I'm a newbie to u/w photography and been thinking for some time now of getting a camera and housing for u/w. Although I am a PNW diver, I'm not so keen on photography here in our local murky waters, but I love to take pictures in warm, clear water while on vacation. I'm looking for a point and shoot in around the $500 range. I've been doing some reading of the posts here, and now I am just more thoroughly confused.
For land photography I have a Fuji which has been awesome. It takes some great shots for a cheap little point and shoot. Unfortunately a housing is not made for it, and now it is getting older and starting to devour batteries. Time to retire it.
When I went to Maui I borrowed an older Canon powershot A40 with housing. It was absolutely horrendous. On the advice of those more experienced, I tried everything I could, but my pictures just sucked. Later I realized that the camera's owner also had lousy shots from this thing, so it wasn't just me. He tried to sell it to me... no thanks. Honestly, my pictures on a disposable, as a brand new diver in Australia, turned out better than these. It sucked on land too, so I used my Fuji there (thankfully I brought it too). The Canon was also much heavier and just plain clunky. So, as you can guess, from this experience I am not a Canon fan. I am trying to be open minded. I know they make some great SLR's and that many people love their Canon's, but what about the entry level/lower end? You would have to admit that this old model was indeed crap and convince me they have improved 1000% since this old thing.
Luckily my fiance has a Sony with a housing, so he got some great shots as always. He's a huge Sony fan and loves his camera, despite the fact it's a bit older now and wasn't very expensive. The thing is, he had his camera before he got into u/w photography so it was a nightmare to find a housing. I don't want to got through that. I will only buy a camera and housing together, at exactly the same time. No housing - no camera sale. I refuse to hunt for a housing.
So, I was considering the SeaLife DC500. I liked that it is geared for u/w and comes with the housing. I read 'shark mode' and got excited. I hated the super long shutter lag on that Canon (oh gee... the fish is now 5 miles away). However, from what I read here I am not so sure about it anymore. There's seems to be some pretty mixed reviews, and the "known problems" makes me nervous. I'm big on customer service and convenience, so I would prefer (especially if there's a risk of problems) to just buy my camera/housing here in town. Problem is, it seems to be hard to find anyone in places like Best Buy (I do like to find the best deal) or even camera shops, who know anything about housings. This is how it goes - blank stare - you want to use it underwater? (strange look) - ok, sure we can order a housing for that model - let me just look it up.... when I know for a fact that the model I'm looking at doesn't have a housing, and I'm asking him if any of them do, and he hasn't a clue. I need to know exactly what to buy before I head to the store. How do I find out what models have housings? It seems to be so hard to find any info. on manufacturers sites ...and please don't tell me to search for the housing separate or on eBay, or Ikelite. I am not into the hassle.
I must say that Sony is high on my list due to my fiance's success with his, but what else is recommended, in my price range, for a beginner who wants the ability to take good land shots and hope for at least a few half decent u/w shots for my level??? I have until my Jamaica wedding in Jan. to find the right one.
Thanks!
For land photography I have a Fuji which has been awesome. It takes some great shots for a cheap little point and shoot. Unfortunately a housing is not made for it, and now it is getting older and starting to devour batteries. Time to retire it.
When I went to Maui I borrowed an older Canon powershot A40 with housing. It was absolutely horrendous. On the advice of those more experienced, I tried everything I could, but my pictures just sucked. Later I realized that the camera's owner also had lousy shots from this thing, so it wasn't just me. He tried to sell it to me... no thanks. Honestly, my pictures on a disposable, as a brand new diver in Australia, turned out better than these. It sucked on land too, so I used my Fuji there (thankfully I brought it too). The Canon was also much heavier and just plain clunky. So, as you can guess, from this experience I am not a Canon fan. I am trying to be open minded. I know they make some great SLR's and that many people love their Canon's, but what about the entry level/lower end? You would have to admit that this old model was indeed crap and convince me they have improved 1000% since this old thing.
Luckily my fiance has a Sony with a housing, so he got some great shots as always. He's a huge Sony fan and loves his camera, despite the fact it's a bit older now and wasn't very expensive. The thing is, he had his camera before he got into u/w photography so it was a nightmare to find a housing. I don't want to got through that. I will only buy a camera and housing together, at exactly the same time. No housing - no camera sale. I refuse to hunt for a housing.
So, I was considering the SeaLife DC500. I liked that it is geared for u/w and comes with the housing. I read 'shark mode' and got excited. I hated the super long shutter lag on that Canon (oh gee... the fish is now 5 miles away). However, from what I read here I am not so sure about it anymore. There's seems to be some pretty mixed reviews, and the "known problems" makes me nervous. I'm big on customer service and convenience, so I would prefer (especially if there's a risk of problems) to just buy my camera/housing here in town. Problem is, it seems to be hard to find anyone in places like Best Buy (I do like to find the best deal) or even camera shops, who know anything about housings. This is how it goes - blank stare - you want to use it underwater? (strange look) - ok, sure we can order a housing for that model - let me just look it up.... when I know for a fact that the model I'm looking at doesn't have a housing, and I'm asking him if any of them do, and he hasn't a clue. I need to know exactly what to buy before I head to the store. How do I find out what models have housings? It seems to be so hard to find any info. on manufacturers sites ...and please don't tell me to search for the housing separate or on eBay, or Ikelite. I am not into the hassle.
I must say that Sony is high on my list due to my fiance's success with his, but what else is recommended, in my price range, for a beginner who wants the ability to take good land shots and hope for at least a few half decent u/w shots for my level??? I have until my Jamaica wedding in Jan. to find the right one.
Thanks!
