Camera help please

[Gazski66]

I am looking at buying a camera for when me and the mrs are scuba diving in Jamaica. we are only qualified to 12 meters at the mo so a 13 meter depth is ok, just wondering what you photo experts think of the rest of the features.

This is the one i am looking at-
http://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer...dmc-ft5eb.html

All comments gratefully received

[Bigfeet]

For the money that you would spend on that you could get a GoPro hero and the underwater case rated to 60m, you could attached it via chest plate and video your dive as well as take stills. And plus you would have the GoPro for other stuff as well.

[lfcrule1972]

I almost bought a GoPro in Florida, great cameras for active people

[Superfly Guy]

Do your homework on the GoPro, some bad press lately with models made Q4/2013 having the focus length set very short. Also be aware where you by it from as there are reports of fake imports in some UK stores (same internals but no serial number so cant have the firmware updated).

[Gazski66]

Must admit i am not a fan of the go pro

[Soran]

Have a look here:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/249...camera-roundup

The Panasonic is included in the " others to consider" section

[Bigfeet]

Other option is to just use your favorite regular camera but get the correct rated waterproof housing for it.

[Gazski66]

Other option is to just use your favorite regular camera but get the correct rated waterproof housing for it.

I looked at that but Fuji dont do a cover for the camera we have lol

[Gazski66]

Have a look here:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/249...camera-roundup

The Panasonic is included in the " others to consider" section

Thanks Soran, makes for an interesting read

[Oli]

I'm qualified to 18 metres and borrowed one of the masks with inbuilt cameras in when I went this year. It actually produced quite a good pictures. I'll see if I can find a link for one.

Edit - found this http://www.miniinthebox.com/5-0-mp-h...YKSxoCjY7w_wcB Records video instead of pictures.

This is basically the one I used http://www.tesco.com/direct/underwat...Ho3hoCbcDw_wcB

[Gazski66]

Thanks Oli, not sure if 5mp is really enough, also with the camera you can use it all the time, in and out of the water

[Superfly Guy]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mobius-Actio...-/151071891306
Maybe not what you are looking for but this is my greatest ever investment, we all have them attached to our PPE (see below),


The downside is the battery only lasts 50mins but the quality is amazing, see below for a few screen grabs.


I am told waterproof cases are now available.

[Gazski66]

Is this the rival to the Go Pro?

[Superfly Guy]

Is this the rival to the Go Pro?

Certainly not, it cost me $68 direct so about £45 at current exchange rates. They are looking at building it with a replaceable battery but for me its a great bit of inexpensive kit and I wouldn't be that worried if it broke (as long as I could retrieve the mini Sd card). Great for mountain biking plus it fits nice and snug in the lower grill on my DS3 making for some great low to the ground driving footage.

[THP]

For the money that you would spend on that you could get a GoPro hero and the underwater case rated to 60m, you could attached it via chest plate and video your dive as well as take stills. And plus you would have the GoPro for other stuff as well.

The current boxed case is only rated to 40m and the 60m dive housing is a separate purchase. Bear in mind that there's no in built screen with them so they're not fantastic as a stills camera but it kinda makes them like film cameras where you have to wait for developing (loading onto PC or whatever now) before you find out what you've got. If you go for the scree then it hammers the battery life too. I've got a 3+ Black and never noticed any focus issues and at work we've only ever had one customer who has. The batches we have now are apparently the "fixed" ones.

The Panasonic FT5 is an older, discontinued model now but it was pretty good when it was around. Nikon compacts are, in a word, crap. They're an embarrassment to the name. Canons generally have the best low-light performance and the best lenses but I've never used the D30. The previous models were always good. Pentax are brilliant at macro, if you're interested in that. The lens is in the centre of the body too which is a much better place if you're holding the camera with two hands. The older Olympus cameras are strong things. They take an absolute battering. I've not had chance to get my hands on the new model but I can't see it being any different.

Personally, I'd go Canon or Pentax but the Olympus is another good option too.