Underwater/waterproof cameras, cases and housings

[labdogs42]

I'd like to get some kind of waterproofing device for one of my cameras. I have a Fuji Finepix v10 compact camera and a Canon 20D dSLR. I'd just like to be able to take a few underwater pictures or pictures in the pool, nothing too fancy. So, I could go either way on which camera I want to use. Any suggestions for waterproofing devices? I won't be going scuba diving with these, snorkeling maybe, but not scuba diving. Thanks!

 

[My2Girls66]

Underwater housing are quite expensive for Dslr's. For underwater photos I ended up buying a SeaLife Reefmaster Ecoshot. I really like it and my DD's take it to the beach and pool- no worries. We bought it for diving and snorkeling. It was around $180. Vivitar makes a very similar one for $119(good to 30'- the Reefmaster is good to 75').
An inexpensive option- a friend of mine used for her Kodak Z712- is an Aquapac from LLBean. Around $45 for the large- $30 for a medium. I have a smaller one that would fit a compact p&s(tho, I've never submerged my camera in it).
here are some options.
http://www.keepitdrycase.com/wadicacadc.html
http://www.amazon.com/SeaLife-SL321...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1214689789&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-VIVIC...=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1214689789&sr=1-3
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...22&cat4=8281&shop_method=pp&feat=3922-tn&np=Y
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...22&cat4=8281&shop_method=pp&feat=3922-tn&np=Y

 

[My2Girls66]

20D housing options
http://www.adorama.com/IK687120.html
http://www.adorama.com/EWDCA1D.html

 

[thomas998]

if you aren't looking for hard core diving equipment just find an underwater for the point and shoot.... getting one for the DSLR would be over kill. Odds are you wont use it that much, and if your point and shoot is like most it will also be capable of doing video which is probably more useful in your trying to shoot the kids playing in water.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I've tried three different approaches - Ewa Marine bag for a DSLR (Canon 10D), dedicated underwater p&s (Pentax W30), and p&S shoot in a hard shell housing (Canon G9). Each has their limitations.

I've always had problems with the EWA marine bag leaking. Not a lot and not very fast, but enough to make me nervous and only use it with my backup camera. I see it as a better tool for when you are dorking about on the water and not actually going under the surface. It's cumbersome as well, so I don't do anything but point and shoot while using it - no zooming, no adjusting parameters. On the positive side, it gives me much better picture quality than the P&S cameras.

See more shots taken with the 10D in the Ewa Marine housing here.

The Pentax W30 was disappointing to me for it's mediocre picture quality and lousy controls. It gets the job done, but I don't enjoy using it and I'm not impressed with the results. On the other hand, it's the only one that is really easy to use and adjust in the water. We had some electronics problems (wouldn't stay powered on) with ours, but I haven't seen a lot of reports of similar problems and we eventually got it fixed right.

See more Pentax W30 shots here.

The G9 is considered to be one of the better point and shoot cameras. That doesn't say much for the p&s world. It's a clear step up from the W30 in IQ and controls, but the gap between them is much narrower than the gap between the G9 and my 5 year old 10D.

The housing for the G9 makes it even more waterproof than the W30 but it also makes it bulky. You can control all of the controls, but it is much harder because you have to see the everything through the clear plastic housing. It renders the viewfinder (of marginal use to begin with) useless and partially obstructs the flash as well. One other issue that I discovered is that the camera gets extremely hot inside the shell on a hot, sunny day. It was painful to touch when I opened the shell.

See other G9 shots in the Canon waterproof housing here.

 

[boBQuincy]

I use a EWA bag for my P&S and it works ok. The SLR models look unwieldy and if Mark reports they leak a little then I don't care to try one. The P&S model (for Canon G) has not leaked yet but I don't go under water much. It is great protection for on the beach or in a boat (especially around salt water).

 

[polkadotladybug]

Does anyone have any recommendations for any underwater/waterproof casing for the Canon S5 (or similar sized bridge cameras)? I'd love to have a safe means of taking my camera around the water without being ultra paranoid of dropping it or even the seaspray getting on the lens.

I googled and found some over 200 bucks and I'm not looking to spend that much! Wanted to ask those who have actually bought and used them.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dizzyworld]

Does anyone have advice or experience for Underwater Camera Housing for Canon cameras?

We're thinking of getting a Canon A720 IS and the underwater camera house (if I can find one ASAP) for an upcoming trip. We're tired of film disposable underwater cameras.

Thanks for all help in advance.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Here is a recent thread on the topic of underwater housings. I have a housing for our Canon G9. It works well. The only issue that I have had with it is that the camera can get very hot inside of it. A black metal camera inside of a clear plastic case isn't the best design for minimizing heat gain. Still, that didn't cause any problems other than making the camera hard to hold for several minutes after I took it out.

The biggest challenge with underwater housings when not shooting underwater is water droplets on your lens. If you are in the water, you probably won't have anything dry to wipe the lens off with. If you shoot with water drops on the lens, they'll create big, fuzzy blobs on your pictures. I wipe the lens as best I can with whatever is handy and then try to blow the remaining water off. It doesn't work well. I'm considering swimming with a squeegee or maybe a chamois.

 

[Dizzyworld]

Thanks. The search engines are not working for me lately on the Dis Boards.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Thanks. The search engines are not working for me lately on the Dis Boards.

Lately? You mean sometimes they do work for you? I gave up on them long ago. Now I use google like this:

site:disboards.com (underwater | waterproof) MarkBarbieri

I used site:disboards.com to restrict my google search to only postings on the disboards website. I included (underwater | waterproof) so that it would search for either the word underwater or waterproof. I could also have said (underwater OR waterproof). If you do that, make sure that you use all capital letters for OR. Finally, I knew that I had posted to the thread I was looking for, so I included my User ID in the search.

 

[DueyDooDah]

I have the UW housing for my Powershot S80. It's excellent. Ensure you get the optional weight kit to ensure you neutralize buoyancy of the unit.

 

[Jeanne B]

I commented on your other thread on the cruise board but I thought I'd add a few u/w pictures taken with our Canon camera and housing...

 

[alan]

I bought an extremely cheap Vivitar 5399 camera and waterproof case for my recent holiday to France. It was sold for around £40 in Asda (the UK equivalent of WalMart). While I've not had a serious attempt to get my holiday photos organised, here are a couple of videos from the camera:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/atp/2664911751/in/set-72157606204634244/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/atp/2663735530/in/set-72157606204634244/

My reasoning for this rather than the official case for my Canon 860IS came down to:

1) If the case fails and my camera gets wet / covered in sand, it's only £40.

2) If someone steals it while I leave it unattended somewhere, it's only £40

3) The camera + case was cheaper than the Canon housing

regards,
/alan

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Hi everyone,

I have an Olympus Stylus 770SW underwater camera. I have been putting it on a cheapy lanyard when underwater but the hook is rusting on the lanyard. I am looking for something that won't rust and isn't a big thick strap. Any ideas? Even wondering if they make some sort of a wrist strap as well.

Thanks!

 

[pyrxtc]

From Olympus...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/549378-REG/Olympus_202212_Floating_Foam_Strap_Red_.html

you may be able to find it locally as well. It shows on the Ritz camera website as well as the Target website. It is also at Best Buy website And shows up as ready for pick-up at my local one. Under $20 each place.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I am so totally embarrassed. I actually took quite a bit of time last night looking for some online and didn't find any. Thank you soooooo much!!!

I stopped by Target and Best Buy yesterday and they didn't have any in the stores.

Can't thank you enough!!!!!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Just a click away and I have both. Hugs.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Just in case someone else is interested.....Best Buy calls it a "neck strap" and it is not. It is a wrist strap just like the one in the link provided for BH Photo. I don't have a neck one yet but got my wrist strap anyway!

 

[rtphokie]

Hi everyone,

I have an Olympus Stylus 770SW underwater camera. I have been putting it on a cheapy lanyard when underwater but the hook is rusting on the lanyard. I am looking for something that won't rust and isn't a big thick strap. Any ideas? Even wondering if they make some sort of a wrist strap as well.

Thanks!

I prefer a rubber or rubbery plastic wrist strap. One that is big enough to put around my neck when I get tired of carrying it or am snorkeling back to the shore.