Used C5050

[DivenSail]

I have the chance to buy a used c5050 for $200. Is this a good choice for UW use with an Oly Housing? all comments appreciated.

Jerry

 

[Footslogger]

Can not comment from experience on the Olympus housing but I can attest to the worthyness of the C5050 as a choice for u/w photo. I own 2 C5050's and both of them are used.

Just get as much history on the life and use and care of the C5050. The good news is that Olympus has an excellent repair service, if the camera ever needs it. Both of my cameras have gone back to Olympus (for different reasons) and are working well.

 

[Hoosier]

I have used a C5050 with the Oly housing for the scientific project. It has been mainly used to collect the data in UW. It is a good camera and housing. However, I am not sure about the current market value.

$200 is for a camera and housing?

The camera price is dramatically dropping down every year. You can get a decent brand new Canon camera and new Canon housing at $300.

Just my 2 bar.

 

[jlyle]

Probably the best digital camera/housing combination for underwater use ever made. The F/1.8 lens is fantastic. AA batteries, MyMode, ...etc.

Having said that, the camera is dated and suffers from annoying shutter lag.

In last year's LAUPS International competition, four of the top prizes went to images shot with Oly 5050s.

 

[herman]

Great camera and a fair price. Problem is unless you already have a housing, they can be hard to find. One problem to check for that is not obvious and fairly common is a bad memory battery. Not a deal killer but it's a cost if you want it fixed (been there done that). To check it, set the date on the camera, turn it off and remove the batteries. Wait a minute or 2, put the batteries back in and check the date again. If it's changed the memory battery is bad and will have to be replaced (if you want the camera to retain it's setting). The camera will work fine without it but you will loose any setting that are not default every time you change batteries. A real PITA to me.

 

[LekicINC]

i just bought a 5050 and ikelite housing with inon WA +dome port and close up lense and an ikelite ds-50 strobe for 600. I found this to be a good deal. I have a 5060 in an olympus housing, but wanted to upgrade to ikelite housing. Problem is for 5050's ANY housing is hard to find, and usually goes for about 400+ on ebay. This is usually the oly housing. I have to say I am excited about using it. The AA batteries alone make it a better choice than the 5060, which you will find an easier time finding a housing for. IF you have a housing lined up, there should be no hesitation on buying one for that price assuming its good.

 

[Aquabach]

I have the chance to buy a used c5050 for $200. Is this a good choice for UW use with an Oly Housing? all comments appreciated.

Jerry

Great camera. Not as easy to use as many of the newer P&S but great camera.
I think that's a good deal. If you didn't buy it and it still around let me know where so I can get it.

 

[calypsonick]

The 5050 was my first taste of the drug that is UW photography - hooked ever since. At first I was taking mostly supermacro shots with the internal flash. I used the Oly housing and had no problems with it on its several hundred dives. A Sea & Sea 25 Auto external strobe opened up more possibilities for wide angle shots. Let's you control both shutter speed and aperture where other P&S cameras may not.

I used it for the pictures in my gallery from page 21 back if you want to see what it can do :

ScubaBoard Gallery - calypsonick Gallery - Powered by PhotoPost

Cheers,
Nick

 

[grandizer52]

I am on my second C-5050...housing flooded a month ago while in the fresh wtr tank. go a replacement on fleabay. the shutter is slow, my wife has the E03 with housing that santa brought her. but I like the feel of the 5050 so i'll stick with it cause the size is just right
laytah
steve