quality underwater camera

[Myka]

Originally Posted by zink12

im looking for a underwater camera and/or housing.
I have a $600 spending cap on it but I want the best quality I can get with that price

I don't think $600 is enough for an underwater camera if you're looking for something better than a P&S. You're better off buying an underwater housing for your current camera.

I have a P&S underwater camera - a Pentax Optio WG-II. I bought it when it first hit the market (bad timing on my part) and it was $420, but I see you can get it for $320 on amazon.ca now. There isn't much that is better than the WG-II for less than $1000 from my understanding. The WG-II takes great photos - my only complaint is lack of zoom so it is limited in open water capabilities. It has an AMAZING macro setting including a 1cm macro with its own LED lighting whose quality is really beyond the $300-400 camera range. That was my biggest selling point, I use the macro and 1 cm macro settings in my reef tanks all the time.

So I guess it depends what you want...