I am thinking of the dark side (1010 Info)

[jlyle]

What herman said +

The camera's 7x zoom is great above water, underwater, you will find a zoom lens to be less important. The idea is to put as little water between you and the subject as possible - water eats light, especially colored light. Rule one of u/w photography is, "get close." Rule two says, "if you think you're close enough, get closer."

The camera's on board flash won't fire in supermacro mode.

There are better options for beginning u/w photographers than the stylus series.

 

[Bob Vincent]

If you get the Stylus you need a strobe even a ULF-1. I found out the built in flash is terrible for making backscatter even with the strobe. So what I did was put white electrical tape doubled over the housings built in flash defuser. It still fired the strobe and no more back scatter!

 

[Cecil]

I do want to point out, I am not a beginner (check my web page). The 7x was for out of the water. The 3x I have now just does not cut it.

I am also looking at the Canon G9, the biggest deal killer there is size.

I am firm believer in the internal flash and all to aware of backscatter. This is my philosophy of being a diver who happens to take photographs vs. a photographer that happens to dive. For that reason no external flashes. The camera needs to fit in my BCD pocket.

On the other hand I do want to get as good a photograph as possible. I presently am shooting a Sony DSC-P150 which is wicket small, has manual controls and focuses down to 4". The downside is I flooded one in Bonaire so do not have a spare and that sticking PIA green tink in UW shots with a Sony (I will not miss this).

 

[Charlie59]

I'd go with the Canon and tell myself how thin it looks. It is that thinning black.

Performance can make some size difference worth it.

When will they bring back the SP-350!?

 

[MMM]

I bought one a couple of months ago - have used it topside and like it. I plan to get a housing for it before my next dive trip and it can replace my Stylus 400 as my back-up Oly 5050Z.