Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS or Canon A4000

[wnctarheel]

Just looking for a simple start up setup, can somebody tell me what the advantages are from the two camera's

 

[Gilligan]

IMO neither of those cameras is a good choice for underwater use as neither has manual controls (Av Tv M) as well as RAW capability which IMO is a must for non-strobe shots. If there are CHDK hacks for them that offer RAW and manual capability then maybe? One 110 review states low battery life.

A "simple" start setup can be a waste of money if you can't get decent photos. Using only the built in flash can offer some decent macro photos with practice. Without RAW you have to use the "custom" white balance setting to calibrate your white balance at varying depths and ambient light conditions on non-strobe shots. The "underwater" white balance setting won't do the job at deeper depths.

 

[wnctarheel]

Thanks for the help! What camera would you look at?

 

[flareside]

It really comes down to what your overall objective is, pictures or photography? If you are only wanting pictures, the two you asked about would almost work and I say almost simply because there are no reasonably priced underwater housings for either of them. (There is only a Canon splash/shallow water housing for the 110 and nothing for the A4000. You have to get Ikelite housings which are substantially more expensive.) For simply taking pictures, a number of people here on the forum have reported good results with the Canon 300 HS and have left some good reviews. If you intend to lean more towards photography, the Canon S100 and S95 cameras would be a good starting point.

 

[Gilligan]

Thanks for the help! What camera would you look at?

flareside gave you some good comments. As for what camera to buy that can be a complicated answer. A lot depends on whether or not you will build on the setup such as with wide angle and macro lenses. That will steer you in a direction of a more expensive housing that can accommodate wet-mount lenses. The addition of an external strobe is almost a must but they will work with almost any housing via a fiber optic cable.

I am one of those amateur photographers that is content with a good camera and a good strobe. I have no add-on lenses. I use a Canon G10 and G12 in their respective Canon housings. The S95 is a smaller more compact camera, especially in the Canon housing. The G series cameras have a few more features. I use a Sea & Sea strobe.

My G10 and G12 allow me to shoot RAW. I use the "Shortcut" feature for white balance calibration in the movie mode. The G12 also has two custom settings for saving your favorite settings. I use C1 for my strobe shot settings and C2 for my non-strobe settings. Having these features makes it easier to change settings. The S95 has one custom setting.

Hopefully more people will answer your thread and give you more information.

 

[wnctarheel]

Here is what price range that I am looking at if that helps $400 to $500. That would be for both the camera and housing.Thanks

 

[Gilligan]

Here is what price range that I am looking at if that helps $400 to $500. That would be for both the camera and housing.Thanks

You will have to do some research on cameras and housings. IMO it will be difficult to find a camera/housing in your mentioned price range that has manual controls unless one of the cheaper Canon cameras will with the CHDK hack. I don't keep track of the hacks so you will have to research that or ask someone here for that.

Amazon.com has the Canon S95 and Canon housing for $515 and the S100 and Canon housing for $589. You have to add an SD Card to that. You can take good photos with either setup but eventually you will need a strobe to get the most out of the camera. That will cost you as much as the camera/housing or more. Add to that a tray/arm for the strobe/housing.

 

[Interceptor121]

At the 400-500 range to have a full manual camera your only choice is ebay

The only one I would recommend in that range is:
Canon Powershot Elph 300 HS+Ikelite Housing=$460+Tax
You can attach directly 46mm lenses and there are accessories for 67mm and AD mounts
With the CHDK hack you can control the shutter speed. IXUS cameras don't have an IRIS so aperture control is not available, the depth of field is enough though not to worry too much as at 1 feet as got half foot depth of field