Sony HC3 or Canon HV10? Ikelite OK

Hi,

While I'm still a dedicated stills shooter, my wife is extremely interested in going into UW video. We've narrowed our choices down to either the Sony HC3 or the Canon HV10. Anyone have opinions on either of these? Honestly though, we're leaning towards the Sony HC3, though the HV10 housings are a few hundred dollars cheaper and there's the fact that the HV10 is supposed to have better image quality. Having looked at what's available for the HC3 housing wise and within our budget, we have 3 options it seems. Ikelite, S&S and Seatool...prices ascending in that order as well.

From what I can research so far,

Ikelite is the cheapest (good!), heaviest (at 9 lbs, no biggie) and has a nearly full controls.

Sea & Sea has minimal controls, mainly just being a P&S housing, it's almost perfectly in the middle price wise,

Seatool is the priciest, smallest and has a lot of controls.

Anyone have any thoughts? Also, we're on a PC, what would be a good NLE program that's newbie friendly?

thanks!

Stu

these are my questions as well. I can't wait to hear from those who know more...

i was leaning towards the HV10 if i don't go and buy a used 3CCD set up instead.

Stu

I can't really judge on the housings since I've only handled them for a few minutes at DEMA.

About the Canon, it is a high resolution camera in a compact body. Yes the controls are limited but comparable to the other camcorders in the class. For what you lack in manual controls and perhaps low light performance, you get superior AF and much higher resolution. I think of it as an excellent point and shoot style camcorder, the best in the class for image quality.

Do any of the housings provide for MWB with the HV10 Drew?

I think of it as an excellent point and shoot style camcorder, the best in the class for image quality.

Thanks Drew! I had a brief email exchange with Glenn at Ikelite and he says full controls are available for the HV10 except for playback. I'm just waiting for a few more details from him.

Stu