Buying a digital

[mattiedread]

I'm on the verge of buying an Oly 4040z... I've done some shopping around via the net and I've noticed huge price disparities on this camera, from 519 to 999. My assumption is that accessories are included/excluded depending on the price, but I'm not certain. Can anyone give me a little guidance? I've read the threads, and checked out where people have bought theirs, but when I do a cnet compare, none of those stores come up (I'm not purchasing uw housing just yet... a little more research first... I need the camera for land use right now, but want to buy one that is good for both).

My thought is this:
camera
rechargable batteries (what type? one set or two?) and 128 x 2 storage.

I saw on this thread where someone got this rig (I think without batteries, but my circuits have overloaded with information) for a very reasonable price. Too good to be true?

As always, any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[Uncle Pug]

mattiedread once bubbled...
my circuits have overloaded with information

I've been wanting to get a digital camera for a while now but unfortunately I have been paralzed with information overload...
I just don't have the brain cells available for dealing with all the issues and features!! I have attempted to read several of the links provided in other threads on digital cameras and that just exacerbated my problem... this is almost (but not quite) as bad as figuring out tax law.

I wish there were only two cameras to choose from... a black one and a yellow one.

At least you know what camera you want... you are just paralyzed on price vs. included options.

 

[Finesse]

B&H Photo

I have purchased way too much from these guys in Manhattan....excellent service and prices are very hard to beat. I could order something in the Am and have it the next day with the UPS 5 pm delivery.....granted I'm not that far from them but neither are you.

I have seen the camera for less money at other online retailers but buyer beware.....some of these place , much like with scuba gear, are unauthorized to sell certain products. Olympus's website lists B & H as an authorized dealer of their product.

Buy the way Great camera your looking at!!!!

Scott

 

[Finesse]

Matt more info...

Battery Charger

This one is thanks to Dee....The Maha MH-C204F charger.....Its a little more expensive than most around $ 35 for charger and 4 AA 1800mAh batteries....but well worth the money....I just got one about a month ago.

You'll need at least two sets of batteries (I have 3 or 4) as the camera chews through them really quickly. (Powerex batteries came with the charger ....and look around that site ...there’s a lot of good info on it......I think the Powerex battery was rated as one of the better batteries being able to truly meet its power rating.

Memory cards ...... yep a couple of 128mb cards would be good. I think in HQ mode (which is the default picture quality mode) you can store up to 176 pics/card

Good luck!!
Scott

 

[Dee]

I spent 6 months researching any and everything pertaining to digital cameras so I know what you mean!

Beware of where you buy the camera. Cheapest isn't always the best deal. Anything under $550-600 would be very suspect to me.

IIRC, my camera came with 1 set of Olympus AA batteries, a cord to hook it to a TV, a cord to hook to a USB port, required manual as well as CD with Camedia program, PhotoshopLE program and the manual on CD. I paid $729 for it in Jan from a local camera store. Online prices at that time were running about $699. Like my regs, I wanted a reputable, physical store to go to in case of problems that would stand behind the sale.

Rechargeable batteries are the way to go. After my research and on the advice of trusted others, I bought a MAHA MH-C204F charger. $30 for the charger and a set of batteries is a great deal. I bought 2 extra set of batteries for a total of three sets....1 set in the camera, 1 set ready to use and 1 set in the charger.

I know you're tired of links but this one covers everything you ever wanted to know about rechargeable batteries for digital cameras....Rech. Batteries.

I also use two 128mg Smart Media cards. Both of mine were bought on eBay for about $45 each. If you want to use the panoramic feature of the C-4040, you have to use the Olympus brand of Smart Media card as it won't work with the others.

You might try...

Aldora Cameras

 

[scorpiofish]

I finally got around to using my Nikon Coolpix 995 in an Aquatica housing a couple of weeks ago. Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend this combo, I have come to the conclusion that the Nikon Coolpix is a better choice for underwater use. Here's why:

1) TTL strobe control.

While TTL isn't necessarily perfect over the entire zoom range of a digicam, it does make the guess work much easier. If TTL under or over exposes, a simple EV adjustment can get you spot on.

A hard connection via sync cable is far more reliable than either a slaved strobe or fiber optic cable.

2) A "digital" strobe is not required, since the Nikon doesn't use a pre-flash like the Oly or Canon. Any TTL strobe will work without modification, except older Ikelite models.

3) Macro capability. The Nikon models focus down to almost zero. You can get really close.

4) Battery life. The lithium ion battery really does last a long time. I carried two batteries. I had no problem doing 70 minute dives. I would switch to a new battery between dives, so I don't know long it would truly last. One quirk is that the battery life indicator would go directly from "full power" to "basically dead".

OK, now the downside, cost. An Oly will cost less and the housing is cheaper since there is no bulkhead connector for the strobe. A digital strobe will cost more, so it almost evens out, but not quite.

Nikon Coolpix 5000 $930
Ikelite Housing $810
Synch cord $90
SB-105 strobe $425
Arm set $150
Total $2405

Oly 4040 $570
Cheapie housing $300
Sea & Sea YS90dx kit $850
Tray and arm?
Total $1720 +

Probably looking at $500 difference. Less if you were to go with an Ikelite housing instead of an Oly housing.

Food for thought.

 

[Dee]

scorpiofish once bubbled...

Sea & Sea YS90dx kit $850
Tray and arm?

I only paid $520 for my Sea & Sea YS90DX strobe and optic kit. And $130 for my Fish Eye tray, both from Underwater Digital

 

[mattiedread]

Thanks

One thing about this place, I'm always well fed.

 

[scorpiofish]

That $850 was B&H and included tray, cable and arm bracket, etc. So, it's a measely $700 difference.