Olympus Stylus 300 - Affordable camera and housing

[ishbaby]

Has anybody used this camera???

Im on a tight budget for an underwater camera, and I only need it just to get some shots of my dives. Im not really an underwater photography enthusiast. Is this camera and its compatible Underwater marine case fairly ok?? :11: Both camera and case would only cost me $250.

And when it says it can go up to 150ft . . . do they mean it? I need a testimonial hehe.

 

[f3nikon]

Has anybody used this camera???

Im on a tight budget for an underwater camera, and I only need it just to get some shots of my dives. Im not really an underwater photography enthusiast. Is this camera and its compatible Underwater marine case fairly ok?? :11: Both camera and case would only cost me $250.

And when it says it can go up to 150ft . . . do they mean it? I need a testimonial hehe.

I owned that 3 mp camera a while back, for the price, size, sharp images, brilliant colors. That was the best small size digital I have ever own and only 3 mp!

Did not take my 300 UW, that is when I got the Olympus 8080 with the Olympus marine case.

$250 sounds like a fair price, $130 for the camera and $120for the housing. I'd say a very good all around snap shot camera.

Check this thread, this will make that 300 sing!

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=113268&page=2&pp=10

 

[justleesa]

We have the stylus 400, it is an easy to use camera and I got some pretty good pictures with it.

 

[ishbaby]

I see. . . now im thinking of getting this one.

Just a question, is the shutter speed a little quick than the the sony cybershot? What I mean is, when I focus on a certain fish, it's sure im getting the fish and not the TAIL only? HAHA.

 

[audiotyro]

Would you mind sharing where you saw the deal on the stylus? I know someone who uses a C-450, 4MP but from the lower model series. His pictures were pretty good.

 

[Charlie99]

Just a question, is the shutter speed a little quick than the the sony cybershot? What I mean is, when I focus on a certain fish, it's sure im getting the fish and not the TAIL only? HAHA.

I haven't used the Cybershot, but the Stylus 400 (4mpixel equivalent to Stylus 300) is slow enough on autofocus that most of the time I will press the shutter halfway to activate autofocus and wait until I get the solid green light that indicates focus lock before I try to compose a photo and shoot a moving fish.

Often I'll use a bit of reef at roughly the same distance to prefocus when trying to take pictures of fish with nothing but blue water behind them. Otherwise a lot of that type of photo come out blurry from not being focussed.

 

[ishbaby]

saw the prices thru AMAZON.com

I see. . . so are you saying that this camera is just as slow that it can't focus immediately on a moving fish? HMM . . .

actually, I dont really mind that, coz I take pictures of myself more than the fish. . . . haha :bfish: :jestera:

 

[f3nikon]

saw the prices thru AMAZON.com

I see. . . so are you saying that this camera is just as slow that it can't focus immediately on a moving fish? HMM . . .

actually, I dont really mind that, coz I take pictures of myself more than the fish. . . . haha :bfish: :jestera:

This my be a better setup...

I am actually being asked about a good starter UW setup for a close friend who just is starting out (No, I am not going to loan him my setup!).

This is what I'll be suggesting:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/c5000.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Olympus-PT-019-...Qcmd ZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Olympus-CAMEDIA...1QQcmdZViewItem

My reasons:

Has a real Manual Mode!

Camera has a hotshoe (for low cost future ext. strobe expansion).

The internal flash is placed top center of the lens (great for that light tent method).

Larger than normal internal flashhead about the size of my 8080!

5MP (silmilar CCD as the Olympus 5050).

Very high quality Olympus glass, coated lens.

Super Macro mode like the 8080.

Lowest ISO of 50!!!

Has video clip.

Not too compact.

Price of housing $70 Camera less than $200

Pros? Cons?

 

[ishbaby]

I saw some images in Amazon uploaded using this camera and its housing. The shots are pretty decent considering the price. I might just get this one next year.

 

[dlegros]

The Stylus 300 (mju 300) on this side of the pond is a great little camera, but it does have terrible shutter-lag that takes a while to get used to.

I can personally verify that mine has been to 30m

It can produce some great shots though...

Dom