usvi-on-line
underwater digital camera?
underwater digital camera?
Hey, all. I'm thinking about buying an underwater digital camera. Does anyone have any ideas on something sensible, and cost effective? I'm just not getting the results from those disposable kinds.
I recently saw an Olympus 850 at a local Target store for $279.00. Does this sound reasonable? Waste of money?- Help!
Thanks, and
Smiles-
MJ
I recently saw an Olympus 850 at a local Target store for $279.00. Does this sound reasonable? Waste of money?- Help!
Thanks, and
Smiles-
MJ
Do you own a good digital now?
Do they make an underwater case for it?
We use a Sony DSC-W70 digital. It's crazy tiny, and 7.2 MP. and bought the underwater case, which makes it about the size of an old Instamatic. Total cost now would be about $230, but you get a real, everyday digital camera out of it. I'm not suggesting you go out and buy the Sony, but think about getting a nice digital for yourself, and then just getting the case for it separately. It's nice to have a 100% sand free, and drop-protected camera you can carry with you all the time, especially after a nice evening out, when you may or may not be prone to dropping things.
Do they make an underwater case for it?
We use a Sony DSC-W70 digital. It's crazy tiny, and 7.2 MP. and bought the underwater case, which makes it about the size of an old Instamatic. Total cost now would be about $230, but you get a real, everyday digital camera out of it. I'm not suggesting you go out and buy the Sony, but think about getting a nice digital for yourself, and then just getting the case for it separately. It's nice to have a 100% sand free, and drop-protected camera you can carry with you all the time, especially after a nice evening out, when you may or may not be prone to dropping things.
MrB-
I freakin' love your avatar.
Thanks for the info. We had a very nice digital camera that a dear friend of ours dropped and broke during an evening of drunken craziness. We arrive on STJ in just over a month, and I thought I'd surprise the squeeze with a little something...
So you think for the 'whole package' @ $300.00 is an accurate price?
I've got some shopping to do...
Thanks and smiles-
Jimmy
I freakin' love your avatar.
Thanks for the info. We had a very nice digital camera that a dear friend of ours dropped and broke during an evening of drunken craziness. We arrive on STJ in just over a month, and I thought I'd surprise the squeeze with a little something...
So you think for the 'whole package' @ $300.00 is an accurate price?
I've got some shopping to do...
Thanks and smiles-
Jimmy
I purchased an Olympus 770 underwater camera on the advice of my brother-in-law and never regretted it one bit. This camera is very compact and takes very nice pictures. It was in the $250 range.
If you do consider it, make sure you purchase a floatable wrist band to go with it... saved my camera!
Good luck.
a couple of pictures I took with it:
If you do consider it, make sure you purchase a floatable wrist band to go with it... saved my camera!
Good luck.
a couple of pictures I took with it:
Tami
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[/url]Well, keep in mind that our Sony is almost 2 years old, and the price quoted is the CURRENT price. The housing is about $90 and the camera is about $150.mahojim wrote:MrB-
I freakin' love your avatar.
Thanks for the info. We had a very nice digital camera that a dear friend of ours dropped and broke during an evening of drunken craziness. We arrive on STJ in just over a month, and I thought I'd surprise the squeeze with a little something...
So you think for the 'whole package' @ $300.00 is an accurate price?
I've got some shopping to do...
Thanks and smiles-
Jimmy
I just like the fact that I have a plain ole' digital that fits in my shirt pocket (3.5"x2"x1"), or I have a digital that I can carry around safely, with no thought of dirt, drops, or rain, as well as going underwater with it.
Shopping and searches are key. Sometimes there are 3rd party cases that fit a camera that may not have a manufacturer case. Sony seems to be pretty good about it, as does canon. A good idea might be to pick a brand and look for underwater cases first, then pick a camera that goes in it, if you want to go the route of a separate case and camera.
I have an underwater case from them for my DC96 Camcorder as well, but I would not carry that around all day!!
We have used the Olympus 770SW and love it. It's our third underwater camera. The problem with cameras that require a housing is that if the housing leaks, you're out the camera.
The Olympus is waterproof and shockproof and is an all around rugged camera. I would also recommend getting a skin which will save some of the bumps and bruises. (We are hard on this camera!)
The Olympus is waterproof and shockproof and is an all around rugged camera. I would also recommend getting a skin which will save some of the bumps and bruises. (We are hard on this camera!)
Ahhh....but here's the rub I considered when we were in the market for one. I can always test the housing without the camera in it, to make sure we are still good to go...with a straight shock/water camera, the only way I know the actual case is compromised is when it stops working.La Gringa wrote:The problem with cameras that require a housing is that if the housing leaks, you're out the camera.
They are both great cameras, so I guess it's up to personal preference.
After jealously looking at all of your beautiful underwater photos... and having limited myself to those horrible disposable things... and later trying to find the fish in the haze... I finally broke down and ordered a digital one on Friday from Overstock.com for $119! ("original" price was listed at $299... but they never sell them for that). It's only 5 MP, but "good to 50 feet". Separate camera and waterproof case; 8X zoom. I have a really nice Canon SLR... but it's too big to schlepp on vacation...And I will NOT take it underwater no matter what the case guarantee is. So I hope this isn't too much of a bust. Either way, I figured for that price it was about the same as 8 or 9 of those dispo things. We'll see.
I considered getting a waterproof housing for our canon powershot but decided against it in favor of getting an actual waterproof Olympus. We got the 770 and it flooded and stopped working the 2nd day we had it in the water. Never dropped it and it never went deeper than 3 or 4 feet.
Reading the reviews/comments from others, you either get a solid one or a lemon. There is no in between. Thankfully I had taken our beaten up canon with us so we still got tons of pictures just no underwater ones.
Reading the reviews/comments from others, you either get a solid one or a lemon. There is no in between. Thankfully I had taken our beaten up canon with us so we still got tons of pictures just no underwater ones.
Yes, this is my dirty little secret.
I don't snorkel.
I'm not a strong swimmer, and I get very nervous when I can't touch the bottom. You've probably seen me near the shore on all of St. John's finest beaches.
I'm really kind of afraid of the creatures that live in the water.
I'm content to drink rum punch and work on my tan while y'all float around with your heads underwater.
I don't snorkel.
I'm not a strong swimmer, and I get very nervous when I can't touch the bottom. You've probably seen me near the shore on all of St. John's finest beaches.
I'm really kind of afraid of the creatures that live in the water.
I'm content to drink rum punch and work on my tan while y'all float around with your heads underwater.
flip-
That's what I'm afraid of...the old 'sink or swim' scenario. Maybe I'll just check out whatever kind of housings there are. Thanks for the heads-up.
Lulu-
to each their own! My mother is deathly afraid of the water,as well, but we intend to bring her down with us next spring. There's plenty that I'm sure she'll enjoy.
Smiles-
Jimmy
That's what I'm afraid of...the old 'sink or swim' scenario. Maybe I'll just check out whatever kind of housings there are. Thanks for the heads-up.
Lulu-
to each their own! My mother is deathly afraid of the water,as well, but we intend to bring her down with us next spring. There's plenty that I'm sure she'll enjoy.
Smiles-
Jimmy
I always enjoy myself or I wouldn't keep coming back.
And maybe at some point I'll get up my nerve and snorkel. Maybe...
I think I'd try the housing. You could always check it for leaks BEFORE you put your camera in and ruined it.
And from what the salt water did to my regular camera last year when I had my spill on the beach, I can't imagine that it's good over a long period of time for a waterproof camera.
And maybe at some point I'll get up my nerve and snorkel. Maybe...
I think I'd try the housing. You could always check it for leaks BEFORE you put your camera in and ruined it.
And from what the salt water did to my regular camera last year when I had my spill on the beach, I can't imagine that it's good over a long period of time for a waterproof camera.