New Camera Setup Advice

[Tim Ingmire]

Well if you're looking for a decent 2nd hand c5050 with extra memory cards, filters (with lens adapter) and lowepro bag then I may be able to help. You can still get PT-015 housings which will cost £150 max and then you're ready to rock and roll. Bang-on your 500 squidies budget. You can white balance, use available light +/- a colour correction filter if you're not ready to splash out on a strobe. For a cheaper strobe solution buy a 2nd hand YS-90 and a digital TTL converter as described in Diver.

For £500 you are way off a DSLR solution so that isn't an option. For motorsport a c5050 will suffice but you will need to get used to the shutter lag but this is a problem for all compact digicams.

[J.D.]

Originally Posted by Tim Ingmire

Well if you're looking for a decent 2nd hand c5050 with extra memory cards, filters (with lens adapter) and lowepro bag then I may be able to help. You can still get PT-015 housings which will cost £150 max and then you're ready to rock and roll. Bang-on your 500 squidies budget. You can white balance, use available light +/- a colour correction filter if you're not ready to splash out on a strobe. For a cheaper strobe solution buy a 2nd hand YS-90 and a digital TTL converter as described in Diver.

For £500 you are way off a DSLR solution so that isn't an option. For motorsport a c5050 will suffice but you will need to get used to the shutter lag but this is a problem for all compact digicams.

Hi Tim

Sounds like a good deal mate but i think ill have to pass. Decided ill probably wait until next spring - need to curb all the spending at the moment!

Thanks for the offer
James

[John N]

Originally Posted by David A

I couldn't agree more. The pictures that I posted recently were taken using a £250 Epoque strobe setup, that's why they're all close-ups. It was useless at any distance.

I bought a second-hand 5050 about 2 weeks ago, and decided to lash out. I've bought the Ikelite housing, a wide angle lens set up, and an Ikelite DS125 package. Over £1400 including the camera, and we're still talking about a compact camera! It better be good.

David.

I have a 5050 in the Ikelite housing with an Epoque Wide Angle and a DS50.

The Ikelite housing lets you go deeper (60m) and add more accessories. It's also very robust, although it's quite bulky and heavy. I made up a bungee attachment to clip it to me 'cos it's negative in the water and I really don't want to lose it.

The DS50 isn't really sufficient to light for wide angle, but I couldn't afford the DS125. It still works pretty well, particularly for Wide Angle, Close Focus shots like this one - had to cut it down to size but still not a bad pic...

[BJ]

It does seem that film focussing speeds, shutter lag and file-writing speeds are crucial and for this reason probably none of simple digital cameras will be good for sports photography.
Haymarket Publishing processes my E6 film for me. They set up their own lab when independent labs around London started to become rare. Grateful that they had, I asked why they stuck with film? They said that digital-photography was not so good for motor-sports photography and they have several motor-sports titles.
I found I had to go the digital SLR route with an S2Pro but by the time I really knew how to use it to its best advantage I got told it was obsolete!
I believe for serious stuff you need an SLR that shoots in RAW. There is an inexpensive Nikon SLR available now.

[J.D.]

Originally Posted by JJJBBB

No Cheap Way

I think that sums it up! I'm going to stick with film for sports photography, and get a digital compact and housing for UW, probably an olympus 5060 and ikelite housing.

[ding]

Originally Posted by J.D.

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I cant have the best of both worlds with my budget

A DSLR would be great, but the housing and strobe, and the lenses for shooting sports would put it way above what I can spend right now. I'll probably stick with my film for sports and get a compact digital for UW.

The 5060 or second hand 5050 would be the obvious choice. Would an ikelite housing be worth the extra over an olympus housng? I suppose it would be easier to expand the setup with lenses and strobes?

Any thoughts on the new compact cameras coming out like the Canon G6/Sony V3 or Nikon 8400 - would any of these be a good alternative to an oly?

Thanks, and sorry for all the questions!
James

The Ikelite is by far the best housing it is twice the price but what price do u put on keeping the camera dry