Starting from scratch..

[CheddarChick]

Ok due to the recent break-in I am starting from scratch down the whole underwater photography road. Tell me what you dive with and what you would like to dive with....:blinking: Keep in mind I am a point & shoot girl...with a budget...

 

[river_sand_bar]

My setup is fairly inexpensive, easy to get ahold of and I think, takes great pictures..

a Canon A620 with the Canon WP-DC90 underwater housing. The camera runs about $300 and the housing runs about $150. Not too much to break the bank and good for 130 depth.

All the pictures on my gallery were taken with this setup.

 

[gangrel441]

I currently shoot with a Nikon CoolPix 4300 and a Fantasea housing, with a Sea&Sea YS-90 strobe. If I had the funding, I would house my Nikon D70 with an Ikelite housing. Someday I will. Not sure if that is more camera than you are looking for, though...

 

[Blitz]

I use the same camera and it has been working great.

My setup is fairly inexpensive, easy to get ahold of and I think, takes great pictures..

a Canon A620 with the Canon WP-DC90 underwater housing. The camera runs about $300 and the housing runs about $150. Not too much to break the bank and good for 130 depth.

All the pictures on my gallery were taken with this setup.

 

[Cecil]

Go with either the above mentioned Canon A620 or an Olympus SP-350. Either will do an excellent job and are still point and shoot cameras that will do a great job in full auto mode. They also will allow you manual controls when you get better.

I am obliged to ask about your Sealife camera, why are you changing?

 

[Gilligan]

Ok due to the recent break-in I am starting from scratch down the whole underwater photography road. Tell me what you dive with and what you would like to dive with....:blinking: Keep in mind I am a point & shoot girl...with a budget...

Sorry you lost your camera due to a break-in.

Previous advice on canon PNS cameras is good. Also look at the Canon A640 with the Canon housing.
Another camera I am looking at, if I upgrade, is the Olympus SP550UZ. It has the widest angle lens to date fro a PNS camera. Also has 18X optical zoom with stabilization. The Oly housing will be out any day now. Will be more pricey at $500. for camera and close to that for the housing.

 

[CheddarChick]

Hi Cecil, about the camera, someone decided they needed my camera more than I did in Curacao. (really irritated me) So in the spirit of things, i'm of course second guessing all my decisions about gear. I really liked my DC500, but now wonder if the shooting raw options is one I should have the ability to do at some point. The DC is a great point & shoot and I got some great pictures with it.

So now I am confused. and ask my friends what they use...

 

[alcina]

Pink Link, Pink Link! Also a stickie. It has a ton of options and ideas to help you get started.

My first pick of the litter would be the Canon A series, despite no RAW.

 

[CheddarChick]

Hi Alcina,
I read the pink link, in fact many times. Just make me more confused about which one I would love to have, so who better to ask the the crowd....

 

[alcina]

Heheheee - there's a lot of info in there for sure. And there's a lot of ideas on which is "best" to get started with.

In all honesty, if you stick with one of the main contenders you'll be just fine