Hi

Im getting shaken by all this information about different camera systems and housings.. Finally I found this site and wanted to ask, if someone could recommend some specific system for my needs.

First of all some backround on the issue: I’ve been photographing with an SLR for a few years now and 1,5 years ago started to try underwater photography with a basic Coolpix camera + housing. For a long time ive been looking for a better system to take some quality pics for display, at first I thought about using my SLR with a housing, but later on I realized I wanted an easy system with certain parts in it.

So what am I looking for: A compact camera from 7 to 10 mpix, a housing that is usable to minimum of 40m, possible to use a sync-cord, possibility to use bayonet style wet lenses (wide angle).. and ofcourse the price range under 1500 euros (camera + housing).

So I would be most grateful if you could help me with this thing.. Im lost in this jungle of mixed information =)

Thanks for a great website, ill most likely start using it often.

-Matt

Hi Matt,

as you are already an SLR-Shooter I would reconsider that thought
as prices dropped substantially in the DSLR segment over tha last
years. What do you actually define as an easy system?

One thought I have, is that you want to improve the setup compared
to your prior system. There are not many new compact cameras out
which feature RAW, a bigger sensor and less shutter lag.

One interesting product might be the new M8 digital rangefinder
from Leica for you, but there are no housings available yet.

So maybe you could let us know a little bit more about what you plan
to shoot with the system and how often and were are you going to
use it? After that some others readers can chime in on this and give
you a more specific consultation.

Andi

Hi

Thanks for your reply..

Im mostly diving 30-40m tech and cave.. So thats why I need a compact system, I have a lot of equipment with me and cant carry a large camera system.. On most dives I have 2 x 200bar / 10l on my back, one aluminum decotank on my hip, 2 different reels, a lamp case and thats just for starters. So carrying a large DSRL case is abit hard for me.. for sure its possible but hard.

Im mostly going to do wide angle shots from caves and shipwrecks to publish them. Just about every dive location is a low light location, so im going to need alot of lighting also. Most dives are in arctic temperatures.

I could think of a cheaper DSLR system also.. But my main goal is to find a compact system with wet lenses that I could change under water ..

Hope ill find some help.

-Matt

Olympus SP350 or SP 550 in the olympus housing .. simple ... its the only real compact out there that supports RAW right no .. lag is getting better ...

if you want even more compact then check out the Olympus 720 and 770 SW Both are already water proof and shock proff for shallow caving .. and get the olympus housing for deeper work .. both very cool cameras.

the only down side to olympus is the XD memory rather than SD or CF

I own the 720SW and must say that I like the shock and
waterproof feature about it, but I am not convinced by
the image quality compared to other compacts.

However I am already hot about the new 770SW as it
allows you to go down to 10 metres without housing
and writes the depth metering into the EXIF of the file.

Andi