Well if you are not experienced with all that equipment, why start with stuff wich might be real tricky for a beginner...:depressed:
After some first shots with Ixus model, i bought some Fuji housing (used around 60.- $) and a F20 (new around 130,-$ and later a used F31)
You see less than 1/10 of your limit...
Are these shots so bad?
Because some people may not be experienced but know they have a real interest and don't want to purchase everything twice. A 2,500 dollar budjet is a good starting point but it will not completely outfit a Canon S95/FIX/Recsea, Typical:
Camera - 400
FIX/Recsea housing - 800
Inon strobe, D2000 - 640 (X2)
Wide angle lens - 500 to 900
Macro lens - 200 to 400
Tray, cables, misc. - 300
Or jump to the Nautica NEX and I think you could get the camera, basic port and housing for 2,500 and build into lenses, ports and trays as funds are available.
http://www.nauticam.com/product.asp?id=101
Currently, in the advanced P&S category, S, G series Canons, Oly XZ1 etc, the S series Canon when equipped with the FIX or Recsea housings is the most versatile as it can accommodate virtually any wide angle, macro lens available now or made in the past and use them to great advantage. This makes it, IMO, King of the Hill, it's unequaled flexibility. The camera is reasonably fast, the sensor is known to produce good results and the camera just works very well with excellent ergonomics when housed (FIX/Recsea) and with full access to all controls without button pushing (very minimal).
Unfortunately, the Oly XZ1 does not work as well with all of the accessory lenses available, the sensor is marginally larger by a hair and it is an equally responsive camera with some nice housings available. But, the lens issue is a killer for me, I cannot get past that, others may be able to, I cannot, disappointed - > me.
I suspect that next season there will be several new options including probably Nautica housings for the newest NEX and Oly Pen cameras which for the first time have a shutter response time equal to a dSLR--FAST! And there may be advanced P&S also with the new high speed auto focus systems as there are several manufacturers with similar new fast auto focus systems in the works. By then maybe your photo savings account will have grown a bit.
If you need it now I would go Canon S in a FIX or Recsea housing or a Sony NEX bare bones in the Nautica.
As to the sensor thing between different cameras, you know, unless you are going to publish photos, I am not impressed with the hoopla, for typical printing, web display, general show and tell, any of the cameras listed in this thread would do very well. Every now and then I get a wild thought to spend a month scanning in all of my old 35mm slides from my Nikonos and Ikelite housed Nikon adventures. Then I look through the slides, boxes of them, and I say to myself, I spent all that money (film and development) and this is all I have and frankly compared to my most casual results from the Canon S90, they s--k. Just have to say, either I have gotten way better (highly unlikely) or the Canon S90 is a far better camera (more likely) in that it is easier to use, the IQ is great, the photos bright and clear with good contrast. Shoot, review, shoot, download, brag, simple as that.
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