[jermmd]

I was looking for an underwater camera and I came across this. I realize my interest was probably peaked by the free underwater camera that comes with it but it looks decent for the money.
I also saw the Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3i 18MP SLR Camera 18-55mm Lens + 55-250mm IS lens + Lexar 32GB Class 10 Card + Gadget Bag + Lens Filter kit + Canon Pro 9000 Printer $798 shipped AR at Buydig.

My daughter has shown an interest in photography and will be joining the photography club in high school and we want an underwater camera for the pool and snorkeling.

What do you think?

Joe M.

[yamaha626]

The canon package looked appealing to me until I saw who the vendor is...buydig. Have had inconsistant experiences with them in the past. However I have a good friend with a 15 yr old daughter who owns the t3i and she loves it. She primarily uses it as a portrait camera and makes a nice little bit of cash doing portrait photography for facebook photos.

As for the pentax....well I wish I were in the market for a new camera right now, or had $900 in very disposable cash; because its a no-brainer in my book. The K30 is quite a bit more camera then the t3i and I think the wg-1 is just an awesome little point&shoot. I especially like the little ring-light flash around the lens. Hell of a lot smaller than my ring-light flash rig.

[jermmd]

That was kind of what I wanted to know. If the Pentax is a superior camera than it's worth the extra money to me. I'm not invested in any lenses yet and I think I'll only need a telephoto to compliment the Costco package. If I or someone in my family wants to take photography to the next level than we might have to reconsider Canon or Nikon simply because they're so ubiquitous. So many more accessories are available used and new for those companies that it has to be considered.

Thanks,

Joe M.

[JohnR]

Have you looked at the waterproof P&S cameras? Waterproof housings need care and maintenance. Mess up and poof... there goes your (non-waterproof) DSLR.

[yamaha626]

Have you looked at the waterproof P&S cameras? Waterproof housings need care and maintenance. Mess up and poof... there goes your (non-waterproof) DSLR.

Well thats kinda the really cool thing about this package. The K30 is "weather-proof" which means that you can leave it out in a rainstorm or spill a drink on it without much concern. However weatherproof is not the same as "water-proof"...which is where the wg-1 comes in as it is waterproof down to something like 10'. Not exactly scuba diving depth but perfectly adequate for skin diving, or the beach, or the pool...plus its been out for a few years and unlike some of the other manufacturers (yes I'm looking at you Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic, & Nikon), I don't recall ever seeing this P&S available for sale as a "refurb".

[JohnR]

I'm sorry, I misread. That does look pretty cool.