Recommend compact camera to get for underwater

[WuffRuff]

If you put the WA wet lens on a Canon casing.... get ready for lots of Vignetting

Just to confirm, by this, you are referring to putting a WA lens on it and not using the lens at its wide angle focal length right?
So using the lens at 28mm is ok regarding vignetting?

LX3 housing will make you bleed through your backside.

DX-2G is a good buy. Or you want to buy my DX-1G? I can sell you the set for $980. hehe.
24mm wide-angle, 2-inch macro distance at 72mm equivalent (max zoom) for >1:1 macro. small and compact! shoots in RAW.

This website lists an OEM housing for LX3 at US$280... not really gonna bleed through my backside for that...
http://www.oceanicfocus.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=27_93&osCsid=f3a7ba5974024ff13ba016b1358388f8

So G10 and LX3 are similar in pricing. LX3 is 4mm wider.

DX-2G does seem like a great bao ka liao camera for underwater - can do both wide and macro without having to use any add-ons. My hesitation, besides the price is, this seems like more of a underwater camera. How does it fare on land?
I would like something more versatile which can be used for both land and UW as I am not UW that often, unfortunately.

 

[howeikwok]

This website lists an OEM housing for LX3 at US$280... not really gonna bleed through my backside for that...
http://www.oceanicfocus.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=27_93&osCsid=f3a7ba5974024ff13ba016b1358388f8

So G10 and LX3 are similar in pricing. LX3 is 4mm wider.

D

I think you saw wrongly. There's no LX3 housing from panasonic, you probably saw FX3 instead. Like i said, only two 3rd party housing manufacturers for the LX3.

 

[krissears]

there are a thousand waterproof cameras available..

if you have to go to an adventure, you'd love to carry a camera that is light and can be placed in your pocket.. excellent image quality.. i think the best camera would be olympus FE-360..

 

[Dylan]

there are a thousand waterproof cameras available..

if you have to go to an adventure, you'd love to carry a camera that is light and can be placed in your pocket.. excellent image quality.. i think the best camera would be olympus FE-360..

but the Fe-360 is not waterproof....

 

[howeikwok]

but the Fe-360 is not waterproof....

And there are only a couple of cameras waterproof to 3m and 10m. Not a thousand??? :dunno:

 

[diver-hloc]

Just to confirm, by this, you are referring to putting a WA lens on it and not using the lens at its wide angle focal length right?
So using the lens at 28mm is ok regarding vignetting?

Each U/W casing was meant ONLY to house the intended Camera..... so, NO. If you are using G10 with its OEM Canon U/W casing..... vignetting should be bare mininum at the camera's widest... which is 28mm. (Anyone using Canon G10 with its OEM casing.... please confirm, or correct me if I'm wrong, thxs )

But by adding a WA 'Wet Lens' like the Ikelite W-20 Wide-Angle Lens on your Canon casing.... it would likely case problem simply because the casing wasn't meant/design for any extra 'Glass' to be added infront. Much like using a BIGGER lens hood on your lens, and shooting at the lens widest point.... or adding a 'thick' CPL filter over your UV filter.

Some people buy Ikelite casing (which cost the same or ever more than the camera :sweat for the purpose of using such Wet Lenses.... they are design to only work with Ikelite casing.

But I've seen ScubaCam mod a holder infront of a Canon casing to hold a Inon Close-Up filter.... but was told that the corner of the photo would be Blur.... I was also told, that since we crop the photo anyway.... it isn't too big a problem.

BTW.... just saw this on Ikelite website.... $$$$ but interesting :thumbsup:

WD-4 Wide Angle Conversion Dome to fit Ikelite Housing for the Canon G10

 

[diver-hloc]

there are a thousand waterproof cameras available..

if you have to go to an adventure, you'd love to carry a camera that is light and can be placed in your pocket.. excellent image quality.. i think the best camera would be olympus FE-360..

And we are talking about Cameras you could - Scuba Dive - with.... NOT just snorkeling with.... :bsmilie:

 

[antacid]

And there are only a couple of cameras waterproof to 3m and 10m. Not a thousand??? :dunno:

he's right..there are thousands of waterproof cameras, if not millions.

10,000 G9s, 15,000 G10s, 400 DX-2Gs...and that's just a wild guess!

hahahaa

 

[howeikwok]

he's right..there are thousands of waterproof cameras, if not millions.

10,000 G9s, 15,000 G10s, 400 DX-2Gs...and that's just a wild guess!

hahahaa

Nope these CAMERAS are not waterproof. :nono:

 

[antacid]

Nope these CAMERAS are not waterproof. :nono:

oh yah. you're right.

let me try and argue my way out of it...YES THEY ARE WATERPROOF! they just don't take very good pictures after that...they suffer from extreme underexposure and inability to write to CF/SD card.

hahaha


anyway, bottomline in choosing a camera = what's your budget? we can recommend the best, and smallest, the sexiest. but no money, no honey, baby!

 

[howeikwok]

oh yah. you're right.

let me try and argue my way out of it...YES THEY ARE WATERPROOF! they just don't take very good pictures after that...they suffer from extreme underexposure and inability to write to CF/SD card.

hahaha


anyway, bottomline in choosing a camera = what's your budget? we can recommend the best, and smallest, the sexiest. but no money, no honey, baby!

Man i don't think you can turn it on after you bring it underwater heh. :bsmilie:
got money sometimes also no honey leh... :sweat:

 

[diver-hloc]

Man i don't think you can turn it on after you bring it underwater heh. :bsmilie:
got money sometimes also no honey leh... :sweat:

Hahaha.... Money NOT Enough meh..... heeheehee :bsmilie:

 

[howeikwok]

My my look what i digged up. Nice looking alu housing for the LX3. :bsmilie: So that makes 3 options.

http://www.epoque-japan.com/e-kastesa housing.htm

 

[glzco]

he's right..there are thousands of waterproof cameras, if not millions.

10,000 G9s, 15,000 G10s, 400 DX-2Gs...and that's just a wild guess!

hahahaa

haha.. wad can i say? great point!

Nope these CAMERAS are not waterproof. :nono:

den great point!

oh yah. you're right.

let me try and argue my way out of it...YES THEY ARE WATERPROOF! they just don't take very good pictures after that...they suffer from extreme underexposure and inability to write to CF/SD card.

hahaha


anyway, bottomline in choosing a camera = what's your budget? we can recommend the best, and smallest, the sexiest. but no money, no honey, baby!

and great point again!! ha..

i juz came back from my trip last weekend.. oh boy.. i used my friend's olympus camera.. cant rem wad brand is it.. but nevertheless.. it foggeed up badly after the first dive.. changed silica pack and still fogged up.. i gather its the o-ring tt's bein problematic.. the cameras working alright otherwise.. thou my fren did have some problem wif some errors sayin the card cover or battery cover isnt closed properly.. probably due to some wetness inside.. but it all went ok after lettin it dry out.. but pictures had a foggy effect due to the droplets tt formed on the inside of the housing.. luckily the o-ring din give way.. whew... and oh yes.. the camera i have at home is ixus 850is.. not 85is.. the 0 does make a great difference.. ha.. =p tinkin of gettin a housin for tt to start wif!

 

[diver-hloc]

i juz came back from my trip last weekend.. oh boy.. i used my friend's olympus camera.. cant rem wad brand is it.. but nevertheless.. it foggeed up badly after the first dive.. changed silica pack and still fogged up.. i gather its the o-ring tt's bein problematic.. the cameras working alright otherwise.. thou my fren did have some problem wif some errors sayin the card cover or battery cover isnt closed properly.. probably due to some wetness inside.. but it all went ok after lettin it dry out.. but pictures had a foggy effect due to the droplets tt formed on the inside of the housing.. luckily the o-ring din give way.. whew... and oh yes.. the camera i have at home is ixus 850is.. not 85is.. the 0 does make a great difference.. ha.. =p tinkin of gettin a housin for tt to start wif!

A diving buddy of mine uses Ixus 850 with a Inon Z240 strobe.... noise level abit high for my liking.... but his camera setting could be the problem.

To ensure that your casing do not fog up..... always dry out your casing fully.... inside and out. I made the mistake of washing the inside of the casing and didn't let it dry out enough (Should have left the casing open for 3-4 days).... luckily I wasn't going to use the casing.... but keeping for storage. Saw 1 week later, water droplet still forming inside the casing. :sweat:

Like most people would advise.... try removing or putting in the camera in a dry and cool (NOT COLD) place.... like, in your room with AC :bsmilie:

 

[glzco]

A diving buddy of mine uses Ixus 850 with a Inon Z240 strobe.... noise level abit high for my liking.... but his camera setting could be the problem.

To ensure that your casing do not fog up..... always dry out your casing fully.... inside and out. I made the mistake of washing the inside of the casing and didn't let it dry out enough (Should have left the casing open for 3-4 days).... luckily I wasn't going to use the casing.... but keeping for storage. Saw 1 week later, water droplet still forming inside the casing. :sweat:

Like most people would advise.... try removing or putting in the camera in a dry and cool (NOT COLD) place.... like, in your room with AC :bsmilie:

ooooohhhh... someone uses a 850 set up eh.. hmmm... but have u checked out his settings before or wad? like mayb sometimes using too high ISO or the camera just cant do well U/W? i'm askin cuz i'm reali interested to invest in this small set first.. since its smtin i can reali start wif small.. heh.. i guess my fren din reali tk good care of it.. he did put in a cool dry place he insisted but where else better in a dry cab compared to the your bedroom table or study table? ha.. anyway.. lookin at ur post.. i gather he took it out from the aircon room and immediately pushed his camera in and closed it.. explains all the water droplets.. ha.. shall tell him about it..;p

 

[diver-hloc]

ooooohhhh... someone uses a 850 set up eh.. hmmm... but have u checked out his settings before or wad? like mayb sometimes using too high ISO or the camera just cant do well U/W? i'm askin cuz i'm reali interested to invest in this small set first.. since its smtin i can reali start wif small.. heh.. i guess my fren din reali tk good care of it.. he did put in a cool dry place he insisted but where else better in a dry cab compared to the your bedroom table or study table? ha.. anyway.. lookin at ur post.. i gather he took it out from the aircon room and immediately pushed his camera in and closed it.. explains all the water droplets.. ha.. shall tell him about it..;p

Not too sure about his setting.... but since the Ixus series are mainly a fully Auto camera with little Manunal Mode.... likely he just uses Auto Mode or something. Like you said... that could be the reason why the photo is noisely..... :sweat:

Err.... btw, I don't keep my U/W casing inside my Dry-Cabi (no more space). What I do is after my dive trip.... I'll then remove, clear & re-grease the 'O' Ring (store 'O' Ring inside a Zip-lock bag). The Casing is 1st clean with soapy water.... then soak in water for a day (to dissolve any dry salt) with water change every few hour... as long as I could remember to do so :sweat:. Take out the Casing and left it Open and to dry on a clean cloth in a cool place for the next 3-5 days. Once I'm sure the inside is bone-dry.... will just keep the Casing in a cloth bag and have it store inside one of those 'Lock & Lock' case under the bed.

Thats all.....

 

[glzco]

Not too sure about his setting.... but since the Ixus series are mainly a fully Auto camera with little Manunal Mode.... likely he just uses Auto Mode or something. Like you said... that could be the reason why the photo is noisely..... :sweat:

Err.... btw, I don't keep my U/W casing inside my Dry-Cabi (no more space). What I do is after my dive trip.... I'll then remove, clear & re-grease the 'O' Ring (store 'O' Ring inside a Zip-lock bag). The Casing is 1st clean with soapy water.... then soak in water for a day (to dissolve any dry salt) with water change every few hour... as long as I could remember to do so :sweat:. Take out the Casing and left it Open and to dry on a clean cloth in a cool place for the next 3-5 days. Once I'm sure the inside is bone-dry.... will just keep the Casing in a cloth bag and have it store inside one of those 'Lock & Lock' case under the bed.

Thats all.....

i see i see.. thanks for sharing ur care tips wif me.. or the rest who are readin.. now tt gives me more reason to tink abt buying other u/w set ups.. $$$$$$ :dunno:

 

[antacid]

gee, i must be the other extreme then...i just rinse in fresh water, and let it dry out.

i don't wash the inside of the housing at all. i think you run the risk of water getting trapped inside the housing at the push buttons and springs, which might be a great way to fry your camera.

then again, i;m not as bad as someone who chucks the housing into the gear bag...haha

 

[diver-hloc]

gee, i must be the other extreme then...i just rinse in fresh water, and let it dry out.

i don't wash the inside of the housing at all. i think you run the risk of water getting trapped inside the housing at the push buttons and springs, which might be a great way to fry your camera.

then again, i;m not as bad as someone who chucks the housing into the gear bag...haha

Hahaha.... like dat also can :bigeyes:

But thxs for the pointer about water trap inside the buttons..... like I said "Bone Dry"..... :bsmilie: