grOOmy 0 Posted July 6, 2007 Hello, I got the following issue. I have currently a Canon A80 with Canon housing and external flash INON d-2000. Unfortunately, my A80 is not working anymore – So I plan to purchase a new set of equipment compatible with my strobe INON. After many searches on Internet, I short listed two configurations: - Olympus SP-550uz + PT-037 + optical cable/cape INON W37 o Pros: - Lens starting at 28mn - Inon kit available for the PT-037 housing - Several underwater mode (UW macro, UW 1 and UW2…) - Seems good macro mode - Good Underwater Housing o Cons: - Quality of the SP-550uz compared to the Powershot G7? Start-up speed, focusing time in low light? - 7 Mp versus 10 Mp - More expensive (~760 Euros) than Canon Solution (~436 Euros) - Seems no possibility to attach WA lens on PT-037? - Canon Powershot G7 + WP-DC11 o Pros : - Powershot G7 seems to have better feedback on several reviews than the Olympus sp-550uz - Cheaper price - Possibility to connect Wet Wide Angle lens by purchasing Dyron kit. o Cons: - No kit INON for Canon housing WP-DC11 – But I will try to connect it on the internal flash plate (If I do that, I don’t know if it is causing issue for the DYRON lens kit?) - WP-DC11 housing requires to use multiple keys combination for Aperture and Speed adjustment I have excluded Ikelite + flat port solution as it is too much expensive and difficult to find in Thailand. I am going to Maldives in two weeks but I still hesitate on the solution… Please help me !!! Thank you in advance for your help… Best Regards… Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mak_Jing 0 Posted July 6, 2007 Personal preference of mine is Olymupus over Canon G7. I found the low light focus on the olympus better (tried on land only, not underwater) and I also like the 2 underwater modes (I use Olympus 7070 which hasthe same two underwater mode - wide and macro). I also use the Inon lenses, particularly the UCL 165AD close up and D2000 strobe, so I would only get another camera compatible with my own gear. Tried the G7 a couple of times. I had problems getting it to focus in low light. The colours also tended a touch too red for my liking, but the 10 megapixel is quite attractive. Good luck MJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pilgrim 0 Posted July 8, 2007 I'd look at getting a better housing manufacters housing are really only good for so long with no servicing available, something like ikelite or fantasea open up a lot more options with what you can do with it later if you choose do add lenses and such. Look on www.digitalversus.com/duels theres a good set of comparisons and timings I was really close to deciding on a sp550 but the housing is very bulky there is a guy on www.dpreview.com in the forums who is using it underwater with some good results. A G7 in a likelite housing is only about a hundred extra on the SP550. Again i'm close to buying the G7 based on islandbounds results here. then i'm thinking about the S5-is as ikelite have said their bringing out the housing next month or soon after, am interested by its continous Focus option that can cut down on shutter lag (but drains batteries) Its hard to like the G7 when there are other similar options for less cash by canon A640, A710is. and the SP550 looks good but the housing is bulky and a lot of reports with focusing problems although olympus have realised a firmware update about a focusing problemnot sure if its related or not Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
colinwen 0 Posted July 10, 2007 Ha, I have similar question due to I'd also like to update my 5050 and these two cemara are only two ones under my budget. According to few reviews of these two camera, advantage of 550 is high zoom lens and of G7 is high resolution. However, finally I choose sp-550 just because of its 28mm wide angle. Base on other forums, the G7 with INON Dome port still have the dark corner. Therefore, I will keep become the fan of Olympus. ^^ For your reference. Colin Hello, I got the following issue. I have currently a Canon A80 with Canon housing and external flash INON d-2000. Unfortunately, my A80 is not working anymore – So I plan to purchase a new set of equipment compatible with my strobe INON. After many searches on Internet, I short listed two configurations: - Olympus SP-550uz + PT-037 + optical cable/cape INON W37 o Pros: - Lens starting at 28mn - Inon kit available for the PT-037 housing - Several underwater mode (UW macro, UW 1 and UW2…) - Seems good macro mode - Good Underwater Housing o Cons: - Quality of the SP-550uz compared to the Powershot G7? Start-up speed, focusing time in low light? - 7 Mp versus 10 Mp - More expensive (~760 Euros) than Canon Solution (~436 Euros) - Seems no possibility to attach WA lens on PT-037? - Canon Powershot G7 + WP-DC11 o Pros : - Powershot G7 seems to have better feedback on several reviews than the Olympus sp-550uz - Cheaper price - Possibility to connect Wet Wide Angle lens by purchasing Dyron kit. o Cons: - No kit INON for Canon housing WP-DC11 – But I will try to connect it on the internal flash plate (If I do that, I don’t know if it is causing issue for the DYRON lens kit?) - WP-DC11 housing requires to use multiple keys combination for Aperture and Speed adjustment I have excluded Ikelite + flat port solution as it is too much expensive and difficult to find in Thailand. I am going to Maldives in two weeks but I still hesitate on the solution… Please help me !!! Thank you in advance for your help… Best Regards… Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ce4jesus 1 Posted July 10, 2007 Because I don't get out often, the RAW feature would be high on my list of benefits even despite the slow write times. "WP-DC11 housing requires to use multiple keys combination for Aperture and Speed adjustment" "Inon Kit available" and "Seems no possibility to attach WA lens on PT-037?" Both of those are the two biggest concerns. A good WA will allow you to get less distance between you and your subject resulting in a better overall shot. Equally as tough is having to fidget with multiple keys to make simple changes on key features on your camera. Having a hardwired strobe is indeed a nice thing. My biggest troubles have all been with my slave strobe not firing, or misfiring, because of the optical only connection. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yucca Patrol 0 Posted July 11, 2007 (edited) I can't comment on using either of these cameras underwater, but I just bought a Powershot G7 after MONTHS of research to find a camera that offered many SLR-like features in a compact body that would not be intimidating for my wife. She needs a camera capable of taking photos of animals in ambient indoor lighting without flash or special equipment. I am so incredibly impressed by this camera. The build quality surpasses anything I have ever held since moving from old 35mm metal bodied SLR's to plastic Digicams. I have yet to hold a dSLR that felt as well built as this little brick of a camera. Even when just using the fully auto mode, it takes fantastic photos in almost all situations. If you MUST have a dSLR with RAW output and are the type to complain about the most subtle flaws, then it is not the camera for you, but I am quite certain that it can hold its own against most dSLR's in the vast majority of photographic situations. I had planned on buying this camera for my wife and then a dSLR for myself, but can't really imagine lugging around the dSLR when the G7 does just about everything I could want it to. Edited July 11, 2007 by Yucca Patrol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zahner 0 Posted July 19, 2007 using the buttons workaround for the G7 dial is actually a lot easier than it sounds, don't be put off by that. you just hold the print button and press + or -. as for connecting an Inon strobe, I drilled a hole in the flash diffuser and connected the optical cable to that. Fired the strobe flawlessly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JimDeck 2 Posted August 16, 2007 Instead of considering either the G7 or the SP550uz you may want to consider something in the powershot A series line like the 570IS. It may sound strange, but a camera with a limited zoom range and not that wide of a lens (35mm equivalent in the case of the 570) is actually more beneficial for underwater work. This is because you'll be able to mount external lenses like the Inon wide angle lenses and the macro lens. This will make the 570 way more versitle underwater than the G7 or the SP550uz. Because of the wide zoom range of the G7 and espcially the SP550uz, it prevents them from really being able to use accessory lenses. If you were able to mount a wide lens to either of those cameras, you get vignetting that you'll have to zoom through to eliminate. You'll wind up zooming through foar enough to negate any slight advantage you may get of the wide angle lens. The 550uz with an 18x optical zoom has such a wide zoom range that most of the range is useless underwater. As far as the Canon cameras needing to hit a combination of buttons or switching to another mode to chage aperture, I don't find this much of a concern. Almost all of the time I shoot f8 with the 570 underwater and the shutter speed (which I change often) can be changed by hitting the left and right arrow keys. Hope this helps out with your decision. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sweesin 0 Posted August 19, 2007 hey colin, just want to ask when you said Base on other forums, the G7 with INON Dome port still have the dark corner.Colin is the ikelite housing using the optional port from ikelite too? as i know, standard port do produce dark corner. swee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Islandbound 1 Posted August 19, 2007 Sweesin, is that standard port WITH an Inon lens producing the dark corners? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sweesin 0 Posted August 19, 2007 Islandbound, according to ikelite website said... "#9305.92 Optional Flat Port slightly limits camera's zoom range, but allows for effective use of 67mm threaded external wide-angle lenses" so basically they said if using standard port, it will produce dark corner, and with this optional port, it should produce better wide angle result. but i was curious how good it is... coz seem like not much ppl buy this optional port... i need a photo to proof the result before i buying the wide angle lens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meimei 0 Posted September 19, 2007 Islandbound, according to ikelite website said... "#9305.92 Optional Flat Port slightly limits camera's zoom range, but allows for effective use of 67mm threaded external wide-angle lenses" so basically they said if using standard port, it will produce dark corner, and with this optional port, it should produce better wide angle result. but i was curious how good it is... coz seem like not much ppl buy this optional port... i need a photo to proof the result before i buying the wide angle lens. hey i saw ur pics in Picasa.. of Tioman... wow not bad.. u captured some great shots... wat mode do u usually use on the G7?.. u manually white balance? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
colinwen 0 Posted October 5, 2007 Hi Swee Sorry for so late to reply. I did not find your question when I skip this forum. About the dark corner, it is talked about the Canon Housing not Ikelite. But I am sure you have aleady got your anwser, right? Enjoy your G7 underwater^^ Colin hey colin,just want to ask when you said is the ikelite housing using the optional port from ikelite too? as i know, standard port do produce dark corner. swee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
