RAW capable compact for underwater photo?

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JDelage

Contributor
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Location
Seattle, WA USA
# of dives
200 - 499
All,

I am wondering if anyone could recommend a good compact P&S with RAW capabilities for underwater photography. I am very much in lust with the Leica D-Lux 3, but it doesn't have any housing made for it. Most compact P&S seem to abandon the RAW format unfortunately. :( I have a D-SLR, but I don't want to invest in the huge amount of equipment it would request to take it underwater.

Thanks,

JD
 
I use a Olypmus sp 350 which is 8megapixels and does shoot raw. It even has a hot shoe for a external flash.

I got a ikelite housing that is ttl capable(with one of their strobes) for a little over $400. Once I have the money I plan on buying a ds-125, but you can get the cheaper ds-51 and still have the ttl function.

I would shearch in the photography forums on what other folks have said.
 
I got a used Canon Powershot s70 and new Canon housing for $400 all together. The s70 isn't the new hotness, but it has the advantages of raw mode, wide angle (28mm in 35mm terms), and an inexpensive factory housing.

I really wanted an excuse to spend more $ on a newer camera, but I personally demanded both wide angle and raw and that limited the point & shoot style options quite a bit. I was not willing to invest the $ in a DSLR setup, nor did I want to take my much nicer Nikon 8800 underwater since 1) it's dog slow in raw mode and 2) the housing is $800.

For what I spent I am happy and I am glad I decided to hold out for a wide-angle camera even if it's a little older.

Here are pics taken with my s70.

http://wrongcrowd.com/gallery/scubadiving
http://wrongcrowd.com/gallery/longbeach2006

(FYI the s60 is basically the same camera with less megapixels, maybe you can find one cheaper.)
 
The Fuji E900 has proven itself as a great camera for underwater use. It and a housing would probably set you back about $500. I believe you can still find them around new. I have a friend who was selling one as he moved up to a dSLR. PM me if you are interested and I can see if he still has it.
 
I would upgrade just the housing to a CNC before anything else. The camera is not the limiting factor here. It is the Ikolite housing. Trust me once you go nauticam/roscoe .... you will never go back.
 
Sony RX 100 with Nauticam housing. Under $1200 if you can find a used set. No one will argue for P&S that their is no better option out their today then the Sony RX 100

. DSC05147.jpg
 
It all depends on how much you want to spend. Canon Powershot S110 + WP-DC47 housing for $495 on Amazon would probably be the best choice if the budget is tight.
 
Things sure have changed in the 7 years since the original post.:wink:

Don't know if you noticed it or not but the thread is about 7 years old.
 
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No one will argue for P&S that their is no better option out their today then the Sony RX 100

This is ScubaBoard....of course someone will argue :D
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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