when I was looking for a DSLR earlier this year before the u/w case was launched.

My bad for posting a statement that I heard and didn't confirm.