Help help help - need to buy a new digital camera fast

[japandiver]

I really need some quick advice on buying a new digital camera and housing.

First the background.... after 4 years in Tokyo I am returning to the UK. We are leaving on Tuesday - and spending 2 months diving in the S.Pacific before returning to a cold and wet UK in November. This trip should be fantastic - and I`m really looking forward to having the time and opportunity to take some photos. But, this morning I got out my trusty Olympus C4040 to take some final photos of our (soon-to-be-ex) home - and nothing happened. Camera is completely dead - new batteries, external power supply - no joy. I have rushed the camera to the Olympus service center (who have just repaired my PT010 housing) and still no joy.

So it looks as if I have to fork-out for a new camera this weekend. The good news is that I`m in the center of Tokyo where all the latest and greatest cameras are available - the bad news is that I have no clue what I want. I need advice....

I have really enjoyed learning to shoot underwater with the Olympus C40-40 - great camera and good housing - but no longer available. So I`m inclined to stick with Olympus - which gives me the options of the C50-60 or the new C80-80.

A quick scan of the C8080 reviews indicate that the 8 Mpixal CCD chip is slow and noisy - any comments ? I know that the C5050 is a good camera - but what about the 50-60?

Any other recommendations?

Any inputs, any comments, any help would be greatfully appreciated - as long as they come in in the next 48hours!

Thanks

Hugh

PS - it looks as if I`ll have a fully serviced PT010 housing for a C4040 to sell when I get back in Dec - anyone interested?!

[Narked@50]

Hi Japandiver

I have an Oly C5050 and recon it's excellent, far better than me! I would go for the C5060 as it's basicaly a 5050 but with better optical zoom and a quicker reaction time, so less "digital lag" when you press the button. There are probably a couple other bits as well but I can't remember them off hand, I do remember looking at it when I got the 5050, but as the 5050 was going out, and the 5060 was coming in, so there was about £100 price difference, which I'd rather save. I don't know about the 8080?, but I can't see the point in 8mp?, about 3 is all you need if blowing pictures up to A4 size. The 5050 is 5mp and I don't use it on it's highest setting, I did try it, but you couldn't see the difference in real life and the file sizes were 7-9mb each, they took ages to download, let alone anything else.

Hope this helps, and enjoy your diving round the Pacific, I'm at the Farns this weekend but the weather looks like blowing it out?

James

[japandiver]

James

Thanks for the information and feedback. After some quick research (while packing my desk and trying to finish up all the work) I think I`m coming to the same conclusion - C5060.

Enjoy the Farnes - I know the diving`s great there and I`m looking forward to revisiting some favorite spots next Spring.

Anyone else got any views / pointers / suggestions?

Hugh

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by japandiver

James

Thanks for the information and feedback. After some quick research (while packing my desk and trying to finish up all the work) I think I`m coming to the same conclusion - C5060.

Enjoy the Farnes - I know the diving`s great there and I`m looking forward to revisiting some favorite spots next Spring.

Anyone else got any views / pointers / suggestions?

Hugh

Hugh, how much do they retail at over there, as I am going through the same procedure at the moment, I have done a bit of research and the 5060 looks like a very good option. Over here the best deal I have found so far is £560 ish for the combo on Camerasunderwater.co.uk.

Mark

[turbanator]

Check www.digitaldepot.co.uk.
Their ad in Dive is about the same price but includes a 256Mb CF card.

r
Paul

[japandiver]

Gizmo

I don`t know the exact price yet - but generally models are released 6 months earlier in Japan and by the time a model is released in Europe the price is around 30% less than the European price. I`ll be able to give you a better answer after an expensive days shopping tomorrow.

Hugh

[Norseman]

For ease and compactability I can recommend Canon's line. The S60 looks very promising with built in kinda wideangle as well as underwater white balance.
The compactness makes the camera very easy to bring wherevery you go, over or under water.

The Olympus products have very good optics. The 5060 is a very very very good camera. Especially under water. Bigger housing than the Canons I must add.

Kyrre

[John N]

I actually chose the 5050 over the 5060 after doing some research.
One of my main concerns was that the lens of the 5050 is 'brighter'.
The 5060 also uses a proprietary battery rather than the usual AAs.
This article is useful:

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/c5050/c5060-compar.html

Note that in April I found it pretty difficult to find a new 5050 as they are out of production now.

There are also some concerns about the Olympus housing PT020 for the 5060.
Links on this page:

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/phot...pment_5060.htm

I got an Ikelite housing which is great although a bit bulky and a lot more expensive.

[japandiver]

Thanks for all the advice - and I`m pleased to say that the wonderful people at Olympus repaced the old 4040 with a brand new one from their "secret" stocks. Fantastic service. Now it`s just up to me to take some good photos to make it all worthwhile.

Hugh

[fless1]

Japandiver,

If it's still available, I've just bought an Olympus C3020, wide angle lens, tripod, cleaning kit, spare 'O'rings and now found out that the PT-010 has been discontinued.

Don't suppose you're still selling yours?