Canon Powershot vs Olympus XZ-1 in their underwater housings
Which is better for snorkeling photography in underwater housing
Canon Powershot S95 vs Olympus XZ-1 - features
Neither of these models (the XZ-1 or the S95) are the most recent in their respective ranges.
The Olympus XZ-1 has been superceded by the XZ-2. This is a more expensive camera, largely due to the tilting touch screen.
Why pay more for features that you can't use in the underwater housing? Of course, you may decide you want the XZ-2 screen for land use.
Canon has added the S100 and S110 to it's Powershot range. The S110 is more expensive.
The Olympus XZ-1 has been superceded by the XZ-2. This is a more expensive camera, largely due to the tilting touch screen.
Why pay more for features that you can't use in the underwater housing? Of course, you may decide you want the XZ-2 screen for land use.
Canon has added the S100 and S110 to it's Powershot range. The S110 is more expensive.
The S110 has a touchscreen (irrelevant underwater). It has the white balance = 'underwater' setting which
I so like in the XZ-1. This preset has been in earlier models but users seem to opt for the 'one click' white balance..
Whatever leads your choice, remember you are likely to stay with the range.
Given the snorkeling airtime deadline, you're likely to stay with the same brand for continuity of menu settings or style, which you come to be able to use virtually with your eyes closed.
Whatever leads your choice, remember you are likely to stay with the range.
Given the snorkeling airtime deadline, you're likely to stay with the same brand for continuity of menu settings or style, which you come to be able to use virtually with your eyes closed.
Canon Powershot S95
Olympus XZ-1
LCD - both have a large 3" LCD
sensor - both large - similar overall performance
RAW - both capture in RAW as well as jpeg - (not used yet)
underwater housing - both give good access to manual controls
autofocus tracking - both have - (tried but don't like)
scene modes - underwater - Canon = 1, Olympus = 2 - (I prefer shutter prioity)
shutter speeds - Olympus only slightly faster
image stabilisation - both have - Canon might be better?
screen/ LCD clarity - mixed reports
good high ISO performance - mixed reviews
lens quality - mixed reviews
underwater housing - (own manufacturer) - both have
about 4x zoom (more than I need)
S90/ S95 - cheaper
cost
(camera with underwater housing)
£290
eBay/ Amazon- Dec 2013 (Olympus PT-050 housing now scarce)
£400
40% smaller & much lighter
size/ weight
193g
274g
very good
housing controls good/ accessible/ visible
might be even slightly better
obtaining correct white balance
works and is convenient
one-click white balance button
white balance = 'underwater'
housing - LCD hood/ shade
better - shade available
enlarged theirs - essential mod
housing - standard threads/ fittings
much better - has 67mm
aperture - wide
better
f2.0 - 4.9
f1.8 - 2.5
shutter speed (min)
slightly faster
0.61 secs
lag between pressing shoot button and photo being taken
0.52 secs
continuous burst speed
much faster
1.9 fps
- (tried but got better shots when taken singly)
7 fps
battery life
longer
200 shots
320 shots
