I've been looking at picking up one of the slightly cheaper type of underwater housings (basically a fancy plastic bag) like
<img src="http://ewa-marine.com/pictures/products/d-cp2_k.jpg">
or
<img src="http://www.aquapac.net/usstore/images/04/expanded/410.jpg">
for an old/ancient Sony digicam I have, for when I go snorkeling. Since I don't go snorkeling that much, and it's an older secondary camera (which I don't mind risking somewhat), I don't want to fork out for a nicer hard plastic one like an ikelite,
<img src="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/353961.jpg">
which would cost significantly more than the camera.

Basically just wanted to see if they're complete POS, or if they're decent for the price. I'm not expecting great/awesome pics, but I did have fun last time with a disposable underwater 35mm, and even a little bit of zoom would be nice, since getting too close to a puffer fish/etc could be a little nerve racking.

not too bad for water protection.

The <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=400205&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation">aquapac </a>one (the second pic) agreeably looks pretty crappy for pic quality, and just has the vinyl-ish looking material all around, so you're literally shooting through a plastic bag. Only rated to 5 meters. But, at around $30, can't really complain.
Sample pics from their site:
<img src="http://www.aquapac.net/jpgs/karen-face-down-in-po%2395311.jpg">
<img src="http://www.aquapac.net/jpgs/shoulderstand-boys20px.jpg">
<img src="http://www.aquapac.net/competition/2002_1_winners/jcsecond.jpg">

The <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=271442&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation">ewa-marine</a> one (the first pic) has a glass window/porthole thing where the lens is (so should theoretically have better image quality), and is rated to 10 meters. They seem to be more established than aquapac. Costs about $90ish.
<img src="http://ewa-marine.com/pictures/uax-pool1-m.jpg">

I'm planning to use it for shallow daytime snorkeling off of tropical islands (hawaii/etc), so lighting's not too huge an issue.

they both also have their own websites

<a href="http://ewa-marine.com/english/index.htm">ewa marine</a>

<a href="http://aquapac.net">aquapac</a>

Frankly, the quality of underwater pictures with a little point and shoot digital isn't worth the risk of losing the whole camera. What I've done recently is to just take one of the disposable, fixed focal-length, underwater cameras that they sell in drug stores, Walmart, Ritz, etc. and then when I hand it in to get developed, I have the store scan the negatives to a CD ROM for me instead of making prints. The resulting images are 95% as good as I got with my expensive digital camera and underwater house, and none of the risk.

also a secondary camera i didn't give a rat's ass about, but it met it's maker on the russian river.

old roommate picked up something like the ikelite for his d70 (scuba in florida keys), and so far he loves it.

from artificial toilet-water blue
<img src="http://static.flickr.com/25/44573220_60c3d73bc6.jpg">

to fairly decent (color wise)
<img src="http://static.flickr.com/29/44572187_62332a95fe.jpg">

Plus, you figure the camera is $12, plus you gotta pay for developing, and after a few trips, that'll add up quick. So a sub-$100 investment in a housing doesn't sound too bad, provided you have a "junk" camera you're not too worried about. Plus the aforementioned zoom feature (even if it's fairly minimal on an old P&amp;S) is nice. The fish above were about a foot long, instead of the goldfish size they appear in the pics.

If I only had one camera, I wouldn't want to risk it, and would definitely go the disposable route. (I forgot I had the older camera last on that previous trip)

IMO it it very well made--used it on my honeymoon and have used it in the pool to record underwater video of my swim stroke. A bit pricey at ~$100, but it's a nice piece. Some shots are better than others, and the SD300 actually has an "underwater" mode, FWIW.

<img src="http://images14.fotki.com/v206/photos/4/48510/2490445/IMG_0705-vi.jpg">

<img src="http://images12.fotki.com/v204/photos/4/48510/2490445/IMG_0707-vi.jpg">

<img src="http://images12.fotki.com/v203/photos/4/48510/2490445/IMG_0723-vi.jpg">

<img src="http://images9.fotki.com/v180/photos/4/48510/2490445/IMG_0724-vi.jpg">

Best color balance of all, IMO:
<img src="http://images14.fotki.com/v205/photos/4/48510/2490445/IMG_0732-vi.jpg">



Andy

Overall, I have been very happy with this waterproof solution. Pics do vary and of course lighting is your biggest issue. These shots are from diving in Fiji with no post processing.

<img src="http://watkinsglen.bverticals.com/pictures/temp/fiji%20fish%201.jpg">

<img src="http://watkinsglen.bverticals.com/pictures/temp/fiji%20coral%201.jpg">

<img src="http://watkinsglen.bverticals.com/pictures/temp/fiji%20(410.jpg">

<img src="http://watkinsglen.bverticals.com/pictures/temp/fiji%20(399).jpg"><ul><li><a href="http://watkinsglen.bverticals.com/pictures/Movies/fiji%20underwater.wmv">Video Mode from S400 underwater. 26MB Rigth click and save</a></li></ul>

For going deeper, you'll need external strobe(s).

I've taken pix, scuba-diving, with my Sony DSC-P5 and the Sony u/w housing they offered. Was good for close-ups with the built-in flash. If you're interested in results, let me know and I'll upload some.

For your purpose (snorkeling), you can go simpler and just as good with something like my setup instead of the bulky and heavy (topside) Ikelite.