Need guidance on a compact camera and housing

I am not in need of a compact camera for underwater use, but I have a family member who would like one and I was thinking of getting him a housing. I know he can purchase a new Sony RX100II of about $425 and I have found an almost new Nauticam housing for this camera that I can get for about $500.00. I have been very happy with my Nauticam housings.

I know the camera is not current, and really haven't spent much time following developments in this market, but thought maybe this would be a good choice. Leaving aside strobes and arms and such, that would get him a camera and housing for about $1000.

Is there something else in that approximate price range I should look at? I am only going to buy about $500 worth of stuff as a gift...the rest is on him. I don't think he would spend much more than money than I have just described.

Thanks.

The rx100 mk2 is still a very good camera.... The mk3 and mk4 has better video taking (4k) resolution. And a wider angle, but imo not too significant...

Well, thank you hellhole, but the housing I was thinking of getting as a gift has gone away, so I will wait and see what he seems to like and see if I can chip in to help him out, so please disregard my question.

I bought a Meikon aluminium housing for RX100III at around 500 price. Well built and brand new. A new housing for RX100 IV costs the same

The RX100 Mark II is the best compact for underwater use period. Try to get a Nauticam housing second hand or even new all other housing do not work so well with wet lenses.

The newer cameras have a 24-70mm lens or even 24-100mm lens that are too short or too wide to use wet lenses some even need ports. Example are the Canon G7X, Panasonic LX100, Sony RX100 Mark III/IV

The video is still pretty good and unless you have a 4K Tv you won't see major differences with the mark IV.

I sold my Mark II housing and camera and I got now a Panasonic GX7 the pictures are the same in dynamic range but the lenses are sharper video wise it is the same of the Mark II. I have also a Mark IV but other than 4K video I am not planning to use it for picture due to to painful 24-70mm lens

The RX100 Mark II is the best compact for underwater use period. Try to get a Nauticam housing second hand or even new all other housing do not work so well with wet lenses.

The newer cameras have a 24-70mm lens or even 24-100mm lens that are too short or too wide to use wet lenses some even need ports. Example are the Canon G7X, Panasonic LX100, Sony RX100 Mark III/IV

The video is still pretty good and unless you have a 4K Tv you won't see major differences with the mark IV.

I sold my Mark II housing and camera and I got now a Panasonic GX7 the pictures are the same in dynamic range but the lenses are sharper video wise it is the same of the Mark II. I have also a Mark IV but other than 4K video I am not planning to use it for picture due to to painful 24-70mm lens

Custom white balance doesn't work. you use a filter in auto

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Not a fan of filters at all. Too much light loss.

Guess the rx series is out of question then

Filter takes away one stop. You shoot at 1/50 or 1/60 in video and actually it is much more useful to have an ND filter when you have too much light. Compact wise there is nothing better

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I recently posted in a thread about the lx100, which is the camera I'm leaning towards. Altho I'm not sure about the af problem when using a dome (needed?) getting into manual focus and stuff seems like a big step up from previously just using gopros.