drop olympus 5050 for canon?

[torrey]

Hey all, I'm not really die-hard to any particular camera brand so I've been thinking about upgrading without damaging my wallet too much. Currently I have the Olympus 5050 with PT-015 housing. I started doing some investigating and found that Canon has the sd500 and the a620 for roughly the same price. Both are 7.1 mp, and the housings are around the same for both, too. I've noticed some talk here about the a620, but not really anything about the sd500. Is there a reason for that? Is the a620 the clear choice for underwater photography between these 2 models?

 

[hvulin]

I'm pretty sure your Olympus is supperior (except for megapixels) to both of these Canon models in terms of features. Why would you wan't to change?

I recently flooded my Canon S45 and don't have a clue where to go next with my next camera. I'd like to stay with Canon but I wan't RAW support and they recently removed it from all of their compact models! I also have INON add-on lens (macro and WA) so I'll have a problem with S60,70 and their wide lens (there is a special version of WA lens for this models) if I go that way...

I wanted to buy a used S45 or S50 but all I could find are in the States and don't ship outside (etc. Europe)....

SLR is the way to go but I find it too expensive (I have EOS 350D) and one additional problem is that there is no insurance that will cover a flood.... (at least not outside of US)

Stick to your Olympus and just shoot more....

 

[alcina]

I wouldn't trade my Oly 5050 for any other "point and shoot" class camera right now - and I really do love the Canon A series cameras!

Unless you have really reached the limit of what this unit can acheive, I wouldn't spend money on changing. I'd spend it on more diving! Or on adding more macro lenses or a Wide Angle if you don't already have them. And an external strobe if you don't have one. Those add-ons will open up entire new worlds of possiblities!

 

[havnmonkey]

I agree, if you have a working compact digital camera you should stick with it UNLESS you want to upgrade significantly to maybe a DSLR. Regardless of what brand you have a compact is a compact. I just added an external strobe to my compact and it has made quite the difference in color and backscatter. If your pics are primarily for personal enjoyment don't risk losing too much money.

 

[torrey]

The only reason I was considering it is because I would be trading up the megapixel scale and the a620 would be new, but I would still come out about even on price once I sold the 5050Z and the housing. I worry that with my camera no longer being available anywhere, it will become worthless as better technology becomes available...not to mention that being as old as it is I also worry about it finally giving out on me and the repairs not being worth the expense. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[alcina]

The problem is that more MP doesn't mean better.

The Oly 5050 still has the fastest lens out there. I don't think the 620 is a better camera than the 5050. Different and some things are better. But overall? No, I'd stick with the 5050.

All the cameras out there today will be out of production in another six months, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. New cameras are coming out all the time - it's kind of like buying a computer, at some stage you just have to jump in and accept that something "better" will be on sale tomorrow!

AT this time there are 5050s out there. I have two. When I am sure that I don't want them any more I will sell them. There are lots like me out there And so far Oly is doing a good job of keeping these cameras running!

 

[tangfish]

I've noticed some talk here about the a620, but not really anything about the sd500. Is there a reason for that?

I wrote a review of the Canon SD 500 a little while back. You can also check out some shots I took with it in Costa Rica and here in the Pacific Northwest.

Good luck with the camera search!:14: