USVI-On-Line

Since my 770SW shot craps after only 3 trips to the island I'm in the market for a new camera. Not blaming the camera, just make sure you follow the cleaning instructions after being in the ocean before you start happy hour. I think I will go with a digital SLR with an underwater case this time. Does anyone have any suggestions for for a good package? Do you have to have camera with auto focus to use it with the underwater case? Looking for camera with accessories for under $1K. Thanks in advance for any suggestions/advice.

I am happy with my underwater setup (for now, anyway). I have a Canon SD 800 with the corresponding Canon case. I think the camera was around $300 and the case was about $200. The underwater housing allows you to change the settings and zoom etc, underwater. There are control buttons on the case. I just rinse the outside of the housing every evening and leave it open on the kitchen counter to dry overnight.

The biggest thing with underwater pictures is to have some kind of photo editing program. Before I had photoshop I used picasa, which is free. You need to be able to pull the blues out of the underwater photos. Without the editing programs, your underwater photos are not going to look that great no matter what kind of camera setup you have.

Although, one time I was snorkeling around Cinnamon Cay and I encountered a guy coming the other way with a HUGE camera. It was so big that he had to use both hands to hold the housing, which was at least 2 feet across, with hand rests! Maybe he does not need an editing program!

Hi nascarfan59!

I have a Canon Powershot A720IS with underwater case. So far I am very happy with the camera. It's very easy to handle and I like the menues. The camera takes very good pictures both above and under water. I paid about $275 for the camera and the same for the uw case. This was in Sweden, so I guess it's cheaper where you live.

Agree with Liamsaunt about having an editing program. It makes wonders for the uw photos, but sometimes also for the others.

If you decide to go the Canon route then this Canon site list the various underwater cases and which camera models goes with them:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contr ... _photo#top

You will likely be able to buy the case for less at some other retailer then directly from Canon. The list is a handy cross reference to make sure there is a case for the cameras you are looking at.

This site also has some links to undewater shooting tips and a page that provides detail care instructions.

Happy shopping.

B&As link confirms that it doesnt look like Canon makes any UW cases for their digital SLRs - only the Powershot series, which are damn fine point n shoots. If you really want an SLR with an UW case, you will have to seek other mfgs, with whom I am not familar. I would imagine a digital SLR with an UW case would run much $$$.

nascarfan59 wrote:Since my 770SW shot craps after only 3 trips to the island I'm in the market for a new camera. Not blaming the camera, just make sure you follow the cleaning instructions after being in the ocean before you start happy hour. I think I will go with a digital SLR with an underwater case this time. Does anyone have any suggestions for for a good package? Do you have to have camera with auto focus to use it with the underwater case? Looking for camera with accessories for under $1K. Thanks in advance for any suggestions/advice.

How did you kill it? Sand in the seals? Just asking since I have the same camera and its been on 2 trips.....3rd is in 5 months

My cleaning routine is wash with warm soapy water, dry well and then use a Qtip to clean anything out of the seals.

Mine died becuase of sand in the seal. they recomend changing the seal every year.

Great price on Canon A590 Powershot...this is a good little camera for a great price of $99. I paid $130 for it 2 months ago. Probably has an underwater housing that fits it, so net cost would be pretty low.

http://www.buy.com/prod/canon-powershot ... caid=17070