Housing vs a Underwater Camera Package?

[SFScuba]

I don't understand why there would be a dfferent risk of flooding. Any camera if you get some sand in the o-ring is going to flood. There is no difference, digital, film housed or UW camera the riskis about the same. Well, there is one difference: cost. Flooding a $1,000 camera is 5 times worse than flooding a $200 camera but the chance of it happening is about the same.

Yup, understand that. What I meant in the context of the discussion was that I could but an inexpensive dive camera in the DC250 and if it flooded, I would still have my topside camera to use for the other vacation pictures. I realize the risk is the same, and exactly as you said, flooding a $1000 camera is 5 times worse than a $200. I am trying to figure out whether buying a lower priced camera and working within the limitations of the camera, I could still be satisfied with the pictures.

I've been looking at three cameras and housings: Canon A520, A95, and Nikon Coolpix 5600. But these will all run close to $500 before I'm done. However, for $200 I could have a camera for diving which I do about twice a year...

 

[scubajunkee]

SFScuba,

If you're just diving twice a year, then maybe the $200 dive camera is for you. But that means owning one camera for topside pictures and one camera that will be used only twice a year. I've thought about that scenario before I bought my current camera system. I decided to go with a housed digital camera--a Canon Powershot S40. So I have one camera that does both--take topside pics and underwater pics. It's all a matter of convenience and how much money you want to spend in the end.

Ericson

Yup, understand that. What I meant in the context of the discussion was that I could but an inexpensive dive camera in the DC250 and if it flooded, I would still have my topside camera to use for the other vacation pictures. I realize the risk is the same, and exactly as you said, flooding a $1000 camera is 5 times worse than a $200. I am trying to figure out whether buying a lower priced camera and working within the limitations of the camera, I could still be satisfied with the pictures.

I've been looking at three cameras and housings: Canon A520, A95, and Nikon Coolpix 5600. But these will all run close to $500 before I'm done. However, for $200 I could have a camera for diving which I do about twice a year...