Wide angle or manual more important?

[KeithM]

I'm trying to decide between 3 Canon cameras - the A710, G7 and Ixus 850 (SD800).

So far I have pretty much ruled out the G7, mainly due to extra cost. The A710 has the beneft of manual control, the Ixus has the benefit of a 28mm equivalent wide angle (the A710 is 35mm equivalent).

I have read in lots of threads that manual control is a big plus. My question - is this the case if the camera is basically used as an underwater point and shoot or more so when an external strobe is used?

 

[dbh]

I think the 2 most important things are manual control and the ability to shoot in RAW.
You can get external add-0n WA lenses if you want to shoot wider.

Dave

 

[alcina]

Manual hands down. Doesn't matter if you use the internal flash, shoot natural light or have an external strobe.

The SD range wouldn't even make my list for underwater use (though it definitely would for topside) because of the lack of manual.

The 710 is the new model and several people say they are getting one or have recently gotten one. Not sure I've seen too many photos yet, but sure this will be a fine model. The A620 and A640 are also worth looking at.

 

[the_cat_keeper]

The Ixus is a great camera but if you would like to have some flexibility in composing your photos then its limitation could be rather frustrating.

I have started with the Canon S1... at that point, my 2 diving buddies were using P&S camera (one of them an Ixus) and I wished I had bought a simpler camera... but after a while I was glad to have the S1. It was so much more flexible (despite some other limitations). Both my friends have since moved onto Olympus c7070/ 8080 and myself? Canon S3.

I debated between A series and S3 but chose the S3 because of its look, the minimum focus distance, the shutter speed and optical zoom. Functionally, A710 is not very different from the S3 except A710 has a underwater mode, 9 focus points, is much lighter than the S series and has a Canon underwater housing.

 

[29South]

I purchased the A710is and canon housing prior to a trip to Bonaire.

In the same position again, I would get the G7 as it gives the ability for TTL flash using an external strobe, as opposed to needing to do manual flash with the A710is...

an yes, I AM capable of doing it, but i gave up manual flash in 1980 with the OM2 so its hardly technological progress to manually set flash...

have fun!

 

[Gilligan]

I'm trying to decide between 3 Canon cameras - the A710, G7 and Ixus 850 (SD800).

So far I have pretty much ruled out the G7, mainly due to extra cost. The A710 has the beneft of manual control, the Ixus has the benefit of a 28mm equivalent wide angle (the A710 is 35mm equivalent).

I have read in lots of threads that manual control is a big plus. My question - is this the case if the camera is basically used as an underwater point and shoot or more so when an external strobe is used?

Manual control is a must for underwater use with and without a strobe. Manual (custom) white balance is also a must for underwater use if the camera does not have RAW capability. Canon has removed RAW from all their point-n-shoot cameras.

Can I ask why you are not considering the Canon A640 at 10 megapixels? Ikelite has a housing for it at $400. which accepts 67mm wet mount lenses.

Don't be fooled by the "underwater" white balance setting. It does not take the place of "custom" white balance. The "underwater" setting is an arbitrary one and cannot take all visibility and ambient light conditions into consideration. Calibrating your white balance for non-strobe shots will yield the best results.

 

[KeithM]

I didn't consider the A640 because I want image stabilisation, simple as that! I have used it for years on a Canon 300mm lens and also on an S1 and have found it very useful. I'm not sure whether it will be helpful underwater but I suspect it will be, particularly for pictures of static objects in natural light.

All 3 of the cameras have manual white balance, sadly none of them have RAW.

 

[KeithM]

I purchased the A710is and canon housing prior to a trip to Bonaire.

In the same position again, I would get the G7 as it gives the ability for TTL flash using an external strobe, as opposed to needing to do manual flash with the A710is...

an yes, I AM capable of doing it, but i gave up manual flash in 1980 with the OM2 so its hardly technological progress to manually set flash...

have fun!

I too gave up manual flash when I got a T32 flash for my OM2n in 1980!

I looked at the G7 but in the end didn't think that for me it was worth the extra money. For someone wanting to buy a non-Canon housing and a strobe things would probably be different. If it had a 28mm equivalent wide angle and RAW then as you can probably guess I would have bought it!

I've decided on the A710is and now have to wait for my wife to present it to me as a surprise on my birthday later in the month