Buying a camera is like buying a car. Models and prices can vary wildly.
There is no single right answer.
I really like the 850is and picked it (twice) for several reasons.
Here are the biggest features I like that influenced my decision.
- very small about the size of deck of cards.
This was a mandatory feature for me. I wanted a small land camera
that could take good photos underwater using a small housing.
- Optical view finder - great for when shooting outdoors and you can't see the LCD.
This was a mandatory feature for me.
- Image stablization. This won't stabilize a moving fish, but means you don't have to be
rock solid to get a clear image. It also allows the shutter speed to be extended
for low light conditions.
- Uses Digic III which is Canon's latest image processor used in all the newer cameras including G9
- Has a programmable button than can be assigned to "custom white balance"
The <PRINT> button can re-assigned.
Sounds goofy on an underwater camera but this allows programming this button to
custom white balance. This allows you to get perfect white balancing for optimal
colors with a single push of a button vs having to go through multiple menus.
The underwater scene mode will not compare in color quality to manual/custom white balancing.
This was a mandatory feature for me.
- 3/4" macro. Basically if you can get the camera that close it will focus.
- CHDK is available for this camera.
CHDK is a s/w image that can be loaded into the camera to give it many new features
including the ability save in RAW, color histogram, full manual control, a battery meter,
and a slew of other features including the ability to modify the code yourself if you
are into that kind of stuff.
- Camera & Housing are about $400.
I just purchased a 2nd 850is setup (camera & housing) for myself a few weeks ago and it
was $390 shipped to my door.
(First setup was for my wife)
You can get spare batteries for about $5 shipped to your house off EBAY.
So far the 2 I purchased have worked just fine.
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It is 8 mpixel, which for me was plenty.
On the down side it does not use AA batteries.
You do get 200 or so shots so it lasts about 2 good dives before you will need
to replace the batteries if you are taking lots of pictures.
I'm not into carrying strobes or using external lenses so if you are going that route
this may not be the camera for you.
I wanted small & compact for taking snapshots that didn't need strobes
to get decent photos.
Here is a link to a page that has several photos taken with the sd850is.
Bill and Terrie's StCroixFavorites/
A few of these(4 or 5) were taken with a SeaLife DC-500. The SeaLife shots
are a bit washed out or slightly blueish color wise.
These photos were taken by my wife. It is her first camera and she hadn't used
a camera underwater very much prior to this trip.
--- bill
