giving up the Nikonos V, need the right digital camera.

After many years of using my Nikonos V I have decided it is about time to go digital. Now the question is which camera. I have looked at the Cannon 20D and thought it was very nice. Now I see the Nikon D2X has been introduced and there is some talk of another Nikon announcement in October. My next dive trip is scheduled for March 2005 so I am anxious to get used to what ever I choose. I would love any thoughts the more experienced digital photographers have. By the way this will be my first digital SLR I have purchased and would like it to last awhile ( without becomming obsolete).

thanks for any assistance.

Robert

i only have experience of one digital camera - the nikon D70 so i cant say from experience that "this camera is good, this is one is bad"....etc

all i can say is dont choose without looking at the D70 - it is truely an awesome digital slr with all of the big-name housing manufacturers making housings for it. add nikon capture 4 and photoshop cs software and the rest is upto you.

regards, paul.

I was in your shoes about two years ago. I had been using Nik V's for years and already had a N90s and Nikon glass which I intended to house. Instead, I decided to go with a DSLR. My choice was the S2 but that another matter for discussion. The real issue is, do you spend $2500 for a DSLR and housing or do you spend $7-10K. Remember, unlike the Nik V's which were around for many years, these DSLR's change almost yearly and since underwater is such a small percentage of their market, no consideration for housing compatability is taken in the design of the new model.

Too me, there are 2 good reasons to go with a P&S digi, rather than an SLR.

First is size, bulk, weight. This will be closer to your nikonos, compared to the heavy equipment needed for housed SLR. And the airlines love to charge for anything over 50 lbs nos...

The other, is the ability to use the LCD for composing and shooting. To me, this was critical. I won't get an SLR for underwater, until it can do so. Why put up with a tiny viewfinder, through housing, mask, water, optics, etc?

There are now a very few P&S digis out there, with focus speeds on a par with DSLRs, and shutter lag times are actually faster on the best digis now - (note NOT olympus, canon, or nikon).

So, think about how you want to shoot, and how much travel you do, with how much extra weight...

Don

I recently switched from years of Nikonos' use to a Fuji s2 Pro.....it's the only DSLR that is able to utilize full TTL with the Ikelite non-digital dtrobes. As I have 2 Ikelite 200s, I didn't want to invest in more. I asked Light and Motion, Helix and Ikelite when I made the decision.......all liked the S2 over the rest.

There are now a very few P&S digis out there, with focus speeds on a par with DSLRs, and shutter lag times are actually faster on the best digis now - (note NOT olympus, canon, or nikon).

Here's a comparison of shutter lag and focus speed (not sure of test conditions for focus speed) for various P&S digis, and also the D70. Lag after focus is quite similar even for some olympus and canon cameras, although focus speed seems to be typically glacial.

link

These leave out the P&S digis that actually perform well.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/DIGCAM01.HTM

Has full detailed timings on just about all of them.

I think the current crop of dslr cameras are all great replacements for a Nikonos, while most of the compact cameras will frustrate you with shutter lag. That being said, they are smaller, and much less expensive.

It would make an interesting poll, but I'd guess that 90% of people who have experience viewing & focusing through an SLR viewfinder and a compact camera's lcd screen underwater would choose the SLR.

I know that I can see fine focus far better through the worst of SLR vewfinders than I can from a live playback monitor. This isn't as important for someone who shoots fish and wide angles, but is essential for any macro shooter.