newbie-question (c5060)
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Thought Process In Chossing a U/W Digital Camera Setup
Which U/W Digital Camera Setup Should I Get?
I am sure all of us face this dilema when we decide on taking up u/w photography. Sure, there are lots of forum discussions on this particular subject, and many times, while most advices are good, most people will recommend the system that they have. I mean, I wouldnt expect someone, after spending thousands of dollars, to say Do not get XXX. Its the most crap piece of junk I get. I never manage to get a decent picture, but u know what, I am still using it because I love it!
Most likely, you would hear people say Get XXX, becos it can do this, this, this. Having personally gone thru this trauma, I would like to give you a different perspective, my thought process on selecting a u/w digital camera system.
1. Budget
Who wouldnt want to drive a Ferrari and date a Miss Universe? But we all live in the real world
2. Camera land use vs u/w use
Some perform better on land and some better in water. So u want a serious land camera which can also take a few underwater shots or you want a serious u/w camera which allows you to take a few land pics?
3. Compatibility with existing equipment
You are a film user and there are things which you hope you can still use with your new digital setup.
4. Power options AA batteries vs dedicated lithiums.
Do you have gadgets which can share the AA batteries?
5. Memory options
Per unit cost, vs gadgets you own which can share the same memory medium
6. Size, weight, looks, depth rating and designs.
Do you have problem handling and transporting it? Or you dive infrequently and you prefer a DC to be really small for your other travel holidays? Can the housing hold to the depth you are usually at? Do you like the feel of the setup in your hands?
7. Attachment fittings for strobes, arms, base tray and add-on lens.
Not all housings will fit all strobes and other accessories.
8. Ease of maintainance and support (accessibility of repair facility)
9. Accessibility of camera controls in housing
10. User, dealer and forum comments and the consistency of information received
The list is of course non-exhaustive but I hope by answering the questions above, you will have a better idea of what to get to suit your needs.
There is also a discussion on what camera to buy after the discontinuation of C-5050 in this uwp forum. do a search for it......
Further readings:
My writeup on U/W DSLRs @ http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=88700
My writeup on Guide to Strobe Selection @ http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=84605
eric
Which U/W Digital Camera Setup Should I Get?
I am sure all of us face this dilema when we decide on taking up u/w photography. Sure, there are lots of forum discussions on this particular subject, and many times, while most advices are good, most people will recommend the system that they have. I mean, I wouldnt expect someone, after spending thousands of dollars, to say Do not get XXX. Its the most crap piece of junk I get. I never manage to get a decent picture, but u know what, I am still using it because I love it!
Most likely, you would hear people say Get XXX, becos it can do this, this, this. Having personally gone thru this trauma, I would like to give you a different perspective, my thought process on selecting a u/w digital camera system.
1. Budget
Who wouldnt want to drive a Ferrari and date a Miss Universe? But we all live in the real world
2. Camera land use vs u/w use
Some perform better on land and some better in water. So u want a serious land camera which can also take a few underwater shots or you want a serious u/w camera which allows you to take a few land pics?
3. Compatibility with existing equipment
You are a film user and there are things which you hope you can still use with your new digital setup.
4. Power options AA batteries vs dedicated lithiums.
Do you have gadgets which can share the AA batteries?
5. Memory options
Per unit cost, vs gadgets you own which can share the same memory medium
6. Size, weight, looks, depth rating and designs.
Do you have problem handling and transporting it? Or you dive infrequently and you prefer a DC to be really small for your other travel holidays? Can the housing hold to the depth you are usually at? Do you like the feel of the setup in your hands?
7. Attachment fittings for strobes, arms, base tray and add-on lens.
Not all housings will fit all strobes and other accessories.
8. Ease of maintainance and support (accessibility of repair facility)
9. Accessibility of camera controls in housing
10. User, dealer and forum comments and the consistency of information received
The list is of course non-exhaustive but I hope by answering the questions above, you will have a better idea of what to get to suit your needs.
There is also a discussion on what camera to buy after the discontinuation of C-5050 in this uwp forum. do a search for it......
Further readings:
My writeup on U/W DSLRs @ http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=88700
My writeup on Guide to Strobe Selection @ http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=84605
eric
lovells19 said:can we sticky this?if not poor eric have to type it everytime someone ask this question hahaha
or he got it saved somewhere in his computer already? hahahaha
it actually is in the "interesting articles" thread, but newbies don't find that sticky interesting :dunno:
If you are getting the Olympus C-7070, I'll recommend you to get the Tetra housing, instead of Oly PT-027. Tetra is more compact, which is good, because you can always leave it on the camera as a waterproof casing, which protect your digicam rainy situations, or when you go water-rafting, trekking, etc (not necessary for diving or snokelling).
http://www.uwimaging.com/products/tetra_5060/index.htm
Cheaper version would be Ikelite casing.
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/oly_5060.html
Or you can wait for the release of PT-027.
http://www.olympus-europa.com/consumer/198_PT-027.htm
http://www.uwimaging.com/products/tetra_5060/index.htm
Cheaper version would be Ikelite casing.
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/oly_5060.html
Or you can wait for the release of PT-027.
http://www.olympus-europa.com/consumer/198_PT-027.htm
not too sure about the price of the pt-27, i think should be around 400 bucks.
tetra is good, aluminum body(tough), compact and well built, but price is well.. not very affortable (for me lah!)
ikelite, is more of a mid range, better then oly, not any lower grade then tetra or other brands, it's well build and ikelite's after sales service is 1st class, even i bought a 2nd hand item, they offered to fixed it for free. price should be around 1kSGD
tetra is good, aluminum body(tough), compact and well built, but price is well.. not very affortable
(for me lah!)ikelite, is more of a mid range, better then oly, not any lower grade then tetra or other brands, it's well build and ikelite's after sales service is 1st class, even i bought a 2nd hand item, they offered to fixed it for free. price should be around 1kSGD
:bsmilie:people say other than more pixels, C-7070 is not much of an improvement to C-5060. and C-5060 is not much better than the C-5050.
so how about getting the C-5050 second hand? only problem is the PT-015 housing may be difficult to find. Saw a Ikelite housing for C-5050 selling at USD 300, the non-ttl housing.
i shall sign out from here. there is really more than enuff discussion on this topic and probable cam models in this forum. enjoy an afternoon of reading at uwcs....
Eric
so how about getting the C-5050 second hand? only problem is the PT-015 housing may be difficult to find. Saw a Ikelite housing for C-5050 selling at USD 300, the non-ttl housing.
i shall sign out from here. there is really more than enuff discussion on this topic and probable cam models in this forum. enjoy an afternoon of reading at uwcs....
Eric
i need a double arm- Status
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