Canon SD500 or Sony DSC-W7?

[plangstroth]

Curious if anyone has any comments as to which one would be better for diving? I'm not trying for magazine quality or anything, just easy to use.

Does the UnderWater mode on the Canon's actually do anything useful? I have never seen anyone comment that they actually use it.

 

[lukeROB]

Curious if anyone has any comments as to which one would be better for diving? I'm not trying for magazine quality or anything, just easy to use.

Does the UnderWater mode on the Canon's actually do anything useful? I have never seen anyone comment that they actually use it.

Underwater mode not useful on most - some have an underwater white balance which may help a little if you can't set it manually. I love the canon cameras especially from a picture quality POV but the Sony has far quicker focusing. They both seem good for what they are but they aren't going to be fantastic underwater because they are point and shoot only - no manual. But if used within their limitations both will produce good shots.

The quick focus and short lag on the sony would tip me in that direction though, especially if it will also be used on land. Much more likely to get the quick snap shot.

 

[Willie]

The quick focus and short lag on the sony would tip me in that direction though, especially if it will also be used on land. Much more likely to get the quick snap shot.

I used a friends Sony DSC-W5 a few weeks back and there were several things things I really liked.

1. 2.5 inch LCD screen. I could see to change settings, etc. Not quiite good enough eyes to judge quality so didnt delete any images underwater. Just took a lot of shots of anything I wanted to shoot.

2. I took 5 different short videos underwater and was very impressed with the result for such a small camera/lens. MPG video limited only by available memory on the stick.

He had the Sony housing and the underwater filter. I took picts with & without filter. The picts & video here were taken with that camera.

A disclaimer. I had not even read the manual or looked at this camera on land before taking these picts and the two movies. I also tried every mode it had without even knowing what they were. That should explain the wide variation in quality for the most part.

Willie

 

[Ryan]

If you ever plan on adding an external flash, you'll thank yourself for purchasing something with a manual exposure mode...

I used a friends Sony DSC-W5 a few weeks back and there were several things things I really liked.

1. 2.5 inch LCD screen. I could see to change settings, etc. Not quiite good enough eyes to judge quality so didnt delete any images underwater. Just took a lot of shots of anything I wanted to shoot.

2. I took 5 different short videos underwater and was very impressed with the result for such a small camera/lens. MPG video limited only by available memory on the stick.

He had the Sony housing and the underwater filter. I took picts with & without filter. The picts & video here were taken with that camera.

A disclaimer. I had not even read the manual or looked at this camera on land before taking these picts and the two movies. I also tried every mode it had without even knowing what they were. That should explain the wide variation in quality for the most part.

Willie