Camera For Snorkeling

[firecrackerbob]

Hi Guys,

Well, I've decided I'm done with the disposable underwater cameras after my local developer ruined two of them from a once in a lifetime trip...boo.

So i'm looking for some recommendations on a digital underwater camera. Popular mechanics conveniently had an article this month and recommended the fuji film finepix F40fd: http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/f/finepix_f40fd/index.html

Their recommendation was this camera along with the underwater housing rather than a waterproof camera. I will jsut be doign basic snorkeling for now so I wont be going too deep. Does anyone have this one or one they would recommend???

taking a look at it from the site, it doesn't appear to have image stabilization. is that bad for this application?

Thanks in advance!
Eric

 

[Ron Leversee]

I have the Olympus Stylus 720SW... It is great for snorkeling...takes good quality pics and it is water proof...without the underwater housing....

There also is the 770 that is a very nice camera and now a new one one the 790....

The 790 is a great new camera...and I am hearing good things about it....great for snorkeling...

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1314

 

[Ron Leversee]

Here are a couple snorkel shots with the 720....

Here is a land shot using the same camera...

 

[firecrackerbob]

Hi Ron,
The 770 was actually the other camera popular mechanics discussed. I have heard some people say that not having a housing makes the pictures more grainy-which seems counterintuitive to me.
Are the images pretty sharp?

Thanks for the fast reply!!

 

[firecrackerbob]

hehe posting at the same time-- WOW Those are great!!!!

 

[Ron Leversee]

Yes...and you can get a housing for the camera also...but this camera is easy to handle, takes some sweet shots...on and off land...I have hundreds of shots with the 720....the fact is even the vids that this camera takes is amazing.... I realy like it...the macro setings are very good...also...

 

[Ron Leversee]

And with the housing you can take this camera deep...

and take shots like this...

 

[firecrackerbob]

Wow again! great shots... thanks!
Eric

 

[Ron Leversee]

Let us know what you end up getting.... I know there are several choices out there...When you get it take some pics and post them so we can see the eye candy!!!

 

[rocketman2005]

i dropped my old sony cyber shot in the ocean and that didn't work so good so i just picked up the olympus 770, great camera i think, heres some pics i took from my tank at home

 

[Ron Leversee]

Very nice....They do take good pics....

 

[thor32766]

love the turtle shots!!!

 

[Ron Leversee]

Yes, I do too...I have a bunch of them!!!

 

[ferg822]

ive been looking into the sealife DC600. it seems really good and has good reviews

 

[Ron Leversee]

Sealife makes a good camera also... The whole set up gets a bit pricey for a point and shoot...but it does take good pics!!!

 

[mhltcob]

I also have the olympus stylus 770. I have not worked with it that much and used all the settings but it seems to work pretty well for someone with no photography experience. I have taken it scuba diving to 20 feet so far.

 

[Ron Leversee]

Nice!!! Good shots....I do like the camera very well!!!!

 

[ghcpa9]

awsome shots! where was that bass clip from Ron L?

 

[Ron Leversee]

That bass clip was taken in Lake Pleasant in Peoria Arizona... Vis that day was about 30ft!!! Great day to dive!!!

 

[ghcpa9]

30 ft!! LOL we here on long island (ny) are lucky if we get 5 feet but we do make the most of it.