Canon S50 or Oly C4000?
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You can do a side-by-side comparison of features at Digital Photography Review: www.dpreview.com . Go to: buying guide>side-by-side.
Each camera has reviews from active users. I have a Canon S50 and am quite pleased with it's results on land and underwater. I would purchase the camera again. The capabilities of the camera and it's size were key to my selection; however, they may not be the same for you.
Some quick things I noticed:
1. On reviewing the stats of the Oly, it appears to have a better lens and macro capability; however, my macros came out well with the S50.
2. The Oly uses AA's. Canon a rechargeable battery.
3. The Canon is smaller.
4. You are limited to only one housing for the Canon, the Oly probably has more options.
Take a look at the cost of extras as well as the capabilities of the camera: strobe and housing.
Good luck.
Each camera has reviews from active users. I have a Canon S50 and am quite pleased with it's results on land and underwater. I would purchase the camera again. The capabilities of the camera and it's size were key to my selection; however, they may not be the same for you.
Some quick things I noticed:
1. On reviewing the stats of the Oly, it appears to have a better lens and macro capability; however, my macros came out well with the S50.
2. The Oly uses AA's. Canon a rechargeable battery.
3. The Canon is smaller.
4. You are limited to only one housing for the Canon, the Oly probably has more options.
Take a look at the cost of extras as well as the capabilities of the camera: strobe and housing.
Good luck.
Gilligan
Contributor
Just a little about the C4000 as that it what I am using:
First off be sure you can find an Oly PT-010 housing for it before you buy the camera. The housings are out of production.
If you are primarily using it for underwater I suggest you buy a factory refurb with a 90 day warranty. I just picked one up for $239. as I flooded my housing and toasted the camera. It was my fault but the $239. for the replacement didn't kill me. There are plenty of these cameras around. They are a streamlined version of the C4040, which is no longer available.
The C4000 has Super Macro but w/o the use of the internal flash as the flash is too close to the lens. Same is true for most models.
The Oly cameras have a powerful built in flash. That coupled with the flash diffuser on the Oly housing will allow you to take good pics w/o an external strobe.
Be sure you still have easy access to Smart Media Cards as that is the format the Oly C4000 uses. 128MB is the max on those. A 16MB one comes with the camera. The 128MB will give you about 48 pics on the SHQ setting, which is what I use for underwater.
If you can spend the money find an Oly 5050 refurb and an Oly PT-015 housing. That camera has a slave mode which allows for the use of an external strobe w/o firing the internal strobe. That allows for a strobe on Super Macro. There are more features on the 5050, if that matters to you.
First off be sure you can find an Oly PT-010 housing for it before you buy the camera. The housings are out of production.
If you are primarily using it for underwater I suggest you buy a factory refurb with a 90 day warranty. I just picked one up for $239. as I flooded my housing and toasted the camera. It was my fault but the $239. for the replacement didn't kill me. There are plenty of these cameras around. They are a streamlined version of the C4040, which is no longer available.
The C4000 has Super Macro but w/o the use of the internal flash as the flash is too close to the lens. Same is true for most models.
The Oly cameras have a powerful built in flash. That coupled with the flash diffuser on the Oly housing will allow you to take good pics w/o an external strobe.
Be sure you still have easy access to Smart Media Cards as that is the format the Oly C4000 uses. 128MB is the max on those. A 16MB one comes with the camera. The 128MB will give you about 48 pics on the SHQ setting, which is what I use for underwater.
If you can spend the money find an Oly 5050 refurb and an Oly PT-015 housing. That camera has a slave mode which allows for the use of an external strobe w/o firing the internal strobe. That allows for a strobe on Super Macro. There are more features on the 5050, if that matters to you.
mtiffee
Contributor
I would go with the S50.. it takes great pictures both above and below the water. The camera is also very small which is the reason I prefer it over the other cameras, the housing is very compact and it isn't too bulky while you're trying to enjoy your dive.
Amazon and buy.com have it for $399.00 with free shipping, the UW housing is $169.00.
Amazon and buy.com have it for $399.00 with free shipping, the UW housing is $169.00.
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