Bjorn Vang wrote:

> For my money, there is no camcorder in existence that will provide you
with
> satisfactory still image capability. If you want live pictures of great
> quality, use a digital camcorder. If you want still pictures, use a
camera.
> Housings are available for all major makes (Sony, Canon, JVC).

Thanks for your input.  I kind of expected you guys who have demonstrated
the committment to quality still photography it takes to do it well to
respond this way.  I almost included that I knew I was making a sacrifice on
the still side to get the video, but figured that would discourage
information relative to still photography that I might need to hear.

To be honest, I'm tired of my Nikonos.  It's big, bulky and requires a level
of attention to photography that detracts from the diving I enjoy.  As much
as I like having a record of what I've done to show others, my camera stays
home more often than not.  Now that Nikon has discontinued their Nikonos
line, it seems to be time to move on to something else.  My good 35 mm
surface camera is suffering a similar fate.  It expensive and bulky when I
carry a variety of lenses, strobes, etc.  My less expensive digital camera
does not come close to the quality of my 35 mm, but it's good enough for web
pages and scrap books.  It's the one that goes with me most of the time.  On
the other hand, I've looked at stuff Russ, John and another video/diving
friend of mine do and really liked it.  They guys can pay attention to what
they're doing and get great video from which they get some interesting
stills, just carry the camera during the dive and get interesting video and
some interesting stills and, when the spirit moves them, get some well
composed, very interesting stills even if they're not up to film or
dedicated still camera standards.  This whole idea has one more significant
advantage.  I can probably get Jayna to carry the video camera increasing
the odds that, for once, I'll  have a few pictures that I'm in.

My mid line Mavica is good enough for most of my needs and it allows only
about half the density of the combination video/still units I'm considering.
It seems to me that I'm getting the video I want and improving the still
photo system I use most often.  I could be very wrong, but sometimes the
only way to learn which toys you like most is to buy and play with them.

If any of you have any information on such things as the low light
capacities, use of video lights for still photography, recycle speeds, lens
speeds of the like, I'm still interested.

Lee