Camera and underwater case

[Mochosla]

Hi,

I'm looking for a camera and case. Looking to spend ~$500. Do you guys have any feedback on the Olympus 8010?

Thanks.

 

[FrankPro1]

Canon S95 w/ Canon Case: RAW, full manual controls, HD video, maximum expandability "ie wide angle/macro lenses". You won't find a better system for less A great combo to grow with.

The Oly 8010 has a slower lens, no RAW, no manual controls. A good starter camera but you'll grow out of it pretty fast.

S95 Combo For 568.95 shipped to your door:
Canon PowerShot S95 Digital Camera 4343B001 B&H Photo Video
Canon WP-DC38 Case for Canon PowerShot S95 4712B001 B&H Photo

v.s.

8010 Combo For 563.94 shipped to your door:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/673671-REG/Olympus_227655_Stylus_Tough_8010_Digital_Camera.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/693141-REG/Olympus_202369_PT_048_Underwater_Housing_f.html

I do like the Olympus housings build quality over the Canon OEM lineup but the S95's capability far exceeds the 8010.

 

[Mochosla]

Thanks for the recommendation. One thing that really attracts me from the Olympus is the fact that the camera is water proof itself. So in case that the case leaks, the camera will not be ruined.

 

[Mochosla]

Thanks for the recommendation. One thing that really attracts me from the Olympus is the fact that the camera is water proof itself. So in case that the case leaks, the camera will not be ruined. Also, I'm no professional photographer. I'm sort of looking for a point and shoot type camera.

 

[FrankPro1]

The Canon S95 is a Point and Shoot. When you first start out, you'll want to just keep it in auto and let the camera do its thing "Turn it on, set to auto and fire off shots". Focusing on proper composition and framing, not with setting the shutter speed/aperture. But once you get the basics down, you'll find that you get can better shots by manipulating the shutter speed / aperture for quick moving subjects and to get proper exposure, clarity and even artistic background blur. If you find that your just content with operating in full auto, no problem...but at least you have the option to get more in depth with your photography. The S95 is by far a better camera then the 8010, even if you keep it in just auto.

Now as you've stated the 8010 does have the edge over the S95 in a few respects. It is waterproof to 33ft, crush proof up to 220 pounds of pressure and the Olympus housing's build quality is more rugged and robust then the Canon housing. With any underwater camera system there is a chance of flood, but with proper maintenance you can drastically lower your chances. To ease your fears of a flood, a 40$ a year insurance policy through DEPP will insure that you'll get a replacement camera.

A few years back I was in the same boat as you and purchased a Olympus camera/housing with only auto mode. I used it for a year and took some decent shots but I quickly realized I wanted to further my hobby but couldn't expand with the Oly I already had. I eventually decided on a G10/Ikelite housing & strobe setup and couldn't be happier. I could have saved a lot of money going with a camera which would have allowed me to grow into, rather then having to fully scrap my old system and start from scratch.

All this is just my opinion and I'm sure you'll be happy with whichever camera you purchase. But if you decide to really get into underwater photography, you'll have more expandability with the S95.

 

[shawn123]

hi,....
Extreme photography and underwater photos are great ... as long as your digital camera is useable underwater. If you aren't sure whether your camera is rated as waterproof, read the user manual or visit the manufacturer's Web site. Ignoring the user manual and testing the digital camera in a full bathtub to determine whether it is waterproof is not recommended.

 

[Mochosla]

Thanks for your advice FrankPro1. I actually called BH and spoke with Larry. What a cool guy. He explained the same reasons to me as you just did and looks like the canon is my best option. He also recommended that I buy the Ikelite case.

What do you think?

 

[FrankPro1]

He also recommended that I buy the Ikelite case.
What do you think?

After I purchased my G10 I was looking at which housing best fit my needs. Like I said before I started off with an Olympus system. A buddy of mine was using a Canon housing at the time. When comparing the build quality of the Olympus to that of the Canon's housing I noticed a huge difference. The Canon's case was somewhat flimsy, the buttons are plastic and the overall quality seemed quite low. The Olympus on the other hand, had a sturdy case, and metal buttons/components throughout.

I do quite a bit of shore diving which requires navigating down/up steep goat trails and entering/exiting over slippery rocks. I wanted a system which would hold up to these aggressive conditions, so naturally I chose the Ikelite.

Now with that said, many people have used the Canon OEM housings and have had no issues. For most divers the Canon housing will suffice, but for my specific needs I wanted something a bit more robust. If you do mostly boat diving, the extra cost of the Ikelite might not necessarily be worth it.

Both the Ikelite and Canon housings are not without their own limitations and issues. They both don't have access to the rear dial, which means when shooting in full manual you must use a combination of button inputs to fully control the shutter and aperture. There has been a few accounts of latch defects in the Ikelite "which has been addressed and fixed in the newer housings" and since the zoom control has no return spring, you must return it to a neutral position after adjustment or the camera will fail to respond. The Canon housing has had cases of button sticking and defective molds which create issues with the sealing surfaces, ultimately leading to a flood. The only housing options which allow for control of the rear dial are the RecSea, Fix, Patima and 10bar. They are very robust machined metal housings and extremely compact but they cost around a thousand bucks

If you do a lot of shore diving or are known to bang your gear around I would recommend the Ikelite. If you are a boat diver and take meticulous care of your gear I would recommend the Canon. Both housings are expandable, you can add strobes, trays, wide angle and macro wet lens but without the extreme cost of the metal housings.

 

[Mochosla]

I took the plunge and got the Canon S95 and Canon housing! I can't wait to take it diving.

Thanks FrankPro1!