Opinions please... C-8080 & PT-023 housing

[djanni]

I guess Olympus is dropping the C-8080 but I've seen it priced as low as $519 and the PT-023, mfg's price is $549. So that's in my price range sans strobes which I would add in a year or so... maybe.

I want to buy sooner than I had planned and am torn between going forward with this discontinued camera now vs waiting for it's replacement which, once it's out, who know when a housing will be available.

I'm trying to get all the camera I can along with a UW housing. I wouldn't mind spending a little more but Ikelite housings for $1,200 to $1,400 scare me away from a lot of camera's I might otherwise choose.

Edit: I just saw an Ikelite housing for $499 at Adorama. Would that be a good combo vs the Oly housing?

Pls, opinions appreciated.

 

[f3nikon]

Maybe this will help:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=114207

Notice the last two pictures of the single clown and tomato fish the colors and sharpness, brilliant! The composition is great too, but that does come with the 8080, credit Nick for that.

I am betting that the 8080s replacement will be less of camera than the 8080, for UW use. Maybe a larger CCD, but I think Olympus may have lost some money on the 8080 which originaly sold in the $1000 range. Only to compete with the $300 shirt pocket cameras.

PT-23 is only $260 at eBay new from Olympus.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Olympus-PT-023-...549464977QQcategoryZ50506QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

May also consider a 7070.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=114136

Dive Safe

 

[Gilligan]

You will have to decide on whether or not to get an 8080 as it is discontinued. As far as the housing goes, the Ikelite housing is much sturdier than the Oly housing and if you can get one for a good price then it is the way to go. You will also get parts for it and great service from Ike.

The 7070 was to take the place of the 8080 and it to is discontinued.

Not sure what Olympus is up to but DSLR cameras are dropping in price and will compete with high end point and shoot cameras and likely drive them out of production. Only the lower priced point and shoots will likely survive.

Nothing wrong with a discontinued camera and/or housing. I'm still using an Oly C4000 in a PT-010. Take a close look at the 7070 versus the 8080 and check with folks here that have them to compare the differences.

Personally, I like the ability to change lenses underwater on my C4000 to suit the situation that presents itself.

 

[kapula]

It's a great toy the 8080 I mean. I have oly housing. It's ok but not all buttons work when you go below 30m and camera isn't locked good enough inside the housing. I mean the camera shakes a bit inside it. Other thing is use of strobes. It's that much easier to use ikelite's one as you can connect it with ike's strobes. For pt-023 you need adapter (http://www.heinrichsweikamp.net/blitz/index.htm) but it's cheaper to start with. What comes to camera being discontinued... my opinion is that most compact digitals will be upgraded and discontinued in a few years anyway.
Have fun which ever way you go

 

[calypsonick]

Don, I am very happy with my c8080 in the Oly PT-023. I have used it on a little over 60 shore dives now and not one problem. The camera still fits well in the housing, no rattle and I am using the original O-rings. I am hoping that with regular cleaning and maintenance it will last as long as my PT-015 which after 150+ shore dives is still working well.

The drawback on the c-8080, as Jim mentioned, is you cannot change wet lenses for this model like you can for the 4040, 5050, 5060 that I know of because the port face is the diameter of a dessert plate. BIG!

I hope this helps with your decision.

Nick

 

[djanni]

......the port face is the diameter of a dessert plate. BIG!

Nick

It all arrived... It's a "dessert plate" all right!!! Wow! It's large isn't it.