Good beginners camera??

[picxie]

What's a nice camera for a beginner? Nothing too big or complicated, something reasonably cheap. Preferably digital and under $500 (or is that too much to ask?).

[TxHockeyGuy]

There are several cameras on the ScubaToys site that are in that price range. You could also put together a canon a series camera and housing for around that price too, but you'll have to look to purchase it somewhere other than ScubaToys (unless Larry has been holding out on us!). I went with an a series and canon housing. I added a tray, arm, and strobe which puts me way over your $500 budget but you can take great pics under the right conditions with a pretty basic underwater camera IF you know how. Just make sure to get one that supports manual white balance.

[Wolfie2012]

you can get an Olympus SP-350 & olympus housing for about $350/$400 last I checked. Strobe will put you higher but you may not need one right away anyway

Sweet camera, 8.1 mp, jpg or raw or both. My pics in the gallery were taken with it.

[Venio]

I'm a noob in both diving and UW photography. I was interested in the same question so I did my research. At first I thought I'll by a film cam for starter. Now I'm glad I didn't opted for that. My second choice was a cheap Chinese no name brand. They come with a housing and from distance they look like id they are real . The problem with them is that they are missing essential for the UW photography features like manual withe balance, or at least it's not mention in their description.

A member on other board suggested to me to look for cheap new housing first and then see what posumer camera will fit it. I followed his advice and find out that Olympus is selling their older models housings on eBay, rather cheap, $10-40, for a brand spanking new one! Currently they have the PT-019, PT-020, PT-021 and PT-032. Those will fit C-5000, C-5060, D-575/580 and Stylus 700/710.

The main problem, or not, is that all these are discontinued models, If you are lucky to have one, awesome! If not, you'll have to buy an used one, as I did. The best camera from the above is C-5060. However it's almost identical to the three times cheaper C-5000 which I got. I had spent 160$ for the camera, housing and brand new battery. Cheaper then just any housing for a newer model in a store.

The reason I decided to go this path is not only that it is much cheaper but also because the quality of the camera is close to the new model cameras. Also I would no cry for too long if I accidentally flood it. The camera will let me sample the UW photography without sacrificing quality and if that is something I decide to get serious in it, I'll upgrade.

Hope my story didn't bored you !

[ScubaToys Larry]

I'm so PO'd at canon right now, I'd never carry their stuff!

The web cam in the shop is a canon that has worked fine for the last 2 years. Now starts hanging... but on one computer it works fine... on another not. I talk to their tech folks.. No idea.

Then I found someone who knew what was going on at a retail shop - the camera software was written (poorly) in java, and they used code that is now not compatible with the Java 6 that is out. So the camera just locks up for anyone with that version.

I call canon... they basically finally say, "well yea.. that is causing it, but we don't have any solution, but that camera is already 3 years old... nothing we can do. No software update, no firmware upgrade, no trade in program."

So a product that I bought 3 years ago for $1800 is now a paper weight. I talked to supervisor after supervisor... all useless - no concept of customer service. Even made one pop up the article on me in Entrepreneur magazine on using the web cam - told them that I get calls all the time because of the article, and I'll tell everyone canon is a POS... they said.. Oh well.

Sorry... been on the phone with them for 3 hours to zero satisfaction and just the word cannon made me go off...

Oh... but the short version is I don't think I'll be carrying cannon.

[WaterRat]

I can only speak from the Canon point of view. I have an old A75 with the canon housing and I love the set up. Easy to use and get great pictures. Well at least they're great to me. With point and shoot underwater setups, most people are either in the Olympus or Canon corner. Which ever you decide on get a huge memory card like 2 gigs. Shoot in the highest resolution so you can crop the pictures and don't open the camera on the boat or near water.

Ron

[WaterRat]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

I'm so PO'd at canon right now, I'd never carry their stuff!

The web cam in the shop is a canon that has worked fine for the last 2 years. Now starts hanging... but on one computer it works fine... on another not. I talk to their tech folks.. No idea.

Then I found someone who knew what was going on at a retail shop - the camera software was written (poorly) in java, and they used code that is now not compatible with the Java 6 that is out. So the camera just locks up for anyone with that version.

I call canon... they basically finally say, "well yea.. that is causing it, but we don't have any solution, but that camera is already 3 years old... nothing we can do. No software update, no firmware upgrade, no trade in program."

So a product that I bought 3 years ago for $1800 is now a paper weight. I talked to supervisor after supervisor... all useless - no concept of customer service. Even made one pop up the article on me in Entrepreneur magazine on using the web cam - told them that I get calls all the time because of the article, and I'll tell everyone canon is a POS... they said.. Oh well.

Sorry... been on the phone with them for 3 hours to zero satisfaction and just the word cannon made me go off...

Oh... but the short version is I don't think I'll be carrying cannon.

I work in the hi-tech space and this is all too common. The technology changes so fast and they stop support after a couple new revs come out. Very fast planned obsolesence. Canon's just trying to get more revnue from you.

Ron

[TxHockeyGuy]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

I'm so PO'd at canon right now, I'd never carry their stuff!

The web cam in the shop is a canon that has worked fine for the last 2 years. Now starts hanging... but on one computer it works fine... on another not. I talk to their tech folks.. No idea.

Then I found someone who knew what was going on at a retail shop - the camera software was written (poorly) in java, and they used code that is now not compatible with the Java 6 that is out. So the camera just locks up for anyone with that version.

I call canon... they basically finally say, "well yea.. that is causing it, but we don't have any solution, but that camera is already 3 years old... nothing we can do. No software update, no firmware upgrade, no trade in program."

So a product that I bought 3 years ago for $1800 is now a paper weight. I talked to supervisor after supervisor... all useless - no concept of customer service. Even made one pop up the article on me in Entrepreneur magazine on using the web cam - told them that I get calls all the time because of the article, and I'll tell everyone canon is a POS... they said.. Oh well.

Sorry... been on the phone with them for 3 hours to zero satisfaction and just the word cannon made me go off...

Oh... but the short version is I don't think I'll be carrying cannon.

Unfortunately that's how the industry works. If only we had more people like you at these big companies things wouldn't be this way. I have long considered that any product I purchase will work only with what is available today and anything it depends upon that can be upgraded will more than likely break it and the vendor will not fix it. It's sad but no other vendor will be treating you any better. Now, if you were really smart you'd open up a ticket number, post that here on the forum, with an email address or link to cannon tech support and let the board members lay into them. After all, you should use the cult you started. At the very least you could get some satisfaction in knowing that after dealing with all of us they wouldn't be making any profit on that $1800 camera you bought.

[Wolfie2012]

Originally Posted by Venio

The main problem, or not, is that all these are discontinued models, If you are lucky to have one, awesome! If not, you'll have to buy an used one, as I did.

Also don't forget that Olympus has a pretty good refurbished program. I saved a lot of cash by buying my SP-350 as a refurbished model!

[torrey]

Another Oly SP-350 user here. So far, no problems, but I've only had it in the water a handful of times. Use it all the time on land, though. I paid $200 for the camera and $185 for the housing, both new. I'm sure you could get them a lot cheaper now though.