canon for underwater ??

[rubbachicken]

hi all
i have been away to the maldives on a diving trip, and took just under 500 pictures
i curently have a sony p3 3.3 mp camera with the original sony housing, an land i have been very happy with the camera, but under water i am not so happy, most of the pictures didn't come out as they were blurred {macro} or over exposed {not due to the camera, i know}, i am unable to adjust the sony's shutter speed, etc and as the macro is not up to it, so it's time to change
i was leaning towards another sony, the p120 7.1 mp, i like sony's as a rule
but someone has sugested that i should consider a canon, i can't remember the model
i don't have a huge budget, an i don't want a huge camera, and ultimately a huge housing
also can someone recomend a reasonable, budget strobe for use with it
again size and weight is very important for traveling
thanks for reading

 

[gt2003]

As you can see from my other posts I just bought a Canon a75. There are newer models, I think the A95 is a 5MP model. I was absolutely amazed at how small this camera is and what all it could do. Its got macro down to 5cm, aperature priority, shutter priority, manual mode, video modes etc. I've not had it long but am already fairly familiar with its workings. I just ordered my housing last night so I'm waiting to take some underwater pics. Look at Lukerobs pics from his A70 I believe. Alcina may be able to direct you to some pics she took with her Canon also. Basically I've got a little over $350 tied up in the camera, housing and 128MB compact flash card. Not too bad for what I've seen it is capable of doing. Look around, I found the A75 plus 128MB card for $199 at staples and found the housing, including shipping on the web for less than 160 delivered. Let us know a little more about what MP camera you are wanting as well as how much you want to spend. Thanks, Greg

 

[alcina]

From my experience I would go for Canon series then Oly Stylus series. I would not buy a Sony for underwater use. We have multiple divers each day with a wide variety of cameras and experience levels and this information comes to you from my observations of the results and from my use (more than two years) of the Canon A20 & A70 and two dive use of the Oly Stylus.

The Canons simply consistently produce the best results I see. The Sony's are the worst results, though people still do get some OK snap shots with them. There are fewer Oly Stylus' coming through, but from the limited results I have seen, the Canon's do a better job.

I use my Inon strobe with the Canon A70 (soon to be A75 as insurance is replacing my stolen A70 with that model). Inon strobes are light and flexible. They will grow with you. Ike also has some nice small strobes. I think Dee uses Sea & Sea (not with these cameras, though) which may also be an option.

I'd learn to use the internal first. Be prepared to pay more for the strobe than for everything else combined.

MP is not the only thing to look at. Often a higher MP will produce more noise. 3.1 is the minimum I would look at. 4 or 5MP cameras now are very good.

HTH

 

[the_cat_keeper]

My 2cents... I have seen underwater photographs taken using different models of Sony Cybershot point-and-shoot cameras. Most of the pictures taken looks blue-ish/ overexposed, and I am not sure if the use of an external strobe would be adequate to improve the quality. Comparing the pictures taken from Canon point-and-shoot cameras, both without the use of external strobe, the Canon produces better pictures.

 

[hamilton]

You might want to have a look at the cases that the cameras require.
When I was hunting for a filter (to replace the red colours lost down to certain depths), I got to look at various housings.... the Olympus ones seemed the most robust (double seals, thicker cases, a screw-fit option on the front housing lens for easily adding standard photographic filters.
The other cases, especially some of the canons, with the flash diffusers, look particularly difficult to use this (almost essential) filter.

The camera technology is changing very fast.... some shop staff have tried to convince me that the newest sonys have very fast AF speed, refresh speed, etc... but when I bought my camera, the S1 was "tops" for the optimisation of above and below water action.

 

[RonFrank]

Not every Canon/Sony/Oly is great, or bad.

One must look at each paticular model, and evaluate the lens capabilities, shutter lag, WB options, RAW options, and housing.

Three I've had in mind (I shoot with DSLR's, but looking for a less expensive digital for UW use) are:

Sony DSC-V3
Canon S70
Oly 5060

All can produce great photo's UW.

The Sony has the fastest shutter lag, but a 34mm lens, and the housing is expensive.
The OLY has the best housing with the most options, a 27mm lens, a wet W/A option, but is only 5mpix vs. the 7mpix of the others.
The Canon has a 28mm lens that is a bit faster than the Oly, but a less desirable housing.

All three can do RAW but I'm not sure how flexible the RAW support is on the OLY or SONY (waiting for someone who just found a CS plugin that owns the 5060).

These camera's maybe out of your budget, but IMO they represent about the best that I'm aware of that have less expensive UW housings (sub $200) available.

But do NOT just go by some post that indicates that Minolta is better than Pentex, because EACH camera has a very unique set of capabilities that are worth a look, and I can ABSOLUTELY say that the Sony V1 is VERY capable of taking great photo's UW. With a shutter lag more like a DSLR it leaves others in the dust in that respect.

Ron

hi all
i have been away to the maldives on a diving trip, and took just under 500 pictures
i curently have a sony p3 3.3 mp camera with the original sony housing, an land i have been very happy with the camera, but under water i am not so happy, most of the pictures didn't come out as they were blurred {macro} or over exposed {not due to the camera, i know}, i am unable to adjust the sony's shutter speed, etc and as the macro is not up to it, so it's time to change
i was leaning towards another sony, the p120 7.1 mp, i like sony's as a rule
but someone has sugested that i should consider a canon, i can't remember the model
i don't have a huge budget, an i don't want a huge camera, and ultimately a huge housing
also can someone recomend a reasonable, budget strobe for use with it
again size and weight is very important for traveling
thanks for reading

 

[zilch]

i don't have a huge budget, an i don't want a huge camera, and ultimately a huge housing
also can someone recomend a reasonable, budget strobe for use with it
again size and weight is very important for traveling
thanks for reading

Hi, and maybe worth checking out http://www.digitaldepot.co.uk if you are on a budget or Http://www.pricerunner.co.uk to get the best prices once you have selected in the UK. Bought a IXUS500 with housing from digital depot, more than happy with the results.. Problem is i cannot think of a budget strobe, as you would need one with an ability to slave off the camera flash itself (optic cable), and ignore the preflash, as there is no where to connect a strobe to, either on the camera or through the housing

Cheers

Jim

 

[Fat Tony]

I’m also looking for a digital camera I have so far found 3 models I’m interested of:

Canon s60
Sony dsc-P150
oly c-770 movie

any one have any experience of them?

 

[rubbachicken]

hi all
thanks for your input, i don't like the look of the canon s70, a friend has the 5 mp version, so i can knock that one from the list, i had not seen the sony v3 before, that's a new to me, an looking at the picture of the oly 5060, i can knock that one off before i read the review {urrgh}
i'm still heading towards a sony, i had favoured the p120, as i have seen some pictures from it underwater, and i like
but the v3, that will need some closer looking at, i expect it's bigger than the p120, so that will knock points off
all i need to do now is finding a way to fund a new camera, and housing, and batteries, and memory sticks, and charger, and...................................

 

[gt2003]

Knocking off a camera because of its looks? Hmm, you've got me confused. I thought you were trying to get the best, not best looking underwater camera. I'm really not trying to be a pain, and you have to be happy with what you get but it sounds like you've pretty much made up your mind that you're going to get a sony despite everyone elses advise. I hope you are happy with what you purchase. Good luck finding something you like. Greg