Good Digital Camera for ~$2-400 with UW case available

[Redneck7]

Cerobit's thread got me to thinking that I really need to get a digital camera for this summer. 80% of its use would be above water and the 20% under, and thats just for "kicks and grins" shots, so it doesn't need to be great, I just want to be able to get some UW shots along the lines of the ones I can get with those $9 a pop disposables. $2-400, good resolution and gotta be able to get an UW case. Thanks for the help.

[WreckDiver]

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...rclo=&saprchi=

&

http://www.fantasea.com/product_details.asp?id=29


This is what I use, It takes great pictures. Will go the whole weekend+some - ON.

I was never able to find a better deal. Nikon does make a nice camera too. I have had mine to 108 feet with no troubles.

[stevemc1]

Bugged, that does look like a good camera, for not much money. Off topic, I still have that 29 gallon aquarium, if you still want it. Maybe you could go diving with us, and pick it up then. Sarasota can produce some gags, I have been told. I have plenty of natural reef #s. Let me know, Steve.

[WreckDiver]

I am ready, Just say when. & yes it is a nice camera. If something did happen to it - would not be a huge loss either.

[stevemc1]

Bugged, this week is out, got stuff happening at home that needs me there, and I dont know your schedule. I assume you have weekends off, in your trade. Water has been real clear lately, typical spring time, pre rain clarity. Supposed to be a dry summer, so maybe it will stay clear. I'll stay in touch, Steve.

[JimC]

Olympus 600 (water proof) @ circuit city and housing at http://www.videodirect.com/Merchant2...Code=ODSCUNDWT
Been very pleased with it.

[PatMyGreen]

I had an Olympus c-60 with housing and loved it, right up till it was stolen from my truck. You can pull that off for under $400 the only down side it that the camera is not tiny like some of the newer ones out.

[Redneck7]

My girlfriend has a Coolpix 5600...maybe I can just "borrow" that one. I'm going to look at all the cameras listed here and also see if my dad still subscribes to Consumer Reports and try to get their take on cameras in that price range. My parents have a Gateway digital camera that Gateway has since quit making, and that thing takes some great pictures but there is no housing availible. There's no type of "generic" or semi-custom case is there? Thanks for the help guys.

[WreckDiver]

www.ikelite.com may make one for some serious $$$$

[Redneck7]

What I figured Bugged, not worth it by a long shot unless it were close in cost to the standard cases. I think I'm going to go to the camera shops around here and see whats on sale and take it from there since I don't need pro quality shots. I'll report back with potential cameras and see if y'all have any experience or advice from there.

[MikeSSS]

I was planning to use a digital camera uw and then noticed that I missed many moving land shots because of shutter lag.

I'll stick with film for underwater, especially spear fishing. On one rig trip a couple summers ago I got two pics of spear hits with the fishes tail cavitating the water. Can't get those kinds of pics with a digital.

Got a good pic of my best friend being dragged downward in an explosion of bubbles as he tries to drag the fish up.

Looking at those pictures sure does bring back memories.

Gonna shoot some fishies real soon!

[FredT]

I have a Olympus 400 series with Olympus housing. 90-100 shots underwater w/ flash per battery with a 512 card. I can swap out a "dead" battery and dump picutes in about 10 minutes. Batteries recharge in less than a dive. We use it for remote trips.

BTW the housing has stayed dry to considerably more than the rated depth.

[RichT]

I have posted on this subject numerous times but it keeps comming up time and again.
The search feature is a really cool option available to spearboarders.

Olympus,Nikon,Sony,Canon and Pentax for point and shoot type cameras.In that Order.Fuji used to be a pretty good camera company but has since degraded substantially in the last year.

For digital SLR, Nikon and Canon are the leaders but watch out for Sony in the coming year since they bought up Minolta/Konica.
The jury is still out on other brand SLR's.

DO NOT BUY Kodak, gateway,HP, Samsung,Casio, or ANY brand not listed in the above list!!!!!
If you bought one of these and it still works... good for you! They are still JUNK or there company still sucks!IMO
This opinion is BASED ON MY 18 YEARS IN THE CAMERA REPAIR BUSINESS.
My company has litterally repaired many, many thousands of the afforementioned brands and deals with the above companies on a daily basis, as well as the customers who deal with these companies.

By the way...Consumer reports is the biggest joke there is, as anybody in the electronics industry will attest!


If you are going to use a camera in a housing underwater, you want to get one with the largest lens you can find! Very important for letting in the maximum amount of light underwater.
Also check shutter lag time. Shutter lag is the amount of time it takes for the camera to take a picture after you press the shutter button. Some cameras have a very slow and unacceptable shutter lag time. Especially cheaper cameras.
Some underwater housings allow for the use of an external flash which is also contained in a waterproof housing. If you can find one with this option it will be far superior as you can greatly cut down on backscatter with the use of an external flash.

Dont ask for individual model reccomendations as you will have to do some homework to determine what features you want. I can only give you specific companies to use and which to stay away from.

Remember this when it comes to consumer electronics...
You usually get what you pay for.

[eward4]

I got a brand new Sony Cybershot DSC-W7 with 7.2 megapixels and the underwater housing that fits it for around $500 almost a year ago off eBay. I've been very happy with it and it takes awesome pics and video. The housing is good up to 130'. Both camera and housing were new so they're probably a little less now that it's a year later. I saw the camera at Best Buy a few weeks ago for $330 which is what I paid for it on eBay a year ago so it's probably a lot less now. I think the housing is between $100 to $130.

[hman]

I own as sealife dc 500 underwater camera. 500.00 plus 50.00 for a 1 gig sd card. It akes excellent pics and shoots vidio as well.