good compact camera

Hello, I'm interested in getting a good compact camera $400 or below with a housing that would be about $250 or below, not looking to getting any strobes for now. It would also be used for everyday above water stuff.

I'm still an amateur as far as photography goes but I learn quick and I've done some research and have decided that some manual control would be necessary, at least aperture and shutter priority. As far as the number of mega pixels I'm not too concerned about, I will be making 8x10 prints with it an might crop a little bit. Wide angle would be nice but not necessary, not really looking to buy any additional lens' right now

So far I've looked at the Fuji F31, F50, and have leaned more towards the F31 because of the longer battery life, cheaper price (could get a refurb from Fuji), and from what I've read a better overall image quality, especially for low light conditions.

Ive also looked at the canon a650 and a720 and i thought they were almost the same and was liking the a720 because of the lower cost but I haven't seen many people talk about it compared to the a650.

I'd appreciate any suggestions or recommendations of other cameras.

I chose the F30 over the F40 for my wife...

I think the F30's an excellent choice...

for what its worth, I think the fuji F30 housing (or any fuji F-series housing) is one of the best of all the P&S underwater housings, with it's double o-ring design, you have to seriously mess up to flood that baby...and it's one of the cheapest.

you can add INON macro or wide-angle lenses later if you need to..or an optically-fired strobe.

good luck,

scott

Thanks, its good to know its a good housing too and that its expandable.

yep F30 is available with housing for £245 from Uk website.

Good cheap set up. Would recommend this.

Also consider Canon A640. It got good reviews. And will be slightly cheaper than the recent A models.

Canon A series has sufficient manual controls.

Seems like the Fuji F50 is not as good as the older model.

I suggest you check out this forum and other websites for model reviews. There are various photo galleries out there where you can see teh results from the cameras you are considering.

Dear markgr,

I have been taking UW pictures for just over a year.

I opted for the Sea and Sea D8000 with DX8000 housing (which has been discontinued

I found that the camera and housing did everything that I needed them to do at the time. I wanted to buy an SLR, however I couldn't justify the expense of the camera and housing!

The Sea and Sea camera has enabled me to take some great pictures (take a look at indigodive.com - there is a video slide show on the home page, and links to my gallery within the photo section).

The results that I have been able to achieve with this camera have been great, and it has enabled me to play with white balance, f stops etc, without the frustration. Another upside is that it is no hassle if I travel as the whole kit fits into my hand luggage. Another plus for me as a dive professional is that I can set the camera up prior to dive trips in the morning and I don't have to fanny about with the camera I just get in the water and go - the set up is small enough that it does not get in the way should I have to assist another diver.

The camera also has a video setting so that I switch to video mode almost immediately - great for capturing unusual critters that won't stay still for a standard picture!

The D8000/DX8000 combo has worked really well, so I decided to upgrade to the Sea and Sea 1G package. The new camera is a little different for the D8000 - but the new features are great, and the extra mega pixels are welcome additions (it offers 10 mega pixels!), the 1 second turn over is a great improvement too.

If you are still looking I would be very happy to recommend the 1G - if you buy in the States the price for the camera and housing is approx US$1000 / GBP475 (great exchange rate at the moment).

I would also recommend looking at the Fantasea Line range of strobes and lights - they offer excellent value for money. I just bought an amazing LED 44 light from them - it is awesome! All of my staff and dive shop regulars now have dive light envy!

Hope that I haven't rambled on too much, and I hope that you find this info helpful.

All the best,

Kay Wilson

Skype: kay.deborah.wilson

www.indigodive.com

yep F30 is available with housing for £245 from Uk website.

Good cheap set up. Would recommend this.

Also consider Canon A640. It got good reviews. And will be slightly cheaper than the recent A models.

Canon A series has sufficient manual controls.

 

Seems like the Fuji F50 is not as good as the older model.

I suggest you check out this forum and other websites for model reviews. There are various photo galleries out there where you can see teh results from the cameras you are considering.

Is there such a compact camera that has manual settings, good size viewfinder, and that you can attach an external strobe that will auto cync? of course the housing too.

thanks

tarzana

yep F30 is available with housing for £245 from Uk website.

Good cheap set up. Would recommend this.

Also consider Canon A640. It got good reviews. And will be slightly cheaper than the recent A models.

Canon A series has sufficient manual controls.

 

Seems like the Fuji F50 is not as good as the older model.

I suggest you check out this forum and other websites for model reviews. There are various photo galleries out there where you can see teh results from the cameras you are considering.

oops forgot to add:

would also like to buy a wide angle eventually and a macro if it did not have good macro capabilities...this camera would be used topside also.

tarzana

Have a look at the new Canon G9 and Canon housing. Not sure of the price, but it's an excellent setup.

Cheers

James

Have a look at the new Canon G9 and Canon housing. Not sure of the price, but it's an excellent setup.

 

Cheers

James

I just read some reviews and 4 out of 4 said that the P-DC21 Underwater Housing fogged very shortly after use.

Anyone have experience with the Nikon PS100 and a good housing?

tarzana

Heh - that is common with any compact camera housing when not used properly - not just a fault of the Canon WPDC21

Cheers

James

Heh - that is common with any compact camera housing when not used properly - not just a fault of the Canon WPDC21

 

Cheers

James

thanks James..I have used the Nikonos V mostly and did not have a problem with my Oly 5050 housing.. how does one avoid the fogging?

I have looked further into the specs of the G 9 and now is one of the considerations.

Close the camera inside the housing in a cool dry place. Put a silica dessicant pack into the housing. Put a piece of a mini-pad into the housing. Turn off the camera inside the housing if you are not using it. Use one of the sophisticated digital slave flashes that uses a cancel circuit to lower the power of the internal flash.

Cheers

James

Here's link to some desiccant packets. Get the two gram packets.

http://preservesmart.com/products.htm#SilicaGelDesiccants

hi..

what about canon a570 is?

is it good enough? since it has all manual features except for wb setting which only has preset but quite lot too.

it can be paired with WP-DC12 and Inon AD Mount Base DC12.

is anyone have sample photo taken by this camera underwater?

thanks b 4...

good thread

cheers,

prarez

I have the Canon A570IS with WP-DC12 housing and find it to be a great camera. Inon do a AD mount for this camera which you can connect their wide, macro and fisheye lenses to. I don't think they do a AD mount for the A650IS or A720IS, so you are limited to extra lenses that you can add to the 650 or 720.

The A570IS is my first underwater camera that I've purchased although had used older canon underwater setups and also a Sea&Sea setup previously. I find the A570IS perfect to learn the basics of underwater photography and has the ability to grow with you as you learn more about photography. Plus it fits nicely in your pocket for any above water photography you may want to do.

As for the quote above stating that you can't do manual white balance settings whilst underwater, this is not true. It is possible to do white balance settings whilst underwater, not just preset.

Have sample pics that i could possibly send if interested.

I have the Canon A570IS with WP-DC12 housing and find it to be a great camera. Inon do a AD mount for this camera which you can connect their wide, macro and fisheye lenses to. I don't think they do a AD mount for the A650IS or A720IS, so you are limited to extra lenses that you can add to the 650 or 720.

 

The A570IS is my first underwater camera that I've purchased although had used older canon underwater setups and also a Sea&Sea setup previously. I find the A570IS perfect to learn the basics of underwater photography and has the ability to grow with you as you learn more about photography. Plus it fits nicely in your pocket for any above water photography you may want to do.

 

As for the quote above stating that you can't do manual white balance settings whilst underwater, this is not true. It is possible to do white balance settings whilst underwater, not just preset.

 

Have sample pics that i could possibly send if interested.

Hi Adam

I would be very interested in sample images taken with your A570. I currently have the Nikon P5000 and my girlfriend has the Canon 950IS. From a recent trip to Sipidan I prefered my girlfriends results more than mine and so am thinking of trading in for a Canon

Richard

Arrrghh!! Don't do it Richard! Those Nikon 5000s are awesome. I used one for a couple of years in a Subal housing and got some cracking results.

Hands down Nikon P5000.

It has most of the features of a dSLR (minus RAW format unfortunatly), it's small, light, and fast enough to capture those once-in-a-lifetime shots (though it still has quite a bit of lag)

also the programable function button is a nice feature. mine is programed for preset white balance/light meter, all with one button.

And if you REALLY think its nessisary, the p5100 is the same but 12.0 MP. (i don't think its nessisary but they sell for around the same price)

I take mine underwater and tote it around topside cause I don't always feel like dragging and SLR around...

Richard,

Sorry I haven't posted any sample pics from my A570IS yet, I've been on holidays and away from my PC. I will do my best to have some on here in the next few days.

Adam

Richard,

Here is some pics taken with my A570IS whilst I was in Bali a couple of months ago. This was the first time I had used the camera, so pics aren't of the highest standard but I'm sure they'll give you some idea of quality. These were all taken with Canon A570IS in Canon WP-DC12 housing with no strobes or filters, just natural light and Canon underwater setting.

Any comments from anyone else would also be greatly appreciated

Adam