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gongoozler · 31-01-2008, 09:35 AM

Hi all,
My daughter is a keen diver (divemaster standard) and she is looking for a decent underwater digital for a birthday present from us if possible, neither of us know much about the options, but a full blown 4 figure outfit would be too much cash. She has an eye on the Canon Ixus 75.........can anyone advise me/us on this or make any suggestions ?

Dougalsdad01 · 31-01-2008, 11:40 AM

Whatever you decide on there are 2 main places for purchases and advice, the most commonly recommended one is Cameras-Underwater at
http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/

But I prefer Alan James at
http://www.marine-cameras.com/

nottrikk · 31-01-2008, 01:01 PM

I have an IXUS 700 with a seperate underwater housing and I paid about £230 for the full kit (I bought it as seperates and not as a package, you might get a good deal with a package) included in the price was a spare battery for the camera and some buoyancy weights for the housing.

The IXUS range are very good and only take a little getting used to to use them underwater. Using the manual white balance is always better than setting it to the underwater mode (as far as I can see).

Not only that, but they are great little cameras outside the housing too. Small enough to slip into a pocket or small hadbag and give a great photo. Obviously, with me talking about an older camera, YMMV, but I would recommend Canon as a decent make at a fair price.

The only problem I have found is that if you 3want to go a little more high tech with the photos you take (adding a strobe for example) Canon don't make accessories and you have to rely on universal fittings from other manufacturers.

camelweed · 31-01-2008, 02:02 PM

Hi I use a Fuji F30 with housing about £240, great underwater camera, does 90% of the work for you, good in low light and great Marco setting. The link below are some sample pic taken with it.

http://sitekreator.com/seanca/borneo_07.html

Zok · 31-01-2008, 02:07 PM

The Ixus range is a very good choice, the housings also allow for third party lenses from the likes of Inon to be fitted via an adaptor, miniman has an Ixus you could perhaps ask him for a more in depth view.

gongoozler · 01-02-2008, 09:00 AM

Thanks v much for the replies!! seems like the Canon and the Fuji are a good bet....very impressed with the posted pictures by the way....have some good 'fin flappin' in 2008!

Steppenwolf · 01-02-2008, 10:15 AM

Most Canon Digital compacts seem to have the edge over competitors in terms of image quality, both on land in water. The video function also works very well. I would go for one of the several models/housings available. Cameras Underwater give good advice on this if you phone them.

Fletch · (This post was last modified: 06-02-2008 10:15 PM by Fletch.)

I've just upgraded my camera from an Canon Ixus 500 to Fuji F50 with Ikelite housing. Although I've been pleased with the results from the Ixus, after a lot of research I've decided to try the Fuji which has recieved superb reports both for the F31fd & F50fd in dive mags, websites & more importantly friends. These Fuji's definately appear to have the edge for underwater photography, time will tell!

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf50fd/

The Ixus zoom lever is starting to jam open or closed which is the main reason for change. The worst problem though has been the Canon housing which has been a persistent pita, i'm currently on my third replacement and even this one lets in small amounts of water occasionaly, I never know until the dive!

Incidentaly most dive stores & cameras underwater are selling the f50 with fuji 40m housing for £319. The camera & ikelite 60m housing can be bought seperately for £330.

Zok · 06-02-2008, 10:37 PM

To be honest i would never trust a camera manufacturers housing ever again, not since the flooding of my a640 in a canon housing, even after it had been returned once reporting the fault. Canon make cameras, Ikelite make housings, its the future.

gongoozler · 07-02-2008, 09:13 AM

Thanks for these new comments.....a new dimension to my thinking....... some faults are occasional...some are inherent and common....are there any other threads reports that challenge the integrity of the underwater housings? Also, if camera and housing are of different makes say (or even the same?) would a failed housing which consequentially damaged a camera, merely result in a replacement housing, leaving you with a u/s camera that technically has a non warranty fault ??