Need help with choice of camera

[PatrickBateman]

I'm going to buy a very good compact digital camera that I will use on surface and in the water when I'm diving. It should be a small camera that I easily can get in my pocket like an canon ixus. I'm pretty bad with cameras so I need someone who can help me figure out wich one I need.

I problibly need a camera with these functions:

X Big display so I easily can watch my pictures under water
X compact and robust
X Good colors and white balance
X I want to take good pictures close to the target (good makro?)
X It should give good focus on things and make the sourroundings a little blurry lite this picture http://www.vannar.net/foto/gronsak.htm
X Good endtimes, it have to go fast to take a picture
X I want to take pictures like this http://www.dykarna.nu/photoAlbum/showPhoto.asp?albumId=12332&photoId=127724

I understand that I maybe can't get all this in a compact digital camera, but which one do you think would fit me best?

 

[alcina]

Canon A series.

 

[mred]

I like my canon sd70. It has a nice display, and takes nice pictures. It is point and click... but you can go into a "manual mode" if you wish ... Canon also makes a nice uw housing as well.

 

[Peter_C]

WHAT? Alcina, are you slacking? You forgot to mention to check out the pink link in your sig.

 

[alcina]

LOL - I live in hope that people can find it without extra guidance...it's kinda embarrassing to have something PINK you know

 

[Peter_C]

You know us males can learn a lot from you award winning females Goes for the ladies too though, as you are always helpful.

 

[Fire_medic_RescueDiver]

I love my Sealife DC500 with Digtal strobe. It take awsome land and sea pictures.

That my 2 cents

 

[newbidown]

Just got back from Punta Cana with my new Canon SD800IS, very compact, image stabilization, and an underwater mode that adds reds back into the image. Took around 500 pics underwater, and only about 25-30 where not worth keeping. (some with the built in flash but most without)

 

[Fire_medic_RescueDiver]

If you are that new to UWP take a long hard look at the DC500 or DC600, spend the extra $$ and get two digal strobes, and hard dry case, and get 3 extra batteries with 1 extra charger.