Is this a good camera for a beginner?

[ScubaCollin]

http://scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=310ProKit

If not is there anything better out there I can get for that price?

 

[mike_s]

http://scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=310ProKit

If not is there anything better out there I can get for that price?

You can get a better camera, buy you certainly are gonna pay more.

Yes this a good camera, especially for the price. I have the film (35mm) version of the above camera and really like it and plan to buy the digital sometime. I've asked several people who have these and they all like them and would reccomend them. A few people want a nicer one, but I think they have bigger budgets than I do.

BTW.... The URL you referenced, they want about $560 for that camera. You can get it here (see below) for $529, which will save you about $30 bucks. (It's where I bought my film one and I was 100% happy with them.).

see http://www.divesports.com/mall/sealife_SL145.asp or call their 800 number.

Hope that helps.

-mike

 

[dbh]

It looks like Dive Sports will go even cheaper if you call them. I have bought wetsuits and my my Apeks regulators from Phil (Dive Sports). I still send them back to them for their yearly servicing. They are a great operation.

About the camera.....IMHO you will out grow it very fast. You need a camera that has manual control (ie: aperture & shutter speed) at the least. If you are on a tight budget get somthing like an Olympus 5060 in a Olympus PT housing (probably $600 - $650 range). Use the internal strobe until such a time as you can afford an external strobe.

HTH,
Dave

 

[ScubaCollin]

I think scubatoys said they would match any price, so Ill still buy from them. I just bought a regular camera and a underwater housing, and Im already sick of it. So i want to buy something else, could you please post links to the olympus 5060 and the PT housing?

 

[dbh]

Camera:
Oly 5060

PT:
PT-20

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I've used the 310 alot, my buddy has one and rarely dives so I was able to use it pretty extensively. Its a fun camera, easy controls, takes fun pictures. If you want post-card quality - or think you'll outgrow an easy PnS camera without any manual functions, go ahead and spend the extra dough on a higher quality PnS with manual controls(I went with the 5060 and PT20).

Its all in what you want, some people are happy with a simple, fun camera. http://www.suprbugman.com/gallery/album01 Most of what you see at this link was taken with the 310 - except for the pics from Halloween Megadive and anything with SeaYoda's name all over it

 

[Monkey Knife-fight]

Heya,

I'm just gearing myself towards getting into underwater photography and looked at the very same camera you'r looking at I decided that i'd rather save up a little more money and get a point and shoot digital and housing. After MUCH checking out cameras i've mostly decided on the FujiFilm F810 camera.
http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=FJFPF810 under 400$

Here's a thread i have going that got me there from wetpixel.com
http://www.wetpixel.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=47898#47898

The housing can be had for a reasonable price
http://www.digitalcameras.co.nz/product.cfm?Product=1715
though finding online sellers in the US seems like a pain. Anyway that's where i am right now. Hoping to be able to buy the camera sometime in march...housing maybe in april.

 

[bluewatertoy]

I was recently In Cozumel and have a Fuji Finepix F700 very similar camera. Check out my gallery if you want some examples. The only thing I am dissapointed in is not being able to find a strobe. If anyone has any suggestions they would be appreciated.

 

[herman]

There were 2 of these in our local UW digital photo group meeting last Sun. The pictures were impressive but several things were evident. First, you must use the optional strobe diffuser at distances of less than about 3 to 4 feet. Since the minimum focal distance is around 3 ft, you also need the optional macro lens for any closeup work at all...you know those neet full frame pictures of fish and shrimp. From what we have seen (no one had the macro lens) it appears that the strobe, even with the diffuser may be too powerful and you may need to have additional home made diffusers made (there are no factory ones available) for quality macro work. The 8 and 16x macro kit is another $90, which you will want unless you have no interest in small subjects (and my bet is sooner or later you will want to do macro) bringing the cost to $620 or so. You can add a $100 to $200 and upgrade to one of several 5mp cameras that will do a lot better job with macro work. Granted, you will not have an external strobe unless you spend another $500-700 but many of us have had excellent results with the C5050 and other digtals without an external strobe. .
Bottom line I guess is , if you want a simple camera for general photos and don't care about macro, this camera is fine. If you want to get serious and/or desire to do macro work, spend the extra on a good digital camera and add an external strobe later.

 

[ScubaCollin]

So my best bet would either be the fuji of the 5060?

Once again, thanx for the support. Id probably want to do some macro work in the future, theres not much for macro up here in the North though