[tbgsub]

just got a new camera housing for my digital Point and shoot camera, so Now I am sub 10MP with manual. I used to use a 5600 Coolpix-great little camera, even good Macro!
I Like the Fantasea FP-5000 housing, except for a couple things that cant be overlooked.

1.)The tray mount holds the camera slightly to the left of all the buttons, but they still work = minor gripe that I can live with.

2.)when I mount the cam according to directions, and use the wide angle lens recommended by the manufacturer, the lens appears Vignetted on the right of my screen at full wide. Guess I have to zoom in slightly to use the wide angle lense, but it would have been nice to go full wide. (it looks like if I remove the longest guide screw I can get the camera lens to line up, but at the slight expense of the buttons not lining up = Annoying [were they in a rush spec'ing this case out and pushing it through CAD to the Die machine?])

3.) The Turning zoom/shutter button [the one that gets the most use], has spring issues that lock up at the zoom side and make operations a bit cludgie.
this is frustrating when trying to zoom just past the vignette of the wide angle lense while not zooming too far, so the Wide angle is maximized. PS. the lens is nice!

4.) The Lens hood inside the housing doesn't fully block out the internal flash during flash photos very well (admittedly the P5000 has a stronger flash than most Point and shoot cameras), so I have to decrease the flash exposure compensation = makes the ISO sensitivity less sensitive = I have to crank up the power on my external flash just to get a normal exposure = I have less controll on how my exposure and F stop regulated saturation comes out due to this issue. (I will most likely put electrical tape, or some other light blocker over the internal flash, except for a hole to allow light to hit the fiber optic cable, but I don't like the idea of having to tape, or alter my camera for good shots.)

over all I am pleased with the quality of images taken by the P5000, even if the focus is slow, I now use a focus light (UK C4 with a diffuser inside the lens) to throw a little extra light, and the focus comes out great most of the time with patience.

1/2 the time I use the camera for taking shots of wildlife when I am not spearfishing. and the other 1/2 the time it is a great excuse to lengthen my breath hold!!! I am gunning for 4 flash shots at 30-50 feet.

everyone in Saipan asks me if I scuba when I tell them about my Underwater Photography, but I tel them that although scuba would yield better, and more shots, that I am in it for the experience of self improvement, and the silence of the experience. If I wanted to be Darth Vader underwater I would have done that long ago, but I don't think I was meant to be a bubble blower, just a silent guest.

by the way I hope this post doesn't throw anyone off the P5000, or the housing, but I am anxiously looking for the next housing to come out to compare it to. I know Ikelite has a TTL housing, but I have heard of problems with leaking from other local users, so I am still waiting for something better, or to hear good news about the Ikelite housing (too bad it is bulky)

Fantasea did a nice job of keeping the housing size to a minimum, that is the main reason I got it.

thanks for reading.

and happy freediving