S95 or Olympus XZ-1. Currently working on the GBR in Cairns, leaving to dive indo!

[ScubaMaDiver]

Hi all, I have spent the last few weeks reading you forum trying to find out the best advice on what to do about my own personal setup.

I currently have the luxury of working as a photographer out of Cairns on the Barrier Reef. Which I can tell you is amazing.

I am currently using a D7000 in a Aquatica housing, and not sure exactly on the fish eye lens I am using but I could provide you guys with some info if interested.

Basically my Visa runs out in Sep and I have been saving to travel to Asia/Indo to teach diving yet my main goal at the moment is to not work and actually spend my time diving and taking pictures.

I am planning on heading to Bali on sep the 17th ish for Mola Mola season (Sun Fish) this will start my diving adventure.

So now back to what I wanted to ask in the first place.....what camera to get.

I have decided that I am going to go down the compact route yet there seems to be so many options that I just cant get my head around it.

My main aim is to get a setup that will give me good results without breaking the bank just for the sake of it.

I would be wanting to get a Cam+Housing+Strobe...and also probably a macro lens with the possibility of getting a dome if money allows.

I seemed to have my eyes set on s95 yet reading about the Olympus XZ-1 got me thinking as I really like the look of there PT-050 for it, and after checking out the Recsea housing for the s95 I kinda want to get that yet the price difference has just got me thinking!....How much difference will I see between them.

Any advice would be amazing.

Thanks again.

Adam. Aka Scubamadiver!

 

[Nemrod]

If you want to shoot wide angle then go with the Recsea and S95, there are no ultra wide angle options for the Olympus XZ1. Yes, there is a 100 degree lens but that is not really all that wide compared to either the Inon UFL165AD or the Fisheye UWL-04 or Dyron options for the Recsea95 housing combination. But, you did not leave yourself much time to order some items that can be long lead time.

The Oly XZ1 has a tinsy larger sensor and the OEM housing appears nicer than the Canon OEM DC38 but then then the Canon takes the Inon WAL lens and dome for a FOV in the 150 degree range. As far as the cameras, there is no winner by a mile, maybe inches, I would go with the SYSTEM that accomplishes my goals.

If you have been shooting a dSLR are you sure you will be happy with either P&S, perhaps a Sony NEX/Aquatica or Oly Pen though frankly the Oly feels slower than the Canon S series overall.

N