I am considering trading in my old 2.1MP ELPH on the new Canon ELPH SD 550 with 7.1 MP and lots of new features. The camera, a Canon DC80 underwater housing, and a 2MB memory card will run about $750. I have used my old ELPH on Bonaire with minimal success underwater but it is great as a vacation camera. Also I intend to just use the built in flash.

Any comments would be appreciated.

First if the camera is 7.1MP..............you will need a bigger card then 2MB

Sue;

The card is a 2GB - Sorry.

Hi Jim,

I use a Canon A85 4MP camera with internal flash only. Got a lot of good tips off scubaboard.com. Go to the photography section for Canon called "Canon Corner."

To get the best shots you have get really close and get used to taking pictures in manual mode. I'm not familiar with the Canon DC80 but if it doesn't have manual mode you are going to be very limited in what you can accomplish underwater.

Again, I highly recommend the scuba board website as a resource.

Agree with Richards comments. Here's the DPreview comments on that camera. Here's a link for ScubaBoard. If you go into the Canon section and search for SD550 you'll see a lot of info.

On the general side;
Rule 1) Get close, then closer.
2) Never use the zoom UW (Wide angle forever).
3) Force the flash ON (backscatter be damned).
4) Macro mode On (if it's out of range, refer to rule 1).
5) Stay off the Reef.
6) Respect the critters/other divers.
7) Take many, many shots (digital is free).
8) Bracket everything, exposure, distance, and angle.
9) Learn Adobe Photoshop. With this tool good shots become great.

Any of these can be bent (except 5/6), but you will find the results will disappoint.

Thanks to all. After browseing the ScubaBoard site I decided not to purchase the SD550 because of the lack of manual controls. The Canon A620 seems a much better choice.