No camera yet, no UW housing yet: what to buy?

Hello,

Can anyone help me out?

I am looking for a combination of digital camera and U/W housing, with or without external flash. I have not bought any of this yet.

I have borrowed a friend's camera (Sony P5 with housing). No flash, I have used my Xenon light and have compared that with pictures with Halogen lighting (handlighting that is).

The setup I want to buy is a good match of camera with housing, at least 4 megapixels, preferrable 5. I am planning for dedicated UW use, but will occasionally use it for "normal" photography.

- which cameras have the best features for UW photography?

- should I go for an external flash, if so, what kind?

- do I need special lenses?

Price is currently not an issue yet.

Nikon Coolpix 5000?

Nikon Coolpix 5700?

Canon G2?

Fuji?

Olympus?

Thanks in advance

[Edited on 6-13-2002 by clint]

If price is not an issue, than get a Canon d60, a couple of lenses, and a UK Housing and a couple of nice ys90dx strobes with arms. [ok, or a d100 and housing when it comes out]

Thats my eventual set up (in my dreams)

Any of the cameras you listed will be fine choices. Ikelite makes great housings, and TTL strobes for digital.

What would be nice is if you could test them yourself and try them out first.

Would not get the 5700 for UW use. The long lens may be better for some on land, but the wider lens and more compact size of the 5000 is better for UW use.

The 28mm lens of the 5000 is great for UW use. The widest of any digicam.

The lens on the 5700 is for parents to take pictures of their kids at graduation - it's no good for underwater use, IMO.

Topsides shooters asked for it so Nikon delivered.

HTH

James

Gotta agree with bobjarman, if cost isn't an issue, go with a D60 or D100 and a variety of lenses!! Now, if cost is a *little* bit of an issue...

The 5000 is great and is probably the most compatible with a wide variety of strobes. Olympus seems to have a strong following as well, and good housing support.

Stick with Ikelite housing (in my opinion). They're middle of the road on cost, midway between the OEM housings and some of the cast housings like the Tetra. Also, great customer service. I love the fact that I can see inside the housing when I'm descending, it adds a little more peace of mind to think I could see if there was a leak.

Some people have had excellent luck with just the internal flash, based on some of the pictures posted. If the housing you select lets you use the internal flash unobstructed, you can probably start without a strobe. If not, or if you're going to do any deep diving, get a strobe.

If you want to go cheaper, now, with image quality at least equal to the CP5000, the G2 is a good candidate.

Regarding the 5700, I was thinking that if you put a 0.4x multiplier lens on it, (as some folks have used say with the cp995), it might be a really cool camera for underwater...

I'm going to stick up for the Olympus system.

Cheap(ish) - camera £500; PT10 housing £220

Housing rated for 30m, been 45m without a problem (and long may it stay that way).

Clear housing - see any problems, view the camera, allows use of digital strobes.

Smartmedia - 128MB max size - still get 130 HQ pics, 45 SHQ. Change between dives.

Batteries last long enough for 2 dives (I turn the LCD off when not using it).

WA/Macro lenses available - no need for strobe immediately if you want to use the internal strobe facility.

I agree - D60, UK housing - very nice. I personally don't want to be tied to having lens inside the housing. Might as well have film SLR in housing.

CP 5000 - looks great, might have bought it if cheaper, with housing.

Not sure that its benefits over the Oly are worth the extra cost.

Again, only a personal opinion. I am very happy with my setup, as others are with theirs. Pay your money and take your choice - however all the setups seem to give perfectly adequate results.

Dave

$0.02 worth