Need advice on purchase

[Raenstoirm]

I am in the market for a new pocket point and shoot. I currently have the Olympus Stylus 710. It is a great camera, but the lag is just getting to me. There is a noticeable pause from when you hit the button till when you take the shot, usually resulting in missing the cute second. By the time the camera takes the shot your child is already down the sliding board type thing and you wanted a mid slide shot. I have been told that all Olympus cameras have this issue.

I am looking for a small camera (the smaller the better) with decent quality. SD card user. I would like it to have some manual features besides the auto settings. Waterproof as well. Not necessarily for snorkeling or anything (although that would be neat), but I would like to be able to get shots at the water park and beach without having to worry about damaging the camera. I have seen some neat housings, so I have no issue buying a separate housing for water and sand. And to make the camera perfect would be a remote. Nothing fancy just a one button thing would do well.

Are my asking too much?? Does this camera exist?

 

[Raenstoirm]

No one knows?

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Have you tried using your Olympus in the sports setting? My sister and my mom have the waterproof Olympus and that is what they told them to do to reduce the shutter lag.

 

[My2Girls66]

I used to try and press the shutter a bit early to try and get the action where I wanted. Since then I've upgraded to a dslr. Most digital p&s's have some degree of shutter lag. I have a Canon A540 that is pretty quick but its not waterproof or really small. They do make a waterproof housing for it, tho. For the beach, scuba and in the pool I bought a SeaLife Reefmaster- waterproof and shock resistant but like most p&s's its not really quick. Everything you are looking for maybe hard to find in one small camera.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Have you tried using your Olympus in the sports setting? My sister and my mom have the waterproof Olympus and that is what they told them to do to reduce the shutter lag.

Yes, I only use the "action" setting. It helps some, but not much.

I used to try and press the shutter a bit early to try and get the action where I wanted. Since then I've upgraded to a dslr. Most digital p&s's have some degree of shutter lag. I have a Canon A540 that is pretty quick but its not waterproof or really small. They do make a waterproof housing for it, tho. For the beach, scuba and in the pool I bought a SeaLife Reefmaster- waterproof and shock resistant but like most p&s's its not really quick. Everything you are looking for maybe hard to find in one small camera.

That is what I was afraid of.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sometimes adjusting your settings and using a faster card help.

 

[thomas998]

No one knows?

You were asking for something that doesn't exist... the Olympus is the only relatively small point and shoot that is waterproof that I know of... but it doesn't use SD memory.... the only waterproof close to what your talking about would be a Sealife SL320 and its not really intended for non-water photography so I'm not sure how well it does on the land.

I think your best bet is to get a underwater shell for a normal point and shoot. I have one for a older Canon Powershot that I take to the wet places... The biggest downside is the thing is anything but small when you use it... the camera outside the case is easily slipped in a pocket but put the underwater shell on it and you might as well be carring a DSLR...

 

[ukcatfan]

You were asking for something that doesn't exist... the Olympus is the only relatively small point and shoot that is waterproof that I know of... but it doesn't use SD memory.... the only waterproof close to what your talking about would be a Sealife SL320 and its not really intended for non-water photography so I'm not sure how well it does on the land.

I think your best bet is to get a underwater shell for a normal point and shoot. I have one for a older Canon Powershot that I take to the wet places... The biggest downside is the thing is anything but small when you use it... the camera outside the case is easily slipped in a pocket but put the underwater shell on it and you might as well be carring a DSLR...

Pentax also makes one and it should be SD, but I do not think the performance is any better than the Oly.

 

[My2Girls66]

We've used our SeaLife EcoShot above water. It has above and below water settings. It takes good pictures, it uses SD cards and AA batteries but its not a really small camera, its pretty heavy for its size and its not what I'd call 'quick'. My A540 is quicker.
I don't think its(the SeaLife) really what you are looking for. Tho, it makes a nice 2nd camera for snorkeling and beach/pool/lake when you don't want to take a more expensive camera.

 

[YesDear]

Look at the Fujif50d or the 100. My wife has the 50 and absolutely loves it. We are going on the Disney Cruise in September and we have purchased the water housing from Fuji for that camera. It says it is good to 30m and we have tested in the kitchen sink, which is what you have to do before using, and it seems to work great. The housing is just a little less than the camera, but you would expect that with a good water housing. All of the camera functions are usable and my son and I are expecting to be fighting over it!

Much better option that a 3grand housing for my Nikon!

To be honest I was amazed fuji made something like this for a P&S camera but it looks great and as I said she loves the camera. It is a 12mp and has up to ten face recognition software in the focus. Large screen and fast response on the picture taking side. I am very impressed with the camera.


here is a link to the camera
http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/digital_cameras/f/finepix_f50fd/index.html

and a link to the housing.
http://store.fujifilmmall.com/product.asp?sku=3659430

The housing lists for $179.99. I think I found it online at $132.00