Nikon CP 4500? Housing Availability Estimate? 4500 v. 5000?

After a lot of reading (very grateful to all you posters). I was about to buy the CP 5000, but I see that the 4500 is announced. It is much more like the 900 series in shape, and it seems to have everything the 5000 has and more, e.g. a 4x optical instead of 3/4x (optical/digital) for the 5000.

So I'm wondering how long will I have to wait to get a housing for this camera if I wait for the 4500. Anyone have any experience waiting for housings and how hard it is to get one after they're first out? (I will contact Ikelite, but I wanted your perspectives).

Also, I'd appreciate some discussion about comparision of the 4500 to the 5000. Dpriew.com has a comparison to the 900 series, but not to the 5000.

With the upcoming 5700 having a lense that really sticks out, the 5000 seems sort of orphaned, at least in style, and I'm wondering if the 4500 is a more thought through product.

Thanks for your thoughts

Can you guys tell I'm bored at work this week? Shhh!!! Don't tell my boss.

Heres' my thoughts, I've owned a CP990 and housing and now a CP5000 and housing.

So I'm wondering how long will I have to wait to get a housing for this camera if I wait for the 4500. Anyone have any experience waiting for housings and how hard it is to get one after they're first out? (I will contact Ikelite, but I wanted your perspectives).

Housing manufacturers can't really start work on designing a housing until they get their hands on a camera. Unfortunately, with Nikon's poor "release record" who knows when that is??? You can rest assured thought that Ikelite will be the first.

Also, I'd appreciate some discussion about comparision of the 4500 to the 5000. Dpriew.com has a comparison to the 900 series, but not to the 5000.

Here's my opinion. With amost any uw digicam, the two zoom settings you will use the most are Macro and Widest Angle on the camera. The 99x cameras and now the 4500 have a 35mm widest zoom. The 5000 has a 28mm lens - that is a HUGE advantage underwater. Just ask anyone who has the Nikonos and the 28mm and 35mm lens... I can tell you this with 100% certainty - you will not use the widest telephoto on the camera, so the 4x vs 3x zoom is a moot point. Also, on the macro setting of the coolpix cameras, the 'sweet spot' where the flower turns yellow is at the mid-zoom range.

Simply put, the CP5700 is a product developed for topsides shooters who want that long lens to get pictures of their kids at graduation. The 4500 is the continuation of the swivel-body design, but would you wait months, then fork out an extra 500 bux for a "new improved" 995 with only .66 megapixels more?????

Ditto the above post. The 5000 is really optimal for UW use. The 28 mm is a significant advantage over the 35 wide end of most other cameras. Also the 5000 has the excellent 19 mm lens which is the best lens I've ever seen for all around UW use. Also the 5000 has a hotshoe that you can use with most UW strobes. These other cameras (4500 and 5700) maybe nice for land use but are a big step backwards for UW use.