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Community Chat: Underwater Camera recommendations needed
Bonaire Talk: Community Chat: Archives: Archives 2008: Archives - 2008-11-01 to 2008-11-30: Underwater Camera recommendations needed
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3051) on Friday, November 28, 2008 - 10:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Amanda needs/wants an underwater camera that can also be used on land...any recommendations in the $200-$400 price range?

Thanks!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By *joe brannan* (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #631) on Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 2:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Donna
You might wanna look at the Olympus FE 360. I have the 370 (newer almost identical model which doesn't have a housing yet), but it's just about the same camera. Camera should be $110 to $120 and the housing (PT 044) is available from Amazon for $115. It's a great little land camera, very pocket friendly. Only comment, if she's gonna use it for dive photos, go ahead and get a Cyan (red) filter. You may have to look around for the filter or rig something to fit, but you loose substantial color below 15 ft without the filter.
I love our little 370, it's great for relatively close pics or wide angle far away pics...it is NOT for zooming in.....we struggled to get closeups of flamingos, but photo'd Goto Meer lake perfectly with flamingos aways away. Excellent portrait or people cam. I don't know anything about the housing but I know people who've owned Olympus housings and they were quite happy with them

good luck

cheezeit joe

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3057) on Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 10:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

thanks Joe, I'll check it out...

anyone else????? What kinds of cameras do the rest of you have? Even if they cost more....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1625) on Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 2:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

hi donna, i have a canon sd630 with a housing and flash for u/w. when i bought it i was told to look on ebay for more of the same camera since the housing would be specific to that camera and if the housing flooded i could have another camera ready. like they say, if the housing floods, 99.9% of the time it's your own fault...poor cleaning, forgetting the o-ring, etc. so while my original camera cost about $300-350, i was able to get "spares" for about $125 each a few months after the original purchase. i like the 630 because it has a 3" screen on the back which makes it easy to see with my old, if recently repaired, eyes.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7060) on Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 7:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Donna wait to I get back home on Monday/Tuesday and I'll give you some choices.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3060) on Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 7:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Pat

Ok thanks Cecil! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pegi Sue, PegiPie******************* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7654) on Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 8:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I was gonna say to wait and see what Cecil says!:-)
Anyway, Kayla does great w/ my Sealife ReefMaster Mini. Of course, she also is a photographer and took photography in HS and some in college... It's an underwater camera that doesn't need a housing, but takes great topside photos too. I don't know what it cost...sorry.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3062) on Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 10:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Pegi...that's one that she's been looking at..

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3063) on Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 10:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

and Amanda's a decent photographer herself...she's got some artist genes from her Dad :-)

(Message edited by devfam on November 29, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roy (160 DTG) cya at Lac Bay May 10th (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2670) on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 5:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Good thread Donna, I'm also looking at getting a new Camera for my trip next year, but as I'm not a diver I don't think I need to get one with a housing,

I'd much prefer one without a housing that I could use for 'top shots' and snorkeling. I've done a bit of digging on 'tinternet but darn it I appear to have lost my shortlist, but I'll be watching this thread with interest.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3065) on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 10:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Roy, Amanda and I agree that the no-housing camera seems easiest...she's probably going to go with the Sealife reefmaster that Pegi mentioned....but I'm still interested to hear what everyone else suggests! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7062) on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 5:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I would not go near a Sealife Mini it has a fixed lens and no zoom and worse thing is it only focuses down to 18" (AFAIK) which is totally unacceptable for UW photography. Heck 18 inches is at the outside limit of where I will even shoot the picture.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3067) on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 5:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

What would you recommend, Cecil?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7063) on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 6:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The problem is that I'm still at my Dad's in DC and do not have access to my photography sites. When I get back to work on Tuesday I can take a look at what is available.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3070) on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 7:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

oh, ok...I see Cecil!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Beck-ee... not wanting winter to come (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2026) on Monday, December 1, 2008 - 11:38 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Donna, have her check out sites like "wetpixel" and "digitaldiver", they are websites devoted to underwater photography. Lots of good information to be found on them, along with good deals on used equipment.

That being said, I shoot a Fuji E-900 and have it in an Ikelite housing. When I bought mine new, the camera was $400 or so, and the housing was just about that. 2 months ago I got the exact same set up used, plus a macro lens, for $350 total (including shipping) off digital diver.

I think several people on this board shoot the Olympus P-350 (Cynde???) and that was my 2nd choice, I just couldn't find one around here to physically lay my hands on before buying and for me - I need to see it and feel the controls before buying a camera.

Good luck!:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Gould*** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1773) on Monday, December 1, 2008 - 7:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

SP-350 is the camera and we love them(3)!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3081) on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - 7:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cecil, are you back yet? Sorry, but I'm anxious to order her camera...Thanks!! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3083) on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - 7:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

a friend of hers recommended this one with a housing...Olympus D-580

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7066) on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - 8:49 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm back. My first choice (for a pocket P&S camera) would be the Olympus 1030 very small, waterproof, U/W case (PT-043 which is available), 3.6X zoom, 10 megapixel and many automatic U/W white balance settings. It is a little on the high side, camera = $300-$400, UW housing another $200.

Next level down is the Olympus FE-360, 3x zoom, and 8 megapixel. Very inexpensive $100-$180 for the camera, and another $150 for the UW case. I would expect that it will also take great pictures as long as she follows the standard rule get close, then closer, and use the flash.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7068) on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - 1:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

There also a couple of good Canon choices the IXUS 980 and 880. They're both 14.7 megapixel and run around $300, they both have UW cases (WP-DC26 and 27), that are available. The 880 has a better lens (4x zoom and 28mm wide) but less control, the 980 has great control and would be a great camera to grow into.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3085) on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - 6:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Cecil...will check them out and talk to her...I appreciate your help!!! !:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna (CC) in the Poconos (*) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3129) on Monday, December 8, 2008 - 8:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi everyone....just wanted to thank you all for your recommendations....she decided to go with the Sealife mini after reading the reviews and talking to people....hopefullly it will be good for her.
Cecil, she didn't disregard your advice, but felt that she'd be more comfortable with the Sealife mini for now.

Thanks again to everyone for all their help!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7089) on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - 9:19 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for letting us know. Yes I am disappointed but hey it's her camera and she has to get what she thinks is best for her. It is certainly a simple camera.

I guess what bothers me the most is the misconception that a complicated camera is complicated. If you took any the above complicated Olympus's or Canon's out of the box, put batteries in the camera and pointed it at a subject, 99% of the time it will take a great picture. All of those complex features are only needed on a very small percentage of the pictures. Unfortunately underwater is when those extra features are desperately needed, especially macro focusing.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7910) on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - 11:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Donna, I have to agree with Cecil. If price is a factor, then the Sealife Mini will probably do her fine for what she needs/wants now.

My first UW camera was a sealife film camera. I got frustrated wasting money on bad pics, so got the Sealife Reefmaster. Fair warning, it burns through batteries and the quality of pics is OK, but the delay of flash and picture taking can be frustrating. It was all my budget had at the time. I believe Cecil tried to steer me away from it as well...lol....One of the other frustrating things is that whatever mode it's in when you snap the housing closed, that's it. I don't know how many times I got underwater, turned the camera on, and it was in review mode...grrr...or if I wanted to take a vid, but it was in pic mode...or vice versa.

Anyway, after being frustrated with the lag of flash and picture (fish were WELL out of the way by the time it took the dang pic), the inability to switch modes underwater, and the constant depletion of batteries, I bought the Olympus 350.

A LOT more buttons on the housing, I just used the point and flash the first few times out, but now have it down so I can change from pic to vid to review while underwater...

Anyway, just had to post my experience...

 


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