Compact camera advice

[Damo]

I used the comparison site suggested by BigFella to compare the A640 against the S70 & S80.

The cameras are very similar, the A640 has more pixels but the S70 stores pics in RAW, which would have been nice. In the end I've opted for the newer model, as I'm not sure how long before the S80 is phased out + got a good deal on the A640.

[lloydwatkin]

I use a canon ixus 700, very small with excellent lens etc (and manual white balance for underwater). I decided I didn't want serious underwater photography so I got something small, but if you are more interested in that kind of stuff there are other ranges of canon's that would suit the bill. Canon's don't scrimp on lenses making picture quality excellent

For some reason dive magazines always reccommend fuji's ?!?! After never saying a bad word about the canon's, bizarre that.

Lloyd

PS As you can tell I love my canons

[Ding Dang Doo]

I've got a Canon IXUS 750. Very pleased with the results.

I bought it 'cos I wanted a camera that would take good quality pics of the family, but wasn't like a brick to carry around. This fits neatly in my pocket (smaller than a packet of ciggies.)

I'm sure I can access all of the cameras functions with the underwaterhousing.

I would however recommend buying an extra battery (about £12, or £25 if you go for a true Canon one)

Oh, and I'd get a 2Mb card for it if you want to use the video option, as this can eat into your memory.

Think I paid about £365 for the camera and housing.

HTH

Pete

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by Damo

I used the comparison site suggested by BigFella to compare the A640 against the S70 & S80.

The cameras are very similar, the A640 has more pixels but the S70 stores pics in RAW, which would have been nice. In the end I've opted for the newer model, as I'm not sure how long before the S80 is phased out + got a good deal on the A640.

They phase models out every year, so it won't be long before the A640 is phased out either. I bought my S70 and within 6 months the S80 was out.

The other massive benefit of the S70/S80 is the focal length. Wide open it's 28mm which is amazingly wide for a small camera.

It also has an 'underwater' white balance setting should you not wish to use RAW. However, I recommend RAW use as it makes post production much easier.

More megapixels may sound more attractive, but from experience I've learnt it depends on the quality and physical size of the CCD itself along with the lens quality. I've seen pictures taken with 8mp cameras (Nikon et. al) that blow away, quality wise, pictures taken with a 12mp camera (Fuji/Sony).

Of course, you can blast away at the megapixels and get an 39mp Hasselblad but expect to spend the thick edge of £25k!

[Woz]

What ever happened to that thing touted a few years ago where someone was going to produce a CCD and memory thingy that was 35mm film canister shaped with a bit sticking out?

And I'd definitely take Bantam's advice on the MP thing. A 5Mp Canon takes better photos than a 7MP cheapie camera. The money's in the optics, not the CCD.

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by Woz

What ever happened to that thing touted a few years ago where someone was going to produce a CCD and memory thingy that was 35mm film canister shaped with a bit sticking out?

And I'd definitely take Bantam's advice on the MP thing. A 5Mp Canon takes better photos than a 7MP cheapie camera. The money's in the optics, not the CCD.

You could buy them way back when - they were called Data Backs for the Canon and Nikon SLR's. But they were only 3mp or so, and then the camera companies realised it would be better to make DSLR's that had all the logic integrated into them vs a bolt-on.

The only problem is that the way CCD's work isn't the same as Film. Film is a flat surface and light can strike from any angle. CCD's are like loads of little buckets, and unless light strikes from dead on, it gets lost. That means your images don't look as lifelike and bright as they do with film.

That's what they've tried to fix with the 4/3 system (wot my olympus E-300 uses) but unfortunately it's not proved that popular.

[brian russell]

i found this web site handy and very helpfull Cameras Underwater Homepage: Underwater housings, digital stills and video cameras, accessories. Gates, Ikelite, Epoque, SLR, DSLR, Sealife, Sea&Sea. i got a housing for a finepix f10 from them but they also do packages

[Ian B]

Have a look at the Canin IXUS 8001 with WPDC5 for about £399 and the Canon IXUS 65 with WPDC3 for £365. Both seem good compacts at a reasonable price from Cameras Underwater.

The site is Cameras Underwater Homepage: Underwater housings, digital stills and video cameras, accessories. Gates, Ikelite, Epoque, SLR, DSLR, Sealife, Sea&Sea.

If you're insuring tour camera then insure the housing as well so that you can get money back for both should something go wrong with the camera, like accidental flooding.

[miniman]

Hi don't know if you have bought your camera yet but the new ixus range is out inc a top of the range 10mp ti

Canon UK - Digital IXUS 900 Ti - NEW

I use a 700 at the moment but will be buying one of these for my wife.

[Debs]

or the new Ixus 850 with a 28mm wide angle lens and image stabilizer

Canon UK - Digital IXUS 850 IS - NEW

choices, choices.

The one thing I can be sure of is that both will be phased out within 6 months.