UW Camera

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 6:15 pm

Well, yesterday it finally happened. My UW housing flooded and my camera is (probably) toast. I'm drying it out but don't hold much hope-I discovered the flood about 10 minutes into a 53 minute dive. So it was taking on salt water for awhile before I was able to rinse it.
Anyway, if I have to get a new camera I'd like some opinions. I had a Canon PowerShot A610. Loved it. Took photos that didn't suck which is a miracle given my impatience at taking pictures. I liked the screen on it because I compared it to previous Canons which had miniscule screens. Since I got that one, I've noticed that a lot of the little digitals are coming out with even bigger screens. I like that feature. Ease of use is very important because I really don't have much patience with trying to get the best shot.
Anyone got suggestions about the camera that they absolutely think is the greatest?
Any help is appreciated.

nice-diver · Post by **nice-diver** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:45 pm

can you find a camera to fit the same housing...if it was a seal leak and not a crack???

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:21 pm

I think there is more of a problem than that. I would just think I screwed up and didn't seal it well or had a piece of debris or whatever. But nwscubamom has the same housing/camera and has had the same problem on a smaller scale.
And apparently, the camera model is out of date (it's a little over a year old). I might be able to find a used camera but if the housing is leaking, seems kind of silly.

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:52 pm

This setup has treated me pretty darn well over the past 8 months or so.

Pringster · Post by **Pringster** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:26 pm

I've seen several of your pics already, Calvin. You won't find me arguing with ya! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet setup!

Grateful Diver · Post by **Grateful Diver** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:51 am

I'll second Calvin's suggestion.

Cheng was perfectly happy with her Canon A620 until she saw Calvin's setup ... then she wanted one. Well, she got one for Christmas and she absolutely loves it.

On the other hand Wylerbear, if you want a good deal on a used A620 let me know ... Cheng won't be needing hers anymore ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:18 pm

Thanks everyone for the comments so far. Bob, I took my housing apart yesterday to lube some essentials parts but I don't hold out much hope for its long term survival. So, I think I'll pass on Cheng's A620. On to a new camera:
The Casio is looking very nice. And Calvin's photos are certainly fantastic. Bob, you use the same camera as Valerie, right? Her photos (and yours) are also great. Valerie's camera has had a couple of glitches but her photos have been spectacular. I attribute a lot of that to her. As I do to the rest of you who get such amazing results. I don't usually get amazing results and I can't blame that too much on the camera. So, what I'm trying to say is ease of use and foolproofness are essential for someone like me. And a big screen.
Anyone else have a camera and housing they can reccommend?

cardiver · Post by **cardiver** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:54 pm

The Oly SP 350 that Bob uses and that I use seems to be a great camera. The camera can be had for under 200.00 at Costco and I found the housing for 179.00 on line.

nice-diver · Post by **nice-diver** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:36 pm

I have nikon and us divers tattoo'd on my bottom, well not really but I am brand loyal.

Nikon coolpix 4600 with a nikon housing
sealife digital strobe

Its a couple of years old and I don't know what nikon point and shoots will go into someones housing.

If I loose a camera, I can buy my moms or dads, they have the same one.

some love...some hate the reefmasters

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:02 pm

I went to Nikon's website & looked at Nikon's housings, then tried to do a search for a Coolpix 4600, 5600, 5900, & 7900-the ones that their housings work with. Couldn't find any of those. Apparently the next generation of Coolpix are out so they don't carry the "older" models anymore. Guess if I really wanted a Nikon I could find one used but I'm not really that invested in them. I have a Coolpix 3100 but have never been outstandingly happy with it.
Casio is still winning out and the chances of saving my Canon & housing are getting slimmer all the time-can't get the SD card into the camera and the housing is looking pretty grim. Still have to try something Janna suggested to try to save the housing. Once I try that, if it's not working, I'm off to the camera store.

nice-diver · Post by **nice-diver** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:55 pm

go to ikelite.com

then you can see if a housing is available for any camera that suits your fancy

my 4600 is a 4.0 mega

Scubak · Post by **Scubak** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:12 pm

G!
I am thinking of going with Chengs and Calvins setup with the Casio...It looks pretty good...
K

jeff98208 · Post by **jeff98208** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:21 am

i use the sealife dc500. they just came out with the dc600. so far i have not had a problem with it, i've been using it since this past august.

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:47 am

The Casio camera I use is at Costco right now for $309. I'm sure you can find it even cheaper online but if you want the return policy at costco it might be worth checking into. Also, it *might* come with an SD card.

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:35 pm

Thanks for the tip. I'll be heading to Costco on Friday to check them out.

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:53 pm

Just a heads up, there's a newer version of this camera out now, the EX-Z1050 and a new housing (not out yet) that goes with it, the E-WC90.

Might not matter much to you WhylerBear, it's a little thinner and has a better OS (image processing). Might or might not be worth the wait.

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:01 pm

Tangfish wrote:Just a heads up, there's a newer version of this camera out now, the EX-Z1050 and a new housing (not out yet) that goes with it, the E-WC90.

Might not matter much to you WhylerBear, it's a little thinner and has a better OS (image processing). Might or might not be worth the wait.

Interesting to see if this is actually available now. It will make the 1000 come down in price. Sometimes a new model comes to correct deficiencies in the old... I wonder if that's the case here? Wonder what the price difference is? Time to research!

I'm finding prices in the 250 to 260 range on the internet, but that is without an SD card.

If anyone finds out more about the Costco version please post!

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:27 am

I looked up the new version online but couldn't find a price on it. Is it available yet? Or is this a "things to come" sort of deal? I could wait a bit if the new version pushes the old version down in price. But I don't want to miss out on the old one by waiting too long.
BTW, I used my MX-10 the other day. Pictures are fine but man, that wait until you get home, wait for the photos to be developed, using film (an animal product) all sucked.

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:33 am

The cameras do come out usually a few months after they're announced. Here's the press release. The problem is, the housings usually follow behind the release of the camera. I wouldn't sweat the price coming down an additional 20 bucks over 4-5 more months. Think of all the great shots you'll miss between now and then!

I'll be upgrading, but more because I am a technophile than because the new version is that much better than the current. Most sites agree that these are minimal updates to an already great camera.

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:02 am

OK, I got the camera last night. Where's the best place to get the housing? Casio? Or is there a better (i.e. cheaper) internet company to get it from?

cardiver · Post by **cardiver** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:06 am

When I was shopping for my housing I just Googled the model # of the housing and found the on line store with the best price w/ shipping.

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:02 pm

yep, cardiver has it nailed.

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:28 pm

Got it! Just ordered it. Thanks everyone for your help/input/advice/.02.

Zen Diver · Post by **Zen Diver** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:12 pm

WylerBear wrote:Got it! Just ordered it. Thanks everyone for your help/input/advice/.02.

Woo-hoo! New toys! $\:D/$

-Valerie

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:45 pm

sadly, I won't have the housing in time for our Tuesday dives (will still have the dinosaur film camera) but I'll bring the camera along for you to see. It's extremely cute.