entry-level digital

[vertaqua]

I'm looking to get an entry level digital camera, housing and strobe. Does anyone have any suggestions? I like the Olympus D550zoom but I can't seem to find a housing for it. I want a housing that can at least go to 150 feet. I don't care about macro. I only want it for wide angle stuff like to photograph wrecks and pelagic animals(seals, sharks, rays etc). I don't want to spend a whole pile of money on it either. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanx

 

[Finesse]

vertaqua once bubbled...
I'm looking to get an entry level digital camera, housing and strobe. ..... I want a housing that can at least go to 150 feet. ....I only want it for wide angle stuff like to photograph wrecks and pelagic animals(seals, sharks, rays etc). I don't want to spend a whole pile of money on it either.

Its all driven by what you consider to be a "whole pile of money".....your already at a disadvantage from a cost perspective buying things labeled "underwater" ......It looks like you want a strobe and wide angle lens .... those two right there can run ya a bundle by themselves....

then a housing rated to and beyond 150' is going to cost a little more.....

you then have to consider the quality of the images......I think someone (maybe Sealife???) makes a good "relatively affordable" digital system .... I'm not sure but I believe the camera is a 1 mega pixel??? camera....... whereas most of the digital images posted around here are from 2-4 mega pixel......

Again it all depends on what your expectations and wants are from the system....

 

[clive francis]

to do wide angle you are looking at the ike ds125 or the sea & sea 90DX to get a decent picture unles you are diving in bath clear water.

These are about £942 (strobe, tray & arm, sensor) & £442 (not including tray & arm).

you are looking at £600 - £700 for a case to go that deep

and you want at least a 3meg camera£400 plus.

your best bet is to look at cases that go that deep then check the camera that fit and compare.

you could get a deep case to fit the oly Cxx20 or Cxx40 range then look for a second hand camera to make sure you stay within your budget, which you haven't given any idea to us is.

wide angle lens is £200

as always the price difference between £'s and $'s is £'s = $'s