Choosing new camera (NOT DSLR)

This is just what i want to achieve.. Mamel! the pics look clear and good !

can you please tell me the whole set your daughter used for these pics ?

I'd just get all that

This is just what i want to achieve.. Mamel! the pics look clear and good !

can you please tell me the whole set your daughter used for these pics ?

 

I'd just get all that

here, she's in action with her XZ-1 + PT-050 + Inon D2000 + Inon UCL165M67, if required.

Don't forget to look at the lx5. It is better underwater than the xz1.

http://www.reefphoto.com/kb.php?id=28

can't say lx5 better than xz-1; you can find lot of reviews in the net, some prefer lx-5, others love xz-1, but from the spec. xz-1 has better LCD, brighter lens, slightly larger sensor - I do agree, the xz-1 video has limited control though the result with auto is not too bad. I personaly like the clor saturation of xz-1 but other people may have different taste. For AF, can't see any significant difference.

For UW, one very clear, you have more choice (and less expensive) for XZ-1 housing than lx5

And the lx5 has 24mm - 90 perfect for underwater. It also has much faster, more reliable auto focus.

ill be looking into both these models..

thanks a lot

derway is correct.

LX-5 is better says Reef Photo and generally they are accurate in their analysis.

However, the housing they recommend is more expensive.

Still, the XZ-1 takes great shots as you can see. For an inexpensive setup Mamel's daughter's setup is my recommendation.

Just to confuse you:

The original request was for a setup about $500. If the budget changes the analysis does also. I happen to be a big (and probably only) proponent of the Olympus e620 in an Olympus housing and a 14/54 lens because that particular SLR (although deadended) has a great general purpose lens (and port) that will take decent macro and semi wide angle shots. Once you start getting close to the camera/housing/port/lens price of $2000, I believe that an extra $500 for the e-620 is a consideration. In fact, once you add in wet lenses for macro and wide you are nearly @ $2000 even for the XZ-1 and over for the LX-5.

e-620 shots from my wife: http://www.tomandginnie.com/Wakatobi-It...he%20Reefs.html

alright! i'm unfortunately not wealthy and still young to be able to afford these full sets..

one part at a time maybe if i do get more passionate about this.. but the moment it's just a coincidence that all my cameras are dead.. so i need a new one for land and uw.

i'll be checking up more comparisons between the XZ-1 and LX-5 ... they are in my shortlist

or... i don't know.. this is complicated :/

ok i've been comparing a bit..

can i allow myself to ask these questions about these 2

Based on many reviews and comparisons on the net.. the LX5 is better... but the lens of the XZ1 itself appear to be much bigger and impressive!

ok ok.. no more questions abt that one.. the LX5 is better based on many reviews on that !

which casing to get for the LX5? :/ their UW case looks expensive .. the camera itself is $369 .. very nice price!

UW case.. only the ikelite? :/ sold around $600! that's expensive :/

what lens / strobe is totally necessary add on?

Neither REQUIRES a lens. A macro from INON would be nice. I may have one laying around you can have.

The Ikelite case really needs an Ikelite lens. I never liked my Ds-51. IMHO, try to find a used Ds-125. The DS-160 is the current indicated model. Very nice but BIG. (Derway may have more info on the DS-51. I found it weak.

The Olympus case wants an INON s-2000 or Z-240.

Both need cords, Ikelite electrical and Inon fibre optic. Both need chargers. The Inon needs 4 eneloop batteries. (So will a Ds-51)

And you need a tray and arms for either. UCLS for either IMHO.

Good luck!

Tom

The ikelite case for lx5 is $550 at reefphoto:

http://reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=p...roducts_id=5241

If you dive mostly in VERY clear water, you can shoot a bit with ambient light, and the built in flash, using the diffuser from ikelite. The built in strobe will cause serious backscatter in anything other than perfectly clear water.

Possibly you could start out this way, and then add a strobe later. But your results will be much improved when you add the strobe. So might be worth doing now, if you can stretch for it.

To me, the size and weight of the ds-125 or ds-160 is not a good match for a compact camera. The ds51 is fine and appropriate in my own experience.

You'll need a singe arm tray, (or dual arm if you like to hold it more solidly).

If you call up reefphoto, they will give you good advice, and an extra discount on the whole package...

I have an article comparing all of the LX5 housings on the blog: Three Ways to Get Your LX5 Wet

And yes there are 3 housings available, not just two.

That being said, I'm having a great time with the XZ-1 while I wait for the next Nikon. I like the front bezel, the software, and it has very good performance. On board macro is pretty good, likemost Oly's, but adding a couple of macro lenses allows for some great opportunities. I think the key with all these cameras is a good strong focus light. I like the Nauticam housing, but I don't think the Oly is all that bad.

no wide angle lenses, 1 strobe.

2 stacked FIT lenses = +13

Jack

the casing for the XZ-1 is just 211$ on amazon...

that would make my set cheaper than going for the LX5 but now i've taken a liking to the LX 5

camera + housing for XZ-1 around $650

camera + housing for LX-5 around $950

ps... i love close up shots... my budget can extend to the $900... but.. is it worth ?:/

I would add an INON s-2000 to the XZ-1 if that $300 difference means waiting for a strobe. However IF you can't squeeze for a strobe this round then I do the LX-5. I think the s-2000 strobe is about $450, the optical cable about $70 and the tray and arms about $300 and the ball adaptor for the Inon about $25

I can give you a deal on a used UCLS single tray and some arms if you like. I can probably put something together. However I don't have any spare clamps.

You need to price out the entire setup, both of them and decide. You may decide to go with the XZ-1 even if you can't afford a strobe right now once you find out what the entire setup will cost.

hmm

thanks for all the advice..

some people are also recommending the Canon S95 over these 2 :/ my shortlist for camera is the only problem actually

for the strobe.. i'm thinking about the Inon S2000 or the S&S YS110a ... that will be an upgrade as soon as i believe i can progress

if i'm a total noob at this.. i'm not gonna invest more

A s-2000 in an Ike case defeats the best part of Ike, the ttl built into the case. You run an electrical cord to the Ds-51.

What is best about the s-2000 is the internal circuitry that mimics the built-in strobe. It produces very accurate exposure, although with a slightly different temperature light (better for macro, worse for wide)

(My experience with the YS-110A is not good. A fellow diver had one and it was unreliable and weak. I lent him a S-2000 and the results were obvious. True, that is only one instance. Still.....)

I had the same experience with the ys-110A. Got one in the mail, it failed to work well even dry, sent it back.

ok.. avoiding the YS-110A

hmmm thanks

Ok here is my shortlist

Canon S95 with Ikelite housing - total to around $675 from what i've researched

Panasonic LX-5 + Ikelite housing - total to around $970

Olympus XZ-1 + oly housing - Total to around $705

Should i conclude with the S95 ?

it's cheaper and have read some good comments about it...

Thank you everyone for helping! i wish i manage to decide 1 between these 3

and for strobe.. i'll go for an Inon S-2000

and i prefer macro shots... i'll see what macro lens i can add on to that

ok.. avoiding the YS-110A

hmmm thanks

I married a blonde once, terrible experience, drove me to drink and probably was a major contributor to increasing the symptoms of my future Alzheimer’s. I must have killed millions of brain cells. I told everyone I knew not to get involved with blondes. Then a few years later I met a wonderful lady and we’ve been married now for 25 years. Amazingly she was also blonde but luckily my Alzheimer’s kicked in and I had forgotten about the first one.

OK, a silly story, but deciding not to consider a piece of gear because some of us have had issues with one of the units is even sillier. I’d offer that there isn’t one piece of equipment that someone hasn’t had problems with.

Just for the record, I consider the 110s I’ve used to be a very solid product. I carry a couple as spares for my Ys-250s because the 110s always work.

Good luck,

Steve