Help me find a reliable dig camera

[slackercruster]

I bought 2 Sealife cams over the last 4 years. The first one lasted about 7 dives and leaked. The next gen Sealife cam bought this year failed after 2 dives. (all dives were under 80 feet) $700+ wasted dollars later I will never buy another Sealife product - 2 dive vacations ruined with no photos.

I used to use 2 Nikonos so know all about O ring maint. The problem with the Nikons are my photos stunk. With dig cams my photos look good.

All I want is a reliable UW dig cam or housing cam that is affordable and uses AA batts. What do you rec?

Thanks

 

[JackConnick]

The Olympus Tough T6000 or T8000 should be the answer for you, as they are shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, crush proof. The T8000 can be used to 33' without a housing. The housings are very good quality, but if it should leak your camera probably won't be hurt.

They have up to 4 built in UW modes and good quality 28mm lenses. The Fantasea W/A lenses will fit the housings as well.

However, they, nor most other newer digicams, don't use AA batteries. Most use smaller lithium batteries that last very well.

There is a instant rebate going on on the T8000 for $30 off until June 22nd, which makes it a great deal.

I have a blog article here on them as well.

Thanks,
Jack

 

[slackercruster]

The Olympus Tough T6000 or T8000 should be the answer for you, as they are shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, crush proof. The T8000 can be used to 33' without a housing. The housings are very good quality, but if it should leak your camera probably won't be hurt.

They have up to 4 built in UW modes and good quality 28mm lenses. The Fantasea W/A lenses will fit the housings as well.

However, they, nor most other newer digicams, don't use AA batteries. Most use smaller lithium batteries that last very well.

There is a instant rebate going on on the T8000 for $30 off until June 22nd, which makes it a great deal.

I have a blog article here on them as well.

Thanks,
Jack

Does the same case work with both? I only saw the 8000 lsited with the case, not the 6000.

 

[JackConnick]

No, there are two different housings. PT-045 for T8000 and PT-047 for the T6000. Both are on my site and in stock.

Jack

 

[Evie G]

If a camera is waterproofed up to 3mts, will putting it in an UW case thats tested to 40mts, save it fr leaks/flood at that depth?

 

[RAWalker]

No camera will survive if you don't keep the o-rings of the housing clean of debris, lightly lubricated with the proper grease and installed in the housing o-ring grooves without twisting. The anwser to the WP camera in a housing is it has a better chance of survival but with a serious flood the water pressure at depth will still likely ruin the camera. A leak that is detected early in a dive without a full flood and brought to the surface before pressure builds it may survive where other non WP cameras would not.
The Oly is a decent camera in it's class although considering the price I prefer the Fuji F series cameras. The Fuji housings are among the best of the OEM housings sporting a double o-ring design. The cost saving of the Fuji would probably allow for a backup camera in the same budget when compared to the Oly toughs and in side by side performance I'd go with the Fuji.

 

[Evie G]

im looking at Panasonic Lumix ZS3. Not sure of their OEM case reliability, but dnt wanna spend on 10bar.
Any feedback abt this cam?

Which particular Fuji F model? pics ok w/o external fash?