Holiday still/video underwater digital camera...

SixTwoSix

SixTwoSix

SixTwoSix

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I've posted a thread in the past about underwater cameras but couldn't really get a conclusive idea of what to buy.

My holiday is a little closer now and I know i've got £300-£350 to spend on a camera.

I basically need as follows...underwater capability for snorkelling only...although i've been known to personally swim down to about 4/5 meters for 1/2 minutes at a time. A lot of the underwater cameras i've seen are a maximum of 3 metres.

Would really like video, HD would be even better but this isn't a decision killer.

It needs to be relatively easy to operate underwater and be able to see the screen with a mask on and in bright water. I've heard the olympus tough is virtually impossible to use on a bright sunny day with a mask on as the screen is unreadable.

I'm really leaning towards the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2 but would love to hear about other options.

It's going to be for use snorkelling off various Fijian islands for 3 weeks and i'm sure it's going to get a LOT of use, so really needs to be decent.
 
Im thinking of getting that camera too, was suggested by someone on here.

It looks a decent camera but is only 3 metres maximum, although im sure you could go further and be ok.

Im loooking to get one for my hol to The Maldives, should be some good pics on here in the summer!
 
I was in the Maldives a few weeks back and we had a Pentax W60 which we had borrowed.

Its not made anymore but the W80 is its replacement which has HD video and is also less than half the price of the Panasonic you are looking at. It can go to 5m which is less than the Lumix but as you arent diving this might save you a bundle.

Heres one I took using it of a titan.

 
MrCake said:
I was in the Maldives a few weeks back and we had a Pentax W60 which we had borrowed.

Its not made anymore but the W80 is its replacement which has HD video and is also less than half the price of the Panasonic you are looking at. It can go to 5m which is less than the Lumix but as you arent diving this might save you a bundle.

Heres one I took using it of a titan.

Click to expand...

I had a look at this one as well, it wasn't the depth rating that put me off. I read a few reviews and it said the image quality isn't so sharp. However after looking at your pic, they could be wrong.

Have you got any more pics?
 
Ive just read reviews too and the night time picures are supposed to be grainy and yellow.

The spec certainly look good but the reviews differ a lot
 
I bought the Optio W90 for a upcoming maldives trip, but after messing with the 720p video and looking at some reviews I agree it's noisy as hell (even outside), especially at higher ISO. It's a shame as I like the feel of the cam and menu system etc...

I have got the Lumix FT2 now and it seems much better, though not used in anger yet... 720P Video is also much less noisy

Bought it in Orange as I figured it would show up when I dropped it off reef shelf by accident ;) ....also got a floating wrist band for it on order. 7 weeks to go till I can use it in anger...gonna take the W90 as a backup with me also and sell the one that performs worse, but I have a feeling thats gonna be the W90.
 
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A couple more from the W60. I wouldnt be suprised if the W80 was worse as manufacturers seem to have a thing about cramming as much MP as they can into a sensor just to catch the eye of the average camera punter who thinks more MP the better.





Tres it was our first time snorkelling and at the time we had no idea how vicious some trigger fish can be!? It wasnt until we started trying to work out what we saw that we found stories and pictures about bites.
 
They're crazily territorial! I was about 30m down, going around a reef, and these bad boy, rock munching fish started taking a 20 meter run up and tried biting me! I floated on my back and had to kick them away!
 
SixTwoSix said:
Is that for the Lumix or the W80?

I read a few reviews and saw nothing that bad about the Lumix tbh
Click to expand...

Mixed reviews for the W80.

Reviews for the Lumix were all good, bit pricey but you get what you pay for.

Just got to figure out how to afford it before holiday!
 
tres said:
They're crazily territorial! I was about 30m down, going around a reef, and these bad boy, rock munching fish started taking a 20 meter run up and tried biting me! I floated on my back and had to kick them away!
Click to expand...

Are they that bad? I'm sure they're in Thailand and I was getting right up close to them and they just swam off, worst thing that happened was almost getting munched on by a Moray.

Danm54 said:
Mixed reviews for the W80.

Reviews for the Lumix were all good, bit pricey but you get what you pay for.

Just got to figure out how to afford it before holiday!
Click to expand...

Seems as thought stocks of the Lumix are limited...been told 2-3 weeks delivery time in a few places.
 
SixTwoSix said:
Are they that bad? I'm sure they're in Thailand and I was getting right up close to them and they just swam off, worst thing that happened was almost getting munched on by a Moray.
Click to expand...

I believe the females are very territorial during the nesting season, not sure about other times of the year. I had a big mofo swim right at my face when I was snorkeling in the Maldives! :eek: Luckily it was my first snorkel and I wasn't aware of their reputation so at the time I thought it was pretty cool at the time :D. After that I was a bit more careful of them lol.

Couple of hints though; they tend to build therir nests on flat sandy bits so be wary if you see them around this type of area. I was also told (not sure if it's true) their 'territory' is a cone shape, with the tip of the cone being the nest and the large area at the surface. Doesn't really help if you're snorkeling but if you're diving you can go down deeper to get out of their zone quicker!

With regrads to a camera, I got the Fuji f50fd with a separate waterproof housing (think it's the WP-FXF50 one). That can go to 30m though so there might be something better suited to you.
 
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