HV20 and Ikelite housing

[Andrew Davies]

I'm thinking of putting my HV20 in an Ikelite housing and am interested to hear of anyone else's experience with this cam underwater or their views. I have the use of an FX1 in a Gates housing in this country and wondered how they would compare.

Thanks

Andy Davies

[Jonathan Shaw]

The big difference that you will notice:

FX1: Heaps better in low light, bigger (lots), heavier (not underwater though), much more stable, better wide angle lens options like the fathom SWP44 port.

HV20: Small, light, less stable, not so great as good in reduced light (due to single chip). I don't believe that you have access to manual white balance, you also have to look at the screen via a mirror and the Canon does not have the ability to reverse the circuitory. This can be a little hard to deal with.

The canon shoots progressive but the FX1 doesn't.

You also will probably need a monitor with the FX1 and you won't with the HV20.

The FX1 and gates combo is really a pro set up and the Canon / Ikelite is a bit more for the serious amateur.

Hope this helps

Jon

[Andrew Davies]

Thanks for the help Jon. I wonder how much of a pain it is to use a reversed image. I'm thinking of taking the HV20 on overseas trips as I only have the use of an FX1/Gates as it is owned by someone else. Just wondered whether I would get comparable quality footage from the HV20.

Andy

[Jonathan Shaw]

I actually forgot to plug the the reverse 'thingy me bob' into my Sony a couple of times.....

The reverse image is a bloody nightmare!!! I ended up just using the view finder. But I think that maybe you would get used to it if you persist. It would be ok for static macro stuff, but I found it very fustrating.

HV20 is a great camera though, other options depending on budget:

HC7 / 9 in a Gates Housing, also I believe Light and Motion are bringing out a new housing that will fit a heap of cameras which would be pretty good.

Hope this helps

Jon