Such a deal!

[Hoomi]

We picked up a used Canon SD100 digital camera AND the WP-DC10 underwater housing (rated to 40M), for $50.

Yeah, it's an older digital camera with only 3.2 Mp (heck; remember when we thought 3.2 Mp was a GREAT digital camera?), but the seller had kept everything. He sold it in the original box, with all instruction books, software, 2 batteries, charger, 32 Mb SD card, and the underwater case for about 1/4 the cost of the underwater case.

It sure won't shoot any "award winning" or professional quality pictures, but it'll be great for recording our first dives. We already had a 128 Mb SD card, and I think we'll see if it can handle a 256 or 512 Mb (already checked a 1 Gb - "Memory Card Error")

Gotta love Craigslist, and gotta love other divers that have upgraded to much nicer models.

Yes. It works. I need to take the empty case underwater and make sure it's still watertight, but from visual inspection, I don't see any cracks or tears in the o-ring, and it appears to still be fairly supple.

 

[Doc]

I always buy last years models.

If they flood, the cameras can be replaced for a few bucks. I used to shoot all Nikon film cameras, until I went underwater, then I switched to housed Canon AE-1's. They were $50 each.

The downside to 3.2meg ? You can't enlarge as much, and that's where the fun with u/w photography is... getting the small stuff.

BTW- try a better grade 1meg card- really shouldn't be an iussue.

Have fun, and when it's time- shop second hand for your new last years model.

 

[Hoomi]

Yeah, I looked at the Canon website, and they listed a 1Gb card as compatible with this camera. I tried a different one, and it recognized it just fine. As cheap as they're getting, I might just pick up a couple.

I have 512 Mb sticks for my 4.1 Mp Sony Cybershot. It amazes me just how many pictures I can load on a single memory stick, even at a high resolution.

 

[DandyDon]

It does sound like a nice starter dive camera. 3mp is not "last year's model" but I had some fun with my 3mp. If the O-ring looks good, slide a thin layer of silicone grease on it, put a soft 1# weight in the housing and take it down for a test.

Here's the data link at Canon if you haven't found it yet: SD-100 You might try Cloudy setting and/or higher ISO for diving, but the shooters in the Canon forum here can tell you more.

Here is a cheap source for SD cards. Warning: I am pretty sure it would not accept a SDHC card.

 

[Hoomi]

We have an outside vendor coming to work today to perform an upgrade on one of the systems I maintain, so I'm going to have at least several hours today of "escort duty" (DoD plant; visitors must have "shoulder to shoulder" escort at all times when they are in the building). I brought the instruction book with me, so I plan on reading through it and getting familiar with the camera.

Too bad I couldn't also bring the camera in and fiddle with the controls and stuff while reading, but again, this being a DoD plant, cameras are not allowed.

I plan on taking it to our classes this week. If I can, I'll get it to the bottom of the training pool and see how it holds up to 8' of water. Obviously, if it leaks in 8', it'll leak in deeper. If not, I can go ahead and put the camera in and take some pictures during class, too.

 

[DandyDon]

I don't encourage a newbie to own a dive camera until he/she learns comfort in the way. I waited until around 100 dives myself. Many newbies do, but it will not work in OW class I don't think. Too much to learn too fast as it is. It'll be nice to have when you get into diving, carry along, use it only after you're very stable on a dive. Do not jump in holding it tho; I've seen some learn the hard way on that.

 

[String]

My advice, dont use ISO higher than 200 due to noise, dont use the internal flash (due to scatter).

White balance on cloudy and if its got it use a manual shutter priority mode of 1/50th or 1/60th or so

 

[Hoomi]

When I was snorkleing in Hawaii (over 25 years ago), I had one of the Vivitar 110 underwater cameras (I still have it around the house someplace). While this would be the first time with scuba, it sure wouldn't be my first time underwater with a camera.

You're probably right about time constraints in class, though I plan on taking it anyway, if for no other reason than seeing about getting it down to the bottom of the pool at some point and performing a preliminary leak-check. It's liable to also depend on how many people are in our class. When we did the Discover Scuba class a bit over a month ago, there were only 4 of us for two instructors, so they were able to give us more personal attention time, and more free "play around in the pool" time.

Even if we're a bit too busy with the certification exercises in our actual open water dives, I can always see if one of the more experienced divers would mind shooting a few pictures with our camera so we have a few images to share. The beauty of digital film is that it's cheap and easy to duplicate. I wouldn't expect them to waste their entire dive hanging around us, but a few pictures and then either hand the camera back to me or take it and go chase some fish with it would work. I can always stuff it in the BCD pocket or something while we do our cert exercises.

 

[ScubaJoy65]

Do not jump in holding it tho; I've seen some learn the hard way on that.

What happens when you do that?

 

[DandyDon]

What happens when you do that?

You can pop the seal on the O-ring. I used to carry mine in my BC pocket but had a little leak from a giant stride once; I know a lady who totally flooded hers that way. A back roll would be less risky, best done with full BC holding camera up to reduce sudden pressure changes. I carried mine sliding off of the boat to chase whale sharks last month, but that was snorkeling - no scuba gear, didn't sink much on the entry. Generally best to let the boat crew hand it to you after entrance. For a cenote dive last month requiring a 30 ft stride, we lowered them on ropes.

All dive cameras will flood, tho; a matter of when, not if. The best insurance seems to be Inland Marine or Personal Articles with a regular casualty insurance company. Much cheaper as well as more comprehensive than DAN Gear or DEPP. Link below.