Underwater Digital Camera Info - Different Models (merged threads)

[podsnel]

The 720SW, I believe the 1030 is its current model cousin.

And, by the way the place I have never had any kind of issue ordering from is B&H Photo Video. However, you should be able to find the 1030SW at a lot of local electronics retailers now.

I bought a camera from them, and they were a good vendor- I would have used them again but the price on Amazon was so good. I'm really excited about this camera- can't wait to check it out!!!

 

[MarkRG]

I bought a camera from them, and they were a good vendor- I would have used them again but the price on Amazon was so good. I'm really excited about this camera- can't wait to check it out!!!

It is a really good camera. For all the dinner/character/etc pictures on board, I recommend the 'indoor' setting, it really works well for pictures in busy areas where the flash would normally give you a really good picture of the back of someone's head to the exclusion of all else.

 

[jilljill]

The 720SW, I believe the 1030 is its current model cousin.

And, by the way the place I have never had any kind of issue ordering from is B&H Photo Video. However, you should be able to find the 1030SW at a lot of local electronics retailers now.

I just saw in the ads today there is a new Olympus, the 1050SW. Just what we need, another camera to consider.

 

[mmouse37]

Ok- thanks everyone- just ordered the yellow 850sw on Amazon- new price of $217 looked too good to pass up!! I also got the floating orange wristband for $15, and there was free shipping!

So glad I was cruising this cruise board looking at every post before I go on the Nov 1st Western in a few weeks- I didn't even KNOW I needed an underwater camera!!!

Aaaaahh...the power of the Disboards!

That was a great price!!! I ordered mine about 3 weeks ago from Amazon and paid $242 (in Blue). I also ordered an extra battery and a 2 G memory card and the floating orange wristband....love the camera so far!!!

 

[laura001]

A previous poster mentioned that they have to have the seals replaced once a year....anyone else have that happen??? Oh, on the Olympus850

 

[MarkRG]

That was a great price!!! I ordered mine about 3 weeks ago from Amazon and paid $242 (in Blue). I also ordered an extra battery and a 2 G memory card and the floating orange wristband....love the camera so far!!!

Cool. To more answer your question from before, I find the scene settings to be pretty handy to get the most out of the camera in different situations without having to manually tweak the tech settings.

That setup looks sound, now what I'd suggest for a routine on vacation is swap the batteries in the evening before bed and charge up the one you pull from the camera then take it with you the next morning, normally we usually have to swap out in late afternoon if we use it a lot that day. Don't worry, the charger is intelligent and won't overcharge the battery if it isn't totally drained.

 

[MarkRG]

A previous poster mentioned that they have to have the seals replaced once a year....anyone else have that happen??? Oh, on the Olympus850

Good question- ours is certainly older than that and hasn't leaked yet. I don't think that is a 'have to' as much as it is what Olympus recommended. However, when we go for extended snorkeling excursions we use its optional dive housing as extra insurance.

 

[Jeanne B]

I just saw in the ads today there is a new Olympus, the 1050SW. Just what we need, another camera to consider.

Note that the 1050SW doesn't have the same depth rating as the 1030SW if that's important to you.

 

[mmouse37]

Cool. To more answer your question from before, I find the scene settings to be pretty handy to get the most out of the camera in different situations without having to manually tweak the tech settings.

That setup looks sound, now what I'd suggest for a routine on vacation is swap the batteries in the evening before bed and charge up the one you pull from the camera then take it with you the next morning, normally we usually have to swap out in late afternoon if we use it a lot that day. Don't worry, the charger is intelligent and won't overcharge the battery if it isn't totally drained.

Thanks Mark!!

BTW I read in the manual that you should get the seals checked each year and replaced if they show signs of wear.

 

[FloridaMom3461]

Any suggestions for a camera that is specified to about 100 feet for scuba diving? All the ones discussed here seem to be to 30 feet.
thanks....

 

[MarkRG]

Any suggestions for a camera that is specified to about 100 feet for scuba diving? All the ones discussed here seem to be to 30 feet.
thanks....

That's what I was talking about with the optional dive case from Olympus- it's rated for over 200ft and it wasn't very expensive, either.

 

[FloridaMom3461]

That's what I was talking about with the optional dive case from Olympus- it's rated for over 200ft and it wasn't very expensive, either.

Thanks - an underwater housing sounds like the way to go. I have a Sony Cybershot and found the Ikelite housings rated to 200 feet. I think that makes more sense than buying a new camera also.

 

[MarkRG]

Thanks - an underwater housing sounds like the way to go. I have a Sony Cybershot and found the Ikelite housings rated to 200 feet. I think that makes more sense than buying a new camera also.

Yes, if you already have a camera you want to use it with, definitely! A friend of ours we've cruised with in the past does a LOT of scuba off the Fla coast with a regular digital in a good underwater housing.

 

[bubbasmom99]

I tried out the Olympus 850 at Best Buy the other day and was very disappointed in the shutter lag I'm not sure if the new 1030 is any better - they didn't have batteries in the one there so I couldn't test it. I have decided to rent one for our vacation instead... that way I'm not sinking $200+ into a camera with bad shutter lag that I'll never use again.

 

[MarkRG]

I tried out the Olympus 850 at Best Buy the other day and was very disappointed in the shutter lag I'm not sure if the new 1030 is any better - they didn't have batteries in the one there so I couldn't test it. I have decided to rent one for our vacation instead... that way I'm not sinking $200+ into a camera with bad shutter lag that I'll never use again.

Cameras in BB very typically have their settings messed with, I don't know if I'd trust what you experienced with the 'public' one. The only time I've experienced shutter lag is if I try to take pictures in low light with the flash off, which is typical for all pocket digitals.

 

[gometros]

I bought a camera from them, and they were a good vendor- I would have used them again but the price on Amazon was so good. I'm really excited about this camera- can't wait to check it out!!!

Yeah, but we have better customer service

 

[jilljill]

Note that the 1050SW doesn't have the same depth rating as the 1030SW if that's important to you.

Not important to me at all since we have a 770SW and a 1030SW.
The 850SW also has the lower depth rating which is why we didn't get that one.

 

[mmouse37]

Ok...just back from our 7 day Eastern onboard the Magic and had a fab time and I am so happy to report that I LOVED MY OLYMPUS 850 camera. It took great underwater shots and and I also used it in port instead of lugging my big sony 12x cybershot.

I will post pics later tonight if I get a chance but I took it in the adult pool onboard and had serveral people ask me about it (at first they thought I was nuts) and used it in St. Maarten and all day on Castaway Cay. Got some great sting ray shots!!! My friend used it when he went way out snorkeling at CC.

I did find it very hard to actually see what I was shooting at. The screen does have a terrible glare in the sun/underwater and I could not review what I took until I got indoors but I still loved the camera....just wish it had a viewfinder instead of the screen. The orange floaty strap was great!!!

Hope to post some pics tonight!!!

MJ

 

[nikkistevej]

Ok...just back from our 7 day Eastern onboard the Magic and had a fab time and I am so happy to report that I LOVED MY OLYMPUS 850 camera. It took great underwater shots and and I also used it in port instead of lugging my big sony 12x cybershot.

I will post pics later tonight if I get a chance but I took it in the adult pool onboard and had serveral people ask me about it (at first they thought I was nuts) and used it in St. Maarten and all day on Castaway Cay. Got some great sting ray shots!!! My friend used it when he went way out snorkeling at CC.

I did find it very hard to actually see what I was shooting at. The screen does have a terrible glare in the sun/underwater and I could not review what I took until I got indoors but I still loved the camera....just wish it had a viewfinder instead of the screen. The orange floaty strap was great!!!

Hope to post some pics tonight!!!

MJ

I have that camera too, love it, but I noticed there is a little glare. I've had it since spring and so many people have asked me about it. Where did you get the orange floaty strap? I could probably use one of those.

 

[Schachteles]

I have that camera too, love it, but I noticed there is a little glare. I've had it since spring and so many people have asked me about it. Where did you get the orange floaty strap? I could probably use one of those.

Amazon.com has red and orange...I paid like $15 or so for it (free shipping because we are Prime members). A definite must have!