Anyone Using (or Used) a PowerShot S30?

[Fouremco]

I am a competant photographer, mostly using a Canon PowerShot S30 while my bag of Nikon 35mm bodies, lenses and accessories gathers dust. I'm now considering options for diving, ranging from just buying a case for the S30 to purchasing a dive-specific rig, but I don't want to waste money buying a case if I'm likely to be disatisfied with the results.

Is there anyone out there who has used the S30? If so, is purchasing a case a reasonable proposition or, based on your results, would you recommend buying a new camera right away.

 

[CompuDude]

It's was a good camera for it's day, and works well on land, but it's pretty dated at this point. 8 MegaPixels is overkill, IMO, but the S30 only has 3 MP, which doesn't leave much room for cropping. Also, the circuitry is older and slower, so shutter lag will be more of an issue. I'm not sure it's worth investing in a new housing. If you can find a used housing for cheap, then it might be fine to get your feet wet, but otherwise I'd recommend picking up something more current.

 

[alo100]

Hard to find housing....
Before you come up with an idea which new DC to shoot for, you may want to consider
this for your S30:http://www.dicapac.com/eng/board-ne...Num=1&number=4&field1=&field2=&field3=&value=

for 18 m depth (notice there is an extension for the zoom lens to extend).

If you have a on land master/slave type of strobe/flash, you can add another soft housing similar to this and jump start.

 

[thomjinx]

I also started with an S30. Canon's own housing for that will also fit the S40, S45 and S50. While these are all discontinued models, they can be found. That way, you can buy the housing now, and upgrade your camera later.

I am presently very happy with my 5 megapixel S50.

But I may be upgrading soon to the S70 or S80. This will require a new housing and new camera both! Ouch!
Thomjinx

 

[alo100]

I also started with an S30. Canon's own housing for that will also fit the S40, S45 and S50. While these are all discontinued models, they can be found. That way, you can buy the housing now, and upgrade your camera later.

I am presently very happy with my 5 megapixel S50.

But I may be upgrading soon to the S70 or S80. This will require a new housing and new camera both! Ouch!
Thomjinx

Cannon is no longer making S30/S40/S45/S50, where can you find it?
Oh, I also have a S50 BTW.

 

[alo100]

Amazon B&H...
On the other hand, you may want to try the AF systems nowadays, I am sure you'll see the improvements.

 

[Fouremco]

for all the comments. I'd hoped to get away with just the case, but... In any event, now it looks like I'll probably jump up to the S80 with the Canon case, though I'm by no means finished looking at the alternatives.

 

[alo100]

I was in the same shoe sometime ago, you may want to notice for UW purpose, both battery life and speed for AF (esp for marine life pic's) can be important. I finally convinced myself to let my older Canon to stay on land, and get another new camera.
Try the speed of the new AF, just anyone, e.g. S80, I am sure you'd like it better.

Good luck and wish you will find the right camera for UW!!!!

 

[Silvertip57]

for all the comments. I'd hoped to get away with just the case, but... In any event, now it looks like I'll probably jump up to the S80 with the Canon case, though I'm by no means finished looking at the alternatives.

Just in case you want to shoot in Canon's RAW format you might consider the S70 instead of the S80. Canon did away with RAW in the 80 taking away a lot of control over your pictures. The 70 is very very nice.