P&S for use Underwater

[Gujustud]

I'm heading somewhere warm next month (most likely cuba) and although I'll be taking my 20D, no way I'm spending money for anything to use it underwater (unless a free ikelite case drops in my lap)

I've been thinking about buying a P&S for a while now, but man, with the selection canon has, I'm lost. If possible I'd like one that uses CF cards, just so I can use the ones I have currently. I don't mind buying a somewhat old camera. Hopefully it still has some manual functions.

I was looking for underwater cases, and came across this (http://stores.ebay.ca/LANDLOOP-PHOTO-USA) seller on ebay who seems to carry a wack load of basic plastic underwater cases for a variety of canon cameras. The price is pretty good to boot. Specially compared to the original canon hard cases.

So there we are, any recommendations? Price wise? I'd like to spend, hmm max $200cdn on the camera.

[cosworth]

Don't you have one? I have TWO underwater cameras. Both for sale.

They both come out from the housing. SeaLife and a A300 with case.

[pakman]

What do you plan using it for? Just snorkeling? Than those Dicapac plastic bags will probably do OK. But if you are planning to do some scuba and take them below 10m or so, I suggest you reconsider. Not that the bags will leak. The problem with those bags is once you get down deep, the water pressure and the air compressing inside will push against all those buttons and may cause problems operating them. I'd suggest going the Canon housing route. No need for an Ikelite... Ikelites are great housings but their point n shoot housing are real BULKY. I've used to have a S70 and a Canon housing. Nice and compact and the housing performed well for over 100 dives or so all over Asia and even beyond 40m. Sold it since I've housed my XTi :D

Now back to your question... Ideally, try to get one where you can manually set white balance. In the $200 range, maybe if you can find one of the older A540's? Bulkier than their smaller brothers, but I've seen people take some good shots with that camera.

edit: it's a shame Canon nerfed RAW on their point and shoots...

[drocpsu]

How soon are you looking to buy one? I have an A85 that I'd be willing to sell, since I just purchased an S3.

It's 4MP and uses compactflash cards. Has a fully manual mode (including white balance). I'd be willing to sell it for $150 with the 1GB card that's in it (since I can't use it in the S3). I still have everything that came with it (except the box). Cables, manuals, the original CF card, etc plus a camera bag.

You'd have to get an underwater case for it though, as I don't have one of those.

[_aravena]

^Which there in lies the problem. Idk know man, depends on what yo're doing. Snorkeling is simple, get a disposable. Heck, i got 2 film cameras with housings for like $15 and they work great the rec pool which is like...i think 10ft or deeper. I can't recall. Cheap things, but they're reusable. I'm thinking though if I go do something like that, i'm either gonna house my S3, which is a sweet setup, or my dinky P&S...which will probably be a SD1000 or SD600.

[drocpsu]

^Which there in lies the problem. Idk know man, depends on what yo're doing. Snorkeling is simple, get a disposable. Heck, i got 2 film cameras with housings for like $15 and they work great the rec pool which is like...i think 10ft or deeper. I can't recall. Cheap things, but they're reusable. I'm thinking though if I go do something like that, i'm either gonna house my S3, which is a sweet setup, or my dinky P&S...which will probably be a SD1000 or SD600.

If you're any more than just below the surface though, underwater disposables are terrible. I used one while snorkeling in Aruba. The water was really clear, but more than just below the surface, all the photos were really hazy and green. I shot an entire roll of 24, and only 5 or 6 were moderately acceptable. They were still green and hazy, but I could at least tell what I was shooting.

It's a little better in pools typically, because they have light bottoms that the sun reflects off, giving you a much lighter area for taking photos. This is definitely not the case when you're in open water though.

[_aravena]

hm...i guess. i dont know anything outside of pools and i should've thought of that.

[vondo]

hm...i guess. i dont know anything outside of pools and i should've thought of that.

If you want waterproof below 10 ft, you might want to head on over to Scubaboard.com and ask their recommendation. But I can tell you what it will be, at least for a new camera: Canon A620/630 + housing. That's what I've got. For the 620, you can do RAW with a hack, set everything manually if you want, and do custom white balance. And at $400 total, I'm not too scared to take it underwater. If it floods, I'll be disappointed but not devasted.

It does take SD though. Go a little older in the Canon line and you might get CF and RAW without a hack. I think some Olympus P&S still do RAW.

But go check out the photo forum at scubaboard.com

[vondo]

If you're any more than just below the surface though, underwater disposables are terrible. I used one while snorkeling in Aruba. The water was really clear, but more than just below the surface, all the photos were really hazy and green. I shot an entire roll of 24, and only 5 or 6 were moderately acceptable. They were still green and hazy, but I could at least tell what I was shooting.

It's a little better in pools typically, because they have light bottoms that the sun reflects off, giving you a much lighter area for taking photos. This is definitely not the case when you're in open water though.

The main issue is that water filters out red light, so if you or what you are taking a picture of is more than 10 ft away from the surface including ALL the water the light travels through, it's going to look like crap on film without serious color correcton.

[Headcase650]

I have an A540 and just picked up the canon case for it but havent had a chance to try it out yet. The camera has an underwater setting as well as underwater white ballance. The case is good down to 130 feet or 40 meters, very well built giving full camera controls, includes a flash defuser and LCD hood. Camera And case set me back about $320. Pretty reasonable for a quality underwater rig if you ask me. Check ot stevesdigicams underwater forums for some additional advice and examples.

[RodneyCyr]

I bought the Canon 800IS and its underwater housing a few months ago. The reviews for this camera indicated that it was perhaps better than other water-resistant cameras offered by Pentax, Olympus, and SeaLife. (The Pentax and Olympus are water-resistant by design, but the SeaLife cameras are conventional P&S models with an included underwater housing.)

Most reviews rated the 800IS as faster focussing, with better recycle time. I also wanted the 20mm (equivalent) lens for out-of the-water use.

I have not yet tested its underwater capabilities, except in a swimming pool. There it worked fine. The "water resistant" cameras, such as Pentax and Olympus, are usually rated only to about 6-10 feet. Although that is probably deep enough, I wanted a greater margin of safety. The underwater housing is rated to 40mm (130ft.)

The SeaLife cameras, with included underwater housings, are rated to greater depths, but do not have the 28mm lens.

A real test will have to wait until I get a chance to snorkel with it in Hawaii. I do not plan to test it at the rated depth, as I am not rated to that depth either.

I have other posts in this forum with thoughts about the camera. One of them is:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=292431. That post is also dated March 24, 2007.

[CharlieD]

just got my DiCAPac today for my Kodak V550. ill try it out and post some example pics here. so far it looks pretty good tho. took a few pics out of water and they are clear even with the front cap on.

[Gujustud]

Ek, kinda forgot about this post!

Yes I have the original Reefmaster Sealife 35mm Camera. Its great, but its film, and i'd like to get a digital camera.

Since my op, I picked up the Sealife DC500 from Cosworth. All I need is the flash link, and I can use my old external flash strobe with this camera as well.

The camera is self is smaller than my 35mm, not to mention 5mp. I can easily make use of it snorkling, but also diving when I head to cuba next week.

[cosworth]

Hooked a brotha up eh? Glad you dig.

[Gujustud]

lmao, yeah thanks man. The camera itself is actually very nice and small too. I don't have a small compact P&S like this, so it was a double buy ;)

Also called a dive shop in New West that ordered in the flash link for someone else who didn't pick it up so its sitting in a corner. I think I can work the guy down in price there, hehe.