Hi all,
I've been doing some digital camera research and have come up with a "short list" based on reviews both here and on scubaboard.

My short list is: Sony P150, Canon A620, Olympus SP-350, and Fuji E900.

Would those of you who have these mind weighing in on the pros and cons of your chosen camera??

I've read the reviews in various sources, so I know what their capabilities are, I'm just looking for what you do and don't like or what you'd change about the cameras you use.

Also, do you have the manufacturer's underwater housing, or Ikelite or another?

THANKS!!!!

I would suggest going to this site http://www.digitaldiver.net/ and asking the same question. A search on that site may provide some answers. Regardless, go digital, you won't be sorry.

Becky, I have the Oly SP-350 and LOVE IT. My first dive trip was this past July-Aug. and since I wasn't able to dive, only snorkeled, but still loved it. It takes great pictures ! One of the things I love about it is that the screen is so big, easy to see underwater. I have the housing that goes with it, the 3030 I think?

Becky - I like the fact that the housing for the Sony P150 cost me less than $120.00 bucks!

Kelly,
PT-030 is the housing for SP-350 by Olympus. That camea is really NEET!!

Becky that question is very similar to asking where to stay, Capt Don's, Divi, Plaza, Belmar etc. You will not go wrong with any of those 4. It really depends on a lot of variables, eg; size, RAW files, LCD size, TTL flash capability, white balance control, diving style, add-on lens, external strobes etc. The Olympus 350 covers all the above except for size. The Canon and Fuji are good middle of the road and very capable. The Sony (as much as I love that camera) is the best if size and price are your prime drivers.

You can check compatabilities for different cameras on www.digideep.com

Becky, one of the primary reasons I went with the SP-350 oly, was the 2.5 inch LCD screen. It is so great because I can really see what I'm taking a picture of. and I do love that camera!

Thanks guys, and thanks for the link to digitaldivers (what a way to kill 3 hours) You guys gave me mostly what I was looking for (what you did and didn't like about your respective cameras).

I'm off to look at cameras!! Wish me luck.

haha... thanks, Ron! Right numbers, but too many.

I bought the Oly on the advice of a Bonaire friend who takes pics regularly, and I have not been disappointed.

Hi

I would also try for more info than you want:
wetpexel.com
http://www.steves-digicams.com/ and then go to side by side under reviews.

I just got the oly 350 and will be buying the housing, as my nikon 7900 just died when it flooded in 8 ft of water at salt pier two weeks ago. And as much as I loved the nikon, thought I would try something different, but no underwater pictures yet to report. Three separate divers I know in Bonaire had it. Lydia

Which of the above cameras are the best for shutter lag???

Darlene I think most of the newer point and shoots are very fast compared to older cameras. The Sony P150 runs about a second maybe, in other words wicked fast but not instant (of course the half button press will make it instant).

Hi,

My husband has the Olympus 350 with the the Olympus housing. It takes GREAT pictures! He does use a strobe. He got a great deal on the camera from Abe's of Maine. We were in Bonaire in May for two weeks and he took some really fabulous photos. For the quality of the images, and the great price on the camera and housing, I'd go with the 350.

Well, I'm hitting a brick wall here. None of my local camera/electronic shops have ANY of the 4 cameras I'm interested in!! I've got one more shot and that's Appleton (45 minutes north - I guess that's the price I pay for living in the boonies, lol)

If I can't find any there, does anyone know of a reputable online store that has a good return policy if things don't work out??

Yes, Becky ! Try Helix... I'll have to find the website. Someone recommended it to me for the housing. I got my digital camera at Best Buy.

Becky, it's www.helixcamera.com. They got really good recommendations from BTers when I ordered my housing.

Thanks, Kelly The Best Buy near me didn't have much for cameras. Lots of little cute colored ones. Not exactly what I was looking for, lol!

B&H Photo. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/
I have bought from them for years. You might pay a little more but they are a first class operation. Unless they are a lot more expensive I use them and when they are more expensive I have to wonder just why the other places are cheaper. One bait and switch I have heard about is the camera is cheap but they hard sell the accessories. If you want just the camera it suddenly goes wayyyyy on backorder.

You have a good point, Herman. I've used B&H as well.

One thing I've noticed quite often is that the cheaper priced stores seem to make it up by charging twice as much for shipping, so it always seems to even out in the end. But why bother with a store that uses these tactics?

Hi,

Wherever you buy you camera from, you need to make sure that they are an authorized dealer. You also need to be sure that the camera has a US warranty. You might find a camera to be super cheap, but a lot of those cameras are cheap because they do not come from an authorized dealer. This could also mean that if you have a problem with the camera, you could possibly have to send it back to JAPAN to be fixed. I live in New York City and have bought cameras and equipment from all of the following reputable stores.

http://www.jr.com
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
http://www.adorama.com

I am not sure what their return policies are. But their prices are always low. They are all authorized camera dealers.

Karen

Becky,

Just one word if going after the oly 350. COSTCO.
Yes costco. This last week they had it in the store and online at costco.com for $200 US. Separately I just ordered some memory 1 gm xd H card and a flash card reader from B and H.. ( mentioned above)

The housing: Several retailers - on line including B and H, leisurepro and 47thst photo all have the hosuing.. As I recall for about 200. Did not order this yet. I picked the oly 350 after my nikon flooded. Can not speak to other cameras and availbility or pricing.

Also, you can order the SP-350 online from costco.com (I did). Came to about $230 with tax and shipping to TX. I have the Ikelite housing and strobe on order from underwaterphotography.com (seems to be part of helix.com).

Well - here's the update: I am the proud new owner of a Fuji finepix E 900. Ikelite housing should be here in about 10 days. Now to figure out what all those buttons do... lol!

Thanks for all the advice!

my son does a lot of photography and has dealt with both adorama and b&h and he recommended b&h when i was looking for an UW camera. i bought a used one from them last fall. it failed during our feb-april trip. when i contacted them when i got home they said it was out of warranty as they only give a 90 day warranty on used equipment. i explained that it was an UW camera and failed within about 30 days of my first using it but they didn't care. i guess that's something to keep in mind when buying a housing too. if you buy it now and don't use it till the winter, it could be out of warranty before you get it in the water.

the bright side of my experience is that it's forcing me to go digital sooner.

I didn't check on the warranty on the housing, but since I ordered it from my LDS, I think I'll be treated OK. They've done right by me so far I will also be using it in 3.5 weeks in Bonaire, so thankfully I'll be using it before any potentially short warranty could expire

Good advice, thought Pat.

Good luck becky, can't wait to see your pics.

Like ditto. Becky get as much flight time as possible before Bonaire. Pets and insects are great subjects to practice on. Make sure you shoot some shots in the UW housing so you get used to the buttons.

And remember digital pictures are free, so shoot often.

Thanks Pat and Cecil, duly noted and have been playing a bit, it got so cold recently no bugs, but the pets... that I've got covered

I will definitely post pics when I get back!

Becky,

I'm pretty new to BT, but I use and sell the Ikelite housings here at our diveshop. You'll be very pleased with them. They're a snap to use and are very durable. Mine gets beat up in the bottom of a zodiak on regular trips. As well as travel to all my destinations. Make sure, however, to do a dry run with the housing in the water with no camera - just in case!! I have seen different housings flood on first use - rare, but it can happen! It's usually the operators fault, but things can slip through the cracks from the manufacturer.

Mike