Canon SD850IS land & water pic

[efrank]

I'm considering buying this camera with underwater housing. I was hoping to only take this camera, so I'd be taking land pics as well. Obviously I'd take the camera out if at the villa or in town, but if I want some beach pics before or after snorkeling, do I have to take it out of the housing, or does the housing allow land shots through it as well?? I was considering the Olympus 790 too, do you think that takes as good land shots as I'd get with an 850IS?

Also, if anyone has this camera, could you confirm whether it has an underwater scene setting on the camera? Amazon and dpreview.com says it does, but I saw a previous comment from a poster saying that it doesn't?

[promoguy]

I have the 800IS and it has the underwater setting. Also have the housing and loved it last year. Great way to take underwater. I'm sure if the reviews say it does, it no doubt does. You can't go wrong. If you look at the pics in the 2007 album of the underwater you'll see what it does with the housing.

With regards to the question about taking it out of the housing, it is what I would recommend unless you completely dry the housing lens. But some of the shots I took were with the housing on while on the beach. If you're not at the beach, just take the camera out of the housing. It's really very simple.

I believe they are actually the same camera, but if what I remember the 850 may be sold ina different market other than the USofA

[Pickle]

I have a Canon SD850IS. It HAS an "Underwater" setting.

[captainjay]

I have a 570is and the Canon housing made for it and love it. I have used the housing both in and out of the water with no problems. Just make sure the outer lens on the housing is dry and clean when using it out of the water at the beach. Also don't store it in direct sun while in the housing, cover it with a towel or inside a beach bag while out of the water. The heat can build up and damage the housing and the camera in direct sun for extended periods.
Jay

[sea-nile]

I have the Canon SD600 with housing. I left the housing on quite a bit for land pictures and it worked great. I took it out of the housing to take into town for the evening because it just made it smaller to carry. The Canon SD cameras are great. My daughter just bought the SD1000.

[California Girl]

I have a Canon SD400 and the underwater case. I pretty much kept my camera in the case at the beach, in the water and out, to protect it from sand. But as captainjay said, be sure the lens doesn't have any water drops on it when using it above water. I got sunscreen on the outside of my case and it permanently fogged the plastic, so now I really can't see the screen underwater, so sure your hands are free of anything like that before picking up your camera. I found my case fogged up if it got it warm in the sun and then went back underwater. Next time I'm going to get one of those silica packs that come in new shoe boxes to put inside the case.