Need help understanding something

[Big Fic]

I am looking at buying a Sea & Sea Amphibious 3.1 Megapixel camera. Its not super expense and we want a digital underwater camera. Heres my question:

It says "Maximum resolutiuon of 3.1 Mega pixel with 1/2.7 inch CCD"

What does 1/2.7 CCD mean?
Is it not 3.1 Mp, just enhanced pixels?

Does anyone else own this camera and would they recommend it?

Heres a link to the camera on Sea and Sea:

http://www.seaandsea.com/

It is the DX-3100

Thanks for any info

 

[alcina]

No I would not recommend this camera! Run, don't walk.

Get a "regular" camera and the manufacturer's housing for it. The results and control are going to be better from day one.

Do a search for that camera...there were quite a few posts a couple of months ago.

 

[alcina]

Here's just one link...refine your search with the Advanced tab for only UW Photo section...

 

[MacHeath]

The 1/2.7" is a measure of the sensor size. It is a throwback to some very old technology, and so it is rather difficult to work out the actual pixel area from it.

Basically for the lowest noise in a digital camera picture, you want the largest pixel area (active area actually-i.e. light sensitive bit). A bigger sensor for the same number of pixels gives you a bigger pixel size.

This site gives a good explanation http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=Sensor_Sizes