Bazza - you're officially mad!

xx

I recently looked at one of the Olympus Tough MJU 8000 cameras, and the cheaper MJU 6000 - waterproof to 5m and 3m respectively. All the independent reports were favourable - and also claim they serve extremely well as a 'normal' compact digi thereafter - give for a bit of softness around the edge of the pictures when blown to A4 size.

Granted they are slightly more expensive - but for regular outdoor or underwater photography, I'd say they were a good investment.

I suppose a great deal depends on exactly what type of underwater photography you are interested in, and what you intend to do with the images after.

I am going on a major holiday - hopefully to Australia, which will include the Great Barrier reef. I never travel and really want to make the most of it and get some great pictures as well, but none of it will beprofessional quality - just want a decent document of my holiday.

Ah i can foresee a problem, and that is getting a camera that works upside down under water, a neccessity for Australian photography.

Bazza

Don't worry - photoshop allows you to flip pictures

If you are only snorkeling then I would seriously look at the Olympus underwater 8000 model. As has been pointed out you have several options - when I went away I took my own DSLR and hired an underwater camera. I then also had use of another underwater camera whilst I was out there.

Like yourself I was undecided as to whether to buy my own underwater housing or not, but since I was diving I needed something I could rely on. The last thing I wanted to do was go diving on the first day and have a leak, thus ruining the camera and preventing me from taking any more shots for the rest of the holiday. The flexible housings look fine for snorkeling but can be rather unweildy - you certainly won't need strobes or anything on your DSLR if you do decide to go down that route as you won't be going down deep enough.

I would ask about hiring from your resort, but that can be a very expensive option, the place we went to charged $45 per dive to hire a digital camera. This is where my suggestion of the Olympus comes in - if you are snorkelling daily then it might actually work out more cost effective to purchase your own camera.

You will have a fantastic time I am sure, looking forward to seeing your shots when you get back

Many thanks