lipstick camera and canooeing
 

hi,
recently purchased a lipstick camera from rfconcepts www.rfconcepts.co.uk, ran some breaf tests. Really amazingly good quality. Compared it with Sony XC777 camera, excl. some small things, my camera beated Sony.
Wanted to ask if somebody has experience in using such cameras on/in water. Camera itself is waterproof, but i have to carry with me also recorder (in my case pdx10 camera) and pack that one also waterproof. Thought of using small backback for pdx10 and lanc remote device for switching camera on/off, camera itself is mounted using headband.
Good hints are needed, it's first such project for me.

Margus

I bought a Pelican box with a pressure relief valve/bolt for my PD150. I took out the bolt, threaded the video cable through it, soldered a new RCA fittings on the cable inside the case, then sealed the hole with silicone.

It is bullet proof if a bit large. I wanted to use it for whitewater so I was going for something absolutely watertight. For skiing I just throw a camera, usually a Dig8 I picked up, in a backpack.

Here is a short whitewater clip:

http://www.meridianmultimedia.com/wwkagain.wmv

Rick, that is the second coolest thing I have ever seen.

Ah, thanks Robert, I think. On a scale of from one to Really Cool, I didn't expect quite as high a rating. Glad you liked it.

If I may ask, what is the coolest thing you have ever seen?

thaks Rick. After seeing your video i'm sure i will go onto water with camera. Wanted to ask how did you start/stop recording? Did you use some kind of mic to record audio?

Margus

For whitewater I don't use a lanc controller. I just start the camera, seal it up in the Peli Box stuff it in the back of the kayak and go. It is cumbersome but simple.

I use a clip on wired mike wrapped in a plastic bag for audio. Depending how much solid water is landing on me it either works fine or starts crackling when it gets damp.

Camera in kajak
 

Margus!

In the summer of 2000, me and my girlfriend were kayaking around the island of Gotland (in Sweden).

We had a Sony PD-150 in a Pelicase on the back deck of my kayak. While filming I used a Ewa-Marine bag, under water and on the kayak, or handheld.
We also used a Sony Sportscase for our Sony PC-6. The PC-6 was fixed to the front (or back) with gaffertape. We even used a smal tripod mounted in the back of the kayak to get "the over shoulder" wiev, camera safe in the waterproof box.

It works for us!

adam/picturethis

thanks Adam.
i thought of using lipstick cam to get hands free. ewa-marine does great camera housings, but it's a bit overshooted when i want only to protect camcorder. wanted to ask do you know any pelican cases seller in Europe or did you order yours directly from maker?

Margus

You can fint it i Sweden.

www.hofmann.se (Stockholm/Gothenburg)
www.litegrip.se
www.yfo.se
www.sfi.se

All of them sell procamera stuff for either stillphotograpy or video.

Good luck!

adam

tack, Adam
seems like pelican case is wise choice if i want to be sure do not spoil camcorder.

regards, Margus

Adam,

I keep hearing about Sony Sportscases but they don't seem to be avaialbe in the US. Does Sony still sell them in Europe?

Yes they do.

I think you can find it on

www.scandinavianphoto.se
www.cyberphoto.se

All swedish webshops.


Adam