Digital camera needed

[Cherry]

I am in need of a new digital camera for both underwater use and for use in my business ( Cherry grower ) I want a good camera at a reasonable priceand it has to be digital to satify my business needs. ( deductible that way too ) For above water use lights etc are not needed but for under water use I am interested in some kind of package which would include lights. any help I can get

 

[AliKat]

Not sure what a "reasonable" price is to you, but I just got the Oly 4040/PT 010 set up. I got the camera with an extra 64 memory card, rechargable batteries and charger (plus a couple of other extras) for $710 including shipping (I'm at an FPO address, so no tax). I got the PT 010 (underwater housing) with the S&S strobe for $940 including shipping.

I got both on-line; the camera at Click for Digital, and the underwater set up and Underwater digital.

I JUST got this set up, and haven't had a chance to get it wet yet, but I love the camera on land.

 

[Cherry]

Well I am Canadian eh....means $1000 canadian worth about a buck and half US$ but what the hell i would be looking to spend $1000 US or so and try to cover both the camera and housing but based on what I see it may be a bit low. My HP 215 is getting long in the tooth and was ok for taking ID card photos of our employees but thats about it...at what 2.x it is a bit low. I would like to push 4.0 if I can and I am new to diving but am seriously hooked...is having water above yur head addictive? Heading to Maui in Dec and Belize in March and want to take some decent shots.

 

[Dee]

Cherry...If you're looking at 4mp cameras, the C-4040/PT10 combo is affordable to you for under $1000US. I haven't checked lately but a short while ago you could find the camera online for about $550. The PT-10 housing is $250 at UW Digital. You don't have to have an external strobe in order to get good pics underwater. You can always add one later if you wish.

 

[Cherry]

Thanks I will checkout the 4040 and the Pt-10 housing. I found a great review of the pt-10, Ikelite, light and motion housings and the PT-10 prob does fit for me. The reviewer really seemed to like the 3040 camera tho. I may just have a serious look at it for the savings too. Is there a housing for my Old HP 315. I'd like to pass it on to my newly diving daughter?

 

[Cecil]

Don't forget the Sony option. A Sony DSC-P9 will run around $600 and a Sony UW housing about $200. It's a great combo that will do a super job. It's slightly smaller than the Oly's and will focus down to 4" (vs. the Oly's 8"). It works great w/o an external strobe and will fit under a BC strap or in a pocket.

 

[Dee]

How many mega pixels is it?

 

[clive francis]

i have the 3040 if you want to see some photo's go to my site, the Red Sea this year are all with the 3040

 

[spottydog]

The P9 is 3.9 megapixels. I have one and found it to be excellent plus as it fits in my BC pocket (and my jeans pocket when not diving) I am using the camera a lot more than I used the MMII

 

[jkolb]

I spent a lot of time deciding which digital camera I wanted to buy, and I ended up with the Canon S40. Make sure you take a look around at the review sites to check up on all the cameras mentioned here.

DPReview reviews of all the cameras mentioned so far:

• S40
• DSC P9
• 3040 (I can't find a review on the site for a 4040)

More reviews of the S40:

• Imaging resource
• DCResource
• Steve's Digicams
• PC Photo Review (consumer reviews)

You can also search any of these sites for reviews of the other cameras, and get ideas for other cameras you may want to look at.

My biggest problem with the S40: I can't charge the battery while it's in. I have to take it out and put it on the charger.

What I love about it: It takes sharp pictures, it allows complete control of all exposure options (if you know what you're doing and want that sort of control. it also has plenty of auto modes if you just want to point-n-shoot), and it's small enough to fit in a pocket (even with the waterproof housing, I could still fit it in an IQ pocket).

I purchased the camera from a local shop a few months ago for US $600, and the waterproof housing is available online from Canon for US $240. Amazon seems to claim that their price on the camera is so low they can't show it. Crap. They also seem to have the waterproof case for US $180. Why didn't I check them before I bought my waterproof case? *sigh*

Jon