I have been reviewing archives and it seems like the Olympus SP 350 is a favorite. Doesn't seem readily available at Costco any longer as there are newer models.

I need to buy a new camera before Sept trip. and want something
easy to use without strobe attachments.

Suggestions from all of you appreciated!!

thanks
Nell

The SP350 is still sold by Olympus on E Bay. It is not there every day, so one needs to keep checking. I have seen them going recently for around $200.

Nell, I just read about a new camera by either Olympus or Canon with a new UW housing. It was 8 megapixel and a 5x lens and was very small (pocket sized). It got me all hot and bothered.

Found it, it's a Canon SD950, sorry it's a 12 megapixel, 4x zoom. It retails for $250 new and the Canon UW housing (WP-DC19) is another $240. It also has some very good image stabilization system. If that camera is anything like it's predecessors it will kick butt.

Here's dpreview's review.

thanks Cecil--

I looked up the Canon SD950 (wow, 12 megapixel) and am finding it retails around $370. (the 850 model seems around $270, )

Yeap, my bad I must have looked at the SD850. Still a good price and worth it.

There's also the Olympus Stylus 1020. 10 megapixel but a 7x zoom lens. About the same price as the Canon and also has a UW housing (PT-42) and very small. This actually looks like a better camera. That is one of my few complaints about a tiny camera, not enough zoom (out of the water), this camera would fix that.

SP350 can be bought used on Ebay or refurb (new camera warranty) from the Olympus Ebay store intermittently. Has great reviews as an U/W camera and I opted for this rather than a new model to replace my Oly C5050 (moment of silence). Will see how it works out.

I just bought a second Sp350 on Ebay. Now I'll have a spare.

I had the SP350 and the write time for raw made me get the Canon G9. SLOWWWWWWW....

i was thinking of getting the canon case for my friend's canon sd870...the sd870 (and the ELPH series in general) is a great choice, however the sd870 ain't got no viewfinder and that can be a little disconcerting...

you can get an inexpensive handle and add a slave controlled strobe too...

(judy still keeps trying to look thru the viewfinder that ain't there)

I just posted a reply to someone else's question on good compact digitals on another place on the board.

B&H Photo has the Canon SD950 with Ikelite housing for $599. I have the earlier SD800 model with Ikelite and find it very easy to use - very easy to work underwater. I don't spend the time deleting bad shots underwater, as I have a 2gig card. A glass of wine at sundown is a perfect time to review the day's dives and delete the loser pics.

thank you for all of your suggestions!