S95 or SX220HS UW Setup

MrCake · 31 Jan 2012 at 20:45

As a keen snorkeller I am looking to update my current UW camera which is a Optio W60. It has served me well but a little outdated with the video quality only being SD and I fancy an upgrade.

At some point in the future I am going to try scuba diving so thought I would look at a decent compact camera and a separate case.

So far I am looking at the Powershot S95 and the newer SX220 HS.

The S95 has better build quality and a F2.0 lens but the SX220 HS has better quality full HD videos. Price wise, the S95 is about £40 more. What would people recommend?

I already have a decent DSLR setup so this camera will spend its life as a holiday and underwater camera.

Also does anyone know if the ikelite cases are worth the massive premium over the Canon own cases?

MrCake · 1 Feb 2012 at 20:43

Yeah they are very different models and I am having a tough time working out how important good videos are. For some reason the S95 has gone from £230 to £280 over night so my decision might have been made for me.

Just a shame the Panasonic TZ20 gets such poor reviews on the stills quality as the video quality does look very good. The Sony equivalent looks to improve on the same sensor but then the ikelite case for the HX9V is £350 :eek:

MrCake · 2 Feb 2012 at 17:59

Would a mod be able to move this into the 'on the water' section to see if people have any additional ideas about the casing side of things? Thanks

MrCake · 18 Feb 2012 at 13:40

Cheers for the heads up. Unfortunately I am back to the drawing board as I was all set on the S95 until I found out by chance that the video mode doesn't support AF or zoom during record

Zoom I can ignore but AF is a no go for me.

MrCake · 6 Mar 2012 at 17:06

welshdragon said:
How did you get on?

Going back on what I originally said, I had a Panasonic FT2 for a short while only to find that it leaked on the first trip into the sea just from snorkelling. Luckily I was able to return it and looking round, it certainly isn't the first FT2 to leak.

There seems to be a glut of new UW compact models coming out which I will wait and see how they turn out so for my next snorkel trip I have been lucky to borrow another FT2 which comes with a dive case and ultra wide lens which weighs a ton!

Ironically when checking it over I have found signs of corrosion on the battery terminals so think this FT2 has had some water ingress as well.

MrCake · 10 Apr 2012 at 21:08

There is a whole rash of new compact UW cameras coming out in the next few months with a FT4 from Panasonic as well as new offerings from Canon, Pentax and Olympus.

It is a bit of a tricky situation as most if not all compacts will have several reviews where water has damaged them but if you go for the proper diving case then you need to double your budget.

Obviously some of the water ingress issues will be through user error but having suffered from 2 dead FT2's which were used for snorkelling only following the care instructions to the letter, I am rather hesitant.