How does one go about waterproofing a camera? at DVinfo.net

September 27th, 2002, 02:10 PM

I'm actually just curious about this but the knowledge may come in handy for the future. About how much does it cost to do this? thanks.

Keith Loh · September 27th, 2002, 03:30 PM

Waterproofing as in for underwater or for rain?

September 27th, 2002, 05:22 PM

sorry, underwater filming. thanks.

Frank Granovski · September 28th, 2002, 04:45 AM

Then you need a case referred to as "under water housing." It's not cheap, and you can only go down several feet with it. But this depends on the case.

Rob Lohman · September 30th, 2002, 10:43 AM

What camera do you want to put in it? Try using this forums
search feature to search for something like underwater. Your
bound to find some threads concercing this with links to products
and such (which aren't cheap!). The smaller the camera the
cheaper the underwater housing usually is.

Jeff Farris · October 1st, 2002, 04:49 PM

Aha! I knew if I hung around long enough I would be useful around here.

My forte is shooting digital stills underwater. But I recently added an underwater video system to my collection of expensive toys. My system is rather low end, consisting of a Canon ZR-50 and an Ikelite housing. The housing costs approximately the same as the camera. A not too uncommon scenario. Amazing, since the housing is nothing more than a plastic or aluminum box compared to the thousands of bits and pieces that go into the camera. On the other hand, the housing manufacturer has to recoup his development expense from a few hundred units, while the camera manufacturer will sell tens if not hundreds of thousands of units.

Sony's PC-100 (150, etc) are a very popular camera to house. There are several housings available covering the gamut from reasonable (around $600) and klunky to expensive (a couple thousand) and fit like a glove. The Light and Motion (Mako I believe is the model name) fits in the second category and would be my personal choice for this camera.

The three chip camera of choice for housing is the Sony TRV-900. The housing makers cringe every time a camera gets re-developed. I am almost positive that the 900 housings will not fit the 950. Too many minor changes in the form factor and the control layout. This means that if you want to shoot underwater today, you better buy an obsolete camera. Of course, the good news on that front is that you can find the 900 at a bargain. Lots of used units, lots of leftover inventory and it has been so stable for so long that the housings for it are plentiful and full featured. Personally, I am waiting for next month's DEMA (Diving Equipment Manufacturer's Association) show to see if anyone unveils a housing for the GL-2. That may be the nudge that pushes me off the cliff. I would then sell my ZR-50 rig and get the GL-2.

EDIT NOTE: After I wrote this I did some investigating and some of the high end housings will accept either the 900 or 950. Others have separate models for each. Almost everyone has a housing ready for the 950.

If you are a die-hard XL-1 fan, yes, it can be housed. The housings are big, heavy, and outrageously expensive. It is not something the casual diver/videographer would choose.

The major players in the housing market are:

Amphibico - Aluminum housings with LANC controls
Light and Motion - Aluminum housings with combination of mechanical and LANC
Gates- Bulletproof design aluminum housings with mechanical controls
Ikelite- Clear acrylic housings. Mechanical controls. Bulky but price competitive and you can always see if the water is still on the outside.
Sea and Sea - Aluminum with mechanical controls.

A Google search on the names will take you to corporate sites and resellers as well.

Hope this helps. I will watch the thread if you want more detail

Chris Hurd · October 2nd, 2002, 01:01 AM

Great post, Jeff -- much respect,

Jeff Farris · October 2nd, 2002, 06:54 AM

Thanks Chris.

This morning I made a few updates to the post and put in a little description of each housing manufacturer.

Rob Lohman · October 2nd, 2002, 10:46 AM

Here is another one:
http://www.ewa-marine.de/English/e-start.htm

Don't know how good they are.

Jeff Farris · October 2nd, 2002, 11:05 AM

If you would trust your camera to a ziplock bag, then EWA is right for you.

That may be a little harsh. They have their place, I guess. They would be great on a canoeing trip to protect the camera or to shoot from the water up or even in the top 2 or 3 feet of water. Any deeper than that and the controls stop working or they all activate at once. They literally are a giant heavy duty ziploc with a lens port bonded in.

Chris Korrow · October 2nd, 2002, 06:34 PM

Hey Jeff,

That seems like allot of under water experience for Kansas city. Great post, thanks! I was a big time UW photographer years ago(even had a alum housing for a Pentax 6x7) and studied at Brooks Inst. under one of Cousteau divers.
I've been wanting to get the XL in a housing but it sounds like the 900 is the answer, especially since the thought of having all that salt water around my only pro cam makes me nervous. My 35mm & even the 6x7 showed some salt damage, even with the utmost care and being mechanical cameras they could handle it allot better. Much better to put a semi expendable cam in the water.

Chris

September 27th, 2002, 02:10 PM	#1
Matt Sabourin Posts: n/a	How does one go about waterproofing a camera? I'm actually just curious about this but the knowledge may come in handy for the future. About how much does it cost to do this? thanks.

September 27th, 2002, 03:30 PM	#2
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Waterproofing as in for underwater or for rain? __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

September 30th, 2002, 10:43 AM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	What camera do you want to put in it? Try using this forums search feature to search for something like underwater. Your bound to find some threads concercing this with links to products and such (which aren't cheap!). The smaller the camera the cheaper the underwater housing usually is. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 1st, 2002, 04:49 PM	#6
Jeff Farris Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 102	shooting in my world Aha! I knew if I hung around long enough I would be useful around here. My forte is shooting digital stills underwater. But I recently added an underwater video system to my collection of expensive toys. My system is rather low end, consisting of a Canon ZR-50 and an Ikelite housing. The housing costs approximately the same as the camera. A not too uncommon scenario. Amazing, since the housing is nothing more than a plastic or aluminum box compared to the thousands of bits and pieces that go into the camera. On the other hand, the housing manufacturer has to recoup his development expense from a few hundred units, while the camera manufacturer will sell tens if not hundreds of thousands of units. Sony's PC-100 (150, etc) are a very popular camera to house. There are several housings available covering the gamut from reasonable (around $600) and klunky to expensive (a couple thousand) and fit like a glove. The Light and Motion (Mako I believe is the model name) fits in the second category and would be my personal choice for this camera. The three chip camera of choice for housing is the Sony TRV-900. The housing makers cringe every time a camera gets re-developed. I am almost positive that the 900 housings will not fit the 950. Too many minor changes in the form factor and the control layout. This means that if you want to shoot underwater today, you better buy an obsolete camera. Of course, the good news on that front is that you can find the 900 at a bargain. Lots of used units, lots of leftover inventory and it has been so stable for so long that the housings for it are plentiful and full featured. Personally, I am waiting for next month's DEMA (Diving Equipment Manufacturer's Association) show to see if anyone unveils a housing for the GL-2. That may be the nudge that pushes me off the cliff. I would then sell my ZR-50 rig and get the GL-2. EDIT NOTE: After I wrote this I did some investigating and some of the high end housings will accept either the 900 or 950. Others have separate models for each. Almost everyone has a housing ready for the 950. If you are a die-hard XL-1 fan, yes, it can be housed. The housings are big, heavy, and outrageously expensive. It is not something the casual diver/videographer would choose. The major players in the housing market are: Amphibico - Aluminum housings with LANC controls Light and Motion - Aluminum housings with combination of mechanical and LANC Gates- Bulletproof design aluminum housings with mechanical controls Ikelite- Clear acrylic housings. Mechanical controls. Bulky but price competitive and you can always see if the water is still on the outside. Sea and Sea - Aluminum with mechanical controls. A Google search on the names will take you to corporate sites and resellers as well. Hope this helps. I will watch the thread if you want more detail __________________ Jeff Farris

October 2nd, 2002, 01:01 AM	#7
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Great post, Jeff -- much respect, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 27th, 2002, 05:22 PM	#3
Matt Sabourin Posts: n/a	sorry, underwater filming. thanks.

September 28th, 2002, 04:45 AM	#4
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Then you need a case referred to as "under water housing." It's not cheap, and you can only go down several feet with it. But this depends on the case.

October 2nd, 2002, 06:54 AM	#8
Jeff Farris Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 102	Thanks Chris Thanks Chris. This morning I made a few updates to the post and put in a little description of each housing manufacturer. __________________ Jeff Farris

October 2nd, 2002, 10:46 AM	#9
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Here is another one: http://www.ewa-marine.de/English/e-start.htm Don't know how good they are. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 2nd, 2002, 11:05 AM	#10
Jeff Farris Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 102	If you would trust your camera to a ziplock bag, then EWA is right for you. That may be a little harsh. They have their place, I guess. They would be great on a canoeing trip to protect the camera or to shoot from the water up or even in the top 2 or 3 feet of water. Any deeper than that and the controls stop working or they all activate at once. They literally are a giant heavy duty ziploc with a lens port bonded in. __________________ Jeff Farris

October 2nd, 2002, 06:34 PM	#11
Chris Korrow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whidbey Is, WA Posts: 326	Hey Jeff, That seems like allot of under water experience for Kansas city. Great post, thanks! I was a big time UW photographer years ago(even had a alum housing for a Pentax 6x7) and studied at Brooks Inst. under one of Cousteau divers. I've been wanting to get the XL in a housing but it sounds like the 900 is the answer, especially since the thought of having all that salt water around my only pro cam makes me nervous. My 35mm & even the 6x7 showed some salt damage, even with the utmost care and being mechanical cameras they could handle it allot better. Much better to put a semi expendable cam in the water. Chris