Digital SLR v Non SLR

Just thought I'd start a thread on this & get peoples comments before I commit to forking out a lot of dosh on an SLR outfit.

With the continuing influx of high end non SLR's c/w housings flooding the market is it really worth forking out all the extra cash on a good digital SLR plus housing. For example the new Olympus bangs out 5 Mega pix and has many SLR facilities at a fraction of the cost!

I can understand advantages on land, but underwater when time and speed is of the essence are they REALLY that advantageous.

Answers on a postcard please.

Mark H

I think that the SLRs have several advantages that are worthwhile.

1) Interchangeable lenses increase the life expectancy of the system greatly. When you get bored (or really good) shooting the same focal lengths, add a new lens.

2) I don't know whether the new 5050 has much shutter lag, but the SLRs have no appreciable lag.

3) I find focusing with an SLR much more precise, and the super high end (D1x and 1ds) have autofocus systems that are as good as high end film SLRs. If you can afford them, they are amazingly accurate.

The fact remains, however that you could house a 5050 today, then throw it away in 2 years to buy a great DSLR for half of what they sell for today. Your pocket will have to decide, but for accuracy, speed, and flexibility, there is no question that the SLRs rule.

Kasey

Hi!

With a true SLR you know if you're in focus, else, you just hope.

I mean the lense-mirror-prism-lens kind of SLR, not the tiny-LCD-in-a-box variety. Most AF systems are definitely not built to perform at their best in uw light conditions (except the real high-end ones which manage to focus in nearly pitch dark).

Interchangable lenses are a nice thing to have, esp. if you already have some ;-) although the current CCD sizes will leave you with about x1.5 magnification. Really wide wideangle shoots therefore, are expensive.

A great value for money are the Olympus E-10 and E-20. True SLR but no interchangable lense (fixed zoom, 35mm-140mm equivalent to a SLR). You get converters at x1.45, x0.8 and even x0.24 which leads to a fish-eye (8.3mm SLR!). The AF does fine most of the time (extra light helps a lot!) and you know when it doesn't. There's always a way to cheat it (lock the focus to your hand e.g. and then move the camera until your object is in focus.

I tried it both through the finder and with the back mount LCD both on land and uw. No chance with the LCD. Also no chance with the "electronic finder" SLRs (like the Minolta Dimage 7, Nikon CP 5700), tested on land.

Helge ;-)=)

Three words - No Shutter Lag. You'll be able to get the shot conceived in your mind - not the fish's rear end 1 second later.

I'm sure other people can cover the other advantages - larger buffer, interchangeable lenses, bigger high dynamic range sensor, raw format, rear curtain sync, 6 megapixels, etc.

Cheers

James