I have been reading and searching like crazy trying to narrow down what I want for underwater pictures. Above water I use a Nikon D50 and am really getting into the photography "thing". LOVE the D50!! However, $1k + for a housing is just not gonna happen. If I ever got really serious, maybe, but for now and the medium term future, uh, no.
So the questions I have are from the perspective of clearing things up for me rather than "what should I buy".
1) I'm leaning away from anything under 5mp - if I do take a decent picture I'd hate to be limited to 5x7 ish for prints. Thoughts?
2) I'd prefer to shoot RAW but from what I hear (specifically about the SP350) it's so darn slow writing to the card it's pointless. Photoshop allows for playing around enough w/ jpegs. Yes?!?
3) WB - I've got an expodisc (which I also love and would use underwater) so setting WB manually would be ideal, however I see many Canons have underwater mode would should be substantially similar, yes? So either HAS to have manual WB or a Canon - any thoughts?
4) Image Stabilization, Vibration Reduction, whatever - necessary for underwater shots or a "nice to have but not a deal breaker"?
5) Lastly, zoom range. For P&S camera I've long been in the camp that zoom is like money and memory, you can never have enough. Is 3x optical (digital zoom is worthless IMO) enough or should I get more reach?
I'd like the ability to down the line potentially add a strobe.
I'm trying to keep initial investment low in case I want to get crazier down the road. I also have to keep in mind that I've got a LOT of scuba gear to buy yet too and that money tree in the back yard is bare. I've got a couple leads on set ups from various places that end up in the $250 - 300 range which is perfect right now, just for reference. I'm probably NOT going to get everything I want at that level, but hey, one can hope right? That also is one of the reasons I'd like to know from folks who have been there which of the 5 above are the biggies. If I've forgotten anything please let me know.
So the questions I have are from the perspective of clearing things up for me rather than "what should I buy".
1) I'm leaning away from anything under 5mp - if I do take a decent picture I'd hate to be limited to 5x7 ish for prints. Thoughts?
2) I'd prefer to shoot RAW but from what I hear (specifically about the SP350) it's so darn slow writing to the card it's pointless. Photoshop allows for playing around enough w/ jpegs. Yes?!?
3) WB - I've got an expodisc (which I also love and would use underwater) so setting WB manually would be ideal, however I see many Canons have underwater mode would should be substantially similar, yes? So either HAS to have manual WB or a Canon - any thoughts?
4) Image Stabilization, Vibration Reduction, whatever - necessary for underwater shots or a "nice to have but not a deal breaker"?
5) Lastly, zoom range. For P&S camera I've long been in the camp that zoom is like money and memory, you can never have enough. Is 3x optical (digital zoom is worthless IMO) enough or should I get more reach?
I'd like the ability to down the line potentially add a strobe.
I'm trying to keep initial investment low in case I want to get crazier down the road. I also have to keep in mind that I've got a LOT of scuba gear to buy yet too and that money tree in the back yard is bare. I've got a couple leads on set ups from various places that end up in the $250 - 300 range which is perfect right now, just for reference. I'm probably NOT going to get everything I want at that level, but hey, one can hope right? That also is one of the reasons I'd like to know from folks who have been there which of the 5 above are the biggies. If I've forgotten anything please let me know.