Another newbie question

Hello

Great Site! I've been searching around, but there's huge amounts of information. I'd really appreciate specifics, but if you could just point me in the right direction, that would be a huge help too.

I'm looking for a general use digicam. I'm also a recreational diver, so I figured maybe I could get a digicam that has a housing so it could be used underwater too. I'm also a student, so the budget isn't quite there to get a rig thats all hooked up. So basically, are there any outfits that are low cost and barebones, will take ok Underwater pics, good above water pics, and will allow for future additions, like a strobe and different lenses, when I start makin some money?

Thanks

-JB

For the limited budget, look at the companies that make both digicams and inexpensive housings: Olympus, Canon, Sony. If you go with these, expect to pay from $180-250 for the housing. The rest of the budget goes for the camera. It all depends on your budget. For maximum expandibility and overall picture quality, I'd go with a 3+MP camera (3MP seems to be the best value right now); e.g., look at the Olympus C-3xxxz series and the Olympus PT-010. Also look at the Canon S30 and WP-DC300 or the Sony DSC-P5 and its Marine Pack. I'd recommend getting a camera that allows you to set shutter speed and aperture manually in addition to Program Mode . . .

Mike

[Edited on 5-24-2002 by MikeO]

You might want to consider something like the Cannon powershot a20 http://www.steves-digicams.com/2001_reviews/a20.html. You can get the camera and housing for $450 to play around with and then budget for a nice rig down the road as this technology evolves. Don't expect the same quality results as some of the samples posted on this board. I was looking at this setup before Uncle Sam gave me a nice tax refund.

Keep in mind that the housings are camera specific. Make sure you invest in a camera you will be happy with for years to come. I agree with mike - look for 3+ mpixels and manual controls. TTL flash sync is also nice.

Thanks Mike!

I'll look into those models. This might be a silly question, but if the digital camera is capable of taking macro shots without the housing, will any special lenses be needed to take underwater macroshots?

_JB

In general: if the camera can take macro shots on land it can take it also U/W. The case doesn’t change the ability of the camera & lens.

Be aware that all the cameras that mentions here before have some ability to take close pictures but its not a real macro like you can take with dedicated lens for that.

The S30 ( that I have) can take shots up to 10cm close.

Thanks for all your help. I've been searching around and it seems like the olympus 3040 might be the way to go. Now I am looking around for prices. Are there any problems with the factory refurbished products??? I was thinking about being cheap and getting a refurrb, but don't know if I'll regret that in the future.

Thanks again

JB

A refurb shold be fine. They usually come with a 90 day warranty and my experience has been that if something's gonna go wrong, it'll go wrong in the first 90 days.

just what i wanted to hear