Underwater camera recommendation please

cowasaki said:
How deep are you going?
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I'm a surface snorkeller so the camera will, in effect, be dipped under the surface for as far as I can reach.

cowasaki said:
Is this a one off or are you doing to be doing this regularly?
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It'll most likely be a one-off. We've 'done' the Red Sea and Great Barrier Reef and won't be returning, and I can't think of anything planned that would include snorkelling.

cowasaki said:
What are you wanting to photograph?
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Anything that moves, and probably a lot that doesn't, is the short answer!

cowasaki said:
Are you looking for snaps from your holiday to top notch underwater images?
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I'm wanting better than snaps but I'm not going to be able to afford anything that will match my 5D3 or 60D.

cowasaki said:
What experience of diving do you have?
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I did SCUBA once and wasn't too keen. I've snorkelled quite a lot but prefer to use it to hang in the water and see what I can see. I won't be 'diving'.

cowasaki said:
Anyway, if you are recreational diving in good light in warm water and just want holiday snaps then there are some plastic cases for compacts which are very good. I have one for an ixus which was brilliant at under ten metres. Getting a compact with raw support would help in correcting colour but as has been shown it is not a deal breaker.
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I'm tempted to get the housing for my wife's Canon SX260HS but it's not incredibly cheaper than a dedicated waterproof camera and I worry about a leak wiping the camera out. I agree that RAW isn't a deal-breaker but it would be good to have the extra flexibility.

cowasaki said:
Good luck
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Thanks, I'm probably going to need it: the decision looks to be far more complicated than I had expected.
 
While working my way through all of the suggestions (thanks) I have found CHDK (http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK) which will allow RAW files to be saved on cameras which don't do that natively. Unfortunately, it's not yet available for the Canon D20, which has attracted a lot of support so, as I don't have to make a final decision just now, I'll put it off for a while.
 
Just had further thoughts (it happens!).

I'll be in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok in the next month or so. Am I likely to be able to beat Panamoz's price on the D20?
 
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digital said:
That's a cracking photo of the lion fish and thanks for the reassurance regarding the SX260HS.

My only reservation surrounds the cost of the housing by itself compared with the relatively little extra to get a camera that's waterproof in its own right (much reduced chance of a fatal leak) and which I could possibly sell on after the trip.
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Canon underwater housings are very easy to use and if you make sure the o ring is clean and greased before every use won't leak. I've been using one for my old powershot a640 for the last 5 or 6 trips to the Red Sea and have just got one for my G1x for this summer.
 
I'll stick a vote in for the TS3, I bought it from Digital rev and was another one of their 2-day delivery jobbies.

To say I was impressed was an understatement. Its only waterproof to a depth of 10m, but this is fine for snorkelling.
It does 3D pictures (which are very cool), and full HD video too. (as added bonuses).

I bought it for our Seychelles holiday last year, and certainly was not disappointed.
Have example photo's if it would help :)
 
I'm selling my D70 Ikelite kit in the classifieds (Other brands) at the moment. I'm open to offers !! :naughty:
 
I was interested to see that The Gadget Show were going to check out underwater cameras, especially as one of them was the D20.

Well, it was only the D20 and an Olympus. Their conclusion? GGG for the Canon and GGGG for the Olympus.

Why? The Canon was (much, much) better underwater but the Olympus's images on land were better than the Canon's. This was an underwater camera test...
 
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