I have two U/W cameras both are point&shoot type because I really have no idea how to fiddle with the shutter speed or f appetiture.
In my opinion both models are excellent and they could fit two different budgets. I would recommend these two models based on several considerations:
1. After an average on each of 30 dives, none of them has flooded.
2. Picture quality is considered above acceptable. I have remarked each camera with a P? rating and that 1 being dismal and 5 being very good. Later on I may drop another link here so you can click to see some of the pictures (I need to scan a few pictures taken with the Epoque).
3. Both cameras are cheap in considering their ability and in comparison with the more professional SLF with housing models.
4. I have taken them to the max 30m (100ft).
5. Very easy to maintain so long you stick to the rule to use silicon on the o-rings.
Candidates for recommendation:
1. To start with the basic my first UW camera was a Japanese-made 100 Epoque Plus, the quality of pictures taken with it is comparable to S&S. I took it to max 100ft in Thai and it turned out great pictures that were taken within approx 10 feet of the subject. There is a really good scuba diving magazine that I subscribe called 'Scuba Diving'. Inside you should be able to find many shops has stocked this model. I think it cost around US$200 in the US. (Picture quality: 3.5)
2. I upgraded myself last year by buying a Olympus DC C-2020Z and an underwater housing PT-00?. The benefits are i) excellent picture quality; ii) great micro shots; iii) housing is cheap because it is officially made by Olympus - only around US$200; iv) take low pixel quicktime movie clip (no sound with 2020 but with sound with model 3000 or above); v) rechargeable batteries last over 100 pictures; vi) as expected, as many as 200 pictures with 128Mb of smartmedia. 2020 should be around US$550 in the US.
My friend uses a Sony DSC-PC1. It features a 3M CCD and sound to accompany the movies. The UW housing is approx also around US$200. It has higher resolution than my Olympus but having lowered the resolutation to 2M pixels, both cameras' picture quality is very similar. Let me give a fair judgement to both camera. Sony is no match UW to the micro len feature of my Olympus. However, when it comes to movie mode I will sideline Olympus straight away. I took some really beautiful pictures of nudibrads (sea snail) and cute little cuttle fish but my friend only got a blurrrrrrrr. My friend took some movies of us playing the scooter and it's quicktime can be played full-screen with sound (don't even imagine doing this with Olympus.
Camera is really a good choice for scuba divers. It brings back so much memories and will keep you occupied when diving.
