Shameless copy and paste

[Mike W]

This is a drum I bang a lot, so apologies, but I honestly believe that people spend far too much time and effort worrying about the camera and far too little worrying about taking pics. Back in t'olden days when I worked for a local high-street weddings and portraits guy we did D&P and it wasn't uncommon to hand people a set of 24 prints with two different Spanish holidays recorded.....

There are some features that make cameras more or less useful underwater (Manual WB, manual control of aperture and shutter speed, arguably RAW), but once over that there's not much difference between any of the current compacts on the market, and I honestly doubt that there'll be much difference between a brand-spanking-new state-of-the-art gadget and your current compact, Whacky.

I have an Olympus C300 (6 years old), an Olympus C5000 (4 years old) and a Ricoh R6 (1 year old). The C300 is very slow and creaky to use, the other two are pretty much on a par. I can't tell pics made by one from any of the others unless I look at 100% on-screen.

SLRs are a different kettle of fish, - image quality is a bit better, most noticeably lower noise even at base ISO, and general responsiveness is greater, but so is size, weight and cost.

Longevity isn't a digital trait. Any compact you buy will be out of date in six months to a year, though clearly it'll still be capable of good results for years to come. Getting a housing when you buy the camera is the best piece of advice I could offer, if it hadn't been offered already! For an SLR I'd eccho the advice about being able to carry lenses/ports and strobes forward within a brand, so choose carefully.

And finally, only guessing, apologies if this sounds offensive - reading between the lines, buy yourself an SLR. You won't be happy until you have one so any money you spend on owt else will be wasted!

[whacky]

Originally Posted by Mike W

And finally, only guessing, apologies if this sounds offensive - reading between the lines, buy yourself an SLR. You won't be happy until you have one so any money you spend on owt else will be wasted!

Have you been speaking to my Mum? She has said similiar

There is a bit of wanting a DSLR set-up but I feel I'm at a point where I want an upgrade. I also know that another compact will do me fine and i will get some worthwhile shots from it.


Whatever i decide, I know that i need to spend more time practicing in water and get more photographer buddies

[Mike W]

Originally Posted by whacky

Have you been speaking to my Mum? She has said similiar

Nah - just personal experience, been there, wanted the SLR, dreamed up the excuses!!

[Jules]

I am intrigued by Cussy's comments about buyinghis DSLR set up post divorce. My first 5050 camera and housing was a gift to myself post relationship break up! Anyone else car to fess up to buying themselve a consolation prize when suffering from a broken heart.

I agonise about the "buy cheap buy twice" thing and even now looking at strobes i have one eye on "will it work with a DSLR?" which i have promised myself sometime in the future when ican afford it and before i am too old to enjoy it.

I have a personal rule that i won't buy one till i have got better at taking care of my kit. I haven't drowned a camera for over 6 months now, so only another 18 months to go until i am allowed to even look at DSLRs.

I have a friend at work who can justify just about any expensive toy with "you are a long time dead" but also it's not worth being unable to mend the roof or pay your gas bill just for a toy. It's about priorities.

jules

[Tazzie]

One thing to consider when buying housings is the port system. With the Hugyfot many of the ports use the same extension rings and therefore I can cut the cost (a little!)

From my limited understanding of Ikelite this isn't the case and they have a different port for every different lens... Although I'm not currently happy enough with the Hugyfot to tell everyone to go and buy it I think it has some features that can help the budget photographer.

Having said that if Ikelite housings are c£600 compared to other housing manufaturers you might make the money up that way!

PS Jules - my reason for DSLR was probably the complete opposite - a chap I was seeing alot of at the time was using one and encouraged me to do the same, he then sodded off he he he

[KenByrne]

You're right that the standard Ikelite port system doesn't use extensions and you may need several ports. There is a new system with 8 inch domes instead of the 6 inch domes that Ikelite used that does use extension tubes and also has a flat port option.

However an Ikelite dome port is about £140 and a flat port is £120. This is more than the port extensions for many housings. For example and Aquatica 6 inch dome port is £195 and a flat port £199 with extensions between £140 and £200. For Sea & Sea Dome ports start at £300 flat ports at £180 with extensions between £85 and £170. I don't know the Hugyfot prices.

So while the multiple port set up of Ikelite can be inconvienient it's not particulary expensive.

[Tazzie]

Wow that's a big difference in price compared to the Hugy!!! My dome was about £400 and I think the 100mm Macro and Wide angle the same

BUT..... I didn't need to buy one for the 60mm macro *wipes brow*

Small savings